With his B.C. Lions slogging through a losing skid, Rick Campbell is keeping the CFL season in perspective.
Yes, the Lions have lost four games in a row. No, the return of Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke did not solve the team91裸聊视频檚 pass problems. But there are still games to be played and B.C. still hovers near the top of the West Division standings.
91裸聊视频淎m I happy about what91裸聊视频檚 going on right now? No. But part of my job is to see the big picture and we91裸聊视频檙e one point out of first place with eight games to go,91裸聊视频� Campbell, B.C.91裸聊视频檚 head coach and co-general manager, said after practice Wednesday.
91裸聊视频淪o there91裸聊视频檚 a lot of stuff there for the taking and we need to make sure we just do our part and improve, make sure we91裸聊视频檝e got our hat in the ring, and go from there.91裸聊视频�
The Lions (5-5) will look to turn the campaign around Saturday when they battle the Redblacks (6-2-1) in Ottawa.
Rourke will be back as B.C.91裸聊视频檚 starter after struggling in Sunday91裸聊视频檚 20-11 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The 26-year-old connected on eight of his 25 pass attempts for 126 yards and was picked off twice as he played his first CFL game in nearly two years.
The QB was exceptional for the Lions in 2022, eventually earning the league91裸聊视频檚 most outstanding Canadian award. He then moved to the NFL, bouncing between the Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons before returning to B.C. earlier this month.
Coming back hasn91裸聊视频檛 been seamless, Rourke admitted.
Every pass 91裸聊视频� whether it91裸聊视频檚 in a practice or in a game 91裸聊视频� is important as he looks to get his timing down and build chemistry with the receiving corps midseason, he said.
91裸聊视频淚 think it91裸聊视频檚 hard,91裸聊视频� Rourke said. 91裸聊视频淚 think it91裸聊视频檚 good knowing the offence, and having some reps with some of the guys. But it certainly has its challenges.91裸聊视频�
The Lions know what Rourke is capable of, said receiver Alexander Hollins.
91裸聊视频淚t takes a quarterback a little time to get in that groove,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淪o he91裸聊视频檚 working daily, and we91裸聊视频檙e working with him, and he91裸聊视频檚 gonna continue to get better and better.
91裸聊视频淥nce he gets back to being Nathan Rourke and we get the offence going, then we91裸聊视频檒l be fine.91裸聊视频�
Rourke took over at starter for Vernon Adams Jr., who went down with a knee injury in B.C.91裸聊视频檚 25-0 loss to Winnipeg on Aug. 1.
B.C.91裸聊视频檚 offence began to falter before Adams was sidelined.
The Lions started the season 5-1, amassing 2,203 total passing yards 91裸聊视频� an average of 367.2 per game 91裸聊视频� with 12 touchdowns across the stretch. Over the past four games, the team has put up 650 total passing yards 91裸聊视频� an average of 162.5 per game 91裸聊视频� and two TDs.
91裸聊视频淥ur pass game hasn91裸聊视频檛 been what it was before,91裸聊视频� Campbell said. 91裸聊视频淲e actually do some good stuff on defence and special teams and we91裸聊视频檝e been running the ball. (William) Stanback ran the ball for 100 yards (on Sunday). Usually the conversation with us is 91裸聊视频楬ow come you can91裸聊视频檛 run the ball better? Why are you throwing all the time?91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e just got to get our mojo back in the pass game. And when we do, we91裸聊视频檒l be on the right side of the scoreboard in these games.91裸聊视频�
B.C. could soon be spoiled for choice at quarterback.
Adams knee injury is not expected to keep the veteran quarterback out of the lineup long-term, and he got some throws in as the Lions practised in Surrey, B.C., on Wednesday.
Despite the progress, Adams won91裸聊视频檛 travel to Ottawa for this week91裸聊视频檚 matchup.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e not going to mess around with him, but he is definitely taking steps,91裸聊视频� Campbell said. 91裸聊视频淗e even literally had a spring in his step, he wasn91裸聊视频檛 just walking anymore, he was jogging and doing stuff (on Wednesday). And so I think it91裸聊视频檚 coming quick.91裸聊视频�
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