LEOS HAVE ELKS IN CROSSHAIRS

But coach warns team must be wary of struggling foe

Practice? Yes, we're talking about practice.

That's where the Edmonton Elks have looked good this week; spirited, confident and competitive. But it's the only place that it's happened.

“Now we have to take that to the game,” said Edmonton coach Chris Jones. “That's where the ultimate test is, you know? Practice is one thing, but we've got to take that to the game.”

The season started with a 59-15 Week 1 drubbing at B.C. Place Stadium, but it was already running downhill from last year. A 2-2 start to 2021 — including a 21-16 win over the B.C. Lions — was followed up with an eight-game losing streak, the year capped off with a 43-10 blowout to the Leos in Nathan Rourke's first full-game start.

Over those two games — two! — the Elk were outscored 10225, with Rourke throwing for 641 yards and four touchdowns, and rushing for another five.

Sure, the Elks have beaten the Alouettes and Tiger-cats this year, but they're 0-5 against the West Division. They're 0-12 in the division, dating back to last Sept. 11 — but who's counting?

Certainly not Lions coach Rick Campbell. Edmonton may be struggling, but Campbell insists he's preparing for them like they're the 9-0 Blue Bombers.

“Lately they've had a couple of wins in the East, played Winnipeg tough, so that's an upset right there. It was a one-score game late in the fourth quarter, so that's all you need to know,” he said. “No different mindset (for us). We're gonna have to play really well to beat them.”

THREE THINGS TO WATCH

WOE CANADA: It would have been historic, but it wasn't meant to be. Rourke and Tre Ford will not face off in what would have been the first time two Canadian quarterbacks started against each other in the CFL'S modern era. Ford is still out after suffering a collarbone injury against Calgary three weeks ago.

Ironically, the last time two Canadian pivots started against each other, it involved the same two teams. On Aug. 20, 1968, B.C.'S Peter Ohler and Edmonton's Frank Cosentino played against each other. Dating back to 1950, there have been 11 games in CFL history in which two Canadians started against one another.

Taylor Cornelius will get the start for Edmonton.

NOT YOUR SAME ELKS: This isn't the same team that the Lions faced in Week 1. Literally. The Elks have seen more turnover than any other CFL club. This season, they have had 75 players with at least one game; B.C., by comparison, has just 52 — lowest in the CFL. The other teams in the CFL have averaged 59 players with at least one game under their belt.

The player carousel was spinning even as recently as last week, when Edmonton cut 10 and added seven, with some prominent names going in both directions. And then there are the injuries; 11 Edmonton players are out for today's game, including former Lions Aaron Grymes and Duron Carter.

HIGH ON THE HOGGIES: This is unfamiliar territory for the Lions. They're flirting with 117 yards per game rushing, have a sky-high pass completion average (9.8 yards) and have allowed just six sacks — all league bests. And that's directly tied to the play of the offensive line this year, a unit that had been more matador than bull in the past few seasons. B.C. is on pace to match the club record for fewest sacks in a season (18, 1995). The Leos last finished a season with the fewest sacks in 2012.

“It's been a total offensive effort and our offensive line is going to be key,” said Campbell.

“In key moments of the game, when we know we need to run the ball, or we know we've got to have pass protection so we can give Nathan more time, they've stepped up to the plate. And I like that they're not satisfied.

“They're hungry. They want to get better.”