sa国际传媒淲hy do you want to talk about the line of scrimmage?sa国际传媒� B.C. Lions head coach Rick Campbell chuckles as he walks away to a media scrum after being notified by this agent that hesa国际传媒檇 like to speak to him on that topic after hesa国际传媒檚 done with the main group.

While the skill players are front-and-centre when it comes to the highlight reels, make no mistake about it, it all starts on the line.

Without winning the battle on the LOS, yousa国际传媒檙e chances of winning are severely impacted and itsa国际传媒檚 something that has not gone unnoticed by Campbell and his team as they get set to take on the Calgary Stampeders Saturday in the Western Division Semi-Final at BC Place Stadium (3:30 p.m. kickoff; TV - TSN / Radio - AM 730).

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 always big in any football game - especially in the playoffs. Both running the ball and pass protection, itsa国际传媒檚 big. If you can get to the quarterback pass rushing without having to dial up blitzes, thatsa国际传媒檚 obviously a huge bonus for the defense. Then the same thing running the ball and trying to get some movement up front and creating space for running backs. Itsa国际传媒檚 a huge part of the game,sa国际传媒� explains Campbell.

Winning the battle of the line of scrimmage was one of the reasons why the Lions defense was amongst the CFLsa国际传媒檚 best in the first half of the season, but as pointed out by TSNsa国际传媒檚 Farhan Lalji on sa国际传媒榅sa国际传媒� this week, the defence has regressed to the bottom of the pack since Aug. 1. The Lionssa国际传媒� defence has allowed 376 yards per game (7th), 29.7 points per game (8th), 265 opponents 1st downs (9th), 52.7% second down conversions (9th), 46 penalties (9th) and has only 15 takeaways (8th).

When the Stampeders visited Vancouver two weeks ago, they rushed for a whopping 213 yards enroute to a 41-16 win.

Not all of the aforementioned statistics are result of losing the battle at the LOS on a consistent basis but it starts there and the Lions are aware of it.

sa国际传媒淎bsolutely,sa国际传媒� responds defensive tackle Josh Banks when asked if he knows about the second half numbers. sa国际传媒淲e see that. We remind ourselves every chance we get. Itsa国际传媒檚 about watching film and learning from it because wesa国际传媒檙e capable. We cansa国际传媒檛 let the season bear down on us like it has. We have to step up and do what wesa国际传媒檙e capable of.sa国际传媒�

As Campbell is quick to point out, stopping the run game is a responsibility of the entire defensive unit. Win up front and then hope that the linebackers and secondary can execute their assignments and make tackles.

For Banks, itsa国际传媒檚 about the defensive unit playing with an edge that they had in the early part of the season sa国际传媒� and something that they have apparently lost in the last couple of months.

sa国际传媒淲e have to be physical. (Linebackers) coach Travis (Brown) said sa国际传媒榙onsa国际传媒檛 flinchsa国际传媒�. The first time we met (Calgary), we didnsa国际传媒檛 flinch and the last time we did flinch. I think itsa国际传媒檚 just not flinching and being prepared and knowing whatsa国际传媒檚 coming because we play Calgary multiple times a year - every year. We know what they do and whatsa国际传媒檚 expected. Wesa国际传媒檝e got to execute,sa国际传媒� added Banks.

Asked to define sa国际传媒榝linchingsa国际传媒� Banks said it was playing aggressively and with confidence rather than playing with hesitation.

sa国际传媒淚 would agree about not overthinking. Sometimes you have a tendency to do so. We, especially as coaches in this business, tend to overthink things and overanalyze things. I think he (Banks) is right about knowing your job and playing fast and doing it to the best of your ability. I think we have enough talent that when we got 12 guys doing that on that side of the ball that wesa国际传媒檙e going be pretty good,sa国际传媒� said Campbell when told of Bankssa国际传媒� comments.

Itsa国际传媒檚 also about playing complimentary football. When the offense puts points on the board, it helps the defense as opposing teams become one-dimensional. Same goes with special teams. Pin a team deep in their own territory and itsa国际传媒檚 like sharks to blood for a defense. When a team starts a drive at midfield, the defense feels pressure of knowing one first down will probably result in at least three points.

Campbell is hopeful that the defense can regain the form that they showed in the first half of the season but is hoping the two other facets of the team can help them out as well.

sa国际传媒淚 believe so. I do. Number one, itsa国际传媒檚 on the defence. The second part of it is our whole football team making each other look good - our offense, defense and special teams. All three of them can make each other look good. When yousa国际传媒檙e playing a game from behind, all those stats get skewed. If everyonesa国际传媒檚 functioning at a high level, all of a sudden everybody looks really good. Itsa国际传媒檚 on the defense to be better and itsa国际传媒檚 on our football team as a whole to be better and help each other out,sa国际传媒� explained Campbell.

EXTRA POINTS

* The Lions practiced at BC Place this week in anticipation of the game.

* Adrian Greene will return from a knee injury and start at safety. That will help defending the run game as Quincy Mauger can now be freed up to help in the box and allow Manny Rugamba to be utilised in passing situations. Running back Smoke Mizzell (maintenance) will also return as the starting running back. The only Lion out due to injury is cornerback Jalon Edwards-Cooper (shoulder), who will be replaced by Mike Jones.

* Defensive end Sione Teuhema is appealing a one-game suspension and the club should know his status within 24 hours.

* Based on the reps at practice, it appears that Justin McInnis will start ahead of veteran Lucky Whitehead at receiver. Ironically enough, it was Whitehead who called a team meeting during the bye week to get everyone on the same page after the season-ending loss to Calgary.

* The club also announced on Tuesday that the upper bowl at BC Place will be open as they crowd is expected to be in the 30,000 range.

Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob sa国际传媒渢he Mojsa国际传媒� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.

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