Toronto Argonauts' Brandon Whitaker, right, is brought down by B.C. Lions' Alex Bazzie as he carries the ball on July 7, 2016.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
Alex Bazzie said there was only one way to think in order to help him get through the most unique role of his time with the B.C. Lions, one the third-year defensive lineman hopes never to repeat.
B.C. (3-2) will face the Montreal Alouettes (2-3) on Thursday night with a full lineup of healthy players on the defensive line. In the Lions' 44-41 overtime loss to the Calgary Stampeders on Friday night, however, Bazzie was one of three defensive linemen forced to play the entire contest from the second quarter on.
The Lions experienced a rash of injuries during the game that was unprecedented in Wally Buono's coaching tenure with B.C. And the club will likely be without five defensive regulars against Montreal.
Against Calgary, defensive linemen Craig Roh, Mich'ael Brooks and David Menard were injured within minutes. Bazzie, Jabar Westerman and rookie Darius Allen had no choice but to play without a defensive break through overtime, a scenario rarely repeated in an era of specialized rotations.
Bazzie said he put himself in the right frame of mind to get through the physical challenge.
"You want to tell yourself 'This is something you can easily do,'" the 25-year-old said. "When I was in that situation I was thinking 'Do whatever it takes to get to the sideline and get some Gatorade so you don't have to be tired.'
"The thing was about being poised and showing leadership. At a critical time if somebody gets to panicking, you're doomed."
The strategy didn't always work for Bazzie, who took a taunting penalty in the second half. It was one of several flags thrown against the Lions that allowed Calgary to complete a late, 15-point comeback.
This week, however, veteran Bryant Turner will return to the lineup. Rookie import Andrew Hudson and sophomore Canadian Maxx Forde will make their CFL debuts on the defensive front.
A bigger issue for the Lions against Montreal – and former B.C. quarterback Kevin Glenn – is whether sophomore Jon Jennings can rebound after two late interceptions against Calgary cost his team a win.
Jennings summed up his first interception, by Calgary defensive back Ciante Evans with 1:19 left in regulation, succinctly.
"It was a stupid mistake," said Jennings, who has helped B.C. post 40 or more points in each of its last two games.
However, his teammates believe their quarterback will recover.
"You saw it a couple of weeks ago when he got pulled against Toronto," veteran quarterback Travis Lulay said. "Against Saskatchewan his back was against the wall.
"It was 'What have you got?' If that kind of performance is any indication of what he's made of, you can expect that again."
Jennings threw for 429 yards in a 40-27 win over Saskatchewan on July 16 and had 374 yards passing with three TDs against Calgary. Jennings will have Jeremiah Johnson replacing Anthony Allen at tailback, and veteran Tim O'Neill blocking at left guard in place of Hunter Steward.
Despite the injury issues, Buono is making three performance-related changes, also dropping Canadian safety Eric Fraser from the starting lineup.
Defensive backs Anthony Gaitor and Anthony Thompson are also expected to be first-time starters. The Lions hope to avoid anything close to the adjustments defensive co-ordinator Mark Washington was forced to make when he lost half of his available defensive linemen last week.
"It got a little thin," Washington said of his roster. "You have to tailor your calls accordingly.
"But your preparation allows you to have to have some sleep at night."
Added Lulay: "I came out after halftime, I see Menard, Roh and Brooks all in street clothes and I'm going 'Well, who else do we have left? Please (Westerman), don't fall down."
The Lions have 11 projected starters either out or in different positions from the lineup they wanted to field opening day.
Bazzie thinks the Lions can withstand another game without several starters.
"Even when all the chaos was happening, the coaches put us in a position to help us win," he said. "We have good enough depth.
"Everybody we have travelling is ready."