BREAKING NEWS: This Is The End Of The Journey, Vernon Adams Jr, Has….

CFL: BC Lions vs. Edmonton Elks in the Canadian Football League
June 17, 2023; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN: In the second half of the BC Lions’ game against the Edmonton Elks at BC Place, quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. (3) completes a pass. BC prevailed 22-0. Required Credit: USA TODAY Sports/Bob Frid

After an explosive performance, Vernon Adams Jr. now confronts a defence that finds it difficult to pressure the quarterback.

On Sunday night, when the BC Lions play the Calgary Stampeders, Adams hopes to help extend the team’s winning streak to six games.

Adams completed a season-high 451 yards of passing last week in the Lions’ (5-1) 35-20 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on the road.

With 2,203 yards and 12 touchdowns, Adams leads the CFL in passing yards and has only thrown three interceptions in 211 attempts.

Against the Roughriders, wide receiver Justin McInnis of BC recorded a career-high 243 receiving yards on 14 receptions. With 45 receptions for 725 yards, he leads the CFL and has five TD catches, which ties him for the league lead.

McInnis remarked of his yardage total, “That’s the most I’ve ever had in my life — 243, that was a very fun, exciting, and competitive game.”

Adams found the performance to be quite impressive.

“He has incredibly powerful hands. He’s making fantastic catches with (defensive backs) all over him, so I’m throwing the ball a little bit behind him,” Adams remarked. “He plays a critical role in this offence and squad. An

“Instead of getting close, we’ve got to get there,” Calgary defensive end James Vaughters said of the sack drought.

Vaughters and fellow defensive linemen Mike Rose and Julian Howsare all have yet to record a sack this campaign.

Calgary also ranks seventh in passing defense at 306.4 yards per game, meaning a meek pass rush is going to make it tough to lasso the mobile Adams.

“More hits, more sacks, more big plays, pressuring the quarterback,” Stampeders coach Dave Dickenson said of what the defense needs. “I was talking to Mike Rose, and you can’t just say you’re going to try harder because the guys are giving great effort. Just have to play the system, play with confidence though, have to play with edge and, hopefully, they’ll come.”

Calgary is looking to snap a two-game losing skid. The Stampeders lost 41-37 to the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers last week despite getting two interceptions from cornerback Tre Roberson (three picks overall).