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They’re also eighth in turnover ratio at minus-4; seventh in penalty yards and eighth in points allowed. Admittedly, the sample size is small but, after two straight losses, the Lions’ problems are so comprehensive and numerous they’re almost existential in nature, and that makes Saturday’s game at McMahon Stadium a critical test.

“It’s challenging when you have a team that has so many new pieces,” Reilly said in a philosophical moment. “You don’t have that collective experience. That’s what we’re building. You want to do it the right way so you have sustained success but it doesn’t happen overnight, either.

“It’s not an excuse but it takes time. You have to find a way to expedite the process.”

Photo by JASON FRANSON / THE CANADIAN PRESS

Great. But how do you do that when your players barely know each other’s first names?

The Lions’ official position is their early-season woes have everything to do with the newness of their team and system and not the individual abilities of their players. They’d better hope that’s the case because if they guessed wrong about some of their off-season acquisitions this is going to be a long and difficult campaign.

But there’s also a track record there that should ease some of the concerns. Reilly is a hall of fame-calibre quarterback. The offensive line is huge and experienced. There are weapons at the skill positions.

Defensively, co-ordinator Rich Stubler has been coaching and winning in the CFL as long as the rouge has been in the game, and head coach DeVone Claybrooks made his bones as Calgary’s defensive co-ordinator.