B.C. Lions defensive tackle Aaron Hunt (90) celebrates with his teammates after one of his nine sacks during the CFL regular season. The Lions led the league in quarterback sacks, interceptions and fewest yards allowed this year. (Richard Lam/Canadian Press)

When considering the B.C. Lions, it's the team's spectacular offence that usually comes to mind first.

Not that there's anything wrong with this line of thinking. After all, B.C. led the CFL this season in points scored, touchdowns, passing touchdowns and, for good measure, time of possession. The star-studded Lions' aerial attack featured the league's top-rated passer (Dave Dickenson), second-rated passer (backup Buck Pierce) and best pass-catcher (Geroy Simon, who led the league by a country mile with 1,856 yards receiving).

But while the offence remains the heart of the Lions as they prepare to face the Montreal Alouettes in Sunday's Grey Cup game, it's the other side of the ball that's gaining a reputation for mauling opponents.

"B.C. has always been known for the offence," mammoth nose tackle Tyrone Williams told the Globe and Mail near the end of the season. "We want to be known for defence too."

Following a stellar 2006 regular season, the word may already be out. Consider:

•No defence surrendered fewer yards or fewer first downs than B.C.'s, and only Toronto allowed less than the Lions' 18.9 points per game.

•Indiscriminate in its stinginess, defensive co-ordinator Dave Ritchie's unit finished second in rushing and third in passing yards allowed.

•The Lions led the league in sacks (59), interceptions (36) and had eight different players score a defensive touchdown.

Heavy anchor

"[This defence] has the ability to turn a game around," head coach Wally Buono told the Vancouver Sun before the playoffs. "A bend-but-don't break defence usually doesn't change the game. It just doesn't give it away. But a defence forcing turnovers does affect the game."

That game-changing potential starts with beefy interior stoppers Tyrone Williams and Aaron Hunt. While the rookie Hunt (nine sacks) basked in the limelight more often this season, the Lions know that the ability of the six-foot-four, 296-pound Williams to swallow up blockers has created incalculable opportunities for his flashier teammates.

"It's wonderful he's getting some recognition because the middle of the line has been taking people down," Ritchie told the Globe and Mail. "He's a no-nonsense, throwback-type football player."

With Williams anchoring the middle of the line, star edge rusher Brent Johnson again wreaked havoc this season, capturing his second straight CFL sack title with 16 quarterback takedowns.

Workmanlike fourth-year linebacker Javier Glatt also enjoyed a breakthrough year as a playmaker after being promoted to full-time defensive starter. Glatt, who hadn't registered a sack or interception prior to this season, racked up six of the former and four of the latter in 2006.

"Javier is not the fastest guy and not the biggest guy, but he's very smart and he's got a good head on his shoulders and understands what's happening in front of him," CFL on CBC analyst Greg Frers told Sports Online. "He's got great vision of the field."

Ritchie rich

The constant pressure the Lions front defenders apply on opposing quarterbacks creates opportunities for ball-hawking defensive backs Barron Miles (10 interceptions in 2006) and Korey Banks (seven picks).

With each player feeding off opponents' inability to key on one player, the unit as a whole has fattened its gaudy totals.

"With our defence it's not like you pick someone because he's the obvious choice," Johnson told Vancouver's The Province prior to the playoffs. "Otis Floyd makes my job easier. Barron and Tyrone make my job easier. Same for Javy [Glatt]."

All that talent adds up to an embarrassment of riches for Ritchie to play with.

"[Ritchie] has a lot of speed and a lot of interchangeable parts at his disposal," said Frers. "There's so much speed and he brings pressure from so many different directions, which makes it very difficult for an offensive line to maximize protection for their quarterback."

The Alouettes discovered that first-hand in their two meetings with B.C. this season.

On Sept. 16 in Vancouver, the Lions sacked Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo a franchise-record 12 times, including once for a safety, as B.C. cruised to a 36-20 win.

That came two weeks after the Lions snatched a combined three interceptions from Calvillo and backup Nealon Greene en route to a 48-13 drubbing of the Alouettes in Montreal. Defensive back Markeith Knowlton brought one of those picks back for a touchdown, while Johnson recovered a fumble in the Alouettes end zone. Johnson also caught a short TD pass from Pierce in the second quarter, one of the defensive end's two offensive touchdown catches on the season.

Mission impossible?

The glut of big-play threats Montreal will face on Sunday could put the Alouettes' offence in the awkward position of having to worry as much about getting scored on as putting points on the board itself.

Of course, sometimes the best defence for a good defence is a good offence. Frers figures the right strategy for the Alouettes is to attack.

"The B.C. Lions defence prides itself on being able to be playmakers and win the one-on-one battles," he said. "Montreal has to match up with them and challenge them on that point."

Calvillo, though, knows how quickly the Lions can put an opposing signal-caller on his heels. Or his back.

"They have four monsters up front and get to the quarterback," Calvillo explained to the Montreal Gazette in previewing his Grey Cup foes. "The challenge to stop them will be on the offensive line."

As with the explosive B.C. offence, slowing down the Lions' quick-strike defenders on Sunday will prove a difficult mission for the Alouettes. Stopping them may be impossible.