CFL.ca Staff
TORONTO — After an 0-8 season last year, the Lions enter a new era in 2010 under first-year head coach Warren Craney, who was hired in May to take over the program. Although new to the CIS head-coaching ranks, Craney has plenty of experience with varsity football as he spent the last seven seasons as the defensive co-ordinator with the Concordia Stingers.
The coaching staff got another significant boost early in the summer when Craney brought Michael Faulds and Harry Laflamme on board as the offensive and defensive co-ordinators, respectively. Both men bring tremendous experience to the Lions – Faulds as a standout starting quarterback in the OUA and the CIS career passing leader and Laflamme as a CIS defensive coach for eight years – and will be instrumental in helping the Lions improve in the OUA standings.
The Lions have a number of new faces on the team and for the new men and returning players alike, training camp has been about learning new schemes under the revamped coaching staff. With new leadership in place, the Lions will be working to improve in all facets of the game as they seek to win their first contest since 2007.
Head coach Warren Craney on the teams’ strengths: “We have tremendous skill and athletic ability at our skill positions on offence and defence. The men are passionate and have bought into what we are teaching them.”
Craney on the defence: “We are going to be a very aggressive team on defence and will pressure the football. Coach Laflamme has implemented a number of changes for this unit and the players have really responded to what we are doing.”
Craney’s expectations for 2010: “The coaching staff is expecting the players to get better every day, every week, through every practice. We’ve set a number of small internal team goals that we will be focusing on throughout the season and if the players continue to respond well to the coaches, I am confident we will be able to achieve these goals and improve on the football field.”
2009 in Review:
2009 regular season record: 0-8
2009 regular season standings: 10th place, OUA
2009 playoff record: Did not qualify
Head Coach – Warren Craney
Number of seasons as head coach with team (including 2010): 1
Number of seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2010): 1
Career regular season record with team: 0-0
Career regular season record in CIS: 0-0
Career overall record with team (reg. season & playoffs only): 0-0
Career overall record in CIS (reg. season & playoffs only): 0-0
OFFENCE
Key returning players:
QB Nick Coutu (St. Catharines, Ont.) returns for his 3rd season after a strong year in 2009 in which he recorded his first passing touchdown. He also threw for 809 yards, nearly quadruple his output in his rookie season. Coach Faulds has been working hard with Coutu since he came on board and Coutu will be expected to lead the offence this year.
RB Jacob Appiah (Etobicoke, Ont.) is coming off a breakout season in 2009, where he emerged as the go-to running back for the Lions. He led all players with 105 attempts and 450 yards last season.
OL Boris Radulovic (Scarborough, Ont.) is a leader for the offensive players on and off the field. As a lineman he is often not represented on the stat sheet but his contributions are tremendous.
Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):
OL Ed Michel (St. Catharines, Ont.) transferred from the Western Mustangs (he did not play) and has been working tremendously hard during training camp. The coaching staff is very impressed with his early commitment and leadership to the team.
OL Chris Tsarvenkov (Markham, Ont.) from Brother Andre C.H.S. is described by the coaches as soft-spoken off the field but a monster on it. He has already taken a leadership role with the team.
WR Derek Knight (Mississauga, Ont.) transferred from the Windsor Lancers (he did not play) and is expected to make an immediate impact in the secondary.
Key losses:
OL Matt Davis (Mississauga, Ont.) graduated after five years with the Lions. His leadership will be missed on a young team.
DEFENCE
Key returning players:
LB Steven Reading (Fenelon Falls, Ont.) led the CIS in tackles last year with an average of 9.5 per game. He led the Lions in total tackles for the last two years, recording 63.5 in 2009 and 44 in 2008.
CB Andre Clarke (Mississauga, Ont.) had four interceptions in his first year with the Lions in 2009. He added a pair of sacks and finished second on the team with 38 tackles.
DB Theo Feroiu (Toronto) missed some games last season with an injury but he is back this season and ready for a full schedule. His leadership will be beneficial on a young team.
Key recruits (or newcomers: transfers):
LB James Tuck (Aurora, Ont.) played for the OVFL’s Newmarket Storm and was twice named the senior team’s defensive MVP. He was also a league all-star in 2009 and holds team records for most assisted tackles in a game (seven) and most sacks in a game (two).
LB Jeffery Adubofuor (Toronto) will quickly become a local favourite as he comes to York from CW Jefferys C.I., located just around the corner from York University.
-With files from the York University Lions
