A BC Lions team that was very good last year was retooled over the winter in hopes of being even better this season.
By saying goodbye to several veterans, most notably future Hall of Fame slotback Geroy Simon, the Lions hope to have made additions through subtractions as they enter their 60th CFL campaign.
“We lost some pretty heroic players,” said defensive lineman Keron Williams. “We have guys to fall in line and pick up the slack where they left off. We have young guys with talent and speed.”
Head coach Mike Benevides believes the Lions are deeper in talent this year.
“We have more depth,” said the second-year coach.
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“On paper, the offence is a Ferrari. My job is to make sure I don’t flood the engine trying to back out of the driveway. We were trying to properly execute the offence Friday, but it’s a pretty basic game plan in a pre-season game with a lot of moving parts to get guys in and out. We’ll be better in Calgary.”….Read More |
“I think when you look at the depth; some of the chemistry that we have together, those are the two facets that are going to pay dividends.”
BC led the league last year with a 13-5 record. But the Lions’ dreams of repeating as Grey Cup champions turned into a nightmare when they were upset 34-29 by the Calgary Stampeders in the Western Final at BC Place Stadium.
“I guarantee you there will be points in time where that game, and that tape and those memories, come out,” said Benevides.
“That was a missed opportunity, a regret I will carry to my grave. That’s never going to change. We will learn from it but we can’t dwell on it.”
The biggest change for the Lions came when Simon, the CFL’s all-time receiving leader, was traded to Saskatchewan. Also gone are veterans like slotback Arland Bruce, backup quarterback Mike Reilly, defensive back Byron Parker, defensive tackle Khalif Mitchell, safety Cauchy Muamba, and defensive back Anthony Reddick.
General manager Wally Buono maintained some consistency by re-signing more than 20 players, including quarterback Travis Lulay, offensive tackle Jovan Olafioye, the CFL’s top lineman last year, and hard-hitting linebacker Solomon Elimimian.
Lulay, who threw for 4,231 yards with 27 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions last season, has established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the league. He is healthy again after dealing with a shoulder injury during the latter part of last season.
Even with the loss of Simon and Bruce, Lulay still has an impressive group of receivers to work with.
The return of Emmanuel Arceneaux, back after a two-year stint in the NFL, adds size and speed. The receiver’s list also includes imports like Courtney Taylor, Nick Moore and Ernest Jackson, plus Canadians Shawn Gore, Akeem Foster, Marco Iannuzzi and Paris Jackson.
“You can never make people forget about Geroy and Arland,” said Foster, a native of Ajax, Ont. “They are two of the greatest guys to ever play the game.
“At the end of the day it’s our turn. We’re up to bat. Every day is a challenge. For the young bucks we are up to the challenge. We’re ready to come out and do what we were meant to do.”
Running back Andrew Harris will be looking to build on his breakout season last year where he became the first Canadian since Terry Evanshen in 1967 to lead the CFL in yards from scrimmage. His total of 1,830 yards included 1,112 rushing and 718 receiving on 75 catches.
“I expect him to play at a very high level,” said Benevides.
Any production from Lulay will depend on the protection he receives and already there are some concerns about the health of the Lions’ offensive line.
Veteran centre Angus Reid missed all of training camp with a back injury and the 36-year-old is questionable for the Lions season-opener Friday night against Calgary. Right guard Dean Valli is also still rehabbing from a knee injury.
Second-year player Matt Norman has been penciled in at centre with 22-year-old rookie Kirby Fabien, a first-round draft pick in 2012, the right guard.
Benevides is confident the two young players will be quick learners.
“I know they have the ability to do it,” said Benevides. “We have a great coaching staff to work with them.
“Certainly there will be times that we are going to have to show patience with them. It just doesn’t happen overnight. These guys have the ability and the talent.”
The rest of the line remains solid with Olafioye the right tackle, massive Patrick Kabongo the left guard and veteran Ben Archibald the left tackle.
The B.C. defence, which led the league last year in least first downs allowed, net offence and fewest points, has also been tinkered with.
Elimimian and Adam Bighill will give the Lions a potent one-two punch at linebacker, with Korey Banks moving from his halfback spot to the nickleback.
J. R. LaRose will take over at safety while newcomer Cord Parks, who has spent time with four NFL squads, will be one of the defensive backs.
The defensive front will see Williams, who led the CFL last year with 12 sacks, rotating with Jabar Westerman, last year’s West Division rookie of the year, Eric Taylor, Khreem Smith and Brandon Jordan.
“Keron is a man without a position,” said Benevides. “We are going to move him a around a fair bit.”
Benevides expects some growing pains as the defence adjusts to the changes.
“When the live bullets start that may be the case in the beginning,” he said. “There will be six or seven changes. It’s quite a dramatic change.
“It’s just not the new guys. It’s also some guys in new positions. I feel good about the group and how hard they work.”
Lulay believes this year’s team has the potential to succeed where last year’s squad failed.
“I think we have the chance to be a very good football team,” he said. “The group is going into the season with some good confidence.
“Now it’s a matter of going out and doing it.”
