BC Lions Thread

[jerrym]

OC Jarius Jackson talks about how well Jonathan Jennings is adjusting to a new offensive system and the best offensive player in TC so far, National WR Shaq Johnson.

Now Jackson’s biggest project might be getting Jonathon Jennings back on track to be a longtime starter in this league. Although Saturday night’s live scrimmage provided a stiff test from a new-look defence, unofficially Jennings completed only three passes, the OC has seen signs of improvement already.
“JJ is doing extremely well in my opinion,” explained Jackson.
“It’s going to be ups and downs with him. This is all new to him, new terminology for Travis and the rest of those guys as well. I’m trying to spoon feed him a little bit, trying to take it easy and not throw too much on their plate at once and once they have a grasp of it, add something else on. They’re ( the quarterbacks) doing extremely well right now, so I’m proud of the progression.”

One player who has really benefited from Jackson’s new scheme is Shaq Johnson. The 2016 fourth-round draft pick out of the London Jr. Beefeaters program made strides last season, finishing second to Brad Sinopoli in yards amongst Canadian receivers, and now looks to become a full-fledged game breaker in 2018.
“I think he is probably having the best camp out of everyone on offence right now, which is surprising but not,” stated the offensive coordinator.
“Coming in, I knew a few of the guys, didn’t know Shaq very well. I liked what I saw on film of him last year and think that he prepared this offseason to come in. He knew it was going to be a fresh start and a clean slate for him as well. He has come in and its taking advantage of the opportunity.”

https://www.bclions.com/2018/05/28/j...ve-stamp-camp/

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GM Ed Hervey is remaking the Lions and in signing free agent 6' 190 lb DB Gary Peters away from the Eskimos, he added one of the components he is looking for: DBs who are bigger stronger and faster.

[jerrym]

Mike Beamish talks about what it means that the BC Lions have so many Blacks in key organizational positions.

Ed Hervey, the B.C. Lions’ general manager, is African-American. Jarious Jackson, the Lions’ offensive co-ordinator, is African-American. So’s Mark Washington, the Lions’ defensive co-ordinator. So’s Torey Hunter, the Lions’ director of player personnel.
In the NFL and CFL, this level of minority representation in key organizational positions is unprecedented. Never mind that each man is almost overqualified for his job. And never mind that each of the four wants to be judged on wins and losses, not skin colour.
In 2018, this is still newsworthy. Maybe one day, the game will get to a place where it won’t be a story, and that will be a great day. Until then, this is important and each of the four men understands that even if they don’t like it.

“Sure, it’s a story and we’re proud that it’s a story,” says Hervey. “But in today’s era, should it be a story? Probably not. We’re more than capable of doing the job. We just need the opportunity.”
Even if those opportunities weren’t always there. “There were guys 30, 40 years ago who were qualified who weren’t given opportunities,” says Washington. “All these men have more than earned it. They put the work in and they’ve been successful. It’s not a token thing at all. These men are good at what they do.”

Which should be the point, but it’s never that simple. The CFL likes to believe it’s colour-blind, that it makes decisions based on merit, and its record allows it to make that claim. At least more forcefully than the NFL Currently there aren’t any black head coaches in the Canadian game, but six of the 18 offensive and defensive co-ordinator positions are filled by African-Americans, including Jackson and Washington, Calgary defensive co-ordinator DeVone Claybrooks, Winnipeg defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall, Saskatchewan offensive co-ordinator Stephen McAdoo and Montreal offensive co-ordinator Khari Jones.

In Hamilton, Orlondo Steinauer returned to the Ticats this season with the title of assistant head coach after serving as the team’s defensive co-ordinator from 2013 to ’16. Marcus Brady also left his post as the Argos’ offensive co-ordinator this off-season to take a job with the Kansas City Chiefs. In the front office, Hervey and Montreal’s Kavis Reed sit in the general manager’s chair and Hunter and Ottawa’s Jean-Marc Edme serve as directors of player personnel. In a nine-team league, that’s notable.
Hervey also says it’s reflective of the CFL. “I’d say the opportunities we’ve seen have been far greater than what they’ve seen down south,” he says. “The CFL has always been more open.

http://theprovince.com/sports/footba...lour-blind-cfl

[jerrym]

Ricky Lloyd, who led the University of Southern Mississippi to an appearance in the NCAA Division II championship, got the majority of playing time in BC Lions' 36-23 win over Calgary and made the most of it, going 15/23 for 121 yards and 3 TDs. This has likely moved him ahead of former Argo Cody Farjado who went 4/6 for 38 yards. Travis Lulay did not play as he continues to recover from injury last year. Jonathan Jennings only made a brief appearance.

[jerrym]

Former Argo RB Jeremiah Johnson gives his impressions of the Lions game against Calgary and the upcoming game against Winnipeg in the video below.

https://www.bclions.com/2018/06/03/t...emiah-johnson/

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With Travis Lulay and Cody Fajardo injured, Ricky Lloyd will get plenty of game time at QB in the last preseason game on Friday, especially after his performance in the Lions' first preseason game. it also looks like he'll be the #1 backup for the first regular season game as Lulay almost certainly and Fajardo likely won't be ready.

[jerrym]

Wally talks about the Lions QB situation, GM Ed Hervey's relationship with him, the rebuilding job of a 2017 last place team, the veterans added to the team, the addition of bigger DBs to make it harder to throw over, and the return of Bo Lokombo from the NFL in the following podcast.

http://ckstam.streamon.fm/listen-pl-9748

[R.J]

#BCLions release 10 #CFL via @BCLions pic.twitter.com/4rbT0Z5gXT

— CFL News (@CFL_News) June 9, 2018

[jerrym]

Braley's lack of attention to the Lions is reflected in a decline in attendance every year since 2011. Last year the average attendance was 19,588, the lowest since 2002, the year Bob Ackles returned to successfully rebuild the franchise until his death in 2008. Sound familiar to Argo fans? Ed Willes discusses some of the problems the Lions face and hopefully may be starting to be addressed with the hiring of GM Ed Hervey and President Rick LeLacheur.

After studying the events of the last couple of years, the B.C. Lions have drawn some conclusions about the best way to sell their product. ...
• As things turn out, you do need a man at the top and going an entire CFL season without a president is not an effective strategy.
• The same can be said for the unending soap opera over the team’s ownership. Fans like it when they know who the owner will be from week to week.
• While we’re on the subject, uncertainty over coach Wally Buono’s future or the post-Wally succession plan creates uncertainty in the fans’ minds and uncertainty isn’t good for business. ...


• Clinging stubbornly to unrealistic ticket prices isn’t the best way to draw new fans to the stadium.
• If you’re trying to attract new fans, investing in the product on and off the field is a good place to start. ...


“There was no leadership,” says Rick LeLacheur, the Lions’ 69-year-old rookie president, ticking off the problem areas. “There was no president. (Owner) David (Braley) was in Hamilton. The fans didn’t know if he was going to sell, or if he wasn’t going to sell. “We had to clear that off. David’s the owner. He’s not selling. He enjoys it. Who knows when he’ll sell it, but I don’t think it will be anywhere near soon. He’s invested in it. He’s allowed me to invest in it.”

Which is the first step in revitalizing the Lions but the journey back to its former place in this market will require a few more. The Lions played their final pre-season game Friday and beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 34-21 in front of just 15,237 fans at B.C. Place Stadium. And there were still a number of questions about the team’s direction on the field. There’s a new general manager in Ed Hervey, a new offensive coordinator in Jarious Jackson and as many as 13 new starters. ...


LeLacheur has since stepped in and, while he has no illusions about the task before him, he’s at least provided some new ideas. This year there will be a $10 end-zone ticket for kids 12-and-under, and a $20 general admission ticket that’s designed to attract millennials to, ahem, the Beach Party Zone.
For the home opener against the Montreal Alouettes on June 16, two tickets are being offered for $65. That includes a couple beers and a couple hotdogs.
“My ticket experience is you always sell the top end and the bottom end,” says LeLacheur. “But we’d heard a lot about the prices of the tickets so we decided to try some things. If they work, great. If they don’t, we’ll try something else. Our growth is going to come for individual game tickets. We have to prove ourselves on the field and with the game-day presentation.”


To that end, LeLacheur says Braley has allowed him to double the Lions’ sales force. It hasn’t been reflected in season tickets sales — the president says they sit around 10,000, same as last year. But this year, six of the Leos’ home games will take place on their favoured Saturdays and the club has invested in its in-game experience. Again, the Lions created the impression they were trying to get by on the cheap in recent years and the ongoing melodrama over the sale of the team was consistent with that perception. Braley is now back and LeLacheur says he’s committed. ...

“You’ve just got to grind through it,” says LeLacheur, who shares more than a few character traits with Ackles. “It’s boots on the ground, making phone calls, sending out emails. There’s no magic bullet. It’s a combination of a lot of things.”

http://theprovince.com/sports/footba...g-fan-interest

[jerrym]

Here's the Lions 2018 PR:

DL Josh Kaddu (I)- the former Oregon Duck originally signed with the Lions in March before attending the club’s OTA in Surrey the following month.
DL Claudell Louis (I)- a product of Fresno State, Louis was signed by the Lions just before training camp opened in May.
DL Rashari Henry (N)- drafted in the sixth round (47th overall) in 2018 out of Wilfred Laurier.
DL Edward Godin (N)- a two-time Vanier Cup champion at Laval, Godin was drafted by the Lions in 2016 before returning to school for his final year of eligibility.
DB Isaiah Guzylak-Messam (N)- drafted in the fourth round (34th overall) in 2018 out of Wilfred Laurier.
DB Steffon Herd (I)- signed by the Lions just before training camp opened, Herd had a decent showing in Kamloops and recorded an interception in the June 1st pre-season win at Calgary.
WR Will Watson (N)- drafted in the seventh round (54th overall) in 2018. The Surrey native was part of UBC’s Vanier Cup winning squad of 2015.
WR Samaji Grant (I)- Grant was signed by the Lions in May after attending the University of Arizona and getting pre-season experience with the Detroit Lions.
OL Phillip Norman (I)- signed by the Lions in May after a four-year college career at Bethune-Cookman.
OL Andrew Peirson (N)- signed by the Lions in May. The Kingston, Ontario native attended Gannon University, earning multiple Division II academic awards and a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference scholar athlete award in 2015.

https://www.bclions.com/2018/06/11/t...er-agreements/

[R.J]

David Braley on SN 650 talking about when he will sell the Lions, "I am not going to say anything but when the right person comes along, we will make the deal and tell you after." #BCLions

— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) June 12, 2018

Braley on any local people interested in buying the Lions, "People have been kicking tires for the best part of 3 to 5 years. I still have 3 parties interested and 1 if not 2 are from B.C who are interested." #BCLions

— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) June 12, 2018

Braley : "I have put more money into the sales and marketing departments but last year we were playing so badly, we looked ridiculous on the field. I am not ashamed to say that I questioned to whether to buy a ticket myself." #BCLIons

— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) June 12, 2018

[jerrym]

The Lions have finally realized part of their attendance problems is their prices and are strongly promoting cheaper tickets, food and beer at the low end of their pricing scheme.

WHAT. A. DEAL.
2 tickets
2 hot dogs
2  beer or 2 soft drinks
ALL for JUST $65!
 #BCLIONS HOME OPENER THIS SATURDAY!
BE THERE | https://t.co/XFhygNkANH pic.twitter.com/IeFb5qaWm9
— BC Lions (@BCLions) June 12, 2018

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GM Ed Hervey sees the addition of big, tough OL Jovan Olafioye and Joel Figueroa is aimed at helping building a weak OL that could do little to protect Jennings and Lulay and gave up 49 sacks last year.

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Two well deserving players will be added to the Lions' Wall of Fame during halftime at the season opener: National OL Jamie Taras and International DB Eric Carter.

https://www.bclions.com/2018/06/12/t...ons-wall-fame/

[jerrym]

While Wally has never been one to call a player out publicly, he is starting to turn the pressure up on Jonathan Jennings following the Lions' second preseason game. Following the game Buono said that the offence is still 'a little out of synch' and that Jennings, who is entering his fourth year with the team, has to 'execute' the offence and be more consistent. While Jennings went 17/24 for 182 yards in a little less than three quarters, he had one first down in the first quarter and six in the first half.

[jerrym]

Jovan Olafioye, who was a CFL All Star in every one of six seasons with the Lions, is delighted to be back with BC after a year with woeful Montreal where he missed six games due to injury and a CFL All Star berth. He has not forgotten how he was treated by Als GM Kavis Reed.

Olafioye was dealt by the Lions to the Alouettes in March of 2017 for Canadian offensive lineman David Foucault and promptly signed a rich — by CFL standards — three-year deal.
Last season, however, the six-time CFL All-Star missed six games because of injuries, five with a broken hand and a sixth with back spasms. The Alouettes also struggled to a 3-15 season and when Olafioye showed up at training camp in May, GM Kavis Reed requested he take a salary cut after he paid Olafioye a $50,000 roster bonus in the off-season.

Olafioye rejected the Als’ request, was cut and immediately picked up by the Lions. That was four weeks ago but if you think he’s forgiven and forgotten, you’d be wrong.
“I drove 10 hours and they told me that?” he says. “I thought that was disrespectful. (Reed) could have handled it better but it’s the business.”
Olafioye was asked about his overall experience in Montreal. “It was OK,” he said. “There were a lot of good guys. But it just wasn’t right over there.”

http://theprovince.com/sports/footba...-boot-from-als

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The Lions feel they got Davon Coleman at a bargain basement price in obtaining a 17 game starting DT with 5 sacks and 41 tackles last year who is on a entry level contract of $70,000 plus a sixth round pick for a fourth round pick. The Tiger Cats dumped him after he got into two fights during TC. Considering the fact that the Lions were in need of a DT after former Argo Euclid Cummings contract was voided following criminal charges, they feel they won the sweepstakes considering what they have seen in Coleman in the preseason.

[jerrym]

Lion DB Marcell Young ended this fan's romp on the field during the game yesterday.

Hit of the night and reason not to streak or possibly drink at a BC Lions game! pic.twitter.com/vtnNx8sGWm

— Jaden S (@Jadenfootball21) June 17, 2018

[jerrym]

Wally Buono comments on his long career and what he'll miss:

“I still can remember the ‘91 Grey Cup, the ‘93 Western Final, the ‘94 Western Final, the ‘95 Grey Cup in Saskatchewan, the 2004 Grey Cup,” Buono said. “And there’s more.” ...

“Success? What the hell do you remember about success? Seriously,” he said recently.

“You always remember pain more than anything else. Pain is a tremendous teacher and motivator because you do not want to feel that pain. You don’t want to go through that pain. And unfortunately, losing at any level, whether it’s pre-season, regular season or playoffs, it’s painful. That’s why maybe I’ve never been satisfied with winning. Winning is very short-lived. Pain is long-lived.” ...

“You’re going to miss working with people, good men,” he said. “You’re going to miss the competitive challenge you get every week. I don’t think any job gives you the highs and the lows.
“You miss that, but that’s also what you want to leave. It’s kind of a paradox, because I don’t want to be under the constant pressure anymore. I don’t want to be in the constant limelight. But in some ways you’re going to miss that because that’s how you’re built and that’s who you are.”

http://vancouversun.com/sports/footb...f-335acd67c7dd

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David Foucault, who signed with the Carolina Panthers and played in five games with them after being drafted by Montreal in 2014, feels his inconsistent first year with BC in 2017 was in part due to the difficulty of adjusting back to Canadian football. However, he has shown a marked improvement this year after adding 15 pounds of muscle through an intense training program in the off-season.

Putting on the 15 pounds of muscle indeed paid off. Foucault emerged as one of the more pleasant training camp surprises, never losing his grip on the starting right guard spot vacated by the departure of Kirby Fabien to Montreal in free agency.
With plenty of talk surrounding first-round pick Peter Godber potentially earning that spot right away, Foucault entered his second voyage in Kamloops somewhat under the radar. Not anymore. Looking back on it, the man acquired in last year’s trade for Jovan Olafioye believes the adjustment back to Canadian football may have been harder than he originally anticipated.

“Once this year’s camp began I found I knew the system, Dan and the rest of the coaching staff. That has made it easier so far. That’s why I’m more comfortable,” he says.
“(Offensive Line) coach Dan (Dorazio) said I was going to play guard this year. I found last year when I was switching between guard and tackle that it was tough to keep my weight up. This offseason I was more focused on my training and get to 325 pounds for camp.”

https://www.bclions.com/2018/06/19/b...-things-front/