Ed Hervey takes a look at his first year as Lions GM, as well as ahead to dealing with free agency, finding a new HC, and the upcoming year, in the article below.
https://www.bclions.com/2018/12/01/h...aching-search/“It’s been a good year, positive year. I’ve been embraced by not only within the organization by the staff, but here in this community,” he said. “It’s been a typical type of football year where you come in and you learn a few things, you learn (about) the people you’re around, but everyone wants to win. The fans want to win, they want to see success and it seems like there is a high level of energy in Vancouver, in this market and within this building for wanting to continue the success that has been in place for many years under Wally. I’m just excited about taking the opportunity to continue on and as I’ve stated, the first year has been great.” ...
“Every team is faced with a large number of free agents. I think that’s been the case over the last couple of years with the amount of one-year contracts,” Hervey explained. “The players that we want, we will get that are in this roster. Those who want to stay, that we want to be with, they’ll work out. There will be players that will go elsewhere, there will be players that will be moved. That’s just part of the cycle. At the end of the day, we want to get the best football team, the best players that we can put on the field for ourselves to be successful and to contend for a championship.”
He already has locked up two key pieces for next season: defensive end Odell Willis and an integral member of the Canadian contingent, linebacker/special teamer Jordan Herdman, And of course, whoever is strapping on the orange next season will be following the identity of a new sideline boss. Hervey will soon start talking to possible candidates for the 26th head coach in franchise history. ...
"I think the key ingredient is leadership. We want the leadership component and being able to handle adversity. We face adversity all the time. You have to be the kind of leader that can get people to follow you. It’s not just the players. They have to have a vision and a presence about them that gets the organization to follow behind them, as well as the fan base. It’s going to be important as we look to continue on success in this market that we hire a head coach that understands this position is not just being a head coach, but also being a spokesperson, being a pillar of this community, embracing this community and going out with an understanding that our main focus is to go out there and be successful; winning games, winning lots of games and contend for championships, but also embracing the community aspect of this great city as well.” ...
Indeed, the standard set by Wally Buono when it comes to being an ambassador for the club both on and off the field will be a baton the next guy will have to carry as well. Hervey plans to interview over a half-dozen candidates and made it clear in his season wrap up press conference he is seeking a CFL guy through and through; someone who has cut his teeth north of the border and knows what this unique league is all about, just like the GM himself.
“Obviously we have to be able to find that person; someone that I can work with, someone that we can work together and build, someone that understands the development of the roster and (who is) willing to play young players,” he said. “Those are critical to the success, as I see it, for us moving forward. Especially as you see every year with the high turnover of the roster. We have to be able to develop our own players.”
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