BC Lions Thread

[jerrym]

#BCLions C @CodyHusband is retiring. Already had 2 surgeries this off-season, would have needed a 3rd to keep playing. Im biased, but when healthy was the most underrated OL in @CFL. Plans to get into policing. @CFLonTSN @TSN1040 @TSN_Sports @BCLionsDen @HyackFootball @BCHSFB

— Farhan Lalji (@FarhanLaljiTSN) April 5, 2019

[jerrym]

The retirements in the last couple of days of OL Jovan Olafioye and Cody Husband leave the Lions with a couple of big holes to fill although the addition of free agent Sukh Chungh will definitely help.

[OV Argo]

The retirements in the last couple of days of OL Jovan Olafioye and Cody Husband leave the Lions with a couple of big holes to fill although the addition of free agent Sukh Chungh will definitely help.

The Lions have the deepest stock-pile of Canadian O-line talent in the league IMO - Chungh added to Steward, Vaillancourt, Foulcault, David Knevel and Godber & Pierson (who both started at C last year when Husband was injured); Knevel - starting OT in Div I ball, is the only one of that group who has not already started in the CFL; they also still have veteran import OT Joel Figueroa. Husband was a very good C, IMO.

Steward, Foulcault and Knevel all have significant OT experience and size, so they could easily go with a starting NI OT from competition between those 3.

[jerrym]

Players are always optimistic before the season begins. DB Gary Peters is no different in this regard, but the addition of Mike Reilly and other players is increasing optimism in Vancouver that the team is heading in the right direction.

Peters opted to return to the Den for a second season. The decision was even easier when former teammates and fellow defensive backs Aaron Grymes and Chris Edwards made the move to the west coast. Those additions, combined with the return of Peters and TJ Lee tell you that maybe not all of the headlines this offseason should be talking about what the Lions have done on the other side of the ball. Peters can’t wait to show it.

“I haven’t been this excited about an offseason ever in my career,” said Peters from his offseason home in Atlanta. “I feel like the pieces we brought in, whether that’s on offence or defence, has put us in a position to do great things. With all these guys coming in it’s going to be a great competition that will make my game that much better. I’ve been training really hard to make sure I’m ready to compete. I just want to be the best that I can so I can elevate somebody else’s game as well. Knowing Grymes, TJ and Edwards and having played with them previously, I know they are hardworking guys and great teammates. I feel like we have a chance to be the best secondary in the league for sure.”

Playing primarily as a halfback in 2018, Peters appeared in every game while recording 73 defensive tackles, one sack, a forced fumble and a pair of interceptions. One of those came against Mike Reilly and the Eskimos to seal a big 31-23 victory on August 9th that would set the tone for a frantic playoff race in the second half of the season. Peters always loves rising to the occasion against the league’s best quarterbacks, but now he’s thrilled to be reunited with Reilly and get the chance to practice against him every day. ...

“I can’t wait to play with Mike again. He is a COMPETITOR, one of the biggest you’ll find out there. Even in practice, he’s talking trash,” laughed the defensive back. “You definitely got to bring you’re A-game to practice. He exposes you early and gets you ready for the game and whatever offence we’ll be facing. From the pocket, he can make any throw to anywhere on the field. As a DB, getting to face him in practice definitely makes you better as far as paying attention to detail and staying honest. It’s going to be high intensity because he loves to compete. It’s going to make it easier to know that Mike is going to hold the ball, take time off the clock and give our defence a chance to rest. We won’t have to worry about many two and outs.”

https://www.bclions.com/2019/04/09/r...-petey-jacked/

[jerrym]

Duron Carter says that people haven't seen the best of him yet. All the distractions he has allowed himself to be involved in have always left me feeling that he has never played to his full potential. That certainly was true last year. Whether he can focus on what happens on the field remains to be seen.

[jerrym]

Mike Reilly comments on possible strike action by the CFLPA below:

Unity is strength!
⁦@CFLPA⁩#CFLPA #TeamCFLPA pic.twitter.com/txzjh80oTu

— Mike Reilly (@Rikester13) April 21, 2019

[jerrym]

Sad news. Ken 'Kato' Kasuyo, who started as a waterboy with the Lions at age 13 and worked his way up the ladder to assistant equipment manager and then equipment manager has died, after more than 40 years with the team. During the offseason he worked with amateur football camps and functions. No doubt many Argo fans will remember him patrolling the Lions sidelines.

KAAAAATTTTTOOOO MY DAWG!!!!😔 I am so heartbroken 😞😢😢😢😢😢one of the most humbling human beings I ever met. Would give you the shirt off his back if you asked him! He was the backbone of the @BCLions organization. We are forever indebted to you Kato! RIH my friend! 😇😇😢 https://t.co/XTSIQyKGLo

— Jovan Olafioye (@jolafioye63) April 24, 2019

[jerrym]

Drew Edwards reports that BC has told Solomon Elimimian, who is a union leader and former Most Outstanding Player in 2014, twice Most Outstanding Defensive Player and four times a Western All-Star in the last six years, is about to be released. However, he only played in four games last year due to injuries.

[jerrym]

The Lions have finally released Solomon Elimimian as well as nine other players including former first round picks WR Danny Vandervoort and OL Charles Vaillancourt.

The full list of players released is below:
DL David Menard (N)
LS Mike Benson (N)
WR Danny Vandervoort (N)
OL Charles Vaillancourt (N)
DL Mike Ramsay (I)
DL Charles Walker (I)
WR Larry Cobb (I)
WR Travion Tucker (I)
DB DeVron Davis (I)
LB Solomon Elimimian (I) ...

Vaillancourt, 26, was drafted fifth overall by the Lions in the 2016 CFL Draft. He played 29 games throughout his first two seasons in the league before spending all of 2018 on the six-game injured list.

A highly-touted receiver out of McMaster, Vandervoort failed to crack the Lions’ starting lineup, finishing his time in BC with just one catch in 26 games.

Veteran long snapper Mike Benson spent five seasons with the club after joining in 2014, while defensive lineman David Menard tallied 15 sacks in half a decade in BC.

https://www.cfl.ca/2019/04/30/lions-...n-vandervoort/

[argolio]

One catch in 26 games? That's stealing money.

[AngeloV]

One catch in 26 games? That's stealing money.

Hell of a group of receivers in BC, hard to find your way on the field. I think he might benefit from this and predict he will find his way onto another roster.

[OV Argo]

One catch for 20 some yards in the only pass directed your way in one series of playing time in 2 seasons ? = that's actually outstanding production.

2 former highly rated 1st round draft picks let go by Mr. Ed - not surprising - he did not draft them. Guess they didn't pan-out there.

Vaillancourt had one of the best pure offensive guard resumes to come up in the CFL draft in the past couple of decades IMO; be interesting to see if he can land on another CFL team and fullfill the promise? - maybe with a different O-line coach. Vandervoort might really benefit from a change of scenery too.


Love to see the Argos pick-up Menard - guy is strong, has a real motor and has plenty of CFL experience now; Argos might already have enough Canadian DE back-ups only "depth" though - I doubt Chamblin would be interested.

[argolio]

Hell of a group of receivers in BC, hard to find your way on the field. I think he might benefit from this and predict he will find his way onto another roster.

Could be. That's still pathetic production for such a high draft pick. Brian Jones did nothing here and was injured in two camps, but at least he caught a few balls.

[AngeloV]

Could be. That's still pathetic production for such a high draft pick. Brian Jones did nothing here and was injured in two camps, but at least he caught a few balls.

LOL..Only after they cut the entire receiving corps after that game in Montreal. Agree the production is pathetic. Just saying some times right place at the right time makes all the difference. Brad Sinopoli, not sure if he was ever a QB on the depth chart with Calgary, I don't believe he was as he switched to receiver his last year in CIS. Zero catches in 36 games dressed with the Stamps.

[doubleblue]

The Lions have finally released Solomon Elimimian as well as nine other players including former first round picks WR Danny Vandervoort and OL Charles Vaillancourt.

https://www.cfl.ca/2019/04/30/lions-...n-vandervoort/

All these players salaries have been donated to the Mike Reilly fund. Also kind of shows the new salary cap is not going up very much. IMO

[argolio]

All these players salaries have been donated to the Mike Reilly fund. Also kind of shows the new salary cap is not going up very much. IMO

They were on rookie deals, so not a huge donation.

[OV Argo]

LOL..Only after they cut the entire receiving corps after that game in Montreal. Agree the production is pathetic. Just saying some times right place at the right time makes all the difference. Brad Sinopoli, not sure if he was ever a QB on the depth chart with Calgary, I don't believe he was as he switched to receiver his last year in CIS. Zero catches in 36 games dressed with the Stamps.

Sinpoli was the Stamps 3rd string QB for a full season; then brought back as a back-up QB again in mid-season after being cut next season; they did convert him to receiver in his 3rd season, and he definitely caught some passes as a Stamp receiver (not sure where you got your info from?) . He was not a receiver in CIS ball - except maybe a bit in his first couple of seasons when he was not the starting QB.

Baffling how somebody can think that a player with no stats in no playing time somehow equates pathetic production. Pinball Clemons was the worst QB the Argos ever had - did he ever complete a pass? Maybe just one? - that is horrible production.

[AngeloV]

Sinpoli was the Stamps 3rd string QB for a full season; then brought back as a back-up QB again in mid-season after being cut next season; they did convert him to receiver in his 3rd season, and he definitely caught some passes as a Stamp receiver (not sure where you got your info from?) . He was not a receiver in CIS ball - except maybe a bit in his first couple of seasons when he was not the starting QB.

Baffling how somebody can think that a player with no stats in no playing time somehow equates pathetic production. Pinball Clemons was the worst QB the Argos ever had - did he ever complete a pass? Maybe just one? - that is horrible production.

CFL.ca Has him dressing in 18 games each of his first 2 years, so unless they are wrong, I don't think he was brought in mid season his 2nd year.

[OV Argo]

CFL.ca Has him dressing in 18 games each of his first 2 years, so unless they are wrong, I don't think he was brought in mid season his 2nd year.

They are incorrect; Sinopoli was the Stamps 3rd string QB all of his rookie season in 2011; then cut at TC next season only to be brought back as a back-up QB again by mid-season (injury to one of the other Stamps QBs i think); he got converted to receiver (given a take it or leave it option - he was not in their QB plans anymore) for his next 2 seasons as a Stamp and hauled in 54 passes for them in that time. Then he goes to Ottawa and becomes a full-time starting receiver - and responds with 4 straight 1000 yard receiving seasons now = IMO the greatest position switch in the history of pro ball (and he was never a full-time receiver in college ball - always a QB who might have seen a bit of receiver action in his first season when he was a back-up QB)

[jerrym]

Here's a look at the draft from BC's perspective. It did fairly well considering they did not have a draft pick until #26 overall.

https://www.bclions.com/2019/05/03/d...well-worth-it/