DanoT

By picking Glenn as a starting QB it now gives an edge to the Bombers in signing free agent Collaros as they can now offer him the one thing that no other team in the CFL can: a STARTING QB job.

For most teams the final pre season game or at least most of the game is a dress rehearsal with your starting roster so the teams is ready to hit the ground running on opening day. So what were the Bombers thinking by leaving most of the vets at home? The best thing that coulkd have happen to Hefney was to be shown the door as this team is a disaster not waiting to happen, it is already happening.

Pot bust and delay in telling the team wasn't it? Probably the final straw and muddies the water for trade talks. Sends a shut up and play message to the rest of the team.

I normally don’t do long posts, but no one else from Lionbackers seems up for it, so here is my BC Lions report: Oline from Lion’s TC depth chart: Archibald, Kabongo, Reid, Norman, Olafioye. Kirby Fabien was a 2012 1st round pick and was finally signed last week, is listed as a backup, but could be a starter by the end of TC or end of the season. Early TC reports are that he is looking impressive. Centre, Reid is having back issues and HC Benevides is on record as saying that guard Matt Norman is being groomed as an eventual replacement for Reid when it is expected, but not yet announced, that Reid will retire after this season. It is unclear if Norman will move to centre if Reid can’t go or if depth chart backup Baboulas steps up at centre. Lions go with 2 import tackles, but both are all-stars so it helps make up for lack of depth at guard and centre. The Oline gave up very few sacks last year but it was partly due to Lulay’s elusiveness. Receivers: With both Simon and Bruce gone mostly due to high salaries and advancing age, Lions have likely the youngest least experienced group in the CFL. OTOH Lions greatest depth is at NI and I receivers and they are all big, strong, and fast. At 6’, 198 lbs, NI Shawn Gore is the smallest receiver and last year lead the Lions with 720 yards, NI RB Andrew Harris was next with 718 yards and then Geroy Simon who missed 5 games with injury was next at 700 yards. With no receivers even close to 1000 you might think that last year the Lions struggled with the passing game. You would be wrong as last year Lions QBs threw for over 5000 yards. Lulay when he is at his best likes to get everyone the ball. Last year he completed passes to 13 different receivers. Nick Moore (6'2" 195lbs.) takes over Simon’s SB spot, Courtney Taylor (6'1" 205lbs.) takes over Bruce’s SB spot, Gore is the other SB. Newly returned from a less than lustrous NFL two year stint, Emmanuel Arceneaux (6'2" 210 lbs., 2 years in CFL, 2 years in NFL and still just 25 years old) has recently signed and will line up at short side WR with Earnest Jackson (6'2" 215 lbs.) as backup. NIs Iannuzzi (6'1" 195lbs.) and Foster (6'4" 212 lbs.) will battle for the wide side WR spot with Paris Jackson (6'3" 215lbs.) as a backup and 2nd round 2013 draftee S.J. Haidara (6'1" 215lbs.) likely another backup and special teams guy. RB: Andrew Harris with over 1400 yards combined running/receiving was Lions biggest weapon last year. Look for opposing Defences to game plan for Harris, opening up opportunities for the no name receiving corps many of who could be household names by season’s end. I expect Tim Brown to retain his job as kick returner and relief RB. When NI Harris goes out for a play, a I receiver goes out as well and is replaced by a NI receiver to maintain the I/NI ratio. QB: Look for Lulay to continue to play at a high level as he has not yet reached his full potential. With backup Mike Reilly gone to Edmonton, last year’s 3rd string QB Thomas DeMarco and former Bomber backup Joey Elliott battle for the second string job. Defence: For a team that allowed the least amount of points against last year, Lions have made a lot of changes. Perhaps prompted by last year’s Western Final upset. Dline: With Kalif Mitchell traded to the Argos, DE Keron Williams moves to DT and free agent signing (from Esks) Korey Williams goes to DE. Eric Taylor remains at the other DT and Kareem Smith at DE. NI Jabar Westerman is the rotational D lineman as he was last year as a rookie and won’t count as one of the needed 7 NI starters. Brandon Jordan will likely be an Import rotational guy. A very solid group and most of them can play DE or DT. Linebackers: Solomon Elimimian returns to the MLB spot and Adam Bighill moves to Anton McKenzie’s OLB spot with McKenzie being utilized to rotate the two LB spots. LB/Nickel back Anthony Reddick is gone and Korey Banks moves from the short side DHB to LB/Nickel. DC Rich Stubler likes to platoon so I expect on short yardage Banks might come out with the versatile McKenzie coming in. Korey Banks has been the Lions best player on D for quite a few seasons but he will be 34 in a few months so it might make sense to give his legs a rest from time to time. Lions might not dress an extra DB on game day and may instead use Banks to replace any DB injured during a game with McKenzie replacing Banks at LB/Nickel. IMO this is the best LB group in the CFL. DB: This is Dante Marshe’s 10th season as short side corner back. Does any other corner in the CFL even come close to that kind of consistency? Often overlooked as an all-star, because he doesn’t yap much and when you cover your man as well as he does, the QBs just don’t throw the ball to your area and there is no measureable stat for that. The other CB will be Ryan Phillips moving over from his wide side DHB spot to replace the departed Byron Parker. At free safety, the lost to free agency of Cauchy Muama means he will be replaced by last season’s backup, JR LaRose. The two DHB spots are up for grabs with last year’s backups Josh Bell and Lin-J Shell having the inside shot but challenged by newcomer Cord Parks. At FG/P it’s 21 year vet Paul McCallum vs young guy Hugh O’Neill. My guess is that O’Neill is getting impatient on the IR list and Lions will look for a way to get both on the game day roster with O’Neill handling kick offs. Loosing one of these guys to Ottawa’s expansion draft in December would be advantageous for the Lions due to then getting to protect extra players. With a very solid roster, look for the Lions to compete for first in the West.