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BC Lions 2018 CFL Draft Recap

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It’s that time again! Football is around the corner, and the BC Lions have added new cubs to the den in the 2018 CFL Draft. Here is a recap of the Lions picks today.

1st Round: 3rd Overall: Peter Godber, Offensive Lineman: Rice University (NCAA)

Peter Godber
(Photo credit: Chuck Pool, Rice Athletics)

Ed Hervey did what most thought he would do and addressed the offensive line with his first selection in the draft, 3rd overall.

Peter Godber is a physical player who may be ready to contribute sooner than later for the Leos. His football skills are impressive and he’s also set himself up for life after football, majoring in Sports Management and Kinesiology.

Gobder soured some in football circles with his decision not to test at the CFL Combine, and was sent home after he announced he would opt for a pro-day showing instead. He is represented by agent Jonathan Hardaway who has a reputation of focusing on NFL deals for his client and being a tough guy to negotiate with.

While his stock may have dropped during the combine, it rose again during his pro-day where his testing numbers were impressive. At 6-foot-4, 307 pounds Godber posted the following numbers:

  • 5.36 40-yard dash
  • 4.68 short shuttle
  • 7.65 three-cone
  • 28″ vertical
  • 8’4″ broad jump
  • 36 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press.

Godber, a known gym rat played at a high level starting 35 of 48 games during his NCAA career at Rice, and would be a solid addition to the interior of the Lions offensive line. His addition will push the likes of David Foucault and Charles Vaillancourt for the starting right guard spot after the Lions parted ways with Kirby Fabien this off-season.

Gord Randall, USports Analyst for Krown Countdown U had this to say about Godber:

Godber doesn’t have the highest ceiling in the draft but they’ll get him right away (and he’s better than Rutherford).

1st Round: 7th Overall: Julien Laurent, Defensive Tackle: Georgia State (NCAA)

Hervey went to the defensive side of the line of scrimmage with his 2nd pick of the first round. With the 7th overall pick they secured in Wednesday’s trade with Winnipeg, the Lions selected defensive tackle Julien Laurent out of Georgia State.

A two-year starter, Laurent anchored Georgia State’s offensive line that was stingy against the run in 2017, and was part of a defence that helped set school records for fewest points per game allowed (24.5), fewest rushing yards per game (136.4), fewest yards per rushing attempt (4.13) and most sacks (24). Laurent tied for the team lead with 6.5 tackles for a loss, 24 tackles and a pass breakup.

His real strength is against the run and he should be able to free up the Lions linebackers to make pressure plays by drawing attention on the line of scrimmage. His addition also helps the Lions commit to a Canadian starter on the defensive line, with Junior Luke and David Menard already in the mix,

ACADEMIC HONORS:

• 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-District (first team)

• Dean’s List, Spring 2015, Spring 2017

• Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, Spring 2016, Fall 2016

ATHLETIC HONORS:

• 2017 All-Sun Belt Conference (honorable mention)

2nd Round: 16th Overall: David Mackie, Fullback: Western (USports)

The Lions picked up a fullback with their 3rd pick of the day picking up David Mackie from the Vanier Cup Champion, Western Mustangs

A key component of the Mustangs offence, Mackie earned his first OUA All-Star nod this season, earning a spot on the 1st Team. He is described as a versatile player and is good at picking up blocks as well as catching the ball out of the backfield. His skills as a long snapper could prove valuable as well as contributions on special teams. He was the 18th ranked prospect in the draft.

The Lions have gotten 11 solid seasons from Rolly Lumbala, who isn’t done yet, but the Lions have added some depth at the position.

The Mustangs posted this on Twitter following Mackie’s selection:

3rd Round: 21st Overall: David Knevel, Offensive Lineman: Nebraska (NCAA)

At 6’9″ 305 (330 on his pro-day) pounds, David Knevel is a specimen, but the Lions may have to wait while to get him as he has NFL aspirations and has reported workouts lined up:

Knevel, who was at one time the top ranked player by the Central Scouting Bureau, the sees himself as a tackle. The Lions have taken chances on players like this before, both with Danny Watkins and Brett Boyko, that haven’t panned out. But the pick is very solid if Knevel, who says he’d love to play in Canada if the NFL doesn’t workout ends up coming North.

Here is Knevel talking about his pro-day performance.

4th Round: 34th Overall: Isaiah Guzyak-Messam, Defensive Back: Wilfred Laurier (USports)

The Lions went back to the defence and picked up defensive back Isaiah Guzyak-Messam in the 4th round with the 34th overall pick. The Lions originally didn’t have a pick in the round but swung a deal with Montreal, sending the 36th and 46th pick to the Alouettes.

At 6’1″, 207 lbs, Guzyak-Messam played in 7 games in 2017 registering 2 interceptions, 28 tackles and 7 pass knockdowns.

As you’ll see by his 2018 highlight tape, he likes to hit…hard.

6th Round: 47th Overall: Rashari Henry, Defensive Lineman: Wilfred Laurier (USports)

The Lions stuck with the Laurier Golden Hawks in the 6th round after sitting out the 5th, selecting defensive lineman Rashari Henry. Playing from the defensive end position Henry was a teammate of one of last year’s impact picks, Kwaku Boateng of the Edmonton Eskimos and has also been inspired by former Lions first round pick Ese Mrabure, who is now with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Here is a great piece on Henry’s CFL Combine experience in his own words.

You can checkout his highlight package here:

7th Round: 54th Overall: William Watson, Wide Receiver: UBC (USports)

The Lions looked in their own backyard with their 7th and final pick of the day, selecting UBC’s William Watson with the 54th overall selection. Watson was named to the College Football America 2017 Yearbook U Sports Starting Lineup, CFA’s version of an All-Canada team. The Lions have Danny Vandervoort looking to play a bigger role, but the retirement of Marco Iannuzzi adding some depth at this position couldn’t hurt.

Gord Randall, had this to say when I asked him about Watson:

Will is a scrapper who has a real underdog mentality. He’s got marginal size but he will work for you, guaranteed.

Struggled with drops earlier on in his uni career but worked to improve that and also became a polished route runner. He’ll battle well for contested balls and elevates well for a smaller guy.

Has done some returning but has never been the main guy there. Certainly motivated and could be tough enough and athletic enough to stick as a teamer. One other thing to keep in mind about Will… Geroy knows him better than anyone.

All in all it was a solid day at the office for Ed Hervey and the Lions. Next up training camp…it’s great to have football back. I’ll be chatting with Eskimo Empire Podcast host Andrew Hoskins and Travis Currah of the 2 and Out CFL Podcast about the draft and other CFL topics this weekend on a special Episode of the BCLionsDen.ca Pawdcast. Stay tuned!

BC Lions Notebook: Odell Willis, Fines and Patience

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Odell Willis

After a whirlwind Friday of activity in the CFL, the BC Lions find themselves with a new veteran defensive lineman in Odell Willis. Some thoughts on the latest developments not only in the Lions’ Den, but around the CFL.

The Mayor of BC Place?

The acquisition of veteran pass rusher Odell Willis is another example of Ed Hervey doing what he said he was going to do. When Hervey was hired by the Lions, he made it clear he wanted a certain type of player and style along the line of scrimmage, and on the defensive side of the ball that is well underway with the off-season additions of Gabe Knapton and Odell Willis.

Everyone knows what Willis brings to the table. He’s loud, he’s charismatic, and oh yeah, he’s a pretty damn good player as well. Yes, he’s 33 and had a drop off in the second half last season, but he still finished with 8 sacks, which was 3rd best the CFL. His leadership will be clear in the locker room, and he will instantly become one of the leaders of the defence. With the Lions recent trend of having a defensive line rotation, they have a good chance to keep Willis fresh for 18 games.

When asked for his thoughts on the trade, Dave Campbell, colour analyst for the Eskimos radio broadcast, indicated the deal was good for both sides.

“Trading a star player and a popular player at that, is never an easy decision for any G.M. Brock Sunderland traded a 33-year-old player in Willis who carries a big-ticket for a player in Jake Ceresna, who is 10 years younger, is cheaper, and has some good upside.”, Campbell said.

“Willis re-joining Ed Hervey should give him a jolt and the Lions gain a good pass rusher. He should perform well but the question is can he give you consistency for 18 games and beyond? Playing three times against the Eskimos should light a fire under him.”

Both Alex Bazzie and Craig Roh are pending free agents. It’s not known if the Willis deal means one or both won’t be back with the Lions, but Willis will eat up some of that budget. If I was a betting man, I think the Lions will let Bazzie hit free agency.

Me guy? Says who?

Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun drew the ire of fans and former teammates with a strange tweet after the trade.


Obviously, Jones is entitled to his opinion, but you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone that shares it, including former Eskimos kicker, Grant Shaw.


No offence Mr. Jones, but we’ll go with the opinion of Willis’ peers here.

Fined again

Much has been made of the current 2-year contract situation in the CFL, and once again the Lions are going to be fined by the league over the release of a player under contract who has an NFL opportunity.

The Lions were fined last year when they released Adam Bighill while announcing he would return if he was unable to find NFL work. This time around they simply released Micah Awe with the transparency that they were allowing him to sign with the NFL’s NY Jets, based on a promise made to him by someone no longer with the organization.

By the letter of the law, sure the BC Lions probably have to be fined. The league would love players to stick around and honour their contracts, the players want to chase their NFL dreams and have a short window to do so. The money an entry-level CFL contract pays isn’t great.

Whether we like it our not (or you want to admit it) the CFL is in essence, a feeder league for the NFL. More and more we are seeing U.S. players use the CFL to try to get noticed south of the border.

As you’ve no doubt read over the past week or so, the solution is to bring back the player option window after the first year of a CFL deal. This gives the player the chance to audition for NFL teams for a window of time. If he can’t find work south of the border he returns to complete his CFL deal.

Hervey has stated that the early release of players is not something that’s going to continue under his watch. His philosophy is to find players that are committed to completing their two years here. He thinks the team owes it to their fan base to not have a revolving door of players.

“It’s not anything we will do in the future or anything I’ve done at all. Typically I prefer when a player comes to our team he’s willing to do the minimum two years. I personally gear towards those players who are willing to give that commitment. Our fans deserve a good product.” – Ed Hervey

If the option window doesn’t return, hopefully the structure of these contracts can. Perhaps year two of the contracts can include some bonus clauses that trigger in year two if certain incentives are met in year one.

It’s an issue that needs to be discussed because it has the potential to keep players from coming north.

Let’s hope the next CBA resolves this situation and makes it something that everyone can live with.

The Other Side of the Ball

There was some twitter chatter this week when then the Lions re-signed offensive linemen Hunter Steward. Some fans are perplexed why Hervey has re-signed 3 of 5 starters from an offensive line that struggled last year. Hervey said he was going to evaluate which players he wanted to keep and which ones he didn’t. It doesn’t mean there aren’t going to be changes, and certainly doesn’t mean that more talent won’t be brought in to compete for jobs and push last year’s players.

Two of the three signings are Canadians, and as any CFL fan knows you need Canadian depth on your offensive line. Let’s just wait and see what the offensive line looks like following free agency, through training camp and opening day before we claim the sky is falling.

Key CFL Dates in 2018

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CFL

The CFL has announced some key dates for the 2018 football season.

February 13th – 2018 Free Agency Opens
Teams will be able to sign free agents beginning at noon ET.

March 7th – Eastern Regional Combine in Montreal, Que
The Eastern Regional Combine will take place at Olympic Stadium. The schedule and roster for combine testing will be announced closer to the date.

March 9th – Ontario Regional Combine in Toronto, Ont
The Ontario Regional Combine will take place at the Athletic Centre at the University of Toronto, with on-field components taking place at the University of Toronto bubble. The schedule and roster for combine testing will be announced closer to the date.

March 20th – 22nd – Rules Committee & Competition Committee Meetings
These meetings will be held in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

March 21st – 25th – Mark’s CFL Week in Winnipeg, Man
Media Events at Mark’s CFL Week:

Canadian Football Hall of Fame VIP Reception: March 21
Player arrivals: March 21 & 22
Media Days: March 22 & 23
Football Operations Media Conference: March 23

March 22nd – Western Regional Combine in Winnipeg, Manitoba
The Western Regional Combine will take place at Subway Soccer South. The schedule and roster for combine testing will be announced closer to the date.

March 23rd – 25th – National CFL Combine presented by adidas in Winnipeg, Manitoba
In preparation for the 2018 CFL Draft the league’s general managers, coaches and scouts will be in Winnipeg, MB to evaluate more than fifty of the country’s top football prospects.

The 2018 National CFL Combine presented by adidas will be held at RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg and for on-field drills at the University of Winnipeg. The schedule and roster for combine testing will be announced closer to the date.

April 30th – CFL rosters reduced to 75

May 3rd – CFL Draft

First Round Draft Order:

1. Montreal Alouettes
2. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
3. BC Lions
4. Ottawa REDBLACKS
5. Saskatchewan Roughriders
6. Edmonton Eskimos
7. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
8. Calgary Stampeders
9. Toronto Argonauts
For the entire 2018 CFL Draft order, click here.

May 7th-12th – U SPORTS East/West Bowl
The U SPORTS East/West Bowl will be held in Quebec City, Que.

May 16th – Rookie Camps Open

May 20th – Training Camps Open

May 27th – Preseason Begins

June 9th – Teams must cut down from Training Camp Roster by 10:00 p.m. ET

June 14th – CFL Regular Season Kick Off
Edmonton Eskimos at Winnipeg Blue Bombers 8:30 p.m. ET

October 10th – Trade Deadline at 4:00 p.m. ET

November 11th – Eastern and Western Semi-Final

November 18th – Eastern and Western Final

November 25th – 106th Grey Cup presented by Shaw in Edmonton, Alta.

The BC Lions Must Sign Travis Lulay

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The Quarterback carousel in the CFL has slowed down to a slow spin, with most teams having their starters set in stone. In Toronto, we await word of Ricky Ray’s decision, while who will emerge as the starter in Montreal is anyone’s guess.

That leaves the task of filling in a capable backup, because let’s face it, getting your starter through an 18 game season is no easy task. Without a backup who has CFL experience, you can find yourself in trouble really quick in this league.

Darian Durant is out there, and at this stage of his career will probably have to accept a backup role to keep playing, but it would be shocking to see that happen in BC.

The Lions have the answer right in front of them in Travis Lulay, who showed last season he still has the skill set to not only backup but to be a starter if needed. That’s if he can get healthy of course, and if he decides he wants to keep playing.

Lulay’s value to the Lions goes beyond his potential play on the field. He and Jonathan Jennings have an excellent relationship, and you won’t find a better team guy than number 14. He knows his career is winding down, and he knows his role will likely continue to evolve as a result.

Behind Jennings the Lions have only Alex Ross and Mitchell Gale on the roster. No disrespect to either player, but those two names aren’t going to strike fear into any opposition defence, at least not at this point in their CFL careers. The Lions will no doubt be bringing in a couple more candidates for training camp.

So the question becomes, can the BC Lions afford NOT to sign Travis Lulay? The answer in my eyes is a clear and decisive no. But while Lulay recently said his rehab is going well, he also admitted he is still having internal debates which weigh his health after football against continuing to play the game he loves.

There is also the fact that Lulay has stated he wants to remain in football and possibly get into coaching at some point. With his ties to the community, the respect he has in the locker room and of course his experience, there would be no better place to start that career than with the Lions. You might recall the Lions have already seen one former player, Dave Dickenson, successfully progress in that role with division rival Calgary.

But it’s his value as a mentor to Jennings that trumps all. Jennings recently agreed to a contract restructuring that is more incentive based. Coming off a sub-par year he will be motivated to rebound, and having his friend Travis around to help him do that can go a long way. It’s unlikely Lulay will be ready to compete for the starting job in training camp, but with the addition of new OC Jarious Jackson, both men can be instrumental in getting Jennings right again heading into the 2018 season.

Had he not incurred a season ending injury last year, it’s quite likely Lulay would have gotten some serious interest in some markets come free agency if he got there. It’s a risk to take a chance on a player who has Lulay’s injury history, but his play last season opened a lot of eyes. Because he likely won’t be game ready until the season is underway, his value to the Lions should mean they take the risk and bring him back for at least one more season.

The Lions simply must re-sign Travis Lulay, because the reward far outweighs the risk.

Another Media Loss For BC Lions Fans

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Growing up as a young sports fan, there was no internet, no cell phones, many games weren’t even televised. Every morning for years my dad would fetch the Vancouver Sun from our front door, and he would take out the sports section for me. It was a must do ritual, as I couldn’t get enough of the articles about the BC Lions, the Canucks and the Whitecaps.

Sports writers are storytellers and conduits of information for sports fans across the province, and I often dreamed of doing the same for a living one day, though I never followed that dream.

Within the last two years, Vancouver and the province of British Columbia have lost two of the best and two men who provided BC Lions fans with the most reliable, professional and in-depth coverage of the team.

Mike Beamish
Mike Beamish

First, it was Lowell Ullrich of The Province, and today Vancouver Sun writer Mike Beamish announced he was retiring after 43 years on the job, many of those covering the Lions. Thankfully others have brought Lowell aboard so we can continue to enjoy his work.

The industry has claimed another victim, but maybe Mike was ready to go anyway. He’s worked hard and has earned a relaxing retirement, but what’s happened in the newspaper industry is a shame. The talented journalists who have brought us up with their stories are being forced out, skeletal staff remain and we the readers are the worse for it.

Social media has created a whole new world of competition for the papers, radio stations and television stations. Everyone has a camera, everyone has access to information as it happens, or thinks they do anyway. What do we need newspapers for?

Well for one, we need the talent that these writers possess. We need the diligence that they do their jobs with to ensure that a story is correct. Journalists are the ones that hold people accountable, and report the news has it should be by getting it right the first time.

I’ve always enjoyed talking about sports and particularly took a liking to the CFL and the BC Lions. Writers like Lowell Ullrich and Mike Beamish were part of that, as I’m sure they have been for many, many others.

I started this blog because of that dream I talked about earlier and because I felt there just wasn’t enough Lions coverage in a Canucks crazy market. I had the pleasure to deal with both Lowell and Mike over the years and they treated me with nothing but respect. They were always accommodating to me as a blogger and a podcaster, even allowing me to bounce a few fact-checking questions of my own off them from time to time.

However the media rebrands and reinvents itself, it’s important that we support it. Journalism is an important part of our society, and we should never, ever let it die. Lions fans have lost two hall of fame worthy writers in the last two years. They won’t be easily replaced.

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