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You are here: Home / Archives for Den Talk

BC Lions Free Agency Preview: A New Direction

February 9, 2019 By Brian Wawryshyn

Reports on Saturday indicate Mike Reilly will sign with the BC Lions on Tuesday

#IsItJuneYet is a popular hashtag in CFL off-season chatter. But for fans of the BC Lions, #IsItTuesdayYet might win the weekend.

The 2019 off-season is certainly anything but dull. With pending CBA negotiations to start in early march, the CFL Draft, expansion talk, and the league going global with Commissioner Randy Ambrosie’s vision of CFL 2.0.

However, it’s the opening of free agency that CFL fans are clamouring for and Lions fans have every reason to be excited as the bell rings on Tuesday at 9:00am PT, 12:00pm ET.

With the retirement of Wally Buono the Leo’s are now firmly under the guidance of Ed Hervey, who during his wrap up press conference at the end of last season, declared his club would be “extremely aggressive” in free agency.

With just 4 of his 38 pending free agents signed at the time this was written, it appears the boss of the Leos is saving his pennies to see what he can land in free agency and at the same time asking those on his roster to buy in to his plan

Trying to predict how this will all pan out is about as likely as winning the lottery.

Reports on Saturday infer that Mike Reilly will indeed sign with the BC Lions, but it’s not official until the Lions say it is, and until then almost everything else is in a holding pattern.

Word came Friday that the Lions and other CFL teams had been given permission by the Edmonton Eskimos to speak with their prized quarterback. It’s believed the Lions have met with Reilly recently, and most CFL “insiders” are suggesting the Lions have the inside track on signing him, for reasons that have been widely speculated on.

But nothing is guaranteed, and there is no doubt Hervey will have multiple plans to bounce to if needed.

There is a lot of work to be done. His entire secondary is unsigned, many on the offensive line, and none of his top receivers. He also needs to find a kicker and a punter, or someone who can do both, after the departure of Ty Long to the NFL.

Let’s break down the areas that Hervey could be targeting on Tuesday.

Quarterback

The whole CFL community knows the Lions plan to take a shot at bringing Mike Reilly back to Vancouver. It’s been reported that this is a two horse race between the Eskimos and Lions, with his current club saying they won’t be outbid to retain their starting pivot.

What this will come down to for Reilly are the intangibles and with the proximity to his home and family in Washington State, the Lions might hold the best hand. Of course winning is important as well, and if the Lions are to be successful obtaining Reilly’s services, they’ll have to lay out a vision for a return to dominance.

Should Reilly choose to remain in Edmonton, or choose another destination, the plan will have to quickly change directions. With only 2nd year man Ricky Lloyd under contract, and despite the fact they do see promise in him, the Lions surely need to find a more experienced QB to start the season with, never mind to sell tickets around.

With the money already budgeted, the Lions could change their target to Trevor Harris or Bo Levi Mitchell, should they be there and willing to listen.

Travis Lulay has yet to declare his intentions for 2019, and would be the perfect number two behind his best friend Reilly, but at this stage in his career and where the Lions are as an organization, it would be hard to sell him to a fan base craving for a new direction. Combine that with the salary the Lions would paying to Reilly, and Lulay may not even be affordable, clearing the way for Lloyd to be Reilly’s understudy.

Offensive Line

Since his arrival in BC, Ed Hervey has preached a consistent message; he wants to build this team from the trenches out. And if he’s going to invest the money it will take to get an elite quarterback, he had better make sure he has the horses to protect him.

Re-signing Joel Figueroa was positive step, but the thought is Hervey isn’t satisfied with the current make up of this unit. He wants to make it tougher, nastier and into a unit that imposes its will on opponents.

Of last year’s starters, only Figueroa and David Foucault are under contract and you can bet Hervey will be seeing what’s out there on Tuesday before committing on who to bring back.

Possible names that I’ve heard are Sukh Chungh (WPG) John Gott (OTT) and Sir Vincent Rogers (OTT). Chungh is a BC boy who would add that nastiness that Hervey is seeking, while Gott (who has already learned he’s not in Ottawa’s plans) and Rogers have both played under the Lions new offensive line coach Bryan Chiu in the past. Rogers and Chungh would not come cheap, and would almost certainly mean the end for Jovan Olafioye and others Lions.

Receiver

Lions fans would be wise to prepare themselves for the loss of a fan favourite or two here. Both Bryan Burnham and Emmanuel Arceneaux are set to enter free agency, and with potential of a big ticket like Reilly, it’s highly unlikely both will be back.

Will Bryan Burnham be back in orange and black? ( Photo: Gerry Kahrmann / PNG)

There are some that feel that the Eskimos Derel Walker will follow Mike Reilly if he leaves Edmonton, another connection to Ed Hervey that could pay dividends for the Lions. Many feel Arceneaux’s days in BC might be over, and it remains to be seen of Burnham could or would fit in under that scenario.

Of course there are other options out there as well. It will be interesting to see what receivers are left standing, and if the Lions can secure Reilly who they might attract, given the chance to play with the CFL’s premier pivot.

Defensive Line

The Lions defensive line was right up there with the best in the league at sacking the QB in 2018. Where they struggled was against the run, and look for Hervey to try and resolve that when the market opens.

One of the biggest additions he could make is plucking DT Micha Johnson from the Grey Cup Champion Stampeders. He wouldn’t come cheap, but perhaps he could be convinced to join new head coach DeVone Claybrooks west of the Rockies.

DE Odell Willis, who lead the team in sacks last season has been re-signed, but on the other side, Shawn Lemon is still without a deal. Will Hervey look to get a bit younger here and look to the free agent pool?

There’s some younger talent looking for their chance to start as well, but I expect Hervey will stick to his plan to make the lines as strong as he can and try to add a piece or two.

Secondary

The Lions secondary really started to come together in the second half of last season. The problem facing Ed Hervey here is that none of them are signed, or at least haven’t been announced.

The big piece here is TJ Lee who is now considered by many to be one of the best DB’s in the CFL and one of the leaders of that group. There other’s that Hervey brought in last year such as AJ Orange, Garry Peters and Otha Foster and national draft pick Anthony Thompson who made great strides in his second year.

TJ Lee became a leader in the Lions secondary last year and is set to enter free agency.

It’s likely not all of these players will be back, but the Lions would be wise to bring Lee back, then pick and choose from there.

Taylor Loffler (WPG) played his university football at UBC and doesn’t seem to be a fit cap wise for the Bombers. He’s a big physical defensive back that would certainly help the ratio, but the salary he wants may not fit into the Lions plans.

Special Teams

Ty Long has departed for the NFL, a loss that was expected by many. The Lions have signed kicker Lane Clark, but he doesn’t appear to have punting experience, and you can bet competition will be brought into camp.

There is really nothing available in the free agent pool however, so the Lions will need to find help here on their own, either through free agent camps, scouting, or the draft.

These are the areas where the Lions have the biggest needs and how it all will shake down over the next week is anyone’s guess. But if Hervey sticks to his statement about being aggressive, Lions fans can expect a lot of action come Tuesday. Especially if they land their big fish early.

Happy hunting, Ed!

Filed Under: Blog Posts, Den Talk, Featured, Free Agency Tagged With: BC Lions, Bryan Burnham, CFL Free, Mike Reilly, TJ Lee

Wally Buono: All You Can Say is Thank-You

October 14, 2018 By Brian Wawryshyn

Wally Buono

Wally Buono: Thank-you

I don’t write many blogs posts anymore. Simply put, the podcast takes up enough of my free time and I had to make a choice.

That said, Wally Buono is winding down his CFL career and I didn’t feel I could say what I wanted to say on a podcast, versus taking the time this man deserves to convey the gratitude from me as not only a BC Lions fan, but a CFL fan.

As the BC Lions head into this week, a win away from clinching a playoff spot in Buono’s final season, I needed to express my feelings on the man who has represented this team with class and dignity for the last 16 seasons.

Buono arrived to an organization in shambles, and along with the late Bob Ackles, reignited my passion for the BC Lions.

I’ve been a Lions fan for 42 of my nearly 50 years on this earth, but I admit for a short period of time I had drifted away from the team. During my late teen years and early 20’s I had stopped going to games, still watching on TV when the games were on. None of my friends were interested in going to the games, so I stopped going too.

But when Buono arrived, he brought instant credibility to the team. Working with Ackles, Buono quickly made it apparent that the status quo would not be tolerated any longer. This organization was going to operate Wally’s way…one that had a proven track record of success, and it didn’t take long to get things turned around.

In the first five seasons under Buono (2003–2007), the Lions went 62–27–1 in regular-season play, with five straight playoff appearances, four straight first-place finishes (2004–2007), and two Grey Cup appearances: a 27-19 loss to the Toronto Argonauts in 2004 and a 25-14 victory over the Montreal Alouettes in 2006.

I’ve been a season ticket holder for the whole Buono era, and next year will be my 17th straight season with tickets. If it wasn’t for Wally Buono, I honestly don’t know if this would be the case. There have been highs and lows, thrills and devastating disappointments, but that’s the life of a sports fan, it’s part of the ride. But I am hooked for life now because this passion has developed into me devoting even more time to the game, as a fan, blogger and podcaster.

The highlight of course was the 2011 season. The Lions dug themselves a hole starting the year with five straight losses. In a year when they were hosting the Grey Cup, they were 1-6 when they turned their season around, in one of the best worst to first seasons that this league has ever seen.

It was in this season, where Buono did his finest work and the Lions rebounded to win 10 of their last 11 games on the way to an 11-7 record, a west final win over Edmonton and a Grey Cup win at a newly renovated BC Place stadium over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

He walked away from the sidelines after that season, but you never truly got the feeling that it was the last we would see of him. Wally needed to be involved in the action;  lived it…it’s who he is. After two failed attempts at replacing him, Buono realized that inner passion was still there and knew he had to return.

Faith, Family, Food and Football

Buono is an ambassador for this league. He is an icon. It doesn’t matter what CFL event you attend, if Wally walks in the room, people flock to him. Whether it’s to chat, ask for a photo, an autograph or simply to shake his hand, he’s Wally, and everyone knows who he is and what he’s done for this league.

Buono Family
Wally Buono and family: Faith, Family, Food & Football – Flickr.com

He’s a devoted husband, father and grandfather. Speak to any of his children and it’s apparent how much they love and respect their dad. A tribute to not only the man who had to sacrifice so much to be successful, but also to his wife Sande, who has supported him and been the matriarch of the Buono family for the whole ride. After this season, they will get him back full time, and they deserve that. He deserves that.

He takes time to speak to everyone who wants a moment of his time, and realizes that though things have changed and evolved over the years, the CFL is a fan driven league.

The end of an era is coming in BC Lions football, and the Canadian Football League. It’s my dream one day to have Wally Buono join us on the podcast. But I want to wait until he’s done coaching to bring out as much as we can from him. His journey has been a fascinating one and one would hope there could be a book in the future, filled with stories from his time in this league.

I just want to say thank you to a man who brought my passion back. A man that has represented this team and this league with class.

If you have ever been a Lions fan under this regime, and for whatever reason you have stopped coming to games, the Lions have two home games left. Now is the time to come and say thank you to Wally yourself.

Now go get them coach…you deserve that final chapter to be a thriller.

Filed Under: Blog Posts, Den Talk, Featured Tagged With: BC Lions, BCLionsDen.ca, Brian Wawryshyn, CFL, Wally Buono

The BC Lions Den Pawdcast – Episode 85

October 6, 2016 By Brian Wawryshyn

Image: Winnipeg Blue Bombers / Facebook
Image: Winnipeg Blue Bombers / Facebook

It’s crunch time in the CFL West and the BC Lions are in the driver’s seat for a home playoff game as they head to Winnipeg to open a back to back series versus the Blue Bombers. We look back at the shootout win over the Ottawa Redblacks and then get the scoop from Winnipeg, with our Bombers insider Darrin Bauming of TSN 1290.

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Follow our guest:

Darrin Bauming
Twitter: @DarrinBauming

This show was recorded on September 28th, 2016.

Music: Randy Bachman: Prairie Town via You Tube

Filed Under: 2016, 2016 Game Recaps, BC Lions Den, BCLionsDen.ca Pawdcast, Den Talk, Featured, Interviews, Podcasts Tagged With: Andrew Harris, BC Lions, BCLionsDen.ca, Brian Wawryshyn, CFL, Darrin Bauming, Mojo Kemp, Ottawa Redblacks, Podcast, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

The BC Lions Den Pawdcast: Episode 82

September 15, 2016 By Brian Wawryshyn

Photo: BC Lions / Facebook
Photo: BC Lions / Facebook

After three straight wins and compiling an 8-3 record, the BC Lions head into their second bye week of the season. Brian and Mojo chat about the team so far and where they could be headed and hand out a few awards up to this point in the season. Freelance sports writer Cam Tucker joins the show for some expanded Lions discussion.

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Follow our guest:

Cam Tucker
Twitter: @CamTucker_Sport

This show was recorded on September 14th, 2016.

Filed Under: 2016, 2016 Game Recaps, BCLionsDen.ca Pawdcast, Den Talk, Featured, Interviews, Podcasts Tagged With: BC Lions, BCLionsDen.ca, Brian Wawryshyn, Cam Tucker, CFL, Jonathan Jennings, Mojo Kemp, Montreal Alouettes, Solomon Elimimian

The BC Lions Den Pawdcast: Episode 81

August 25, 2016 By Brian Wawryshyn

Image: CBC.ca
Image: CBC.ca

The BC Lions are rolling with a 5-2 record as they get ready for a series deciding, first place showdown with their western rivals, the Calgary Stampeders.

The BC Lions took a thumping from the Calgary Stampeders in week nine of the CFL season, a loss that hurt for a number of reasons. Now they head to Ottawa for the first of two eastern road games.

Jeannine Ritchot of the Bleed Redblacks Podcast joins to talk about the Redblacks, and former BC Lion Davis Sanchez who co-hosts the CFL’s The Waggle Podcast, joins us to chat Lions and CFL.

***Our apologies for the audio quality on the Davis Sanchez interview, we had a bad connection.***

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Follow our guests:

Jeannine Ritchot
Twitter: @OttawaJay

Bleed Redblacks

Davis Sanchez
Twitter: @DavisSanchez

The Waggle Podcast

This show was recorded on August 24th, 2016.

Filed Under: 2016, 2016 Game Recaps, BC Lions Den, BCLionsDen.ca Pawdcast, Den Talk, Featured, Interviews, Podcasts Tagged With: BC Lions, BCLionsDen.ca, Bleed Redblacks, Brian Wawryshyn, Calgary Stampeders, CFL, Davis Sanchez, Jeannine Ritchot, Mojo Kemp, Ottawa Redblacks, Podcast, The Waggle

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About The Hosts

Brian Wawryshyn is 44 year BC Lions fan who extends his passion for the Leos and the Canadian Football League to the podcast world as host and producer of the BCLionsDen.ca Pawdcast.

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