Training Camp 2011 Archives | BC Lions Football

Lions transactions over the last 48 hours.

June 25, 2011 By Brian Wawryshyn

A release in the CFL often means you’ve been cut but not really. With that said, here is a quick recap of the BC Lions transactions over the last 48 hours:

The club released:

Keyon Brown – DT (Purdue)
Tim Cronk – FB (Bishop’s)
Alex Ellis – DT (Wilfrid Laurier)
Ronnie McCullough – LB (Bethune-Cookman)
Yannick Sage – OG (Sherbrooke)
Jared Perry – WR (Missouri)
Michael Smith – RB (Arkansas)
Justin Sorensen – OL (South Carolina)
Dane Randolph – OL (Maryland)
Sean Ortiz – DL (UBC)
Adam Baboulas – OL (St. Mary’s)
Adam Bighill – LB (Central Washington)
Kierrie Johnson – WR (Houston)
Nick Hennessey – OL (Colgate)
Marquez Hall – DB (Tennessee State)
James Bryant – DT (Louisville)
Chris Hodgson – DT (Saint Mary’s)
Michael Carter – DB (Maryland)

Among the released, the following players agreed to practice roster assigments:

OL Adam Baboulas
LB Adam Bighill
CB Marquez Hall
DE Rajon Henley
OL Nick Hennessey
DL Chris Hodgson
WR Kierrie Johnson.

The following players were placed on the nine game injured list:

QB Corey Leonard
K Hugh O’Neill

The following players were placed on the one game injured list:

RB Jamall Lee
LB Joe Henderson
S J.R. LaRose
DB Stanley Franks

Sources: CFL.ca and Lowell Ullrich of The Province.

Lions trade suspended Messam to Eskimos for a 5th round pick in 2013.

June 19, 2011 By Brian Wawryshyn

The BC Lions announced today they have traded running back Jerome Messam to the Edmonton Eskimos in exchange for a 5th round pick in the 2013 draft.

Messam was suspended by the Lions last week for undisclosed reasons and reports indicated it was a joint decision between management and his fellow teammates, suggesting he had become a distraction in the dressing room.

In 2010 Messam was invloved in altercation at an Ontario nightclub and plead guilty earlier this year. He received a suspended sentence and a $250 fine. Messam was also involved in a locker-room altercation that resulted in teammate Paris Jackson receiving a cracked jaw last season.

Lions cut 6, ask Jerome Messam to leave camp: Ullrich

June 14, 2011 By Brian Wawryshyn

The BC Lions have released six players according to The Province’s Lowell Ullrich on Twitter and an official release by the team. The Province beat writer also announced that running back Jerome Messam has been asked to leave camp by the club and will be suspended.

The Lions cuts included: RB Keegan Herring, receivers Brandon Thompkins, Calvin Simon, Marc Ison defensive back Jasper Faulk and linebacker Tyrell Graham.

Wally Buono issued a statement on the suspension of Messam saying, ““In the best interest of the BC Lions Football Club and Jerome, he has been placed on our suspended list while he works through some personal matters.”

The team is preparing for its first exhibition game on Wednesday in Calgary.

Live from Kamloops: Training Camp Report June 11th. Plus your Twitter questions answered.

June 11, 2011 By Brian Wawryshyn

Wally Buono gave his players the morning off Saturday and the result was a spirited afternoon session that saw a fast tempo and some heated tempers to close out the day at Hillside Stadium in Kamloops, BC. There was a good crowd on hand in the stands to watch the practice, several who had driven up from the lower mainland to check out the 2011 hopefuls

Watching:

Geroy Simon, Eric Taylor and Stanley Franks Michael Carter, Joe Henderson, Stanley Franks, Shawn Gore were on the field but not in pads and not practicing.

Returning:

Davis Sanchez was back practicing.

Leaving:

Cornerback Dante Marsh left practice on a cart after an apparent hamstring injury. The veteran corner went down defending an offensive play and immediately grabbed the back of his leg. Marsh pulled off his helmet and threw it 15 yards down field and was in obvious pain. He left with an ice bag wrapped around the leg and on a golf cart. He did not return, and according to Lowell Ullrich of the Province will -be re-evaluated in the morning.

Offensive line:

The first team offensive line remained unchanged from our previous practice. From left to right, the starting five were Ben Archibald, Jon Hameister-Ries, Angus Reid, Dean Valli and Jovan Olafioye. The line opened some nice holes for the backs during live reps and looks to be gelling nicely. One item of note here, it seems as though Jesse Newman who is listed on the depth chart as the starting right guard has been leapfrogged by Valli, barring an issue we don’t know about regarding Newman.

Defensive line:

With Eric Taylor watching, Khalif Mitchell assumed the majority of the starting reps at nose tackle, with Keron Williams and Aaron Hunt on the ends.

Quarterbacks:

Travis Lulay continues to be sharp. The pecking order hasn’t changed behind him with Jarious Jackson and Mike Reilly assuming the 2^nd and 3^rd reps. Tough to give any assessment on Matt Johnson and Corey Leonard at this point with minimal reps.

Running backs:

Jamal Robertson is the starter right now and that hasn’t changed. Andrew Harris continues to impress and how no effects from an off-season torn pectoral muscle. Newcomer Tim Brown is making a case to stick around.

Returners:

The two main returners to date seem to me Kierrie Johnson and Michael Smith. Both have had some success to date and both have very good top end speed and shifty moves. The real test will come in Calgary next week.

Hot tempers:

Practice ended with Korey Banks laying a hard lick on receiver Calvin Simon. That brought the offence and defence together and a tempers flared. From the crowd came the words of wisdom “It’s over, it’s over, we a damn team!” And with that practice was done.

You’re Twitter Questions:

@j_rower asks: “@BCLionsDen, How does Kamau Peterson look? Could he have as good a season as he had in the past?”

Kamau doesn’t look out of place and is getting up to camp speed. He is seeing a lot of first team reps and is running good routes and catching balls thrown his way. Can he be as effective as in the past? That will depend in large part his health and on the return of Paris Jackson who doesn’t seem to be feeling many effects from his injured knee as he works out by himself. That said Kamau is a great addition who brings Canadian depth and a wealth of experience to the room.

@98celtic asks: “@BCLionsDen, Is Stephen Black looking like he will have a breakout year??? Go #82 and Lions!”

Steven Black made some clutch catches last year and by the end of the season was a starter in the offence. So far in camp he looks like he has the chance to take that to another level and I think he has the chance to.

@Markfrancis23 asks: “@BCLionsDen, how is Chris Hodgson doing? I’ve known him since he was a kid…athletic freak…say hello for me.”

You’re right about Hodgson being an athletic freak. I can tell you this the guys arms are huge! Right now Hodgson is a bit of a project. I haven’t been able to keep that close a watch on him, but here is a video the BC Lions did on him if you haven’t seen it: http://www.bclions.com/article/getting-to-know-chris-hodgson

At KieranM37 asks: “@BCLionsDen who’s who in the secondary? Hyland getting the most reps at S? Banks back at HB?”

David Hyland is currently second in the depth chart at halfback behind Stanley Franks. I haven’t seen him playing any safety and the Lions are currently trying to Canadians in J.R. LaRose and Jason Arakgi at that spot. Korey Banks is still lining up at nickleback and will do so often as the Lions for with a 3-4 defence on many downs. Banks had a solid year last year and the team will look for more of the same. The rest of the secondary is a little banged up. Stanley Franks, Ryan Phillips and Davis Sanchez all have minor ailments, and as we alluded to above Dante Marsh left practice today.

Photos: June 11th, 2011

Live from Kamloops: Training Camp Report June 9th. Plus your Twitter questions answered.

June 9, 2011 By Brian Wawryshyn

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Summer has arrived in the tournament capital of Canada and BC Lions training camp is in full swing at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops BC. It was our first look at the 2011 crop of hopefuls looking to become BC Lions and it didn’t take long to see there was some impressive talent out on the field.

Let’s get you up to speed on some of our observations from our first day here in Kamloops. We’ll also answer some questions you sent us on Twitter.

Tempo:

The first thing you notice at camp this year is that there is a very high tempo. Players are being moved from drill to drill to keep the pace up and the teaching constant. There is very little standing around and this is probably a good plan. Players coming to Canada for the first time need to adjust to a shorter play clock and the faster pace of the game. This is a smart move by the team.

Solomon Elimimian:

Last year’s CFL rookie of the year has come to camp looking like he wants to add to his trophy case. Elimimian was flying out there in the drills we watched and opposing offences had better be ready to deal with #56. The hard hitting linebacker, who the Lions tried to sign to extension in the off-season, is going to open some more eyes this year. The Lions are going to feature a 3-4 defense for many plays and combined with Adam Leonard, Anton McKenzie and Korey Banks should sport a very effective linebacking core with Elimimian as the centerpiece.

Receivers:

When Emmanuel Arceneaux left for the NFL dream this off-season, it certainly left the team with a hole to fill. The Lions have some options to look at in the returning Nick Moore and Akeem Foster and both had some nice plays on Thursday. But the club also looks to have found some nice options in newcomers Dobson Collins, Kierrie Johnson and Jared Perry. Collins in particular is an intriguing option with his height and speed and he received some reps with the first team, looking good doing it. He beat his defender more than once on deep routes despite not getting the ball thrown his way. Both Johnson and Perry also showed promise. 1st round draft pick Marco Iannuzzi looks like a solid pick, running solid routes and showing good hands.

Lulay leads:

There is one thing you notice right away this season. Lulay is going to be the leader of this team. He is vocal and supportive in the huddle and everyone has his attention. His passes were crisp and despite one interception during redzone drills, there was lots of reasons to feel excited watching Lulay work today.

The returners:

With the release of Yonus Davis because of his legal issues the hunt is on for a new kick returner. Auditioning today were Tim Brown, Kierrie Johnson, Andrew Harris, Marco Iannuzzi and Michael Smith. Of that group Andrew Harris and Tim Brown stood out to me.

Your Twitter Questions:

@the4jenkins asked: “@BCLionsDen How is Corey Leonard doing as QB? Will he be a good addition to the Lions?”

Unfortunately it’s tough to answer that mainly because Leonard didn’t get a lot of reps today. Travis Lulay, Jarious Jackson and Mike Reilly got the majority of them from what I saw. Leonard and Matt Johnson will battle it out for the 4th QB position and we’ll have to watch more closely as camp progresses.

@allezlabluesca asked: “@BCLionsDen Ask Joash Gesse how he envisioned its second season with the Lions.”

I don’t have access to the players but I can tell you Gesse looked good in special teams drills, and saw some reps at linebacker. With the depth the team has here I think it will be tough for him to get defensive minutes when the bullets start to fly. Like James Yurichuk before him Gesse is going to earn his keep on special teams for another year I think.

@KieranM37 asked: “@BCLionsDen good to hear! How are the DBs doing?”

The DB’s looked very solid today. Marsh, Phillips and Banks looked in fine form. Davis Sanchez was present but didn’t take part in drills. J.R. LaRose has returned and didn’t show any effects from his season ending injury last season and is working with Jason Arakgi at safety. Hamid Mahmoudi struggled today, getting beat deep on more than one occasion while Stanley Franks looked solid.

@BushmanGarth asked: “@BCLionsDen Wondering how Ben Archibald looks on the O-line and the O-line in general.”

Lions fans can look forward to big things from the offensive line if it stays healthy and the big reason will be Archibald. The man is massive, and the Lions now have to solid bookends at tackle with Jovan Olafioye moving to the right. The line looked good in drills and a few running backs hit some nice holes in drills.

@Padre35 asked:@BCLionsDen How is Matt Johnson and Edgeson looking in practice? Muamba as well?

See above for Matt Johnson, Edgeson is no longer with the team and Muamba looked ok, but didn’t stand out today.

We won’t be attending the morning session tomorrow, as the defense will be practicing indoors where we can’t see, and the offense will be doing a walk-through and teaching session.