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The BCLionsDen.ca Pawdcast Episode 24

March 12, 2014 By Brian Wawryshyn

reid-intenseIn Episode 24 Angus Reid of the BC Lions joins Brian and Mojo to talk about his retirement, his career and what’s in store for him in the future. They also talk to Tyler Bieber of CFLDaily.ca about league news and his top prospects for the CFL Draft on May 13. Recent Lions news is also discussed.

To stay up to date with our podcasts, blogs and other Lions news, follow us on Twitter @BCLionsDen

Please leave us a comment on the site and let us know how we’re doing. You can also leave us a ranking and a review on iTunes, we would really appreciate it!

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Filed Under: 2014, BCLionsDen.ca Pawdcast, Featured, Interviews, Podcasts Tagged With: Angus Reid, BC Lions, BCLionsDen.ca, Canadian Football League, CFL, CFL Draft, CFLDaily.ca, Podcast, Tyler Bieber

2012 BC Lions Draft Recap: Lions go to the trenches on draft day.

May 3, 2012 By Brian Wawryshyn

The BC Lions had a chance to bolster their offensive and defensive lines in the 2012 Canadian College draft and they did just that selecting two offensive linemen, one defensive lineman and a linebacker they may convert into a fullback.

Here is a recap of the Lions work for the day, and on paper it seems like it could be a successful draft. Of course training camp will be the first real test of that theory. We are joined by our friends Tyler Bieber of CFLDaily.ca (@CFLDaily), Andrew Bucholtz from Yahoo’s 55 Yardline blog. (@AndrewBucholtz) and Kent Ridley of RidleyScouting.com

Round one: Jabar Westerman :: Defensive Lineman :: Eastern Michigan :: 2nd overall pick via Toronto via Edmonton.

Jabar Westerman: CFL Draft 2010: Photo: CFL.caThe Lions had a chance to make some waves in the first round of the the 2012 Canadian college draft and they did just that. Holding two picks in the opening round, the Lions made a move early to ensure they got the man they wanted.

After an earlier deal between Winnipeg and Hamilton saw the Bombers leap frog the Lions to get the 3rd pick, Wally Buono worked a deal with Edmonton to move from the 4th pick up to the 2nd and took Eastern Michigan defensive lineman Jabar Westerman, who was reportedly the reason Winnipeg had tried to move up.

Westerman comes from a family of football players, with brother Jamaal playing LB for the Miami Dolphins and other brother Jawann played football at Rutgers but went undrafted today.

“My greatest asset, I would say is my size and strength, just because how big I am – I’m almost 300-pounds – and I’m pretty quick for my size. Most people underestimate my speed,” said Westerman in describing himself as a football player.

Wally Buono described his newest Lion by saying, “He’s a very, very physical football player. He’s quick for his size and with his long arms, it makes him a natural pass rusher.”

Westerman flew under the radar of many scouts because of some late clarification of his eligibility for the draft. Once he was deemed eligible, which was right before E-camp, his stock rose and the Lions were thrilled to get him.

The trade left the Lions with just four picks on the day, but they got their man and that’s what it’s all about.

What our panel had to say:

Tyler Bieber (CFLDaily.ca)

Westerman brings an excellent balance of speed, strength and size to the Lions defensive line, and while he probably won’t see loads of playing time immediately, he will develop into one of the most – if not the most dominant interior Canadian defensive lineman in the CFL. Once he gets adjusted to the game and learns to use his size to break off the line and make big plays, he will be one to watch week in and week out.

Kent Ridley (Ridley Scouting)

The Eastern Michigan product is very agile, but perhaps not quite the traditional DT. Looking forward to what he can bring at camp because of where the Lions staff believed he was worth the pick.

Round one: Kirby Fabien :: Offensive Lineman :: University of Calgary :: 7th overall

With their 2nd pick in the draft and 7th overall, the Lions went to the other side of the ball and selected offensive lineman Kirby Fabien from the University of Calgary. The 21 year old oozes potential and talent and still has college eligibility left, giving the Lions some time to let him develop further. A training camp under Dan Dorazio won’t hurt, even if the team decides to return him to Calgary.

Fabien has all the tools to have a long career in the CFL and could even be groomed to play the tackle spot, a position that is usually filled by imports. At 6’6″ and close to 300 pounds, he has a big long frame and Dan Dorazio will be drooling to get Fabien into camp to start his tutelage. Described as an intelligrnt player who picks things up very quickly, Fabien has been a three year starter for Calgary, twice being named a Canada West all-star.

“When you look at his measurables, when you look at his length, how he moves, the thing about Kirby is he’s a big man and he moves and he’s light on his feet. He plays tackle and he can potentially grow at that position. But what you really like about him is, because I want intelligent football players, Kirby is a guy that steps in right away and he knows everything,” said head coach Mike Benevides.

What our panel had to say:

Tyler Bieber (CFLDaily.ca)

When you look at Fabien initially, you see a big body. He stands 6’6” and weighs approximately 300 pounds. At the age of 21 years old though, he will need some grooming and maturing before he is ready to take on a bigger role with the Lions. That’s where the Lions brilliant offensive line coach Dan Dorazio comes in. Dorazio has helped groom many offensive linemen over his previous nine seasons, and there is no reason to think that he won’t be able to do the same with Fabien.

At this point I’m not sure if the Lions will commit to keeping Fabien around for the 2012 season, as he does still have eligibility left at the CIS level. If the Lions believe he can project to playing right tackle at the CFL level, I think they might return him to Calgary for this year and let him develop one more year while playing that spot for the Dinos. If they feel he is more suited to guard then perhaps they will keep him and let him learn from guys like Angus Reid, Dean Valli, Jesse Newman, and of course Dan Dorazio.

Kent Ridley (Ridley Scouting)

Kirby Fabien (Calgary) a year ago was considered a lock for one of the top picks in the draft. His draft season didn’t match the years prior however he didn’t lose it all in a year. Strong pick with quickness to match. He should be able to take spot duty either as a guard or tackle. I totally believe that he has the ability to take a regular rotation even as a rookie and definitely as a second year player.

Round three: Matt Norman :: Offensive Lineman :: Western :: 22nd overall via Hamilton

When the Lions selected Matt Norman from Western, they saw a guy that can play guard, or perhaps be groomed to replace all-star Angus Reid who is nearing the end of his career. Norman is another big body at 6’3″ and 318 pounds and is quick on his feet for his size.

Norman, who hails from Montreal, Que., played four collegiate seasons for the Mustangs and was a CIS First team All-Canadian in at the guard position in 2011.

“When you look at his arms, he’s [got] over 34-inch arms, which is what you want. His hands are over 10 inches. That’s what you want. When you look at centre and guard, which is the position we’ve got to grow, he’s a perfect fit that way,” said Benevides regarding Norman.

What our panel had to say:

Tyler Bieber (CFLDaily.ca)

When you take a first glance at Norman you see a guy who could probably step into a CFL offensive line immediately and starting taking snaps. He is a big, strong, physical player who has a bit of a nasty edge to his game. He could still use some work on his technique and needs to be more consistent in the passing game, but overall is excellent value for the Lions in the 3rd round.

Kent Ridley (Ridley Scouting)

Matt Norman out of Western is a leading pick that was expected to go earlier than the last pick of the 3rd round. Really has potential to show up as a regular guard down the road. May not be ready to start day 1 of camp but will be one to keep tabs on.

Andrew Bucholtz (Yahoo Sports)

Picking up Western offensive lineman Matt Norman in the third round (22nd overall) is also a solid move; Norman was a fixture on the CFL’s top 15 prospects list, and they were fortunate he lasted that long.

Round five: Jordan Verdone :: Linebacker :: University of Calgary :: 37th overall

Jordan Verdone was chosen by the Lions and for some he could be a sleeper pick in the draft. He was a linebacker in college, but according to Lowell Ullrich of The Province, the Lions are going to attempt to convert Verdone to a fullback.

Verdone played two seasons at the University of Waterloo, sitting out the 2010 season along with the entire Warriors program. He was named the 2008 CIS rookie of the year after racking up 44 solo tackles. He was named Saint Mary’s College’s athlete of the year in 2008 and defensive MVP two seasons in a row.

If Verdone is to make the Lions it will be with a strong performance on special teams, but with eligibility left, the Lions have options and time to mold him into the player that bests suits his talents in the CFL.

What our panel had to say:

Andrew Bucholtz (Yahoo Sports)

I’m a fan of this Lions’ draft, but mostly because of the late picks. BC only had four picks following their trade up in the first round, but they made them count, and I think Calgary Dinos’ linebacker Jordan Verdone in particular is going to be a steal for them. Some had Verdone as one of the top LBs in this draft, so to grab him in the fifth round (37th overall) is tremendous value.

Tyler Bieber (CFLDaily.ca)

 I’m not quite sure how Verdone will fare on the defensive side of the ball in the CFL, but I do believe he will be an excellent special teams player for the Lions. He is a long-snapper, and that is something that the Lions are looking for after Dan McCullough elected to retire after winning the Grey Cup this past season. Verdone still has two years of eligibility left with the Dinos.

Kent Ridley (Ridley Scouting)

Offenses around CanWest will be glad to see him in Lion Orange rather than Dino Red this fall. The former CIS Rookie of the Year at Waterloo before the big scandal destroyed that program, Jordan has been a force all over the field. He has special teams experience which should give him a heads up when it comes to duties as a CFL rookie.

A few extra yards:

  • Mike Benevides comments on Westerman, Fabien and Norman – BCLions.com
  • First round review: Tyler Bieber – CFLDaily.ca
  • CFL Draft Winners and Losers: Andrew Bucholtz – Yahoo Sports
  • Full Draft List: CFL.ca

 

Filed Under: CFL/League, Den Talk, Drafts/Prospects, Featured Tagged With: Andrew Bucholtz, BC Lions, CFL Draft, CIS, Jabar Westerman, Jordan Verdone, Kirby Fabien, Matther Norman, Tyler Bieber

Jim Mullin: Lions Fans Should Be Elated About Draft

May 3, 2010 By Brian Wawryshyn

Jim Mullin is the Sports Director at CKNW 980 AM in Vancouver and has offered us the chance to share his blog posts here on BCLionsDen.ca. We’re excited to have Jim’s opinions on the CFL and encourage you to follow his own blog on CKNW.com

By Jim Mullin (CKNW 980)

Danny Watkins

The BC Lions made a trade, took a gamble and got their wish list at the Canadian Draft, Sunday.

While conventional thinking had the Lions taking Bishop’s receiver Shawn Gore with the fourth overall pick, they instead chose highly touted offensive lineman Danny Watkins of Baylor University. The native of Kelowna will play out his NCAA eligibility this year before potentially arriving at the Lions 2011 camp.

Then, by the time the 10th overall pick rolled around, Gore was still available.

The Lions selected the Bishop’s grad in what Wally Buono described as triumph of “reverse psychology”.

The fact that Gore has signed with the Green Bay Packers as a free agent this afternoon may have send his draft value down to the second round. He is the third player from the Bishop’s program to be selected by the Leos in the past two drafts.

“Shawn is arguably the best receiver in the draft,” noted Buono. “He’s got some opportunities down south and we’ll wish him the best with those, but he’s too good to let slide by to another team.”

The Leos picked up a pair of defenders out of the University of Montreal as linebacker Joash Gesse and corner back Hamid Mahmoudi were selected 16th and 20th overall respectively.

“Joash has had a few injuries which didn’t’t help him at the Evaluation Camp this year,” admits Buono. “What we have seen on film however, tells us that he is a strong, physical playmaker with great football instincts.”

“Hamid will come in and compete for a wide side cornerback position with Davis Sanchez. He had 13 interceptions over a little over three years so he definitely has a knack for big plays.”

Two more receivers were drafted in the fourth round as the Lions grabbed Tusculum College’s Nate Binder and St.Francis Xavier’s Akeem Foster with the 24th and 25th selections.

The Lions had just a single selection in the fifth round and used it to pick up St. Francis Xavier defensive back Cauchy Muamba and then wrapped the 2010 Canadian Draft by choosing St. Mary’s offensive lineman Adam Baboulas and receiver Matt Chapdelaine, son of Lions offensive coordinator Jacques Chapdelaine.

“Overall I’m not sure I have seen a better all-round draft not only for our club but all the teams in our league,” said Buono. “I think it speaks well of the players being developed in Canada and the future of our game.”

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Filed Under: Den Talk, Drafts/Prospects Tagged With: CFL Draft, CKNW, Danny Watkins, Jim Mullin, Shawn Gore

BC Lions Draft Recap

May 2, 2010 By Brian Wawryshyn

After a some interesting trades to get the draft going the BC Lions ended with a pretty good pool of talent when the dust settled on the 2010 CFL Draft. The Lions made a pre-draft deal with the Toronto Argonauts that saw them send the 3rd, 18th, 26th, 30th picks to Argos for 4th, 20th, 24th, 25th picks.

Lions head coach and general manager Wally Buono, indicated the draft may have been one of the deepest he has been a part of.

“Overall I’m not sure I have seen a better all-round draft not only for our club but all the teams in our league,” said Buono on BCLions.com. “I think it speaks well of the players being developed in Canada and the future of our game.”

Let’s take a look at how the Lions made out!

1st Round:

(4) Danny Watkins OL – Baylor

Danny WatkinsWith the fourth overall pick,  With their first pick in the draft the Lions selected 6’4″ 310 pound offensive lineman Danny Watkins.  Baylor is regarded by many as the best player available in the draft, and the Lions will have to wait on his arrival, as he has one year of eligibility remaining at the NCAA level. It’s also believed that Watkins will get a serious look at the NFL before being available to the Lions.

Watkins is a native of Kelowna, BC, and didn’t play football until 2007, playing hockey and rugby as a child.

“We believe Danny is one of the best players in today’s draft and he will be a very important part of our club in years to come,” said Lions GM and head coach Wally Buono on BCLions.com

More on Danny Watkins:

  • Baylor Profile
  • CBSSports.com Article

2nd Round:

(10) Shawn Gore WR – Bishops

Shawn GoreRegarded as the best receiving prospect in the draft, the Lions were apparently going to take Shawn Gore with their first pick. But they decided to make the deal with Toronto and drop to four and take their chances that Gore would be there when they picked next at ten. The gamble paid off and the Lions got Gore anyway. Now, as with Watkins they will wait and see what NFL opportunities come Gore’s way. He attended a Green Bay Packers mini-camp this weekend and word today was that he had received an offer to attend the Packer main camp.

If he does end up with the Lions, he’ll have plenty of friendly faces to welcome him, as former Bishop’s teammates Jamall Lee, Dan McCullough and James Yurichuk on the Lions roster.

More Shawn Gore:

  • Video Highlights
  • Shawn Gore Interview – The Campus Newspaper

3rd Round:

(16th) Joash Gesse LB – Montreal

Joash GesseThe Lions switched to the defensive side of the ball with their third pick (16th overall) and chose LB Joash Gesse from Montreal. The 6’0″225 pound Montreal linebacker has good speed, running 4.68 40 at the East-West Bowl, then a 4.38 at the Pro Agility.  In just 6 games Gesse racked up 22 solo tackles and 18 assisted tackles. Gesse is coming of a knee injury that prevented him from testing in some E-camp events, has reportedly run very well in off-season workouts.

Duane Ford of TSN.ca said of Gesse, “If he were 3″ taller, he’d be a potential #1 overall.”

(20th) Hamid Mahmoudi DB – Montreal

Hamid MahoudiWith their 2nd pick of the 3rd roound (20th overall) the Lions selected Hamid Mahmoudi, a defensive back. Mahmoudi also had limited E-camp participation due to an injury that cut his season short in 2009. He was ranked the 2nd best cornerback in Duane Ford’s pre-draft rankings. On BCLions.com coach Buono had this to say about Mahmoudi; “Hamid will come in and compete for a wide side cornerback position with Davis Sanchez. He had 13 interceptions over a little over three years so he definitely has a knack for big plays.”

4th Round:

(24TH) Nate Binder WR – Tusculum College

Nate BinderThe Lions selected another receiver in the 4th round, picking Nate Binder out of Tusculum College (NCAA II) . In 2008 Binder was named to the All-South Atlantic Conference Second Team. He tied a school single-season record with nine TD receptions and tied for first in the SAC averaging 78.7 receiving yards per game (37th in NCAA II) Averaged 4.5 points per game (8th in SAC). Tusculum College went 5-1 when Binder found the end zone in 2008.

(25th) Akeem Foster (St. Francis Xavier)

Akeem_FosterWith their second pick in the 4th round, BC took another receiver, this time Akeem Foster out of St. Francis Xavier. The 6’4″ 212 pound Foster has all the tools, but has been hurt by inconsistency according to Duane Ford, who had Foster ranked 7th amongst receivers. In a recent article on BCLions.com, Foster described himself like as “a problem with and without the ball. If I don’t have the ball I’m looking for someone to hit. If I do have the ball I’m looking to make a big play.”

More Akeem Foster:

  • 2009 Video Highlights

5th Round:

(34th) Cauchy Muamba DB -St. Francis Xavier

Cauchy MuambaOne thing is for sure, if Cauchy Muamba makes the Lions, he’ll have one of the coolest names on the team. The Lions selected the DB with their 5th round pick, who was described by Duane Ford this way, “Muamba is good enough in man-to-man coverage that teams rarely throw his way, but at 6’1″ and close to 200 lbs., he’s a physical defender who will likely shift to safety in the CFL.”

With Barron Miles retiring, the auditions for his safety spot have begun, and the Lions may see grooming Muamba for that role.

6th Round:

(41sT) Adam Baboulas OL – St. Mary’s

The Lions went to the St. Mary’s Huskies with their first pick of the 6th round and 41st pick overall, offensive lineman Adam Baboulas.

(42nd) Matthew Chapdelaine – Simon Fraser

With their final pick in draft the Lions stuck with the family and chose WR Matthew Chapdelaine. Yes he is the son of offensive coordinator Jacques Chapdelaine, but he hasn’t played football since 2007, having to deal with concussion issues. Coach Buono was quick to dismiss the pick was any type of courtesy to his fellow coach. “”He’s worked out for us four or five times,” Buono said of Matt Chapdelaine. “If I got a list of the comparisons, he would probably be ahead of most receivers in the draft. Honestly, I would never pick a player because he’s the coach’s son. I don’t believe in that b.s. He might be better than the guys we’ve taken. But we don’t know that until we get to camp.”

For a full recap of all the teams selections checkout the draft pages at CFL.ca.
For a replay of our Live Blog of the draft, click here.
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Filed Under: Den Talk, Featured, News, Uncategorized Tagged With: BC Lions, CFL, CFL Draft

Kent Ridley Sits Down With WSU’s Joe Eppele

March 28, 2010 By Brian Wawryshyn

Joe EppeleKent Ridley of Ridley Scouting Services checks in with another guest post for BCLionsDen.ca. Kent recently attended the CFL E-Camp for the top prospects college football and had the chance to sit down with Washington State offensive lineman Joe Eppele. The 6′-7″ native of Vancouver is considered to be one of the top offensive line prospects for the upcoming Canadian Football League draft.

RS: When did you start playing football?

A: I started playing community ball in 5th grade for the Squamish Titans.

RS: How did you end up at Washington State?

A: I attended a summer camp at Eastern with the Vancouver College high school team the summer prior to my move down to the city for my senior year and while I was at the camp I was called up to Washington State because they had heard about me and were interested in seeing me in a practice. After two practices the coaches said they had seen enough and told me to pack my stuff up and following a meeting with George Yarno -their o-line coach at the time- I had an offer for a full ride scholarship at a Pac-10 school and I committed shortly thereafter.

RS: What do you prefer to play – OT or OG?

A: I enjoy both positions but feel the most comfortable with OT because it has been where I have worked for the majority of my collegiate career. I played my first games ever at guard this past season and picked up three starts at the position. I enjoyed the physicality and aggressiveness of the position as opposed to the more strategic controlled aggression that is required at OT because of the open space and need to protect the edge.

RS: Favourite NCAA highlight?

A: Being on the field in double overtime for the winning field goal in our victory over the Huskies in the 2008 Apple Cup and seeing the stands empty onto the field.

RS: Biggest achievement in football so far?

A: Continually earning the opportunity to compete at a higher and higher level in the sport while never letting myself be happy with where I am and maintaining a consistent need to improve my game.

RS: What do you expect to bring to a CFL team?

A: I believe as an athlete who had the opportunity to compete at the Pac-10 level I bring a level of experience and dedication to the sport that can only be achieved through living it firsthand. I am a 6’8 athletic lineman who brings a heightened level of aggressiveness and realizes my best years of football are still ahead of me. I am passionate and eager to excel in every aspect of the game and will stop at nothing to achieve greatness.

RS: Any advice for the 2011 Draft Class now that you’ve been through the E-Camp?

A: Come hungry, you only get one shot at the E-camp so don’t cut any corners and make sure you are prepared in every aspect and leave it all on the field. It’s a meat auction out there so make sure you are the Filet Mignon.

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Filed Under: Den Talk, Featured, Interviews Tagged With: CFL, CFL Draft, Joe Eppele, Kent Ridley

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