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You are here: Home / Archives for Emmanuel Arceneaux

The Manny Show Was Must See TV for the BC Lions

December 18, 2015 By Brian Wawryshyn

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The ‘Manny Show’ is back for at least the next two seasons and the BC Lions couldn’t be happier to have the show airing at BC Place Stadium once again. When it came right down to it, it was must see TV for the Lions and their fans.

The team announced Thursday that Emmanuel Arceneaux, their leading receiver, had signed a two-year deal with the team, locking up the player who developed great chemistry with new starter Jonathan Jennings. Arceneaux was scheduled to become a free agent in February and there was some though by some, including myself that he may want to test the waters after seeing former teammates Nick Moore and Ernest Jackson cash in the last two seasons.

But GM and head coach Wally Buono realized the value of Arceneaux on and off the field and gave him a deal worthy of a top CFL receiver and team ambassador.

Arceneaux struggled along with the Lions offence early last season. With a new coaching staff and several new players, it took some time for things to gel. There was also an incident following a loss to Montreal where Arceneaux appeared to disrespect his opponent. But if you ask his teammates, that was just “Manny being Manny”, an intense competitor and someone who wants to help his team be the best it can be.

Arceneaux started to generate rave reviews once again with the arrival of Jennings and the young QB showed he wasn’t afraid to let the talented receiver go get the ball, something that wasn’t happening earlier in the 2015 campaign. Arceneaux had a stretch of games where he looked unstoppable, rag dolling defenders for extra yards and making clutch catches.

He finished the season with 76 receptions for 1151, the fourth best total in the league and yards and 9 receiving touchdowns, which was top three.

“Manny is an important part of our offence and leader in our dressing room,” said Buono. “This is a critical signing for the club heading into next season and I know our fans will be very happy to see him remain with the Lions.”

“There was only one place I wanted to play and that’s in BC for Wally and Lions fans,” said Arceneaux. “We’re going to be back in a big way in 2016 and I can’t wait to get started.”

Off the field Arceneaux is one of the Lions busiest ambassadors. He loves speaking to children and makes countless appearances around the community and the province on behalf of the Lions. This past season he developed a connection with Dylan, a young boy with Autism.

Arceneaux is a key piece to the Lions offence and it was vital that the team didn’t let another fan favourite leave. Especially considering the thoughts of many that Andrew Harris could be moving on when free agency opens in February. He’ll be counted on heavily on 2016, but there are few that work harder on and off the field.

Stay tuned, a new season of The Manny Show premiers in June and with co-star Jonathan Jennings, there could be an Emmy in the works.

Emmanuel Arceneaux Career Stats:

arceneaux_stats

Filed Under: BC Lions Den, Featured Tagged With: BC Lions, CFL, Emmanuel Arceneaux, Jonathan Jennings, The Manny Show, Wally Buono

The BC Lions Den Pawdcast: Episode 71

November 20, 2015 By Brian Wawryshyn

BC Lions - buono_940x400

The BC Lions Den Pawdcast: Lowell Ullrich and Jason Smith – 3DownNation.com

The BC Lions season ended with a thud in Calgary and it’s time to look at the year that was, and where the BC Lions are headed in the future. We talk about the game, free agency, management and are joined by Lowell Ullrich of TSN 1040 to help us break it all down.

Jason Smith , President of the 103rd Grey Cup Festival joins the show from Winnipeg as that city gets prepared to welcome CFL fans from across the country next week.

Follow our guests::

Lowell Ullrich: @FifthQtr :: 2015 Grey Cup Festival: @GreyCupFestival

This show was recorded on November 18th, 2015.

Never miss a show! Subscribe to the BC Lions Den Pawdcast on iTunes.

Filed Under: BC Lions Den, Featured, Podcasts Tagged With: Andrew Harris, BC Lions, BC Lions Den, Brian Wawryshyn, Calgary Stampeders, CFL, CFL Play-offs, David Braley, Dennis Skulsky, Emmanuel Arceneaux, Mojo Kemp, Podcast, Travis Lulay

A Few Reasons the BC Lions Will Make the Playoffs

October 25, 2015 By Brian Wawryshyn

Sports are full of examples of teams that have had that defining moment where the switch went on. Whether the BC Lions had that moment in a convincing 40-13 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats remains to be seen, but if this team get on a roll and makes the playoffs, you can certainly consider it one.

At the beginning of the year, we had former BC Lions offensive lineman Angus Reid on the Pawdcast who told us that he saw the BC Lions starting out slowly and getting better as the season went on. With 22 new faces and the youngest team in the league, it wasn’t hard to agree.

Over the past few weeks, the Lions have played some good football. A Winnipeg loss, combined with the Lions win on the weekend has put the Lions back in control of their own destiny. A win next week in Toronto would eliminate the Bombers, a Montreal loss combined with that win would see the Lions join the playoff dance for the 19th straight season.

So there is work to be done, but in the spirit of looking at the positives, let’s take a look at some reasons the Lions will make the playoffs.

Jonathan Jennings

Jonathon Jennings

Cue the coronation, the Lions have found themselves a new quarterback. The poise and confidence that Jonathan Jennings displays at just 23 years old is impressive and has revived the Lions offence. As he continues to grow and get more experience, it should continue to improve not only in the passing game but in opening things up for Andrew Harris.

The Lions offence is no longer one dimensional, and Jennings has his receivers making plays for them by simply trusting in them to do so and getting the ball to them quickly and accurately. The resurgence of Manny Arceneaux and the contributions from Bryan Burnham, Lavelle Hawkins and Shawn Gore over the past few weeks have been key.

Jennings is going to make the odd rookie mistake, but the good far outweighs the bad and for the Lions and their fan base there is a lot to get excited about.

The Defence

Michael Brooks, Matt Nichols, Selvish Capers

The Lions defence was scorched by opposing defences early and often in 2015. It’s no coincidence that with more success on the offensive side of the ball, the defence has improved as well. In too many games this season they were on the field way too long.

The secondary is starting to gel under the leadership of Ryan Phillips as well as the strong showings of players like TJ Lee and Ronnie Yell who is starting to look more and more like long time Lion Dante Marsh every game.

The defensive line has found its groove led by newcomers Mic’hael Brooks, Zac Minter and Craig Roh. The Lions are rotating players in throughout the game and national David Menard continues to impress, while the Lions have moved up the sack total ladder in recent weeks, boding well for the team down the stretch.

Coaching

Winnipeg Blue Bombers v BC Lions

Some of you may disagree with this, but I think Jeff Tedford is on track to getting this team playing the way he wants them to play. There have been plenty of examples to dispute this theory, but in the end hindsight is 20/20 in the coaching profession.

But consider the fact that Tedford has been able to keep this team together through some very tough losses. There has been no finger pointing, no visible discord in the locker room and Friday’s performance against the Ticats showed that the players are behind their coaches.

Just as the start of the year was a learning curve for the new players, it was also the same for their new coach. The offence has become more aggressive under Jennings, and Tedford was brought in with the reputation of being a fast tempo, aggressive offensive coach. We’re now starting to see that as Jennings is able to go down field.

The Schedule

The Lions best chance to qualify for the post season is this week. The win against Hamilton was key, especially since the Alouettes won. Montreal now travels to Edmonton where the Eskimos are looking to clinch the CFL West and will be amped to do so at Commonwealth Stadium. The Lions travel to Toronto to take on an Argonauts team that is coming off back to back losses, but will be playing just their 4th game of the year at home and will have Ricky Ray at quarterback. If the Lions win and Edmonton wins, the Lions are in.

The Lions made their own bed, but they still have a chance to make it to the dance. Ryan Phillips told his teammates after last week’s game that he’s never missed the playoffs in his career, and he doesn’t plan to start now.

If they do get in, you would think both Calgary and Edmonton, teams they played tough this season will be in for a tough fight in the Western Semi. The Lions are starting to roar, whether they get to eat or not, will be decided in the next two weeks.

Filed Under: BC Lions Den, Featured Tagged With: BC Lions, BC Lions Den, CFL, Emmanuel Arceneaux, Jeff Tedford, Jonathan Jennings, Michael Brooks, Playoffs

Simply Not Good Enough

September 14, 2015 By Brian Wawryshyn

Let’s get something clear right off the top; I’m a BC Lions fan. Before being a blogger or podcaster, I’m a fan of this team to my core.

Which is why it pains me to write this piece here on 3DownNation.com. I don’t want to rip my team, even though there are many times in my 8 years of blogging about the team that I’ve felt like doing so. Usually after a loss I wait until the next day to write to let a cooler head prevail, but this one burned.

In the end, I pay my money just like you do, and after what I sat through Sunday afternoon at BC Place, it’s time to vent. It was embarrassing for the fans, it was embarrassing for the organization, and if you aren’t embarrassed and pissed off, then there is something wrong. In the almost 40 years I’ve followed this team I have never left a game feeling so frustrated.

The Lions held the ball for just 18:15. No, that’s not one of my famous Twitter typos…18:15. The offence was unimaginative, couldn’t execute the original game plan, and were unable to execute any adjustments that were made. More than that, it was lifeless, with guys moping their way off the field and moping around on the sidelines.

Andrew Harris had 4 carries for 3 yards. He left the building without showering or speaking with reporters.

How can you blame Harris for blowing off steam? In a game where you start your backup QB, starting his first CFL game, you completely abandon your biggest (and at many times this season only) offensive weapon? It hasn’t just been this game either, the run blocking has been horrible for at least 3 games. They aren’t being nearly physical enough on the line, or they simply aren’t capable of doing it.

On one play in the 3rd quarter Harris released out of the backfield and was wide open 15 yards downfield with no one around him and John Beck didn’t even look at him.

Emmanuel Arceneaux who got into it on Twitter with Jovon Johnson of the Redblacks earlier in the week, had another ball thrown his way intercepted simply because he didn’t put up a fight for the ball. You’re familiar with walking the walk, right?

The offence of George Cortez was putrid. Granted there were times when the players on the field were responsible, but by and large this offence has fans thinking life with Jacques Chapdelaine, heck even Khari Jones wasn’t so bad after all.

Jeff Tedford was brought here with the reputation of being an offensive football innovator. If that’s the case it’s time that he display some of that, whether that means he takes over the offence or not. But Cortez doesn’t have the attention of the players, and last year in Saskatchewan his offence was horrible after Darian Durant went down, even though he had two great running backs at his disposal.

Defensively you can’t be too hard on the Lions who didn’t allow a Redblacks touchdown in until the 3rd quarter. But being on the field for 41:45 of the game was simply too much and Burris picked them apart in the fourth quarter. However, the penchant for giving up first downs on 2nd and long continued and when Mic’hael Brooks left the game the seas parted in the Lions defensive line.

Change is Needed

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Wally Buono is facing the biggest issues this club has had during his tenure. Have he and his scouting staff done a good enough job scouting players? The Lions used to regularly find diamonds in the rough, but the pickings have been slim the last few seasons. They haven’t built up the Canadian depth on the offensive line, they draft players they never see, and they can’t seem to find dominant defensive linemen despite other teams doing so on a regular basis.

Buono has earned the right to ride this out and certainly can’t be a happy man after what he saw Sunday. In the past he hasn’t been afraid to make a bold move to shake up his locker room and you have to wonder if he’s reached that point now. Whether he makes a change in the coaching staff or cuts a veteran, something needs to be done to send a message to the players and the fan base, that the current results aren’t nearly good enough.

With the Lions dressing the youngest team in the league, many playing the CFL game for the first time, no one was expecting them to dominate. But they did expect there would be progress, growth and at the very least a team that played hard. That has hardly been the case so far, and with two games coming up in Alberta, the Lions season could be on life support in two weeks.

As I wrote a couple weeks ago, it may be time for David Braley to sell the BC Lions. The Lions will tell you that Braley gives them what they need, which sounds fine, but we need an owner that will give them more than they need. At this stage in his life Mr. Braley isn’t likely to invest a large sum of money in something he doesn’t plan to own much longer. His investment in marketing has been poor based on the numbers.

The same face painted fans are plastered on posters on repeat, season ticket prices keep going up for less perks and a subpar product on the field. Sunday’s crowd of 19,833 (not a chance that many were there) is a clear sign that off the field, the Lions have a huge task staring them in the face. It’s something they should have seen happening 4 years ago.

All of the work that Bob Ackles did to bring back fans has been eroded. Many of those fans that came back were long time Lions fans and since then, the team has done little to engage millennials. They refuse to or are unwilling to fight for tailgating, something that young fans would be interested in, even though they have lots around the stadium if they chose to put in the work to secure them for such a purpose. But it’s too much hassle, and they would rather take the easy way out and promote their street party as the place to be.

Under Dennis Skulsky the Lions fan base is dwindling, the numbers don’t lie and many fans feel alienated from the team. Other team’s host fan forums with their season ticket holders. A no-holds barred, tell us what you’re thinking event. The Lions don’t seem to feel the need to give their ticket holders the same courtesy (except ones that don’t renew) and I’ve sent e-mails that don’t even get the courtesy of a reply.

And so this is where we find ourselves. A once perennially competitive CFL franchise that is struggling on and off the field. Every team rebuilds and I’ll be here to ride this one out and all Lions fans should be too. But I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about this team, not only now but in the future unless some important changes are made.

You and the Lions should be too.

Filed Under: BC Lions Den, Featured Tagged With: Andrew Harris, BC Lions, BC Lions Den, CFL, David Braley, Dennis Skulsky, Emmanuel Arceneaux, George Cortez, Jeff Tedford, Ottawa, Redblacks, Wally Buono

The Lions Notebook: Bye Week Edition

August 27, 2015 By Brian Wawryshyn

With the BC Lions one game shy of the halfway point in their season and on their 2nd and final bye week of the season, I thought it was time for another edition of the Lions Notebook. Obviously the Lions would like to be better than the 3-5 record they sport, but there is still time to turn things around and make a run in the second half of the season. The question is, can they?

No Defence no Hope

The Lions offence has taken its fair share of heat over the first 8 games of the season, but if the Lions can’t get their defence sorted out, things could continue to remain bleak. Defensive coordinator Mark Washington is likely bunkered down this week trying to figure out ways to get this defence turned around. The Lions are averaging 134 yards rushing allowed per game, and they are second last in the CFL in passing yards allowed.

They also can’t seem to get stops on 2nd down and are staying on the field way too much. It would help if the offence could sustain more drives, but the Lions haven’t demonstrated any consistent results against the run or the pass. At times they are getting pressure on the quarterback, but they aren’t getting sacks and often not getting containment either.

Time for Travis to Step Up

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Let’s face it, you have to be thrilled that Travis Lulay is still playing, especially with the luck that has hit many of the league’s top pivots this season. What you can’t be thrilled with is how the offence has for the most part sputtered along.

One can’t simply point the finger at Travis Lulay, because outside of Andrew Harris he’s had plenty of help stalling drives. The Lions offence has been extremely one dimensional; shut down Harris and you will beat the BC Lions.

We all knew that Lulay would need some time to readjust to game action. But 8 games in should be enough to hope that Lulay can elevate his game in the second half and help get the offence going. The Lions have to find ways to get other players involved. They need to stop going for the deep ball they’ve done nothing to help set it up. More shirt quick passes, try to get everyone involved which will take the pressure off Harris and prevent other teams from loading up the box to shut him down.

Time for Manny to Show

arceneaux

Reviews of “The Manny Show” have been mixed so far this season. The main knock on Manny Arceneaux seems to be that when a pass is contested, he doesn’t come down with the ball. Arceneaux made some comments following the Montreal game that are likely to end up in the Alouettes dressing room next week. Not respecting your opponent when they beat you in all three phases isn’t the best lesson to teach the young players on the team.

Manny is one of the hardest working Lions off the field, but he needs to use the gifts that he’s been blessed with to have the same tenacity on it to become the impact player the Lions want and need him to be.

Lions Family Mourns the Loss of Vic Spencer

The man that co-founded the BC Lions has left us. Victor Spencer has passed away at the age of 90.

“If football in British Columbia has a father then it’s Victor Spencer,” said Lions’ president and CEO Dennis Skulsky. “Without his vision, his efforts and his love for our great game, it likely would have been many years before British Columbia had a professional football team to call its very own”.

Spencer was the driving force behind securing BC a place in the Western Interprovincial Rugby Union which became the West Division of the Canadian Football League.

It took Spencer and his partners 3-years of hard work to get the Lions approved by the other teams in 1953 and in 1954 the BC Lions debuted at the brand new Empire Stadium which played host to the Empire Games the same year.

Spencer is a member of the BC Lions Wall of Fame, the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and the BC Football Hall of Fame.

On behalf of Lions fans, our thoughts and condolences go out to the Spencer family.

Filed Under: BC Lions Den, Featured Tagged With: Andrew Harris, BC Lions, CFL, Emmanuel Arceneaux, Travis Lulay, Victor Spencer

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