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You are here: Home / Archives for Kirby Fabien

The Lions Notebook: Training Camp Edition – June 6th

June 7, 2015 By Brian Wawryshyn

I have a confession to make; I’m a bit of a freak when it comes to the BC Lions. That probably explains why on four hours sleep, I got up at 4:00am to make the three and a half hour trip for our annual pilgrimage to Lions training camp. Why is it so easy to get up for football, but it feels like waking the living dead to go to work?

But I digress.

Today was the first day of our five day visit to the tournament capital of Canada, Kamloops, BC, and the best word I can describe what I saw on day one is, impressive. Here are some thoughts, in a special training camp edition of the Lions Notebook.

Tedford’s Way

We’ve all heard a lot about the “Tedford Tempo” but until you see it live, you can’t begin to understand how different this camp is from any other BC Lions camp you’ve seen.  Everything is timed and organized down to the second. As this photo of the segment clock that Jeff Tedford brought in shows.

Photo: Brian Wawryshyn
Photo: Brian Wawryshyn

There is a much more business like feel to this camp, than any other camp I’ve attended. Coaches where headsets to communicate, there is less chatting and joking around by the players. You can tell they are here to work, and I haven’t always felt that way watching a Lions practice.

On the Short Side

One of the big questions at this camp is who will replace 11-year Lion Dante Marsh on the short side corner. During this session that player was Ronnie Yell, who looks more than ready to take on the challenge. Yell was one of the most impressive players I saw on the field today, and he had some aggressive battles with Emmanuel Arceneaux.

Behind Centre

Jonathan Jennings is making an impression at camp and you could see why. He throws a very nice ball and was by far the best QB on the field in the morning session. Travis Lulay continues to pace himself, and didn’t attempt many deep throws. Travis Partridge I thought had a bit of a shaky session, while Greg McGhee had some nice completions as well, but doesn’t look as polished as Jennings. John Beck has made his way to Kamloops (18 pounds lighter) and will undergo more tests here before being given the green light to practice.

The Offensive Line

This seems to be a constant concern for the Lions and for once it would be to come to a camp and not have to talk about it. The injury to Hunter Steward certainly muddied the waters for the team but there were also some interesting observations to be made during Saturday’s sessions.

For one, Kirby Fabien is not in the first unit, replaced instead by Matt Norman at left guard, while Dean Valli is on the left. This is concerning simply for the fact that the Lions (or at least their fans) have been hoping that Fabien would return to the form he showed prior to his knee injury in 2013. Has Fabien fallen from grace that far, or are the Lions simply getting Norman work at guard to see where he fits into their plans after removing him from the centre spot?

Paul McCallum

I’ve seen a lot of reaction to the Paul McCallum release that was announced today. Some fans are mad at the way it was handled by the Lions, some are miffed to why McCallum was released at all without a proven field goal kicker on the roster and others are wondering why McCallum was even brought to camp if they had other plans, only to be asked to retire after five days.

It’s my personal belief that the Lions tried to do the right thing and let McCallum call it a day without being officially cut. They brought him to camp, because until recently they only had McCallum on the roster. When Richie Leone was released by the club and the Lions came to terms with Anthony Fera, the picture changed, but the Lions still needed to see how they performed.

At 44 years of age, even Paul McCallum admits that his best days are behind him. He’s still a very reliable field goal kicker from inside 45 yards, and his experience with every stadium in the league is second to no one in his position. But his punt average is dropping, the Lions are leaving points on the field because of his limited range, and they have two guys in camp that have looked very good.

There will be some growing pains with whoever handles the kicking duties, but it you can’t wait forever to make the switch, and the Lions feel they have two very promising kickers to choose from and may indeed keep both of them on the roster.

Only Wally Buono and Paul McCallum really know how all of this went down and in time we will all hear the story. In the meantime, the McCallum era in BC is definitely over and we wish Paul well. He’s been a great BC Lion and he’s had a hall of fame career.

Keeping it Light

At the end of the morning session, Tedford gathered his players around and told them it was time to kick field goals. Both Leone and Fera would each kick two field goals. For everyone they missed the whole team would have to do “gassers” or wind sprints for those of you unfamiliar with the term.

But there was a catch, the rest of the team was told to make as much noise as possible to try and distract the two kickers. Thankfully for them, all four field goals were made and the two kickers instantly became the most popular guys on the field.

Hot as…

The Lions practiced Saturday under baking hot conditions Saturday in Kamloops. Jeff Tedford chose to make the afternoon session a walk through, and it lasted just over an hour, which was no doubt just fine with the players.

Sunday is supposed to be even hotter, and the Lions will have another light day, as the club’s annual Fan Fest takes place at Hillside Stadium. It’s free for all and the gates open at 12:30. We’ll have photos and other tidbits from the event here on 3DownNation.com.

Filed Under: BC Lions Den, Featured Tagged With: Anthony Fera, BC Lions, BC Lions Den, CFL, CFLTC15, Jeff Tedford, John Beck, Jonathan Jennings, Kirby Fabien, Paul McCallum, Richie Leone, Ronnie Yell, Tarvis Lulay, Training Camp

Our Christmas Wish List for the BC Lions (And you)

December 20, 2013 By Brian Wawryshyn

740x300BW-GC2011
It’s the time of year that all CFL fans dread; the long off-season has begun, and for BC Lions fans 2014 is going to be an exciting year with the franchise set to host the 102
ND Grey Cup Championship at BC Place stadium next November.

Before then there is plenty of work to be done and with the expansion draft behind them and all the presents opened in Ottawa, it’s time to roll out our Christmas wish list for the BC Lions. So sit back by the fire with your eggnog and rum and checkout our list. We would love for you to add to it by commenting on Twitter or leaving your ideas down below!

A Strong Shoulder for Travis Lulay

Travis Lulay has been a good boy this year. He has become a fixture in the community and he’s just all around great guy. For Travis we send the gift of health for his problematic shoulder and the hope that he can return to the consistent form he found in 2011 when he led the Lions to their 6th Grey Cup championship. Off-season surgery will hopefully help and here’s to no setbacks and a stronger, dominant Travis Lulay in 2014.

A Dynamic Offence

The Lions offence was a frustrating site for Santa and he’s hoping he can offer some excitement and dominance for the Leos in 2014. Long-time coordinator Jacques Chapdelaine won’t be back but the Lions have yet to land any of the coaches they had interest in so far this off-season. Here’s hoping that whoever ends up in the job, there is a fresh approach that inspires his players to greatness again with results that reflect the talent on the Lions.

Holes for Harris

Whoever gets the BC Lions offensive coordinator position, we hope that they can give the gift of a running attack that was missing for much of last season. The club certainly improved in that department after the arrival of Stefan Logan, but it was embarrassing at times last year how teams were able to contain Andrew Harris and the Lions running game. Harris had to be frustrated at times in that offence but was the consummate team player, and we’re hoping that Santa brings him a dominant year in 2014.

Home Field Advantage

The Lions attendance dropped in 2013, thanks to a picture perfect summer and a not so perfect schedule that featured weeknight games, holiday games and weird start times. The Lions are a tough team to beat at home and we wish for that trend to continue at beautiful BC Place stadium in the coming year. We are also asking Santa for more education for fans that do the wave on offence and sit on their hands on defence. Let’s all be part of a run to the Grey Cup in Vancouver in 2014, get your season tickets and be part of the Pride that is BC Lions football.

A Full Recovery for Kirby Fabien

Santa was disappointed to see a promising young offensive lineman incur such a terrible injury last season so we asked him to provide a full recovery and stability for Kirby Fabien. Fabien was having an outstanding rookie campaign before getting hurt last season and has faced a long recovery process that is still in progress. He is a vital piece of the Lions offensive line and we’re hoping the big fella in red and white is kind to the big fells in orange and black.

Success for Mark Washington

Anyone who has ever been around the BC Lions has probably had the chance to meet and talk to Mark Washington, the new defensive coordinator of your Leos. The appointment was well deserved and after years of learning from the likes of Wally Buono, Mike Benevides and Rich Stubler, Washington now gets his chance to put his stamp on the organization as a coach. They likely would have lost him to another club if the team didn’t release Stubler. He has the respect of his players, the experience and expertise to excel. We look forward to Santa bringing Mark an aggressive defence that will be feared by all in 2014.

The Hall of Fame Game

Wally Buono will be inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2014 and we are asking Santa to bring us the annual Hall of Fame game and the celebrations that come with that. I don’t believe the Lions have ever hosted that event in Vancouver that usually includes alumni and a dinner. It would be great to have it here as a build up to the 2014 Grey Cup and to allow Lions fans a chance to celebrate with Buono.

Peace for Angus Reid

Last year was supposed to be Angus Reid’s swansong. He would play one more season, then likely retire after what should be noted as a Hall of Fame career in the future. Herniated discs in his back prevented that from happening and the Lions centre didn’t take a snap in 2013. He was a great mentor to those that filled in and has high praise for Matt Norman. Angus had off-season surgery on his back and has begun his recovery. Whether he chooses to play in 2014 remains to be seen, but whatever his decision is, we wish him peace with it, and a pain free year.

A Great Grey Cup Festival

In 2005 the Lions set the new standard for Grey Cup Festivals with their street parties and in 2011 they upped the ante again. With the game back here in 2014 we hope that Santa brings Jamie Pitblado and the organizing committee the best Grey Cup Festival yet. Many fans were shut out of this year’s game in Regina, and those Grey Cup regulars will be chomping at the bit to be in Vancouver. As Lions fans we will welcome the CFL with pride to our city and put on the party of the year!

Most of all…

To all of you who read our blogs, listen to our pawdcasts, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, or share a meal with us in Tailgate Empire, we wish you the happiest of holidays, a Merry Christmas and a happy, prosperous New Year.

Roar you Lions roar!


 

Filed Under: Den Talk, Featured, From The Couch Tagged With: Andrew Harris, Angus Reid, BC Lions, CFL, Grey Cup 2014, Kirby Fabien, Mark Washington, Travis Lulay, Wally Buono

Off-season Update: Fabien, Buono and the Brand

January 5, 2013 By Brian Wawryshyn

With GM Wally Buono on his annual Hawaiian vacation, there hasn’t been much news of late coming out of the Lions Den. But as we had into 2013, there are a few nuggets worth discussing including an attempt by a certain team to get Buono to move east.

Fabien Looking South

Scott Mitchell of the Calgary Sun reports that 2011 first round draft pick Kirby Fabien will have a chance to impress NFL scouts after being named to the West roster at the East-West Shrine game. The game includes the best that college football has to offer and is a high exposure event for players to get the big league’s attention.

The Lions of course are still hoping to have Fabien in their lineup, as soon as this year, and with uncertainty along the offensive line due to injury issues to Dean Valli and Jon Hameister-Ries, never mind the possible departure of Jovan Olafioye, Fabien heading south would be a blow.

That said it was the reason he returned to the Calgary Dinos instead of signing with the Leos last season. A chance to play in the NFL is every young players dream and you can’t fault Fabien for pursuing his for himself and for his family. If it doesn’t work out for him, Fabien told the Sun he has no issues with playing in the CFL.

“It’s a great option. It’s a great city and a great organization. If I play in the CFL, I’ll be playing for the Lions.”

Buono Approached by Ottawa Group

Wally BuonoTim Baines of the Ottawa Sun reports that Jeff Hunt and the Ottawa Sports & Entertainment Group are leaving no stone unturned in their search for a quality football man to run their operation. Baines writes that Hunt approached the Lions about permission to speak with GM Wally Buono, who quickly informed them he was quite happy in Vancouver.

It’s of course a compliment to Buono and to the Lions organization that he was approached, but Lions fans everywhere have to be pleased it didn’t go any farther than a courtesy phone call. The Lions have a solid and stable football operations team in place, a luxury that many teams would love to replicate.

Growing the Brand

I recently attended a Seattle Seahawks game and couldn’t help coming away total impressed. I’ve been down before but this trip really hammered home how well the Seahawks have marketed the “12th Man” concept to the fans. Everyone there buys in and on game day it is an event all around the stadium.

From the Blue Thunder percussion group, the tailgating, Touchdown City and the raising of the 12th man flag, the Seahawks brand is everywhere. The city takes pride in having the loudest stadium in the NFL, and if you haven’t experienced it live, you haven’t heard loud.

12thman

Of course it’s a different league and a different culture south of the border; Saskatchewan and Winnipeg would be the smaller scale versions of the Seahawks model, with the Riders marketing their fans as the 13th man. With their new stadiums in the works, both teams have a real chance to build on the pride they take in having the loudest stadiums in the league.

When the building is full and the fans are into the game BC Place is a very loud stadium, but those occurrences are all too rare in BC. The crowd is good and becoming more involved, but it could be so much better if they felt part of the whole experience. The Lions were all over the media last off-season following their Grey Cup win, but it didn’t result in the increased attendance they had hoped for. As a fan you can’t help to be somewhat jealous of how passionate fans in these markets are about their teams.

It is up to the team to find something for the fans to get behind so they can help build and instill this type of passion among its fan base. They only need to look 2 hours south to get some really great ideas.

All the best to the Seahawks this weekend! Go Hawks!


 

Filed Under: Den Talk, Featured, Uncategorized Tagged With: Kirby Fabien, Seattle Seahawks, Wally Buono

Jim Mullin: Eye on the CIS: Nill, Constantin benefit from providing options to players.

May 28, 2012 By Brian Wawryshyn

Kirby Fabien

Jim Mullin – Special to BCLionsDen.ca

Barring a last second shift, BC is not in the plans for Kirby Fabien but Plan B and Plan C is.

The planned return of Fabien, the seventh overall pick by the Lions, to the Canada West is not going down well in Lions headquarters.

Only a surprise contract counter offer Hamilton’s 13th overall pick OL Carson Rockhill could derail destined to return to the foothills city to start and to finish his degree.

Drew Edwards in the Hamilton Spectator reported late last week that linebacker Frederic Plesius was returning to the Laval Rouge et Or. Richard Boutin of Le Journal de Quebec reported that two-time Metras Award winner DE Arnaud Gascon-Nadon will follow his teammate’s lead, staying in Quebec City rather than signing in Hamilton.

University of Calgary head coach Blake Nill and Laval Rouge et Or head coach Glen Constantin are good friends. So much in fact they are in contact with each other on a regular basis. When you read the various reports on these players who have declared their return to the CIS, the one thing they share in common is their desire to obtain their degree while playing football.

Is it possible that Constantin and Nill consulted each other on talking points so they could retain their best talent?  One has to ask that question when you see the results of four key players who could seriously change expectations for those teams in the Canada West and the RSEQ.

Both coaches are central in these player’s lives and have their ears.

Offensive lineman and former Dino Mark DeWit played two seasons in Toronto and two in Hamilton and managed to take classes in the winter semester to finish his degree while playing. I’d hazard a guess that Nill wasn’t using that example when in dialogue with Fabien or Rockhill, or for that matter last year when running back Matt Walter stated before the draft that he was returning for his fifth year.

That being said a fourth or fifth year player isn`t a kid and should be able to employ their own critical thinking.

What is also at play is the question of development. Many predicted the elimination of the NFL option window would hurt CFL recruitment in the United States. Not surprisingly, the CIS side of the equation was taken for granted.

In the case Plesius, the 24 year-old hopes he can get another shot at an NFL camp and the one-plus-one option year contract would stand in the way of another NFL look.

Plesius took correspondence courses this winter to get the 18 credits needed to qualify academically for the RSEQ if he could not catch on in the NFL.

He told Boutin, “It was good advice from Glen(Constantin), he said. Always have a plan B and evenC. ”

There’s that secondary plan again, which is not good news in so far as the CFL is concerned. With expanded NFL rosters the dream remains alive for raw CIS talent to develop stateside.

Something similar could be said of Fabien who at 21, may have been reminded of the path Dan Federkeil took from the U of C to a four-year NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts which included a Super Bowl ring. Fabien’s agent is Washington, D.C’s Johnathon Hardaway who represents Concordia grad and Kansas City Chief Cory Greenwood along with Matt O’Donnell of Queen’s who signed a two-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Rockhill still has two years of eligibility left, so the extra eight to possibly 12 starts won’t hurt his development.

If the scholarship doors are ever forced open in the CIS for a limited number of full-rides, Canadian university players will have another card to play in contract negotiations with CFL teams. While it is not a crisis, perhaps the time has come where the CIS and CFL should seriously look at working on a more integrated player development system.

Jim Mullin is a Vancouver-based broadcaster. He served as the Vancouver Director of the 47th Vanier Cup played at BC Place Stadium last November and provided the play-by-play of the game for TSN Radio. He also serves as chair of the Amateur Sub-committee for the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, and serves as the British Columbia representative for the CFHOF. Jim’s thoughts on CIS football will periodically appear in our new Eye on the CIS feature. Check out more of Jim’s pieces on his blog, “The Edmonton Eskimos ruined my childhood.“


Filed Under: CIS Football, Drafts/Prospects, Featured, The Mullin Files Tagged With: BC Lions, CFL, CIS, Eye On The CIS, Jim Mullin, Kirby Fabien, NFL

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

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