Depth Chart vs the Eskimos - 20111120 WDF

[Toppy Vann]

What am I missing? Why can't Hyland start at short side half back and Reddick take care of safety? I'm nervous on that safety position.

I think we are missing what the coaches saw in the game vs. Montreal. He is not as good as I know I felt he was - in this first game which is all it is... ONE game only. He still looks like a keeper.

[WestCoastJoe]

http://communities.canada.com/theprovin ... ctice.aspx

Some excerpts from the article by Lowell Ullrich ...

A crystal ball at practice

By L. Ullrich Mon, Jul 4 2011

The things you see at practice are sometimes destined to confuse an outsider, until it is explained by Wally Buono the method to his madness.

There were a few seconds Monday, for example, when it might have appeared that the head man of the Lions was about to make a couple of defensive changes for the home opener Friday against Calgary.

He's making changes all right... for the 2012 or '13 edition of the Lions.

Linebacker James Yurichuk was given an early rep or two during one period, for example, which really shouldn't be considered something totally radical given that he has a definite role at present. Also, Ryan Phillips had a rep or two at safety. No surprise there either: Phillips started the pre-season game at Calgary in the same spot.

James Yurichuk at linebacker. Makes good sense.

Ryan Phillips at safety. Also makes sense in a couple of ways. And not in others.

Phillips is a tremendous ball hawk. Great speed. Great anticipation. But IMO he is a very weak tackler. IMO he avoids contact at some times when he should get right after it.

[B.C.FAN]

Ryan Phillips has had a lot of reps at safety in the past two years, at least in practice if not in games. He is the opposite of LaRose, Hyland and Arakgi in some ways. He is a ball hawk, much like Barron Miles was, but he's not a hitter. LaRose, Arakgi and Hyland will punish anyone who tries to catch a ball over the middle. One type of player intimidates quarterbacks. The other type intimidates receivers.

[WestCoastJoe]

http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/A ... story.html

After six years, Nuvraj Bassi gets a shot

Surrey defensive lineman signed to practice roster after being drafted in 2005

By Lowell Ullrich, The Province July 5, 2011

There are no second chances with Wally Buono, or at least there was a time when that was the case. A player makes the team based strictly on skill. No other factors considered. Failures are escorted immediately off the premises.

None, perhaps, except when the B.C. Lions are in need of special teams help and possibly a boost to their pass rush, in which case the coach/GM of the CFL team has no problem reaching into the past.

The difference this time is that the Lions went waaaay back when they signed Surrey defensive lineman Nuvraj Bassi to a practice roster tryout agreement Monday, which again illustrates the delicate nature of cultivating their non-import talent base.

At 28, most players who have yet to make an impact would have gone on to the next phase of their life. Bassi says he cannot yet because his football career, in a sense, has yet to start.

He was drafted by Buono in the fifth round of the 2005 Canadian draft after finishing his college career at the University of Oregon, but couldn't agree to contract terms and wasn't keen either on the Lions' belief he would be better as an offensive lineman.

Both the Montreal Alouettes and Saskatchewan Roughriders had similar plans subsequently, but injuries got in the way.

At 6-foot-6 and 295 pounds, it was impossible for teams to think Bassi couldn't be of some use, even if he still has to work on his foot speed. To some, Bassi is the defensive equivalent of Lorne Plante, another giant-sized project player who tried to make it out of junior ranks in Nanaimo as an offensive lineman with the Lions.

Bassi also sees his size as a reason to keep going as well.

"That's why I never gave up," he said after his first formal workout with the Lions after six seasons Monday. "This is a new time in my life and I have an amazing opportunity."

It's a chance that will evaporate by the end of the week if Bassi doesn't show the Lions something in what effectively is his fourth opportunity, counting his draft year and the times he has subsequently worked out privately for the club.

It's also a chance the former North Delta high school product would not have taken had it not been for the considerable urging of his family, in addition to former CFL safety Will Loftus, who gave Bassi a job working with his Surrey-based youth-development program while he kept in shape.

I wish him well. I would have to think he is a bit of a longshot. Out of football a long time. Not really experienced. Not sure if he is better suited to O Line or D Line.

But we do need depth on the D Line.
.............

Edited ...

Wow. Check out the YouTube of his tryout with the Lions in May ...

Very impressive physically. Fast, strong, agile, and huge.



And the TiCats workout from April ...

[West Coast Blue Fan]

Shook the "Magical" 8 ball this morning with respect to Bassi.....it came up "apple and a bus ticket"

Wonder if/when we give Derek MacCready a call next

[Lionheart]

I'm confused. Seems to happen a lot lately.

One whole off season. One month of training camp, 80 players. Lots of workouts and hard work.

Now, one game in and we are searching for a defensive lineman. What is up with that?

[Rammer]

I'm confused. Seems to happen a lot lately.

One whole off season. One month of training camp, 80 players. Lots of workouts and hard work.

Now, one game in and we are searching for a defensive lineman. What is up with that?

NI's that can start are hard to come by. With Brent Johnson now counted on to be a starter, the Lions need to have depth at the DL.

[WestCoastJoe]

I'm confused. Seems to happen a lot lately.

One whole off season. One month of training camp, 80 players. Lots of workouts and hard work.

Now, one game in and we are searching for a defensive lineman. What is up with that?

Just my impression.

The 3 - 4 defence is new. IMO it provides less direct pressure on the QB than a standard 4 - 3. Calvillo attacked the 3 - 4 right away. The 3 - 4 IMO needs great blitzing pressure from the linebackers. IMO we did not get that. Calvillo would be the wrong QB to try out the 3 - 4 on right out of Training Camp.

It seemed to me in the second half we went back to a standard 4 - 3 defence. If we are losing some faith in the 3 - 4, we would need more Non Import depth in the D Line. Thus we are looking at Nuvraj Bassi.

It will be interesting to see how committed we are to the 3 - 4 defence.

Just my impression, my guess ...

[B.C.FAN]

I'm confused. Seems to happen a lot lately.

One whole off season. One month of training camp, 80 players. Lots of workouts and hard work.

Now, one game in and we are searching for a defensive lineman. What is up with that?

Just about everybody seems to be scrambling for non-import defensive linemen due to a rash of injuries. The Lions' designated project at the position, Chris Hodgson, was injured in practice. Sean Ortiz, who was released by the Lions after a couple of years bouncing between the practice roster and the 46-man roster, was picked up by
Montreal last week and played against the Lions as a long-snapper. Calgary lost Corey Mace on the weekend and might have to juggle the ratio to play an import on the line. Edmonton lost Adam Braidwood to legal problems in the offseason. Saskatchewan started two NIs on the defensive line against Edmonton but didn't show that they could rush the QB or stop the run.

[Lionheart]

I don't care about the other teams, they have no bearing on this. Are you telling me that hodgson was going to be a starter and now effected this? I think not... there is still no explanation as to why the Lions are now cruising Rootin tootin' newton for bodies.

[Rammer]

I don't care about the other teams, they have no bearing on this. Are you telling me that hodgson was going to be a starter and now effected this? I think not... there is still no explanation as to why the Lions are now cruising Rootin tootin' newton for bodies.

In order to give BJ a rest, the Lions require an NI to go into the rotation, that is much easier done if Hodgson is the guy to sub in for him. So Bassi has a real chance to get some limited playing time as Hodgson would have, or at least that is the way I see it.

[The_Pauser]

How about giving Miguel Robede a call?

[Rammer]

How about giving Miguel Robede a call?

I wonder what went on there, I am sure that he would have been contacted.

[DanoT]

How about giving Miguel Robede a call?

I wonder what went on there, I am sure that he would have been contacted.

Is he on the Argo practice roster? BTW what is the rule for claiming a player from another teams PR. Does the new team have to start him or just dress him.

[Lionheart]

No he is not. According to the show we just watched he was given an apple and a road map.