Training Camp 2014 ... Day 17

[Hambone]

Thanks to all who have contributed to training camp reports. A few questions:

1) Haven't heard anything on draft pick David Menard. Any word as to how he's performed?
DH

About the only thing I noticed about Menard was the discrepency between his dimensions in the website vs the handout. The handout lists him at 225# as opposed to 265# on the website. Looking at him standing on the sidelines he looks closer to 225# than 265#.

[Shi Zi Mi]

BC Lions ‏@BCLions 14m

Stop, hammer time.

Every time you see me, the hammer's just so hype...

I'm dope on the floor and I'm magic on the mic...

Can't touch this.

[WestCoastJoe]

Monday, June 16th, 2014

Kadie Smith

It’s Day 15 here at BC Lions training camp, and the guys were eager to get back on the field after a day of much needed rest.

Fresh off their comeback win in Edmonton on Friday night, the Lions hit the field for their two-hour practice with some serious energy, running through their plays with speed and aggression.

Head trainer Bill Reichelt had the team rehab in the pool Saturday evening rather than doing a standard run-down on the field to help the guys unwind. Add to that, the fact that we’re in the final week of camp and the first regular season game is just over a week away, and you’ve got one amped-up pride.

“They understand that we’re at numbers where they’re close to making the football team,” said head coach Mike Benevides. “Also, they understand how important these next five days are. You can see a rejuvenation in enthusiasm and focus.”

Of Note for Day 14:
With the vets getting in more reps as we inch closer to the final cut down, the rookies will have to work overtime to stand out, and they got a taste of the work that lies ahead of them today as the big boys came prepared.

Offence:
Andrew Harris showed his skill as a running back today finding open routes and dancing around defenders during the team periods and consistenly getting to the outside. Harris was also effective as an extra block for the offense during passing plays.

Stefan Logan, was also lethal on the run today, using his speed and quick footing to dart in and out through defenders, and when #10 finds an open route, there’s no catching him.

Nyere Aumaitre and Jovan Olafioye did a great job laying huge blocks for the offence, and clearing plenty of space for Harris and Logan in the team periods.

Stephen Adekolu played a prominent role today. After his successful showing in the Lions win over the Esks, Adekolu was given more reps, and the rookie receiver did not disappoint. He had several key catches in the team periods, including a high catch through double coverage.

“Stephen is a tremendous athlete,” said Benevides. “He was the top receiver in the [Edmonton] game; he made an unbelievable catch, and he’s earning the respect of his coaches.”

Defence:
Chris Olson and Khalif Mitchell were on another level for the defence today, shedding just about every block in both the team periods and the one-on-ones and continually beating their man to put pressure on the quarterback.

Dante Marsh had a strong practice with an interception and a passbreak up in the team periods, while Tony Burnett was solid in man-on-man coverage, twice streaking across to strip receivers.

Another strong spot for the defence was Adam Bighill. The veteran linebacker had some big blocks in the team periods and provided solid run protection against the standout running backs.

Watching:
Matt McGarva (knee), Emmanuel Arceneaux (hand), Alex Hoffman-Ellis (groin), and Josh Johnson did not participate today.

[Shi Zi Mi]

News1130 Sports ‏@News1130Sports 1h

Buono and coach Mike Benevides both happy with qb Travs Lulay who threw more and was more active yesterday.

Buono says receiver Manny Arceneaux will have another x-ray - on his broken hand after Friday's home date with the Stamps.

[MexicoLionFan]

Great news with Adekolu...great size, good decent speed, catches with his hands, oozing confidence...love it...another great Lion's TC story.

[WestCoastJoe]

Monday, June 16th, 2014

Kadie Smith

With just two days of practice left before the BC Lions head home to Vancouver, and three until their matchup against the Calgary Stampeders, the guys are making the most of the limited time they have to prove they belong in orange.


Friday marks the BC Lions first game at home, and although it’s a preseason game, it’s the game of their lives for many of the young rookies that have put in the heart and the work here at training camp. It's a final chance to showcase their talents before cutdown day.

For the vets, Friday will be the first chance they have to put on a show for their home-crowd fans, as many did not make the trip for the game against the Edmonton Eskimos last week. As coach Mike Benevides reminded his team in the post-practice address: “these final days matter.”

Of Note For Day 16:

Offence: Kevin Glenn looked like the creditworthy vet that he is today, consistently finding receivers when they could not create separation. He has incredible trajectory on his throws and is able to arc touch passes over the middle of the field, seemingly placing them at will. When pressured from the defence, Glenn remained calm in the pocket, not hesitating to run with the ball.


Courtney Taylor had several key catches today in the team periods, diving low to snag a ball that was just short of the the intended spot, and darting downfield to nab a long pass from Glenn for a sure TD.

Tim Brown was everywhere for the offence today, finding gaps between a solid defensive line that at times seemed impenetrable. He also gets the nod for play of the day, skying over two defenders twice his size to grab a soft lob from John Beck who was under serious pressure from Khalif Mitchell and Eric Taylor.

Defence:
T.J. Lee had a strong practice today. He had a pass break up earlier in the day, blocking a toss from Glenn, and finished the day with an interception intended for Kito Poblah, returning the ball deep into offensive territory.

Mitchell and Alex Bazzie were lethal for the defensive line today, using their strength to get past blocks in the one-on-one periods and getting under their coverage in the team periods. Chris Olson had another strong day. The defensive end uses speed to beat his blocks and makes up for his smaller stature with a keen ability to read the play and make a quick decision, adjusting his rush accordingly and keeping everything to the inside.

Adam Bighill continues to display the skill and strength that make him one of the top outside linebackers in the league. Bighill provided strong defence against the run in the team periods, blasting through gaps and stopping up the QB on short yardage attempts.

Watching:
Shawn Gore (shoulder), Emmanuel Arceneaux (hand), Matt McGarva (knee), Alex Hoffman-Ellis (ankle), Marco Ianuzzi (hamstring), and R.J. Dill (hamstring) did not participate today.

[WestCoastJoe]

http://www.bclions.com/article/training ... 0617111127

Tuesday, June 17th, 2014

Kadie Smith

It’s the end of the road here at BC Lions training camp. Well, almost the end. With just one two practices scheduled, we’re inching closer to the preseason home game against the Stampeders, and the guys are excited to get home and play in front of their fans at BC Place.

It was a hot two-and-a-half hour practice today. With the last few days full of rain and cold, gusting winds, the sudden high heat put some added strains on the day. Wit the sun barreling down on the valley, the players had to be extra conscious of their hydration.

Of Note For Day 17:

Lay Some Sweet Lines:
It’s clear from camp that the defensive line possesses two characteristics that make a unit successful: the ability to stop a run, and the marked skill of putting pressure on a quarterback. Khalif Mitchell, Khareem Smith, and Eric Taylor headline this talented group, and all three have repeatedly shown that they have the athleticism and talent to get under blocks with not only speed and agility, but a sheer ferocity that would make any QB nervous.

The already strong defensive corps has been getting a boost in camp from newcomer Chris Olson, whose speed off the snap is unmatched. Olson is consistently running to the ball and reading the plays, and seems not overwhelmed by the speed of the game.

“His anticipation is very good,” said head coach Mike Benevides. “He’s got outstanding leverage and hand placement. When he puts that in conjunction with a better understanding of technique and ability to play with his speed, I think he’s got a bright future ahead of him.”

For the offensive line, Andre Ramsey and Cam Thorn continue to impress. Thorn is quick off the ball and doesn’t quit on his man. During the inside run period today nothing was getting past him.

At left tackle, Ramsey was causing all kinds of problems for the defence today in the team periods. His size and strength are one thing, but add to that significant speed, and that’s a hard block to shed. He was pivotal to the run game today, clearing room for Stefan Logan and Andrew Harris to maneuver.

Run That Game:
So, Stefan Logan. That guy’s good. The former NFLer was dominant in practice today, nabbing every ball that came his way, including several high tosses that looked well out of his reach, and finding routes in the team periods. Logan has a keen ability to read the field and know where the defensive pursuit is coming from, and once he breaks free, there’s no catching him.

Newcomer Keola Antolin has impressed his coaches as well. Although not quite as fast as Logan in the team periods, Antolin showed good vision and instincts, spinning away from blocks. He also has good agility, several times cutting the corner on an outside run and tricking the defence in the open field with a a quick change of direction.

Quotes of Note:
Kelly Bates on his successful unit of running backs:
“It’s practice number 22. It’s hot; these guys are tired and their sore, but as a whole, the entire group really tuned in mentally and committed to this practice.”


Watching:
Emmanuel Arceneaux (hand), Alex Hoffman-Ellis (ankle), and Rico Forbes (foot) did not participate today.

[TheLionKing]

Seems like these training articles are written by the PR department of the Lions.

[Shi Zi Mi]

Seems like these training articles are written by the PR department of the Lions.

Yup.......all fluff, zero substance

[MexicoLionFan]

TLK, that was brutal...in one breath the DLine is amazing because of their ferocity and then with the next breath the OLine is shutting down the DLine at every turn. Plus, I think she writes with a Thesaurus in hand.

[TheLionKing]

Jim Morris
CFL.ca


For those players hoping to earn a role with the B.C. Lions this season, Friday’s CFL exhibition game against the Calgary Stampeders will be their last audition. Several of the understudies will perform with the proven stars to see if they demonstrate the talent needed for the big stage.

Head coach Mike Benevides used a mainly rookie production in last week’s 14-11 win over the Edmonton Eskimos. This week Benevides plans to play many of his veterans for at least two-and-a-half quarters at BC Place Stadium. He also wants to sprinkle some of the promising newcomers into the lineup to watch how they fit in with the starters.

Benevides’ philosophy is, it’s well and good to follow the script during practices, but the true test comes when you have to hit the mark under the bright lights with the rest of the cast.

“I think it’s important,” said Benevides. “Their level of play should come up to the guy that is playing next to them.

“You have to look for chemistry. Can they handle instructions, do they understand game situations? You want to see how they interact with the next guy. We will do that with a couple of guys to see how they look with the starting unit.”

“We knew it was going to take some time,” said Benevides. “He’s getting better all the time. I’m not concerned. It’s one of those things you have to be patient.”

The Lions have around 70 players in camp. They must be down to a final roster of 46 players and another 10 on the practice squad by Saturday. That means the coaching staff will be keeping a close eye on the competition for jobs at several positions.

In the defensive secondary Ronnie Yell, a five-foot-10, 185-pound important from San Jose State is making a strong bid to make the team, as is Alex Bazzie, a six-foot-one, 228-pound defensive tackle from Marshall. With veteran receiver Emmanuel Arceneaux out with a broken hand Brian Burnham from Tulsa and Stephen Adekolu from Brampton, Ont., will be given another look.

One of the biggest areas for concern for the Lions is rebuilding the left side of the offensive line following the retirements of tackle Ben Archibald and guard Patrick Kabongo.

So far T-Dre Player, B.C.’s first selection in this year’s CFL draft, and J. T. Dill, a 316-pound import international from Rutgers, are in the mix for the left guard position. Andre Ramsey, Nyere Aumaitre and Cam Thorn are battling for the guard spot.

“We have to find two men that give us a chance to win a championship,” said Benevides.

“There is really good competition in camp for those positions. We will make sure to find the right one to fill those two holes.”

Still on the mend is right guard Kirby Fabien who looked outstanding as a rookie last year but saw his season end July 30 in Toronto. Fabien suffered a catastrophic knee injury and required reconstruction surgery. He remains a question mark for the Lions’ season-opener June 28 against Edmonton.

“He’s getting better every day,” said Benevides. “Now that we are out of the two-a-day phase he’s able to participate.”

One player who won’t play Friday is Travis Lulay. The Lions’ quarterback will dress and be on the sidelines but only as a spectator.

Lulay is still recovering from surgery last November to tighten the ligaments in his right shoulder which was partially dislocated in a Sept. 15 game against Montreal. He didn’t play last week and has taken limited reps during B.C.’s training camp in Kamloops, B.C.

“We knew it was going to take some time,” said Benevides. “He’s getting better all the time.

“I’m not concerned. It’s one of those things you have to be patient.”

Benevides isn’t sure Lulay will be ready to start the season.

“We’re still some time away from that,” he said. “I don’t know.

“I don’t have expectations of him being there. We’ll see exactly where he is. I don’t know yet. It’s too early to tell.”

The Lions added depth to their quarterback position by acquiring veteran Kevin Glenn from Ottawa. The coaching staff has also been impressed by the play of John Beck, a six-year NFL veteran, and Travis Partridge, a 23-year-old rookie who spent two weeks with the Minnesota Vikings last month.

Benevides likes dressing his veterans for the final exhibition game to get them prepared for the season.

“I like taking our starting unit into the locker room at half time and letting them play in the third quarter, just so they get used to the simulation of having to play that second half,” he said.

“Physically and mentally you have to be able to turn it back on. It’s a good process to go through.”

For players on the bubble, especially rookies, the final exhibition game can be their ticket into the CFL or the last act in their football career.

“Training camp practices tell you a lot about a player, but the first pre-season game you see if they are what you think they are, or if someone surprises your or someone disappoints you,” said Benevides.

“Now they are still here, but there are not as many jobs left. You are really looking for information in the game to see who is the guy you want.”

http://cfl.ca/article/morris-decision-t ... ides-lions

[TheLionKing]

So far T-Dre Player, B.C.’s first selection in this year’s CFL draft, and J. T. Dill, a 316-pound import international from Rutgers, are in the mix for the left guard position. Andre Ramsey, Nyere Aumaitre and Cam Thorn are battling for the guard spot.

Andre Ramsey as a guard ?

[Hambone]

An observation. One big concern about any sports team is leadership and the loss of it when older core leaders depart. The Lions have endured their share of that what with the likes of Geroy, Banks, Reid and Keron Williams to name a few. I'm a believer that as core leaders depart there are always leaders-in-waiting who have been in the background absorbing and learning from the old guard. They are ready to step up and become the next core leaders. It's like from Flanders Field and the iconic images and statement on the walls of the Montreal Canadiens dressing room "To you from failing hands we throw the torch. Be yours to hold it high". I never worry too much about a leadership void because I believe as leaders leave new ones are ready to step up and fill that void. The reason I raise this sentiment is because of Andrew Harris who I think may be Exhibit A. Sure there was the "good riddance" tweet when Khalif was traded. One can take his CBA comment about how united the union was in a couple of ways. However everything else I've heard from him since camp started has oozed of leadership. He sounds like a guy who isn't just willing but wants to accept that torch of leadership. Count me as impressed. II think this is an extremely positive sign coming out of camp. Just as positive as many things on the field.

[Rammer]

So far T-Dre Player, B.C.’s first selection in this year’s CFL draft, and J. T. Dill, a 316-pound import international from Rutgers, are in the mix for the left guard position. Andre Ramsey, Nyere Aumaitre and Cam Thorn are battling for the guard spot.

Andre Ramsey as a guard ?

Plus, he has 46 roster players plus 10 PR players as the limit, when there are any draft selection isn't counted, and of course a number of players on the IL. So the Lions should be closer to the 70 mark than they are the 56 mark he tried to impress on us.

[B.C.FAN]

Mike Beamish in the Vancouver Sun breaks down the defensive line:
Lions' Brandon Jordan approves of less contact

It was news to me that Brandon Jordan considers himself to be at 60% with a shoulder injury, and his starting spot at DE has been taken by Alex Bazzie for now.

Expected to challenge for a starting spot, Jordan’s strength is just “60 per cent”, allowing rookie Alex Bazzie from Marshall to slip in and become a presumptive starter on the defensive line.

Bazzie was the only one of the newcomers on the DL who showed anything while I was in Kamloops.

There are lots of quotes from Carl Hairston contrasting the lack of contact in today's practices with the all-out battles in his day in the NFL, as well as the maturing of Khalif Mitchell and the problems that Mitchell and Eric Taylor will give opponents.

Hairston said only one of his charges on the current Lions roster -- defensive tackle Eric Taylor -- could have survived back in his day “because he’s a throwback.”

Taylor, a quiet man with old-fashioned, blue-collar values and simple tastes, is one of the least heralded impact players in the CFL. But coaches and players know his value.

Paired with Khalif Mitchell, he forms the most dominant set of defensive tackles in the CFL, Hairston believes, a Fearsome Twosome he predicts will expose weaknesses in opposing offences and the vulnerability of opposing quarterbacks.

“It’s fun to coach ‘em,” Hairston said. “Every team is going to have to account for them. That will free up your (defensive) ends to do a lot of things. As long as you’ve got those two middle pieces, me and you could play defensive end. If you’ve got two powerful tackles like that, you’ve got to double (team) them. You can’t single block ‘em.”

I loved his line, "As long as you’ve got those two middle pieces, me and you could play defensive end." The Lions haven't recruited well at defensive end in recent years but I hope they can do better than Hairston and Beamish at the position.