Post Mortem on the Season, Als 50 - Leos 17

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Rammer
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dupsdell1 wrote:Buono is not going back to coaching , People not going to happen
I would agree on the premise that he isn't going to return, however, what happens if he can't find an upgrade in a HC? He may find his way back to the sidelines if he doesn't find a HC that will take the heat off of himself. Remember that would be two HC's in a row hired under his GM watch, something that wouldn't sit well with him, let alone the fan base. I am not sure that the real possibility exists to hire a HC given the circumstances surrounding the 2014/15 BC Lions now.

So until a HC is found and confirmed hired, his hat is still in the mix.
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Toppy Vann
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dupsdell1 wrote:Buono is not going back to coaching , People not going to happen
He said he told Skulsky and Braley he'd do it an emergency.

I am not sure what was meant by that.

I can't see him returning to the sidelines but in hiring ONLY 1 HC with no process, Mr. Buono is a rookie in hiring and has really only hired sacrificial lambs (assistants).

Also when did he ever go through and interview and selection process as he's only been in Calgary and BC and I am pretty sure the Lions interview process was Wally's Win-Loss record that pretty much spoke for itself. Who'd care what his thinking was, his knowledge of x's and o's when he had the record he had when he got hired here.

Wally for all intents and purposes is still a rookie in hiring HC level folks. He failed badly in doing what many rookie hiring managers do - hire someone you like and who you think is just like you.
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http://www.theprovince.com/sports/footb ... story.html
Ullrich: The B.C. Lions have a long to-do list

Here are some of the things they should focus on

BY LOWELL ULLRICH, THE PROVINCE NOVEMBER 24, 2014 8:47 PM

The B.C. Lions were humiliated and exposed when their season came to an end last week in Montreal and now must begin the difficult task of rebuilding the franchise and restoring consumer confidence in a product that bears no resemblance to the CFL team at its last appearance in the Grey Cup three years ago. The Calgary-Hamilton Grey Cup game at B.C. Place Stadium Sunday should serve as a blueprint for the Lions, and as a week of festivities gets underway without them, Province football writer Lowell Ullrich offers a to-do list season for a difficult winter ahead.

Wanted — new approach: The teflon status enjoyed by Wally Buono for more than a decade had a layer stripped away with the firing of head coach Mike Benevides, which means the general manager has to get the hiring of his successor right or he will be asked to step into retirement prematurely. The way of nurturing candidates from within the organization has come to an end.

Buono said he wants a coach who is a natural leader, which perhaps rules out candidates without previous experience. But the uniqueness of three-down football is such that candidates are not plentiful, and the anger being expressed by the fan base means the Lions absolutely must get it right this time.

Back it up: The toughest task for the general manager will be to maintain separation from the team so as to give his coach proper autonomy without losing the ability to assess his personnel.

Players like Dante Marsh and others criticized the management structure once the damage of the East Division final had been done, but Buono maintained his position that he must stay in control. If the undoing of the Lions down the stretch was because of player uncertainty, the perception must go back to where it was in 2012 when Buono gave up coaching.

Free agency not a bad thing: Buono made one personnel shift last season when he asked Roy Shivers to give some up personnel responsibilities, though Shivers still had a hand in bringing in some players who made a contribution this year. Another philosophical shift must occur for the Lions to make an Edmonton-style turnaround.

B.C.’s approach has long been to abstain from being a major player in free agency and to a lesser extent the team has also looked the other way when a rival cuts a player. That has to change. There aren’t many quick fixes in free agency historically, but it’s also clear that not all needs can simply be solved by out-recruiting opponents when it comes to imports.

Both Calgary and Hamilton have done a better job mixing in players with CFL experience and rookie imports, and neither club would have much sympathy for the Lions injury woes considering the number of ailments each finalist has had to overcome.

B.C. has needs everywhere, from centre to safety, a big-play receiver to a feared pass rusher, and there’s no guarantee they’ll be able to find upgrades for players like Matt Norman and J.R. LaRose no matter how hard they try. There’s certainly no way all of the Lions’ needs can be met through good recruiting.

Maintain the faith: A big part of Buono’s playbook as coach was to let first-year players have a subordinate role before being integrated further into the team. Benevides did a good job of pushing his boss to accept the fact younger players could make a quick contribution.

The former coach was far more bullish, for example, than Buono regarding rookie LT Hunter Steward, and when he was healthy that faith was rewarded. Benevides and defensive coordinator Mark Washington also started Ronnie Yell, T.J. Lee, Josh Johnson and Alex Bazzie as rookies and as a result the Lions can confidently suggest they have a future nucleus. That approach has to continue.

How about an olive branch? Thanks to the windfall television rights-holder deal, which went into effect this season, one of the Lions biggest competitors are themselves as they strive to put people in the seats who would otherwise be just as content to stay at home and drive up ratings.

Rightly or wrongly, the fan base has decided the price point for tickets is too high. The Lions have been opposed to lowering the ticket price as to do so would be an admission that the product is substandard. Fact is, it was below-par in 2014 and a carrot in the form of a price drop from owner David Braley would work much effectively than a season ticket letter saying they’ll do better.

As it stands now, ticket prices are going up slightly due to an increase imposed by the team’s landlord, B.C. Place Stadium. But the Lions did little to engage the public in this week’s Grey Cup festivities prior to this week and it remains to be seen if they will pay a price in the form of empty seats at Sunday’s game and beyond.

Top to bottom, this organization needs to roll up its collective sleeves and get to work.
John Madden's Team Policies: Be on time. Pay attention. Play like hell on game day.

Jimmy Johnson's Game Keys: Protect the ball. Make plays.

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I think that Lowell hits the nail on the head. He was fair in everything that he appproached to the problems with the team, the management, and the pricing...
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The B.C. Lions were humiliated and exposed when their season came to an end last week in Montreal and now must begin the difficult task of rebuilding the franchise and restoring consumer confidence in a product that bears no resemblance to the CFL team at its last appearance in the Grey Cup three years ago. The Calgary-Hamilton Grey Cup game at B.C. Place Stadium Sunday should serve as a blueprint for the Lions, and as a week of festivities gets underway without them, Province football writer Lowell Ullrich offers a to-do list season for a difficult winter ahead.
Wanted — new approach: The teflon status enjoyed by Wally Buono for more than a decade had a layer stripped away with the firing of head coach Mike Benevides, which means the general manager has to get the hiring of his successor right or he will be asked to step into retirement prematurely. The way of nurturing candidates from within the organization has come to an end.
Buono said he wants a coach who is a natural leader, which perhaps rules out candidates without previous experience. But the uniqueness of three-down football is such that candidates are not plentiful, and the anger being expressed by the fan base means the Lions absolutely must get it right this time.
Back it up: The toughest task for the general manager will be to maintain separation from the team so as to give his coach proper autonomy without losing the ability to assess his personnel.
Players like Dante Marsh and others criticized the management structure once the damage of the East Division final had been done, but Buono maintained his position that he must stay in control. If the undoing of the Lions down the stretch was because of player uncertainty, the perception must go back to where it was in 2012 when Buono gave up coaching.
Wally is sending out the wrong message, insisting he must maintain control. Wally does not get it yet. His heavy hand played a major role in our collapse, IMO. Watching every detail of practice, either from the rooftop or the tower, has to stop.
Both Calgary and Hamilton have done a better job mixing in players with CFL experience and rookie imports, and neither club would have much sympathy for the Lions injury woes considering the number of ailments each finalist has had to overcome.
Oh yes. John Hufnagel and Kent Austin have the pulse of the league. Light years ahead of where we are, to this day, unless Wally lets go.
B.C. has needs everywhere, from centre to safety, a big-play receiver to a feared pass rusher, and there’s no guarantee they’ll be able to find upgrades for players like Matt Norman and J.R. LaRose no matter how hard they try. There’s certainly no way all of the Lions’ needs can be met through good recruiting.
Rightly or wrongly, the fan base has decided the price point for tickets is too high. The Lions have been opposed to lowering the ticket price as to do so would be an admission that the product is substandard. Fact is, it was below-par in 2014 and a carrot in the form of a price drop from owner David Braley would work much effectively than a season ticket letter saying they’ll do better.
Top to bottom, this organization needs to roll up its collective sleeves and get to work.
Absolutely right. If we had somehow made it close versus Montreal, I suspect Wally would have wanted to retain Mike Benevides. At least that woeful coaching situation is at end.

But Wally has to let go. First of all, if we want to get a top Head Coach, he will insist on autonomy. Second of all, as Wally has admitted, time has passed him by as a coach. How can he then want to hold on to the reins? Wally has said the team needs a fresh approach. Wally holding control is not a fresh approach.

Just IMO ...
John Madden's Team Policies: Be on time. Pay attention. Play like hell on game day.

Jimmy Johnson's Game Keys: Protect the ball. Make plays.

Walter Payton's Advice to Kids: Play hard. Play fair. Have fun.
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LU wrote:How about an olive branch? Thanks to the windfall television rights-holder deal, which went into effect this season, one of the Lions biggest competitors are themselves as they strive to put people in the seats who would otherwise be just as content to stay at home and drive up ratings.

Rightly or wrongly, the fan base has decided the price point for tickets is too high. The Lions have been opposed to lowering the ticket price as to do so would be an admission that the product is substandard. Fact is, it was below-par in 2014 and a carrot in the form of a price drop from owner David Braley would work much effectively than a season ticket letter saying they’ll do better.

As it stands now, ticket prices are going up slightly due to an increase imposed by the team’s landlord, B.C. Place Stadium. But the Lions did little to engage the public in this week’s Grey Cup festivities prior to this week and it remains to be seen if they will pay a price in the form of empty seats at Sunday’s game and beyond.

Top to bottom, this organization needs to roll up its collective sleeves and get to work.
It's too late for that now, at least for 2015. The 2015 pricing structure was announced at least a month or two ago and some people (though likely not a whole lot) have already renewed. They would look rather sheepish cutting prices this long after the initial rollout and having to credit those who have already anted up. But still it's fair to say that for a lot of people...

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Sports can be a peculiar thing. When partaking in fiction, like a book or movie, we adopt a "Willing Suspension of Disbelief" for enjoyment's sake. There's a similar force at work in sports: "Willing Suspension of Rationality". If you doubt this, listen to any conversation between rival team fans. You even see it among fans of the same team. Fans argue over who's the better QB or goalie, and selectively cite stats that support their views while ignoring those that don't.
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Wouldn't it be ironic if Chapdelaine is introduced as the new Head Coach ?
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TheLionKing wrote:Wouldn't it be ironic if Chapdelaine is introduced as the new Head Coach ?
Yes, it sure would be.

The golden era of our Leos organization is behind us. Wally Buono has always recieved, by far, the most credit for our Leos becoming a consistent winner for a number of seasons. However, the real architect was Bobby Ackles. He went outside the organization to hire a GM and Head Coach in Buono and solidified the quarterback position by bringing in Dave Dickenson. At one point in that period of time, under Bobby Ackles, we had Dave Dickenson, Casey Printers, Buck Pierce, and Jarious Jackson in our quarterback stable. We went out and brought in Geroy Simon who would go on to lead our receviing group. Dave Ritchie was our defensive coordinator. The fan base was excited, Ackles had huge connections to the NF'L, NCAA, the CFL, and the business comunity.

The fan base has been detiorating due to poor marketing, high prices, poor half time entertainment, the casting away of vet leaders in ways that have often left a bad taste, and this season, a bad product to boot.

Buono, to me, is often given a lot of credit for `loyalty`to his coaches. That`s not the way I`ve viewed it. Instead he`s hired coaches who would 'owe' him, never question him' and give him their undying loyalty. Benevedes was so called 'mentored' for 10 years and handed the HC position because he would take direction from Buono. That was the most important credential, along with loyalty and admiration.

We leave behind a Head Coach in Benevedes who berated his coordinators on the sidelines, ranted and raved, attempted to chest bump his players during games, and whose idea of leadership was ice cream treats, slogans, and distateful pre-game and half time speeches. If that's what 10 years of Buono mentoring produces, I sure hope he doesn't mentor another future Head Coach.

We presently have Dan Dorazio and Chuck McMann on our coaching staff, two veteran coaches whose results are dismal but who have been rewarded for their loyalty to Buono. We have a starting quarterback who is recovering from another shoulder injury and will be one hit away to a long stay in the medical room. Behind him we have a 35 year old vet in Glenn and a 33 year old journeyman.

As I begin my shopping list for Grey Cup snacks, I see John Hufnagel in Calgary, who we could have hired at one point, if Buono would have been willing to step aside and just be the GM. I see Dave Dickenson as his offensive coordinator. When Dickenson takes over as Head Coach in Calgary he will have been properly 'mentored'. Rich Stubler, whose defense looked very good against Edmonton in the Western Final, is preparing his charges for a potential Grey Cup victory. Coaching the best offensive line in the CFL is Pat DelMonaco, who in his first season in Calgary, not only led the league in giving up the least quarterback sacks. Dorazio's offensive line gave up more than twice as many sacks as Calgary, even with 3 Internationals on the offensive line.

Its time for a new blue print. It's time to bring in a new Head Coach and some new assistants. It's more than time to throw away the old 90's Calgary playbook. In a league in which aggressive defense has proven to be an asset, it's more than time to throw away the old Buono defense of rushing four and playing conservative, vanilla zone defense.

Its time for Buono to concentrate on marketing, getting the fan base back, and getting an exciting product back on the field and to stop coaching from the GM chair. Its also time for Skulsky to get to work and rebuild this organization, as Ackles did, rather than relying on gimmicks that don't turn out so cheap.

We have enough talent on this Leos team to get things turned around, if we can deal with some of our weak spots, in terms of certain positions. But our major weaknesses right now is not player talent. Its the vision or lack of vision that surounds them.
"When I went to Catholic high school in Philadelphia, we just had one coach for football and basketball. He took all of us who turned out and had us run through a forest. The ones who ran into the trees were on the football team". (George Raveling)
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Joe, Blitz...great comments...again...thank you so much. Great work this post season by both LU and Beamer...its important for any living organism to maintain TRUTH in every moment...it can be distasteful at times, but TRUTH always wins out in the end, and by living in truth versus denial, change is simple...live a lie, build up layers of camouflage and change becomes difficult...as I always say, Life is nothing more than a choice in every moment!

No matter what Wally has done, or thinks he has done, now is the time to change back to truth. As Blitz and Joe both courageously and ACCURATELY described, Buono is NOT a legend when it comes to coaching...running a program, yes, being a great game time coach, no...Wally is a leader and a winner, he knows how to bring together other winners and hold them accountable...that works until everyone else catches up to you. For the Lions it was the 2004 season for Casey Printers...that offence, that system, that personnel, that coaching was SO GOOD that it blew an entire league away and sent the best minds in the CFL scrambling for answers. The first place they ran to was PRESSURE and as a result of the Lions NEVER ADJUSTING TO IT, even TEN YEARS LATER it has never gone away, and it has led the CFL to is present reality...a Defence dominated league in a game where the Offences are given advantage after advantage. So how did this occur? Wally and his DENIAL to respond to pressure...CFL Offences around the league were forced to deal with Wally's incredible TALENT ADVANTAGE on defence...Cam Wake likely was the single most DOMINANT Defensive player (along with Quick Parker) in league history. Our DLine through Wally's tenure here has been the best in football and has been able to consistently get pressure on the QB by rushing 4 guys...again bookend a line with Brent Johnson and Cam Wake and that's what's going to happen...Offences were FORCED into their truth, they couldn't stop a D that could drop 8 talented guys into coverage and still apply heavy pressure on the QB. So CFL Offences began to think and adapt. They developed new offensive systems designed to spread out the Lion's D and create some spaces and gaps...they then complimented this with Jumbo formations, 2 runners in the backfield designed to "chip" the DE's and buy an extra second to throw the ball. They went to the WR screens to get the ball to their playmakers in space and take Wake and Johnson out of the play...they started the rebirth of RUNNING the football in the CFL, to go right at Wake...again, they adapted, they overcame obstacles in their path.

WE HAVE NOT! The current CFL looks like it does because of Wally's BC Lions...both offensively and defensively we scared the doo-doo out of EVERY OTHER CFL team...and when Hufnagel returned and was lost to CGY, he taught the rest of the league how to neutralize Wally's talent advantage and began recruiting aggressively like the Lions did. Thus, the success against Wally in the NEW CFL is because of John Hufnagel! These two men have shaped our league into what it is.

Credit Wally for giving this franchise a sense of itself...for bringing in INCREDIBLE talent (through Shivers and Obie) and a system of discipline and consistency...it has made for a lot of wins...it led to the building of our new, incredible stadium. Wally has done a lot for this franchise. But he didn't give us the tradition of adapting and overcoming, and yet, as 2011 PROVED, he can/we can overcome anything. EDM just proved it once again this season, Jones took AVERAGE talent (including at QB where Reiily is good, not great) with a tradition of LOSING and immediately turned them into winners. What will he do over the next couple of seasons as EDM's talent pool grows??? Yikes! CGY has had to go the last few years WITHOUT a good QB...but they made Glenn look like an All Star and Mitchell into a not only a game manager, but a game changer...none of the QBs that CGY has possess top shelf talent, but they have been taught to win, they have been taught technique both mentally and physically...they have been well coached! Thus CGY has continued to win and pressure for a Grey Cup even without a great QB!!!

Can we? Nope...not under the way Wally WAS...he must adapt and overcome himself if he is going to lead this franchise to success again. As Joe said, Wally's ENORMOUS success has been his own worst enemy...it has made Wally SOFT under the beliefs that he is a LIVING LEGEND that has Carte Blanche around the league. His success also forced EVERY OTHER TEAM to adapt to new systems designed to stop HIM! That's quite a legacy, and maybe that's enough for Wally...he was great, he achieved greatness...John Hufnagel came along and said, I think I can do better, and he has (to a degree). So Wally either recognizes this and starts the 2nd phase of his football life, or he fades away along with all his past glories and a legacy of getting beaten AT HOME in the biggest games. Why? Because Wally's teams scared the opposition into thinking outside the box, as Einstein said, "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." ALL INVENTION HAS COME BY THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX by people who society has laughed at and called "crack-pots". Teams have beat Wally in big games because they have desperately game planned while Wally, already laying all his cards on the table, said EXECUTE to his players. But it is tough to execute against what you haven't seen or experienced before. Thus in coaching, you are either CONSTANTLY adapting/growing or you are dying...and in the day and age of video footage and computers, EVERYTHING that a team does with redundancy will be singled out and noticed, GUARANTEED. This is why I have said it has been SO EASY for teams to CHEAT against us...teams take crazy risks against the Lions because under Wally, we now have a legacy of NOT MAKING THEM PAY...and this is why the rest of the league laughs at us behind our backs and why they have no sympathy for Wally and the Lions...Wally scared everyone and dominated league wide...teams under pressure of folding had to fight, tooth and nail, to survive...they have EARNED their new found status as teams that are BETTER THAN US and won't give Wally any quarter...it was the same for the Eskimos of the 1970's...no one cried when they finally collapsed here in the new millennium...

So for Wally its ADAPT OR DIE, his football career hangs in this balance as does our franchise. A NEW COACH has to come in with ideas that can compete and better what CGY, EDM, SSK, and HAM are doing...if not, don't bother...that would be MY first question to the candidates...tell me how you plan to beat Jones, Hufnagel, Chambliss and Austin??? Huh? Any ideas? No? Get lost...
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TheLionKing
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Blitz wrote: The golden era of our Leos organization is behind us. Wally Buono has always recieved, by far, the most credit for our Leos becoming a consistent winner for a number of seasons. However, the real architect was Bobby Ackles. He went outside the organization to hire a GM and Head Coach in Buono and solidified the quarterback position by bringing in Dave Dickenson. At one point in that period of time, under Bobby Ackles, we had Dave Dickenson, Casey Printers, Buck Pierce, and Jarious Jackson in our quarterback stable. We went out and brought in Geroy Simon who would go on to lead our receviing group. Dave Ritchie was our defensive coordinator. The fan base was excited, Ackles had huge connections to the NF'L, NCAA, the CFL, and the business comunity.
I agree completely. The single most important signing was Bobby Ackles.
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TheLionKing wrote:
Blitz wrote: The golden era of our Leos organization is behind us. Wally Buono has always recieved, by far, the most credit for our Leos becoming a consistent winner for a number of seasons. However, the real architect was Bobby Ackles. He went outside the organization to hire a GM and Head Coach in Buono and solidified the quarterback position by bringing in Dave Dickenson. At one point in that period of time, under Bobby Ackles, we had Dave Dickenson, Casey Printers, Buck Pierce, and Jarious Jackson in our quarterback stable. We went out and brought in Geroy Simon who would go on to lead our receviing group. Dave Ritchie was our defensive coordinator. The fan base was excited, Ackles had huge connections to the NF'L, NCAA, the CFL, and the business comunity.
I agree completely. The single most important signing was Bobby Ackles.
X3

As I have maintained for ages, the loss of Bobby Ackles was huge and the vacancy left behind has never been fully filled.
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Sir Purrcival wrote:
TheLionKing wrote:
Blitz wrote: The golden era of our Leos organization is behind us. Wally Buono has always recieved, by far, the most credit for our Leos becoming a consistent winner for a number of seasons. However, the real architect was Bobby Ackles. He went outside the organization to hire a GM and Head Coach in Buono and solidified the quarterback position by bringing in Dave Dickenson. At one point in that period of time, under Bobby Ackles, we had Dave Dickenson, Casey Printers, Buck Pierce, and Jarious Jackson in our quarterback stable. We went out and brought in Geroy Simon who would go on to lead our receviing group. Dave Ritchie was our defensive coordinator. The fan base was excited, Ackles had huge connections to the NF'L, NCAA, the CFL, and the business comunity.
I agree completely. The single most important signing was Bobby Ackles.
X3

As I have maintained for ages, the loss of Bobby Ackles was huge and the vacancy left behind has never been fully filled.
X4 there were the little things that Ackles provided fans that meant a lot too. For e.g. Coming home one day to find a 'season ticket holder' edition of Ackles memoirs. I didn't ask for it. I didn't expect it. But Ackles thought we deserved it! The Ackles-led version of the Lions was Promise a lot but Deliver EVEN MORE!
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http://www.theprovince.com/sports/footb ... story.html
Ullrich: Grey Cup contenders could teach B.C. Lions some lessons

Locker room leadership, combined coach/GM role appear vital

BY LOWELL ULLRICH, THE PROVINCE NOVEMBER 27, 2014

The next game that will be played at B.C. Place Stadium is the annual told-you-so moment in three-down football, but for Josh Bell of the Calgary Stampeders it will have nothing to do with thumbing his nose at the B.C. Lions.

Bell’s sense of satisfaction upon deciding after last season to leave a CFL team that seems to be falling apart for one on the verge of a Grey Cup win is a feeling that is much bigger making than making the right assessment of free agency.

It’s one that will resonate with every male football fan on the planet.

“It made it hard on my wife, because I don’t have to hear, ‘I can make all the decisions’,” said Bell. “It makes me feel like I know what I’m doing. It makes you a bit more egotistical.”

So there are bragging rights within the family structure of the Stampeders safety that would get a boost from a win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

But what is far more instructive to those wondering why the Lions appear to have fallen further behind the best teams in the CFL are the pieces and ideas Calgary and Hamilton have picked up that will be on display Sunday.

The recipe, of course, is varied.

Bell left when the Lions didn’t meet the Stamps’ best free-agent offer after two productive seasons in the B.C. secondary.

Lin-J Shell, whose versatility was also a plus in the Lions defence, went to Calgary not long after B.C. pushed defensive co-ordinator Rich Stubler out the door and across the Rockies.

Calgary starts four non-import offensive linemen, an unfathomable concept with the Lions for years, having groomed three after drafting them. Both the Stamps and Hamilton have three serviceable Canadian defensive linemen. B.C. is only developing a second Canadian pass rusher, David Menard, this year.

Hamilton was a more palatable destination for two players who last season had been given free-agent offers by the Lions, non-imports Ted Laurent and Craig Butler.

Three other Calgary starters were taken as discards of CFL rivals. Calgary also did rather well by taking Jon Cornish in the second round of the 2006 draft.

But what the Lions may be missing, former players suggest, is a locker room intangible that comes with leadership and a belief system that comes with a dynamic coach, such as Hamilton’s Kent Austin.

“Austin’s real good with making everybody feel comfortable,” said Ticats tailback Nic Grigsby, who was with the Lions at training camp in 2012 for their first season under deposed coach Mike Benevides. “He acts as if he’s one of us. Guys feed off that energy.”

“There has been a structure and tradition in B.C. for years,” said Bell. “When I came in it was Korey Banks. You didn’t get dissension. He was the politician — the bridge between players and management — and he vocalized. I don’t know if (the Lions) had that this year.”

Shell said: “Teammates want to be treated equally and fairly. When you see people getting certain privileges over others, like all distractions you get tired of it after a while and it breaks down the team in the locker room.”

If that was indeed a capsule of the Lions last season, it perhaps is no wonder that former Lions quarterback Dave Dickenson has no interest in leaving his post as associate coach of the Stampeders.

“I’m going to be back in Calgary next year,” Dickenson said Thursday. “It’ll be the same answer tomorrow; same answer next week.”

But if there’s a common denominator on display Sunday that may make sense for the Lions, even though it is part of their past, it might be that Austin and Calgary counterpart John Hufnagel made it this far with their teams as the only two remaining coach/general manager combos.

Should Lions GM Wally Buono return as coach if he doesn’t find a replacement of his liking for Benevides? Can any coach work properly without personnel autonomy?

“It can work as long as the coach has complete control of the roster. Clarity is control,” said TSN analyst Glen Suitor.

“Paul LaPolice and Joe Mack (in Winnipeg) was a disaster. Ken Miller and Greg Marshall (in Saskatchewan), with one guy pulling the strings from behind the scenes, was a disaster.

“If Wally is running the team and making the decisions on personnel, he should become coach again.”

Having one unquestioned voice is working for the only teams still playing this season, not to mention the household of one Calgary safety.
John Madden's Team Policies: Be on time. Pay attention. Play like hell on game day.

Jimmy Johnson's Game Keys: Protect the ball. Make plays.

Walter Payton's Advice to Kids: Play hard. Play fair. Have fun.
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From Lowell Ullrich. Not holding back. Not pulling any punches.
The next game that will be played at B.C. Place Stadium is the annual told-you-so moment in three-down football, but for Josh Bell of the Calgary Stampeders it will have nothing to do with thumbing his nose at the B.C. Lions.

Bell’s sense of satisfaction upon deciding after last season to leave a CFL team that seems to be falling apart for one on the verge of a Grey Cup win is a feeling that is much bigger making than making the right assessment of free agency.

It’s one that will resonate with every male football fan on the planet.

“It made it hard on my wife, because I don’t have to hear, ‘I can make all the decisions’,” said Bell. “It makes me feel like I know what I’m doing. It makes you a bit more egotistical.”
"leave a CFL team that seems to be falling apart" ... Well, yes.
So there are bragging rights within the family structure of the Stampeders safety that would get a boost from a win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

But what is far more instructive to those wondering why the Lions appear to have fallen further behind the best teams in the CFL are the pieces and ideas Calgary and Hamilton have picked up that will be on display Sunday.

The recipe, of course, is varied.
"why the Lions appear to have fallen further behind the best teams in the CFL" ... It does appear that way to some of us.
Bell left when the Lions didn’t meet the Stamps’ best free-agent offer after two productive seasons in the B.C. secondary.

Lin-J Shell, whose versatility was also a plus in the Lions defence, went to Calgary not long after B.C. pushed defensive co-ordinator Rich Stubler out the door and across the Rockies.
We did seem to have very good guys ready to step in. Yell. Lee. Johnson. The firing of Chapdelaine and Stubler? Hmmmm ... Scapegoats were needed. They gave Benny one more year, until the reality of the decline of this franchise made itself clear by year end. Does the firing of Benevides right this ship? Far from it. He is something of a scapegoat also.

We need to hire an outstanding Head Coach. That will not happen unless Wally lets go of the reins.
Calgary starts four non-import offensive linemen, an unfathomable concept with the Lions for years, having groomed three after drafting them. Both the Stamps and Hamilton have three serviceable Canadian defensive linemen. B.C. is only developing a second Canadian pass rusher, David Menard, this year.
O Line. Let us count the woes. Let's just start with our need to start three Internationals, due to our inability to develop Nationals.

http://lionbackers.com/bc_lions/viewtop ... =2&t=27474

D Line. For years our approach was suit up five. Now we finally suit up six. And we finally started to focus on drafting D Linemen. Westerman and Menard. But we need more depth.
Hamilton was a more palatable destination for two players who last season had been given free-agent offers by the Lions, non-imports Ted Laurent and Craig Butler.
Yes, B.C. was not the choice of destination for free agents this past year. It surprised some.
But what the Lions may be missing, former players suggest, is a locker room intangible that comes with leadership and a belief system that comes with a dynamic coach, such as Hamilton’s Kent Austin.
People see things different ways. Some might have gotten tired of me pumping the tires, as a CFL fan on the west coast, of Kent Austin. But the man can coach.

"Leadership." "Belief system." "Dynamic coach."
“Austin’s real good with making everybody feel comfortable,” said Ticats tailback Nic Grigsby, who was with the Lions at training camp in 2012 for their first season under deposed coach Mike Benevides. “He acts as if he’s one of us. Guys feed off that energy.”
Comfortable, yes. Accountable, yes. Leadership that is hard to define? Possibly, but as someone once said in a different context, you can recognize it when you see it.
“There has been a structure and tradition in B.C. for years,” said Bell. “When I came in it was Korey Banks. You didn’t get dissension. He was the politician — the bridge between players and management — and he vocalized. I don’t know if (the Lions) had that this year.”

Shell said: “Teammates want to be treated equally and fairly. When you see people getting certain privileges over others, like all distractions you get tired of it after a while and it breaks down the team in the locker room.”
Banks was given a humiliating send off. Same for Marsh coming up?
If that was indeed a capsule of the Lions last season, it perhaps is no wonder that former Lions quarterback Dave Dickenson has no interest in leaving his post as associate coach of the Stampeders.

“I’m going to be back in Calgary next year,” Dickenson said Thursday. “It’ll be the same answer tomorrow; same answer next week.”
But if there’s a common denominator on display Sunday that may make sense for the Lions, even though it is part of their past, it might be that Austin and Calgary counterpart John Hufnagel made it this far with their teams as the only two remaining coach/general manager combos.

Should Lions GM Wally Buono return as coach if he doesn’t find a replacement of his liking for Benevides? Can any coach work properly without personnel autonomy?

“It can work as long as the coach has complete control of the roster. Clarity is control,” said TSN analyst Glen Suitor.

“Paul LaPolice and Joe Mack (in Winnipeg) was a disaster. Ken Miller and Greg Marshall (in Saskatchewan), with one guy pulling the strings from behind the scenes, was a disaster.

“If Wally is running the team and making the decisions on personnel, he should become coach again.”
And that is true also. We do not really know everything about Mike Benevides as a Head Coach. Wally never let that go, by his own admission. And he hasn't changed his view to this date. He micro managed. He watched every minute of every practice from on high, either from the rooftop or from the tower. Wally's hand was heavy in areas that belong to the Head Coach. Who stays. Who plays. Systems. Philosophy. Coaching staff.

“If Wally is running the team and making the decisions on personnel, he should become coach again.”

Do we want to see Wally back as Head Coach? Some of us do not want to see that. But at least then we would see results on the field that can be attributed directly to the real Head Coach.
John Madden's Team Policies: Be on time. Pay attention. Play like hell on game day.

Jimmy Johnson's Game Keys: Protect the ball. Make plays.

Walter Payton's Advice to Kids: Play hard. Play fair. Have fun.
TheLionKing
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Article confirms there is dissension in the locker room and was reflected in the play on the field.
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