Of course there is no Unsung Hero award. But Beamish will do almost anything to support his reporter crush on Travis Lulay. Most of the article is about Lulay and not our legitimate award nominee choices.
In a number of articles this season, Beamish has subtly and not so subtly attempted to lobby for Lulay. He wrote about "the many emails Buono supposedly receives supporting Lulay as our starting quarterback" or attempted to spark a quarterback controversy when Jennings threw a number of interceptions over three games, stating most coaches "would be going with an experienced quarterback" and "fans once again were pushing for Lulay as our starter" but Wally was "sticking with Jennings". Huh?
Now Beamish begins his article on our 2016 Player Awards by headlining Lulay for Unsung Hero in discussion about our Leo CFL nominees. Perhaps he is just practicing for a future career as a lobbyist or as Hillary Clinton's future campaign manager, should she lose the election.
More on Lulay and the non-existent Unsung Hero award, after discussing the nominees. I agree with Beamish on all five of his legitimate choices.
Most Outstanding Player: Jonathan Jennings
Most Outstanding Defensive Player: Sol E.
Most Outstanding Lineman: Jovan Olifioye
Most Outstanding Special Teams: Chris Rainey
Most Outstanding Canadian: Shawn Gore
Most Outstanding Rookie: Antonio Johnson (he is our only starting rookie)
Of course, as Beamish nominates Olifioye for the lineman the award, he also discusses our sack totals and comments "despite Jennings’ predilection to stubbornly stand in and make a play". Huh? Jennings has made incredible plays while standing in there and he also takes off as the CFL's second leading quarterback rusher.
I do not want to put down Travis Lulay. Besides, West Coast Joe will hunt me down if I am.
He had an excellent season for us in 2011 and most of 2012. He is a very good character guy. He was a hard worker as a quarterback and he has always had a positive, team attitude. He has a good relationship with Jennings and has supported Jennings, while playing the role of backup quarterback. But there is also reality. Lulay was not wanted as a starter by other CFL teams, going into this season. He is paid more as a backup quarterback here in B.C. than he would be anywhere else. He gets paid more as a backup than Jennings gets paid, as a starter, and that is after Jennings renegotiated his contract just before training camp. Lulay is being paid to provide support to Jennings - that was part of his assigned role this season and a part of his pay package.
Lulay was a double threat quarterback when he was healthy. His escapablity and his running were key parts of his game. Lulay was never a cerebral quarterback nor a very accurate passer. Travis only completed 58% of his passes in 2011. His best season, in terms of pass completion percentage was in 2012 (66.5%). He has never thrown over a 65% completion rate in a season since.
In terms of 'mentoring Jennings" anyone who normally 'mentored a quarterback (other than Jennings) to consistently throw deep intermediate or deep would be chastised.
Anyone mentoring a quarterback to throw a lot of jump balls to his recievers would be seriously questioned. Jennings makes those type of plays consistently because he has an incredible arm and can also throw with incredible accuracy. I've been watching CFL football for decades. I've watched a lot of great quarterbacks. Many of those quarterbacks were better quarterbacks than Jennings is yet.
But no quarterback that I've watched, from Russ Jackson to Deitre Brock to Doug Flutie to Dave Dickenson to Anthony Cavillo had or has as good an arm as Jennings. As one CFL writer wrote this season, he is still shocked when he watches Jennings throw. Jennings deep balls are so consistently accurate they still make me shake my head often in amazement.
Lulay was a quarterback who often felt pressure too early. He was also a quarterback who avoided interceptions by throwing out of bounds. Jennings has hardly ever thrown the football out of bounds. Last game was one of the first times he has ever done it. So, if Lulay had been 'mentoring' Jennings well, Jennings would have been more cautious with the football towards the end of games, and throwing out of bounds, if he could, or taking a sack.
Travis Lulay has a terrible 67.1 quarterback efficiency rating this season on a limited number of throws (27). He threw 2 interceptions. He was sacked a number of times. He's ran the football 14 times this season for 24 yds. (1.7 yd. run average).
For all my reasons: Lulay's highly paid role as our backup quarterback and mentor, Jennings type of play, and Lulay's on field performance, he is not my Unsung Hero. Lulay is an experienced backup quarterback, a potential coach in the future, and a character guy. I'm happy he is with us.
My choice for Beamish's non-existent Unsung Hero Award would be Cody Husband.
Cody Husband was never drafted. He played at UBC. He worked his way into our Leos starting lineup at right guard part way through last year, after starting the season third on the depth chart at guard. This season, Husband, who had no pro experience at center, has started every game at that difficult to learn position. He's had to learn a new position, make all the line calls, and has anchored the CFL's top running attack.
My second choice would be Rolly Lumbala. He is definitely 'unsung'. He is inspirational, highly respected, and an outstanding blocker for the run and the pass. He has made key pass blocks this season that have ressuted in big plays.
My third choice as Unsung Hero would be Jabar Westerman. Injured the last two games, Westerman, a National, leads our defensive tackles in sacks (5), defensive tackles (17) and played a lot of nose tackle in our three man pass rush.
For Most Outstanding Player, Manny Arseneaux had had an incredible season and Bryan Burnham has too. Both deserve honorable mention
For Most Outstanding Lineman, Steward deserved an honorable mention. Playing a new position (guard) which is very different from tackle and pined for a number of games (undeservedly so in my opinion) Steward has opened more big holes for our tailback than any other offensive lineman this season. He can make a block and peel off it to get into the second layer. Also deserving is Cody Husband, in his first season as a center, he's done a very good and surprising job.
For Most Outstanding Canadian, Rolly Lumbala deserves an Honorble Mention. He's perhaps had his best season as a Leo. He is a leader, an outstanding run and pass blocker, and plays hard every game.
For Special Teams, one has to mention Jason Aragki, who set a Leo record this season for special teams tackles but honorable mention should also go to Steven Ontco, who leads our Leos in special team tackles (17)
Mike Beamish: You've got to hand it to Lulay, the Lions' nofficial unsung hero
November 1, 2016 5:21 PM PDT
Our criteria for selecting the B.C. Lions unsung hero of the year award is simple: Which player contributed the most with the least amount of ink or web text? Which player was the most underrated? Players who don’t contribute a lot of stats usually fall into that category.
Please accept that there is no such award among the six recognized categories in which B.C. Lions will be named Wednesday to represent their team in the Canadian Football League’s annual prize giving.
The unsung hero is only a consolation prize, a slap on the back, an acknowledgement, and this year it goes to . . . the envelope, please . . . Travis Lulay!
The 33-year-old quarterback, a handyman who is the holder on field goal tries, the short yardage and goal-line quarterback, a locker-room elder who influences the team’s all-over performance in ways practical and spiritual, subtle and unseen, is the most underrated but not under-appreciated Lion of 2016.
“You talk about No. 10’s (Jonathon Jennings) development, and you talk about a guy who didn’t take many snaps (Lulay), and then you talk about a guy who was so instrumental in Jennings’ ability to play the position,” says coach Wally Buono, seconding the nomination. “How much value is there in that? You talk about a guy who is a leader and wants nothing but the best for his team. You talk about a guy with a big heart.”
A former CFL star, playing in the shadow of the younger man he is helping to become one, Lulay has never *beeotch*, sniped, complained or short-shifted anybody, doing great things in the name of team and not self.
So, congratulations Travis, you get an extra helping of pizza after practice this week.
In a season full of surprises — who thought the Lions would be on cusp of finishing at 12-6 with the prospect of a home playoff game on Nov.13? — we’ve tried to sniff out prejudice and tainted judgment in announcing the team’s likely award finalists. Here goes:
Most outstanding player: Jonathon Jennings. Manny Arceneaux can burst through with astounding plays that can turn a game, and Bryan Burnham has exploded upon the scene as the CFL’s most improved player, but without Jennings, the ringmaster, there is no show.
Most outstanding defensive player: Solomon Elimimian. With three player-of-the-week honours, the latest coming Tuesday, and a player-of-the-month citation, the rebounding linebacker is the odds-on favourite to win league’s defensive player of the year award for the second time. “Solly definitely deserves it,” says Adam Bighill. “Solly’s had lots of opportunities to make plays and he’s made ’em (128 defensive tackles, eight sacks).”
Most outstanding Canadian: Shawn Gore. While there is some sentiment for special teams ace Jason Arakgi, who set the CFL career record for special teams tackles, Gore is one catch and one yard away from his best CFL season, 2011, when he had 60 catches for 836 yards. With one game to go, he should surpass that.
Most outstanding lineman: Jovan Olafioye. Switching from right to left tackle, the five-time CFL all-star is the leader of an offensive line that has opened holes for the league’s top rushing attack (111.8 yards per game average) and allowed 32 sacks (third-best in the CFL) despite Jennings’ predilection to stubbornly stand in and make a play.
Most outstanding rookie: Antonio Johnson. As the only rookie starter, the right tackle from North Texas should be a unanimous choice. “It’s never an easy position to play. He’s done a good job,” Buono says. “He’s filled an role, and he’s only going to get better.
Most outstanding special teams player: Chris Rainey. The Rain Man leads the CFL with 2,760 combined yards, which includes close to 500 as a rusher and pass receiver. His 1,310 kickoff return yards in 2016 are second-best all-time for the Lions.
mbeamish@postmedia.com
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LOL 