What are your thoughts on the O-line heading into 2016?

[B.C.FAN]

O-line problem solved?

Lowell Ullrich ‏
#BCLions acquire Victoria native C Tim O'Neill from Hamilton for draft pick, release import C Jason Foster, clearing OL ratio issue further

[WestCoastJoe]

O-line problem solved?

Lowell Ullrich ‏
#BCLions acquire Victoria native C Tim O'Neill from Hamilton for draft pick, release import C Jason Foster, clearing OL ratio issue further

If it is solved, BCFAN, it would seem to be temporary. 36 years old.

[Hambone]

Right guard? Steward has always played left tackle. He is very tall for a prospective guard. Plus he seems to be injury prone. Player seems to have lost the faith of the coaching staff. Husband is unproven.

Three Nats? Dunno about that. Possible, but at what level of quality?

Will our O Line be competitive? Possible, but as noted there are concerns.

I was having some sort of weird potential epiphany, more likely a brainfart, re: Player. If there's any accuracy to his measurables he comes across as being rather lean for an OL in today's game. He's listed at 6'6" 275#. He, Thorn at 290# and Fabien at 295# are the only 3 BC OL to not crack the 300# mark. He needs to add some of that good girth stuff methinks. Failing that does he have the explosiveness and power to be a potential conversion project to DL?

[Lionsfan65]

O-line problem solved?

I would say it is solved, I have always thought O'Neill was somewhat underrated. Sad to see Jason Foster go.

[WestCoastJoe]

Right guard? Steward has always played left tackle. He is very tall for a prospective guard. Plus he seems to be injury prone. Player seems to have lost the faith of the coaching staff. Husband is unproven.

Three Nats? Dunno about that. Possible, but at what level of quality?

Will our O Line be competitive? Possible, but as noted there are concerns.

I was having some sort of weird potential epiphany, more likely a brainfart, re: Player. If there's any accuracy to his measurables he comes across as being rather lean for an OL in today's game. He's listed at 6'6" 275#. He, Thorn at 290# and Fabien at 295# are the only 3 BC OL to not crack the 300# mark. He needs to add some of that good girth stuff methinks. Failing that does he have the explosiveness and power to be a potential conversion project to DL?

T Dre might be heavier than advertised. Saw him at a fast food joint. Chatted. He is big. The difference between 275 and 295 for these guys would seem to a few hamburgers. I don't think size is a problem for him. For some other reason they seemed to lose some faith in him. Just the way it seems.

Conversion from OL to DL? Or vice versa? Not a fan.

Good news re O'Neill, although it would seem to be a stop gap measure.

[JohnnyMusso]

Considering O'Neill's age this is just for a year or two. Foster's days were numbered. If he was Canadian he would still be here, but being American, likely will have to go back to the States to look for work. Doubt any other CFL team picks him up. Thorn will be a backup, maybe future centre

[WestCoastJoe]

http://3downnation.com/2016/02/16/canad ... eos-trade/

From Lowell Ullrich ...

Canadian offensive line plan made clear with Leos trade

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Lowell Ullrich // 0 Comments

The off-season plan of the B.C. Lions was always to play three Canadians on the offensive line as they juggle the ratio to accommodate the loss of Andrew Harris, and Tuesday they showed just how they will accomplish their goal.

Lions general manager Wally Buono acquired Victoria-born centre Tim O’Neill from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in exchange for a fifth-round Canadian draft pick, representing something of a bargain when it comes to non-import starters for a team which had not much luck acquiring one through free agency last week .

The 36-year-old has been mostly a mainstay at centre with both the Tiger-Cats and Calgary Stampeders for eight seasons, and again fits with the current remake of the Lions to include players with a west coast background.

As forecast last week, the ratio rethinking was bad news for American centre Jason Foster, who was formally released today. It means the Lions intend to play newcomer Levy Adcock and veteran Jovan Olafioye as import tackles, with Canadians like O’Neill comprising the interior three line positions in a manner more conventional in the CFL and less radical than the approach taken by Jeff Tedford last season.

O’Neill, a Victoria Rebels junior product, slips ahead of Cam Thorn on the depth chart, as the Lions affirmed their wish to move away from free agent Matt Norman, whose knee problems last season has also prompted every other CFL team to steer clear during free agency at present.

5th round pick --> bargain.

[TheLionKing]

O'Neil is a just a stop gap. We need to develop a starting center.

[aklawitter]

sucks for Foster, but such is the life being an import in a traditional non-import spot

[CardiacKid]

O-line problem solved?

Lowell Ullrich ‏
#BCLions acquire Victoria native C Tim O'Neill from Hamilton for draft pick, release import C Jason Foster, clearing OL ratio issue further

If it is solved, BCFAN, it would seem to be temporary. 36 years old.

Yes, he is fairly long in the tooth for a football player but seeing as he hails from Victoria and the Island, he will play like a 24-year old....

[Hambone]

Yes, he is fairly long in the tooth for a football player but seeing as he hails from Victoria and the Island, he will play like a 24-year old....

Hailing from Victoria my fear is he'll play like a 74 year old.

[CardiacKid]

Yes, he is fairly long in the tooth for a football player but seeing as he hails from Victoria and the Island, he will play like a 24-year old....

Hailing from Victoria my fear is he'll play like a 74 year old.

[TheLionKing]

Yes, he is fairly long in the tooth for a football player but seeing as he hails from Victoria and the Island, he will play like a 24-year old....

Hailing from Victoria my fear is he'll play like a 74 year old.

[WestCoastJoe]

So now, what have we got?

LT Adcock, Draheim

LG Fabien, Player

C O'Neill, Thorn

RG Steward, Husband

RT Olafioye

It looks like a workable group.

2016 draft pick? Probably.

[Hambone]

So now, what have we got?

LT Adcock, Draheim

LG Fabien, Player

C O'Neill, Thorn

RG Steward, Husband

RT Olafioye

It looks like a workable group.

2016 draft pick? Probably.

I wonder if Fabien might wind up on the right side. Seems to me that rookie year when he blew his knee he was playing RG. Steward was outstanding as a rookie at LT. He may be more comfortable staying on that side. Draft pick? With what is on the roster now OL isn't a pressing need to take an OL with their first pick although I doubt they would pass if there was an OL they felt was clear cut the best player available at 3. Looking at the top 20 prospects there aren't any pure centres. St.John, Guy and Seguin are tackles. Vaillancourt and Seguin are guards. Whether any project to be great candidates to be converted to playing centre is a valid question.