I would be loathe to sign Mathews and project him at right tackle due to his medical (likely concussion) issues. He was lost on August 6....and never returned. No practice either as far as I know. He was completely shut down for 13 games.
DH
2022 Free Agents - BC Targets - Top 5
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DH
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Mathews also missed most of training camp before being activated for the season opener. I'm sure teams will want him to have medical clearance before they sign him.
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Belize City Lion
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Really happy about getting Menard back. He had a career year in Montreal last season.
I've always like Purifoy, although he seemed to have lost a little something last year in Saskatchewan. Still, glad to have him back in the den.
My first reaction about Whyte was "too old", but then checking the stats he was the second best FG kicker in the league last season, just behind Pardes. Regardless, it's an upgrade. If the Lions FG kickers had made a few more last year (4?) we likely would have finished in second place in the west. So Whyte may be the most important upgrade.
Psyched about Stove Richardson. Could this finally be the year that the Lions D-line controls the game in a way we haven't seen in over a decade?
My first reaction to the O'Conner signing was "why not?". I figured the Lions were taking a flyer on him because of the great story line it creates from now until training camp. However, learning that Canadian QBs who start will finally count as national starters changes everything. Unless it's not even close at camp, O'Conner must be considered the odds on favourite to back up Rourke. Especially as it looks like we might only have 1 national starter in our receiving corp.
From "the ones that got away" department…
I'm happy that Harris (RB), Lawler, and Harris (QB) signed elsewhere. I would have loved to have seen Andrew Harris come back to BC and re-write the ending of his story as a Lion because I still feel he got the bum's rush from Wally for essentially saying what everyone already knew, Wally screwed up massively by hiring Tedford. But the cost to sign him would have been too high considering his age and health.
Lawler would have also been too much money for a receiver. The last time we outbid Edmonton for a prized FA we couldn't afford enough other pieces and ended up missing the playoffs for two seasons in a row.
It would have been distracting for Rourke to have to look over his shoulder at Trevor Harris knowing his relationship with Rick Campbell. Also if the Lions are really going to give a second year QB a legitimate shot at becoming the starter, it would help everyone's patience to not have Trevor Harris holding the clipboard. O'Connor certainly appears to have the tools to at least be a legitimate backup. If Rourke lives up to expectations that could be a great 1-2 combination for years to come.
I've always like Purifoy, although he seemed to have lost a little something last year in Saskatchewan. Still, glad to have him back in the den.
My first reaction about Whyte was "too old", but then checking the stats he was the second best FG kicker in the league last season, just behind Pardes. Regardless, it's an upgrade. If the Lions FG kickers had made a few more last year (4?) we likely would have finished in second place in the west. So Whyte may be the most important upgrade.
Psyched about Stove Richardson. Could this finally be the year that the Lions D-line controls the game in a way we haven't seen in over a decade?
My first reaction to the O'Conner signing was "why not?". I figured the Lions were taking a flyer on him because of the great story line it creates from now until training camp. However, learning that Canadian QBs who start will finally count as national starters changes everything. Unless it's not even close at camp, O'Conner must be considered the odds on favourite to back up Rourke. Especially as it looks like we might only have 1 national starter in our receiving corp.
From "the ones that got away" department…
I'm happy that Harris (RB), Lawler, and Harris (QB) signed elsewhere. I would have loved to have seen Andrew Harris come back to BC and re-write the ending of his story as a Lion because I still feel he got the bum's rush from Wally for essentially saying what everyone already knew, Wally screwed up massively by hiring Tedford. But the cost to sign him would have been too high considering his age and health.
Lawler would have also been too much money for a receiver. The last time we outbid Edmonton for a prized FA we couldn't afford enough other pieces and ended up missing the playoffs for two seasons in a row.
It would have been distracting for Rourke to have to look over his shoulder at Trevor Harris knowing his relationship with Rick Campbell. Also if the Lions are really going to give a second year QB a legitimate shot at becoming the starter, it would help everyone's patience to not have Trevor Harris holding the clipboard. O'Connor certainly appears to have the tools to at least be a legitimate backup. If Rourke lives up to expectations that could be a great 1-2 combination for years to come.
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Hambone
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Which is why it would be newsworthy if he did sign somewhere. It would likely mean that he has medical clearance to play again. Concussions being what they are any signing would be a calculated risk for both the team doing so and Mathews. From what I know about how much he and his lady love Vancouver I think he would have been an easy re-signing for BC. That he hasn't says he's still dealing with things probably including whether he should continue to play. That might be something he is dealing with anyways even if he is symptom free.
You're as old as you've ever been and as young as you're ever going to be.
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Hambone
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Different players really. I look at Konar as being like a LB version of Paris Jackson in his latter years. Wally liked having Paris around because he knew if any of his 5 receivers went down during a game he could just slide him in and leave everybody else as is. Konar knows all 3 LB positions well enough that he can be slotted in because of an mid game injury and to the job; maybe not as good as the starter but adequately enough.DanoT wrote: ↑Wed Feb 09, 2022 10:44 amGood signing as it makes up for the loss of Konar to Elks. Might even be an upgrade.B.C.FAN wrote: ↑Wed Feb 09, 2022 10:40 amThe Lions have added to their national depth by signing linebacker Kevin Francis, who most recently played for Saskatchewan.
https://www.bclions.com/2022/02/09/lion ... n-francis/
While Konar is purely a LB who can play WIL, MAC and SAM, Francis I think has been used more as a safety on D than a LB. Pretty sure he was another Jones project back in 2016 as he converted him from a college receiver to a CFL safety. Last year they had him listed as a DE on their depth chart all year. I don't know if he's seen much time as a LB unless maybe at SAM. Kind of a strange body type for a LB at 6'5 220.
You're as old as you've ever been and as young as you're ever going to be.
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Hambone
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Apparently that was a very fast prairie schooner because it already made it to Surrey with Harker in it. Harker has signed with BC.Hambone wrote: ↑Wed Feb 09, 2022 9:46 amGood completion percentage for Harker going 70 for 97 (72.2%) but also very high interception percentage with 5 of his 27 incompletions being completions to the other team. He had 0 TDs to go with the 5 INTs.
Over in the rectangular province, as is the norm for the backup, going back to the start of 2019 when Collaros was their Week 1 starter Rider fans were giddy that Harker was going to be the "next one". If I recall some were upset when Fajardo got the nod over him to start in Week 2 after Collaros got hurt. In the final game last year with Fajardo getting the night off Harker underwhelmed with 16 for 23 for 150 yards with 2 picks. As a result 3rd stringer Mason Fine who went 5 for 9 for 64 yards 0 TDs and 0 INTs took over Harker's #2 role. Fine would be Fajardo's backup for both playoff games and remains under contract to the Riders while Harker is a FA. Obviously they will bring in at least 3 more QBs but for now all they have is Fajardo and Fine while the prairie schooner has sailed for Harker.
https://www.bclions.com/2022/02/09/lion ... ac-harker/
Good call Reg. I'm feeling a bit peckish. What's the best way to cook crow.
You're as old as you've ever been and as young as you're ever going to be.
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Hambone
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I was wondering if they might take a look at those lesser used rookies. He and fellow rookie Catalina combined for 11 starts last year at RT for the RBs. Catalina started the season at RT. McGloster played the middle 5 games then finished the season on the 6G.
You're as old as you've ever been and as young as you're ever going to be.
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SammyGreene
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Sure seems that way Hambone. Wondered if that also played a part in re-signing Joel Figueroa late in the process if they like Perkins on the other side.Hambone wrote: ↑Wed Feb 09, 2022 11:55 amWhich is why it would be newsworthy if he did sign somewhere. It would likely mean that he has medical clearance to play again. Concussions being what they are any signing would be a calculated risk for both the team doing so and Mathews. From what I know about how much he and his lady love Vancouver I think he would have been an easy re-signing for BC. That he hasn't says he's still dealing with things probably including whether he should continue to play. That might be something he is dealing with anyways even if he is symptom free.
Have to admit if I had to guess which 1 of the 4 FA 2021 starting offensive linemen (not including Matthews) they wouldn't re-sign I wouldn't have guessed it was Steward. They obviously like Chungh much more as a national guard. Sure looks like an American at the other guard spot and Godber back at centre although Farhan considered his return a "depth" signing. Don't see the other starting national right now.
Other surprise was abandoning the 2nd national starting receiver. There actually could have been 3 if Durant and his big contract was still in the picture. Is that about giving Rourke the maximum talent in his receiving options? Re-sign Shaq Johnson and a 4th starting American o-lineman could have been a possibility.
They don't get Lawler so it could be Hatcher or a cap friendly American rookie instead and they have already signed a bunch of them.
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DanoT
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I am a bit puzzled as to why they seemed to move on from Hunter Steward. He may have been asking for big $ and veteran N O-linemen get paid a lot more than rookie A linemen but do they have someone in mind?
To answer my own question, I looked at the Lions Roster and found this guy who was a starting RG his final 2 years at Baylor: https://www.bclions.com/players/jarell-broxton-2/
Broxton is on the 2nd year of a rookie contract.
To answer my own question, I looked at the Lions Roster and found this guy who was a starting RG his final 2 years at Baylor: https://www.bclions.com/players/jarell-broxton-2/
Broxton is on the 2nd year of a rookie contract.
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Hambone
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They do still have a stable of NAT receivers in mid-season addition Marcus Davis, 6'3 23 year old Cordell Hastings, Jacob Scarfone and FA signing Daniel Petermann. All are younger options than Shaq.SammyGreene wrote: ↑Thu Feb 10, 2022 7:19 amOther surprise was abandoning the 2nd national starting receiver. There actually could have been 3 if Durant and his big contract was still in the picture. Is that about giving Rourke the maximum talent in his receiving options? Re-sign Shaq Johnson and a 4th starting American o-lineman could have been a possibility.
They don't get Lawler so it could be Hatcher or a cap friendly American rookie instead and they have already signed a bunch of them.
There are some intriguing American newcomers in addition to holdovers Keon Hatcher. and TJ Rahming. De'Anthony Thomas is perhaps the most intriguing. My gut feel is that as part of Whitehead's negotiations he received some assurances that he will have a bigger role as a returner. Teams typically don't like to add more than spot return duty to full time starters preferring to have a return specialist who may gets spot duty on offensive or defensive units. However I wonder if having two starters like Whitehead and potentially Thomas sharing the return duties might be considered.
You're as old as you've ever been and as young as you're ever going to be.
Wow what great signings we've done well. With Isaac Harker signing I think it puts O'Connor as number ,3 so Rourke will start backed up by Harker. I looked at some college video on Harker. Great arm, good runner and sees down field really well. Looks like a good fit for cfl. Also with his master's degree he will probably have a good life in bc after football. Everything I see and hear about him is positive. Hopefully he lives up to his press clippings.
Menard, purifoy,Baron and Richardson should translate into an improved defensive performance. Not getting Lawler means we still have cap space and the ability to be very flexible with team building. Free agency has been a big boost for the lions. Well done,!
Ryker to retire, per Farhan (which means, 'take it to the bank').B.C.FAN wrote: ↑Wed Feb 09, 2022 11:34 amMathews also missed most of training camp before being activated for the season opener. I'm sure teams will want him to have medical clearance before they sign him.
DH
Roar, You Lions, Roar