Training camp 2024

[Qman]

B.C. secondary will be one of the best in the league. Peters, Sayles, Evans will literally be hard to beat with good options for the other two spots. They won't need to go National but maybe can if Bagayogo can win the corner job. Kent sounds like a solid player that will stick as well.

For the O, I am hoping George Una is showing well.

Please no, bagayogo was awful last season. Everytime he was thrown at it was a big gain or penalty.

[Qman]

B.C. secondary will be one of the best in the league. Peters, Sayles, Evans will literally be hard to beat with good options for the other two spots. They won't need to go National but maybe can if Bagayogo can win the corner job. Kent sounds like a solid player that will stick as well.

For the O, I am hoping George Una is showing well.

Una has been pretty invisilbe at right guard on the third-team offence. He played some centre in rookie camp. I'd have to think that Andrew Peirson and Tyler Packer are ahead of him, and the Lions usually dress only one backup O-lineman.

I neglected to mention there were a few number changes today that may or may not be significant. Chris Cooper, who has been noticeable at SAM on the second-team defence, switched from number 11 to 42. Number 11, of course, has belonged to Stefan Flintoft for several years. In a similar vein, rookie American Tyon Davis, who has playing first-team cornerback, switched from 12 to 39. Number 12 has belonged to practice roster QB Chase Brice since last year. Finally, rookie Devin Ravenel, who has made some good plays at receiver on the third team, switched from 79 to 84. Numbers in the 80s are more prestigious for receivers than those in the 70s. Second-round draft pick Ezechiel Tieide was given number 80. He's playing behind Jevon Cottoy and former Westshore Rebel Kieran Poissant, who is wearing the same number 74 that he wore before being released last year. Only non-roster invitee Colton Meikle of the Kamloops Broncos (72) wears a number in the lower 70s.

Read into that what you will.

Trying to eliminate duplicate numbers as much as they can for Calgary .. it’s really hard on play by play guys.

Una looks like he his going to a free ride on 1 game injured list all season,

[Hambone]

B.C. secondary will be one of the best in the league. Peters, Sayles, Evans will literally be hard to beat with good options for the other two spots. They won't need to go National but maybe can if Bagayogo can win the corner job. Kent sounds like a solid player that will stick as well.

For the O, I am hoping George Una is showing well.

Please no, bagayogo was awful last season. Everytime he was thrown at it was a big gain or penalty.

Bagayogo is still in development mode. He was getting better and better the more he played last year and will continue to do so. No need to worry about him starting yet.

[Toppy Vann]

Interesting on the numbers. Surprised a bit that the holdovers didn't get their same numbers for TC unless prior arrangements were made to accommodate a super star.

Funny how since the CFL numbers have changed that that the 70s for REC's aren't as coveted as the 80s.

[Qman]

Interesting on the numbers. Surprised a bit that the holdovers didn't get their same numbers for TC unless prior arrangements were made to accommodate a super star.

Funny how since the CFL numbers have changed that that the 70s for REC's aren't as coveted as the 80s.

Wasn’t 70 numbers for tight ends … we don’t h@ve those any more. Tony Gabriel 77 harry holt 72 herm harrison 76.
I think 70s is a oline number in the US.

[Hambone]

Interesting on the numbers. Surprised a bit that the holdovers didn't get their same numbers for TC unless prior arrangements were made to accommodate a super star.

Funny how since the CFL numbers have changed that that the 70s for REC's aren't as coveted as the 80s.

Sometimes there's a bit of a domino effect with numbers. A player who started out with a given number might have prefered a different number that wasn't available, then switched when it became available. Usually rookies have to take what they are offered and bide their time to get a more preferable number. One thing that usually happens during camp is, with so many receivers at the start, many get numbers in the 70s. In a fashion it's usually a sign of the pecking order that rookies assigned 80s numbers are a bit more regarded than those being assigned 70s. It's very common, and a good sign, for a receiver wearing a 70s number to get "promoted" to an 80s number as player(s) wearing 80something get released.

In 2021 Peters was still wearing 4 which he took when he arrived in 2018, while Hatcher, Flintoft and Woods were assigned 84, 41 & 55 respectively as rookies. 41 was sort of a kicker number which Flintoft inherited from Castillo who wore it in 2019.

In 2022 Peters switched to 1 (worn by Ty Long in 2017 & 2018 & Lamar Durant in 2019 & 2021). Hatcher then took Peters' old 4. Woods switched to 3 which had been worn by Rainey in 2021. Flintoft stayed with 41 and

In 2023 Woods switched to his old UCLA number 2 (worn by Shaq Cooper in 2021 and vet Kevin Francis in 2022). Adams who arrived after Rourke got hurt in 2022 then took Woods' old 3. Adams wore 3 for 2 years at Eastern Washington and as a senior at Oregon as well as with Montreal and Sask in 2016 & 2017 and again in 2022 prior to his trade to BC. He wore 8 with MTL from 2018-2021 and with BC in 2022, Flintoft switched from 41 to 11 (worn by O'Connor in 2022 and FA signing Anthony Cioffi in 2021).

[Hambone]

Interesting on the numbers. Surprised a bit that the holdovers didn't get their same numbers for TC unless prior arrangements were made to accommodate a super star.

Funny how since the CFL numbers have changed that that the 70s for REC's aren't as coveted as the 80s.

Wasn’t 70 numbers for tight ends … we don’t h@ve those any more. Tony Gabriel 77 harry holt 72 herm harrison 76.
I think 70s is a oline number in the US.

Wearing numbers in the 80s and 90s was common back in the 1950s but by the 70s it wasn't happening. In fact looking at their rosters in 1954-58 the lowest number worn was 40. It wasn't until BC signed 1st overall NFL Draft pick Randy Duncan away from Green Bay in 1959 that a Lion wore a number lower than 40 and Duncan was the only one, wearing #11. That opened the floodgates as in 1960 there were no fewer than 17 Leos wore numbers from 1-39. After wearing 88 for his first 6 seasons By Bailey switched to 38 for the rest of his career. Willie Fleming switched to his famous 15 after wearing 91 as a rookie in 1959. Ironically trendsetter Duncan switched from 11 to 25 for his second season. 3rd year Lion Sonny Homer who had previously worn 99 & 80 switched to 21 and wore that for his final 10 seasons.

Looking back at BC rosters in the early 70s nobody wore numbers in the 80s or 90s. Looking at their 1974 roster those who wore 70s numbers included TEs Lefty Hendrickson and Henry Sovio, WR/P Slade Willis, Flanker Tony Moro, DL Bill Baker and LBs Danny Dever, Pete Palmer, Lorne Watters and Chuck Winfrey. It wouldn't be until rookie Tyrone Crews joined BC in 1981 that a Leo again wore a number above 79. He wore 91 for the 2 games he played before switch to 50 for 1982-83 then back to 91 in 1984. 1984 was also when Nick Hebeler switched from 58 to 99 and Rick Klassen switched from 60 to 90.

Through much of those eras I think league rules dictated a lot of who could wear what numbers, in particular for eligible receivers who I think in the 60s thru 80s were restricted to 70-79 and 1-39.

[B.C.FAN]

With high school track meets under way at Hillside Stadium, the Lions held the first of three straight evening practices on a chilly Tuesday that started with a bit of rain and ended with a rainbow.

Alex Hollins was limited, with Terry Williams stepping into his spot on the first-team offence and catching the first two passes from Vernon Adams in team play, including a bomb down the sideline behind rookie Tyon Davis, who has been taking first-team reps at cornerback. Third-team WR Devin Ravenel, wearing his newly issued number 84, led all receivers with 4 catches in team play, including a diving grab against rookie national Charlie Ringland. Justin McInnis had 3 catches on 6 targets, as Adams overthrew receivers on several intermediate routes. Second-teamers Jalon Sample and Kieran Poissant had 2 catches each from Jake Dolegala. Third-teamer Taylor Grimes (I think initially mistook him for Mataio Talalemotu) caught a deep ball against Ringland. Ed Lee followed up his strong performance in Saturday's FanFest scrimmage with a nice diving catch. Fullback David Mackie even got into the action with a nice catch and run in the flat against Adrian Greene as the Lions opened up the playbook with rollouts and misdirection. RB Will Stanback had some nice runs inside and off tackle.

On defence, Marcus Moore again took first-team reps at defensive tackle for Christian Covington, who has been nursing a hamstring tweak and spent time running and stretching in the end zone with fellow nationals Nathan Cherry, Siriman Bagayogo and Josh Archibald. Patrice Rene returned to full action but has lost his spot as first-team safety to Greene.

David asked about the linebackers. Until Tuesday, Josh Woods took all first-team reps at MIKE and Ben Hladik at WILL, backed up by veteran national Bo Lokombo and promising second-year player Ryder Varga, who has been limited by a minor injury so far in camp. On Tuesday, Lokombo got some first-team reps at WILL in place of Hladik, and rookie American Kesean Brown also got some first-team reps, with Hadik and American rookie Forrest Rhyne on the second team. Hladik, Woods and Lokombo also got reps together in a 3-linebacker set. Rhyne, Brown, fellow American rookie Aynde Eley and sixth-round draft pick Terrence Ganyi are vying for one or two possible depth and special-teams positions. Veteran nationals Isaiah Messam and Global Max Rouyer are established fixtures on special teams.

The SAM position, a hybrid role usually given to a bigger DB who is versatile enough to run downfield in man coverage and downhill to stop the run, was split last year between Manny Rugamba and the now-departed Quicy Mauger. Rugamba is taking all first-team reps this year, backed up by 30-year-old CFL rookie Chris Cooper, who has spent six seasons bouncing around the NFL and XFL. He has been noticeable, but do the Lions want a 30-year-old rookie in a Grey Cup-hosting year? Among Lion DBs, only Garry Peters (32) and Ciante Evans (31) are older. Rene took third-team reps Tuesday at SAM.

Veteran kicker Sean Whyte hit four straight field goals from 38 yards to end practice, and also had some fun as an extra returner when Flintoft and Carl Meyer practised coffin-corner punts.

[Coast Mountain Lion]

Interesting on the numbers. Surprised a bit that the holdovers didn't get their same numbers for TC unless prior arrangements were made to accommodate a super star.

Funny how since the CFL numbers have changed that that the 70s for REC's aren't as coveted as the 80s.

Wasn’t 70 numbers for tight ends … we don’t h@ve those any more. Tony Gabriel 77 harry holt 72 herm harrison 76.
I think 70s is a oline number in the US.

Peter Dalla Riva 74, Mel Profit 70, Peter Muller 72

But not just tight ends: Brian Kelly 70, Waddell Smith 71, George McGowan 76, Joe Poplawski 71, John Konihowski 72... Also Gerry Organ 71, largely remembered as a kicker but was also a receiver.

And a lot of defensive linemen and linebackers also had numbers in the 70s. Most recent for the Lions would be Eric Taylor 79 and David Menard 78 in his first stint.

[DanoT]

70s and 80s are for ladies; I'm all in with Dirty 30.

[B.C.FAN]

The Lions have released rookie DB Duke Dawson.
Rookie DL Sam Burton from Marshall has changed numbers to 90 from 78.

[B.C.FAN]

The Lions held a three-hour double practice Wednesday evening as they continue to prepare for their first preseason game Saturday afternoon in Calgary.

Centre Michael Couture took the day off and was in street clothes for the second time this week. Andrew Peirson and Tyler Packer shared first-team reps at centre. First-round draft pick George Una and backup tackle Chris Schleuger also took reps at centre in positional drills with the quarterbacks and running backs.

WR Alex Hollins was was limited for the second straight day, with Terry Williams again taking his place on the first-team offence. DLs Christian Covington and Nathan Cherry, DB Siriman Bagayogo and LB Ryder Varga continued to do light workouts in the end zone.

The Lions continued to open up the playbook, with a heavy focus on red-zone and short-yardage plays. All four QBs got work with the short-yardage offence but Dakota Prukop took all reps in goal-line play. Chase Brice and Prukop continue to share work with the third-team offence behind Vernon Adams and Jake Dolegala. Prukop struggled to hit his receivers today.

On defence, Josh Woods and Ben Hladik took regular reps at linebacker but veteran Bo Lokombo and rookie American Aynde Eley also got work in 3-linebacker sets.

In team play, Justin McInnis and second-team slotback Kieran Poissant had a couple of catches. Stanley Berryhill caught a deep crosser from Dolegala and Ayden Eberhardt had a nice grab against rookie cornerback Tyon Davis. Rookie Jeff Cotton had a couple of catches, including a TD in red-zone play. Terry Williams and Will Stanback also had TD catches in red-zone play.

Rookie draft pick DB Christophe Beaulieu continued to impress with a knockdown in team play. Veteran Marcus Sayles and former NFL DB Chris Cooper also had knockdowns. Second-team DB Ronald Kent had an interception off Dolegala on a deep ball that was tipped by cornerback Jordan Perryman.

McInnis, Williams and Cotton had TD catches in red-zone skelly. Manny Rugamba had an interception off Brice. Beaulieu and Sayles had knockdowns in the end zone.

The Lions will be back on the field at 4 p.m. Thursday in their final full practice before taking a charter flight to Calgary on Friday.

[DanoT]

B.C. Fan, I continue to be amazed at the detail of your reporting. How do you do it? Do you talk into a recorder as you see stuff, or film it on a phone, or do you write things down? Doing the latter would cause you to miss stuff, me thinks.

[B.C.FAN]

B.C. Fan, I continue to be amazed at the detail of your reporting. How do you do it? Do you talk into a recorder as you see stuff, or film it on a phone, or do you write things down? Doing the latter would cause you to miss stuff, me thinks.

Haha. After years of writing notes on paper during practice, I’ve started jotting notes on my phone. It’s easy to sit down afterwards and quickly hone them into a practice report. The main challenge is keeping my eyes on the field while practice regulars are chatting to me.

[Hambone]

The main challenge is keeping my eyes on the field while practice regulars are chatting to me.

Lol. Guilty!