TSN all-time Lions team
Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2020 1:00 pm
TSN unveiled its all-time Lions team Friday, and that has stirred up a debate about some of the selections and omissions. Here is the team:
Head Coach – Wally Buono (2003-11, 2016-18)
Quarterback – Travis Lulay (2009-18)
Running Back – Willie Fleming (1959-67)
Running Back – Andrew Harris (2009-15)*
Receiver – Geroy Simon (2001-12)
Receiver – Mervyn Fernandez (1982-86, 1994)
Receiver – Emmanuel Arceneaux (2009-10, 2013-18)
Receiver – Bryan Burnham (2014-Present)
Offensive Line – Al Wilson (1972-1986)*
Offensive Line – Jim Mills (1986-93, 1995)*
Offensive Line – Tom Hinton (1958-66)
Offensive Line – Jamie Taras (1987-2003)*
Offensive Line – Jovan Olafioye (2010-16)
Defensive Line – Brent Johnson (2001-11)*
Defensive Line – James Parker (1984-89)
Defensive Line – Cameron Wake (2007-08)
Defensive Line – Nick Hebeler (1979-85)*
Linebacker – Solomon Elimimian (2010-18)
Linebacker – Adam Bighill (2011-16)
Linebacker – Barrin Simpson (2001-05)
Defensive Back – Larry Crawford (1981-89)
Defensive Back – Keith Gooch (1984-89)
Defensive Back – Eric Carter (1999-2003)
Defensive Back – Ryan Phillips (2005-16)
Defensive Back – Dante Marsh (2004-2014)
Placekicker/ Punter – Lui Passaglia (1976-2000)*
Special Teamer – Jason Arakgi (2008-17)*
Foundational – Norm Fieldgate (1954-67)*
Foundational – Byron Bailey (1954-64)
Foundational – Joe Kapp (1961-66)
Foundational – Jim Young (1967-79)*
Foundational – Ken “Kato” Katsuya (1980-2019)*
* denotes national
https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/video/tsn-s-all- ... ns~2014304
I liked the offensive picks, especially Travis Lulay at quarterback. He was the heart and soul of the team for most of the past decade despite a string of injuries. His nine seasons as a Lion were the longest of any QB, and he won the CFL MOP award and Grey Cup MVP in 2011. Although he ranks third in all-time passing yards and TD passes behind Damon Allen and Roy Dewalt, neither of those QBs won more than one Grey Cup as a Lion.
I also thought Jim Young deserved more than being named a foundational player at receiver. He still ranks second all-time behind Geroy Simon in receiving yardage on the team and has an amazing 17.7-yard average reception for his career. Plus, he is a Canadian, and would give the TSN team seven national starters.
On defence, I thought Tom Brown deserved a spot, at least as a foundational player. One of the greatest defensive players of his era, he was named an all-star twice at linebacker and once as a nose tackle in the 1960s.
In the secondary, Korey Banks and Barron Miles deserved spots, perhaps at the expense of longtime teammate Ryan Phillips and 1980s CB Keith Gooch. Miles was a perennial all-star at safety and, as an added bonus, holds the CFL record for blocked kicks.
Thoughts?
Head Coach – Wally Buono (2003-11, 2016-18)
Quarterback – Travis Lulay (2009-18)
Running Back – Willie Fleming (1959-67)
Running Back – Andrew Harris (2009-15)*
Receiver – Geroy Simon (2001-12)
Receiver – Mervyn Fernandez (1982-86, 1994)
Receiver – Emmanuel Arceneaux (2009-10, 2013-18)
Receiver – Bryan Burnham (2014-Present)
Offensive Line – Al Wilson (1972-1986)*
Offensive Line – Jim Mills (1986-93, 1995)*
Offensive Line – Tom Hinton (1958-66)
Offensive Line – Jamie Taras (1987-2003)*
Offensive Line – Jovan Olafioye (2010-16)
Defensive Line – Brent Johnson (2001-11)*
Defensive Line – James Parker (1984-89)
Defensive Line – Cameron Wake (2007-08)
Defensive Line – Nick Hebeler (1979-85)*
Linebacker – Solomon Elimimian (2010-18)
Linebacker – Adam Bighill (2011-16)
Linebacker – Barrin Simpson (2001-05)
Defensive Back – Larry Crawford (1981-89)
Defensive Back – Keith Gooch (1984-89)
Defensive Back – Eric Carter (1999-2003)
Defensive Back – Ryan Phillips (2005-16)
Defensive Back – Dante Marsh (2004-2014)
Placekicker/ Punter – Lui Passaglia (1976-2000)*
Special Teamer – Jason Arakgi (2008-17)*
Foundational – Norm Fieldgate (1954-67)*
Foundational – Byron Bailey (1954-64)
Foundational – Joe Kapp (1961-66)
Foundational – Jim Young (1967-79)*
Foundational – Ken “Kato” Katsuya (1980-2019)*
* denotes national
https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/video/tsn-s-all- ... ns~2014304
I liked the offensive picks, especially Travis Lulay at quarterback. He was the heart and soul of the team for most of the past decade despite a string of injuries. His nine seasons as a Lion were the longest of any QB, and he won the CFL MOP award and Grey Cup MVP in 2011. Although he ranks third in all-time passing yards and TD passes behind Damon Allen and Roy Dewalt, neither of those QBs won more than one Grey Cup as a Lion.
I also thought Jim Young deserved more than being named a foundational player at receiver. He still ranks second all-time behind Geroy Simon in receiving yardage on the team and has an amazing 17.7-yard average reception for his career. Plus, he is a Canadian, and would give the TSN team seven national starters.
On defence, I thought Tom Brown deserved a spot, at least as a foundational player. One of the greatest defensive players of his era, he was named an all-star twice at linebacker and once as a nose tackle in the 1960s.
In the secondary, Korey Banks and Barron Miles deserved spots, perhaps at the expense of longtime teammate Ryan Phillips and 1980s CB Keith Gooch. Miles was a perennial all-star at safety and, as an added bonus, holds the CFL record for blocked kicks.
Thoughts?