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Re: 2021 CFL free agency

Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2021 2:08 pm
by Murdoch
Ottawa filling their team out quite nicely along with Montreal and TO to challenge Hamilton for the east. What looked like a foregone conclusion a month ago may have some surprises yet.

Western teams going 6 - 2 against the East might be an old story if they get playing. Strong possibility of no cross over which I like the idea of.

Re: 2021 CFL free agency

Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2021 2:17 pm
by B.C.FAN
The Lions have released OL Brett Boyko. He struggled at tackle and guard in 2019. He said then that he preferred to play left guard but Hunter Steward appears to have that position locked up. Boyko may not have fit into the Lions' salary cap as a backup.

Re: 2021 CFL free agency

Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2021 5:12 pm
by Qman
B.C.FAN wrote:
Fri Feb 12, 2021 2:17 pm
The Lions have released OL Brett Boyko. He struggled at tackle and guard in 2019. He said then that he preferred to play left guard but Hunter Steward appears to have that position locked up. Boyko may not have fit into the Lions' salary cap as a backup.
pretty sure that Boyko was a right tackle throughout his career.
if he couldn't even play right guard, don't see how he could play left guard.

Re: 2021 CFL free agency

Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:05 pm
by Hambone
Qman wrote:
Fri Feb 12, 2021 5:12 pm
B.C.FAN wrote:
Fri Feb 12, 2021 2:17 pm
The Lions have released OL Brett Boyko. He struggled at tackle and guard in 2019. He said then that he preferred to play left guard but Hunter Steward appears to have that position locked up. Boyko may not have fit into the Lions' salary cap as a backup.
Chargers seemed to grooming him at guard. He picked up 5 starts for the Lions in 2019. He started at RT for wk 1 & 2. Missed wk 3 due to injury. Started at RT again in wk 4 & 5. Then he started at LT for wk 6 as Figs was hobbling. He played 10 more games after that starting none.

pretty sure that Boyko was a right tackle throughout his career.
if he couldn't even play right guard, don't see how he could play left guard.

Re: 2021 CFL free agency

Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2021 11:42 pm
by David
Mildly worried about our depth now with both Foucault and Boyko gone (say what you want about their contracts relative to their play, but that's quite a lot of experience we're losing).

I imagine the starting 5 L-R will be: J-Fig, Steward, Godber, Chungh, and Mathews.

We still have Knevel who can play guard and tackle while American Norman can play centre and guard, and Peirson can play centre as well.

Throw in 2020 draft pick Matt Guevremont, any 2021 draft picks, and American FAs that impress and I suppose it won't be too bad.


DH :cool:

Re: 2021 CFL free agency

Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2021 10:07 am
by SammyGreene
Boyko might have been the most overhyped player on this board's history — going back to why did we draft a player with NFL aspirations to the annual training camp updates on him being released only spending years on practice rosters.

Foucault had a similar route to the CFL albeit a shorter time frame. Thought he fared better than Boyko given he was moved all over the place. Probably what hurt the most was the rights to Vernon Adams went the other way. Of course we were loaded at the QB position at the time with Lulay and an apparent rising star. in Jennings.

Re: 2021 CFL free agency

Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2021 11:33 am
by Hambone
SammyGreene wrote:
Sat Feb 13, 2021 10:07 am
Boyko might have been the most overhyped player on this board's history — going back to why did we draft a player with NFL aspirations to the annual training camp updates on him being released only spending years on practice rosters.

Foucault had a similar route to the CFL albeit a shorter time frame. Thought he fared better than Boyko given he was moved all over the place. Probably what hurt the most was the rights to Vernon Adams went the other way. Of course we were loaded at the QB position at the time with Lulay and an apparent rising star. in Jennings.

I didn't have any problems with drafting him when they did, 2nd round. He was consensus #1 prospect all year until Covington declared himself eligible just before final rankings. I'm a believer that while you have to respect NFL interest you can't fear it. If the player is drafted you can expect no return on the pick for at least 4 years, if at all. An NFL UDFA however could wind up in your fold in a year or two. I'm OK with burning a 2nd or 3rd on that, but not your 1st.

On to Boyko perhaps the storm clouds of disappointment were already brewing before he arrived in Kamloops. He went through 4 NFL TCs and 3 years of PR duty before being cut for the final time after 2018 TC. Despite all that development and grooming he only suited up for 1 game at the end of his 3rd NFL season. The biggest red flag may have come after the Chargers cut him for the final time after 2018 TC. He would go on to play for the San Diego Fleet in the development AAF. I watched a couple of games to see how he was doing. He was mostly stapled to the bench. Not a good sign.

Re: 2021 CFL free agency

Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2021 1:47 pm
by OV - 54:40
David wrote:
Fri Feb 12, 2021 11:42 pm
Mildly worried about our depth now with both Foucault and Boyko gone (say what you about their contracts relative to their play, but that's quite a lot of experience we're losing).

I imagine the starting 5 L-R will be: J-Fig, Steward, Godber, Chungh, and Mathews.

We still have Knevel who can play guard and tackle while American Norman can play centre and guard, and Peirson can play centre as well.

Throw in 2020 draft pick Matt Guevremont, any 2021 draft picks, and American FAs that impress and I suppose it won't be too bad.


DH :cool:
Agreed - that starting 5 should be top notch; with good depth; don't see the need to use a high draft pick on an O-Lineman; better to look at areas of more need - like D-Line or safety; then get another O-line prospect perhaps in the mid to later rounds.

Re: 2021 CFL free agency

Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2021 3:13 pm
by Qman
SammyGreene wrote:
Sat Feb 13, 2021 10:07 am
Boyko might have been the most overhyped player on this board's history — going back to why did we draft a player with NFL aspirations to the annual training camp updates on him being released only spending years on practice rosters.

Foucault had a similar route to the CFL albeit a shorter time frame. Thought he fared better than Boyko given he was moved all over the place. Probably what hurt the most was the rights to Vernon Adams went the other way. Of course we were loaded at the QB position at the time with Lulay and an apparent rising star. in Jennings.
was was going to write a "told you so post" but just decided drop it.

CFL is a really really good league. Practice roster in NFL means *poop*. few games in NFL mean *poop*.

Re: 2021 CFL free agency

Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2021 11:43 pm
by TheLionKing
SammyGreene wrote:
Sat Feb 13, 2021 10:07 am
Boyko might have been the most overhyped player on this board's history — going back to why did we draft a player with NFL aspirations to the annual training camp updates on him being released only spending years on practice rosters.
Agree. Much speculation about whether he will or wouldn't be coming to the CFL

Re: 2021 CFL free agency

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2021 4:01 am
by Murdoch
TheLionKing wrote:
Sat Feb 13, 2021 11:43 pm
SammyGreene wrote:
Sat Feb 13, 2021 10:07 am
Boyko might have been the most overhyped player on this board's history — going back to why did we draft a player with NFL aspirations to the annual training camp updates on him being released only spending years on practice rosters.
Agree. Much speculation about whether he will or wouldn't be coming to the CFL
Seems reasonable to assume it was Ed Hervey who is responsible.

Would also be very curious to know Brian Chiu's true opinion of starting Boyko at RT.

Re: 2021 CFL free agency

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:29 am
by Hambone
Murdoch wrote:
Sun Feb 14, 2021 4:01 am

Seems reasonable to assume it was Ed Hervey who is responsible.

Would also be very curious to know Brian Chiu's true opinion of starting Boyko at RT.
Not that it means anything but I noticed that long after Chui was gone and Renfrow took over at RT Boyko continued to show as backup RT on depth charts. Knevel usually was listed behind Steward at LG. Knevel did start the season finale at LT but spent most of the year being the NAT healthy scratch on the 46.

Where backups are listed can be misleading. BC depth charts could lend one to thinking Boyko was the backup T and Knevel backup G. Personally I think it was a case of sides with Boyko being the backup RT/RG and Knevel the backup LT/LG. Had Figs or Steward gone down during a game Knevel, if dressed would have filled in. If he wasn't dressed I think Foucault would have kicked over to the left side with Boyko backfilling for him.

Re: 2021 CFL free agency

Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:11 pm
by OV - 54:40
Be interestin' to see if Foucault ends up starting for the Als? They did lose starting OG Trey Rutherford to retirement recently; but there should be good competition with former starter Phil Gagnon brought back, plus former Laval all-star huge OG Sam Thomassin who they drafted.

Moo-cha-cha really loaded up with Quebec natives / former Q stars there.

Re: 2021 CFL free agency

Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2021 9:16 am
by David
OV - 54:40 wrote:
Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:11 pm
Moo-cha-cha really loaded up with Quebec natives / former Q stars there.
Yea, it will be like playing the Habs of the 70's. :rotf:

Homegrown talent. Not a bad strategy for the Als I suppose.


DH :cool:

Re: 2021 CFL free agency

Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2021 12:01 pm
by Blitz
SammyGreene wrote:
Sat Feb 13, 2021 10:07 am
Boyko might have been the most overhyped player on this board's history — going back to why did we draft a player with NFL aspirations to the annual training camp updates on him being released only spending years on practice rosters.
The Boyko hype or the Byko hope certainly was prevalent on Lionbackers and serves a lesson that a backup NFL offensive lineman does not necessarily add up to a CFL starter (or certainly in this case, not even a CFL backup).

Boyko was the highest rated offensive lineman for the CFL 2015 draft and was the second ranked player in the final CFL draft standings. He was expected to be drafted by an NFL team and therefore was chosen later in the CFL draft (14th) by our Leos. Boyko was never drafted by the NFL and was mainly a backup offensive lineman or a practice roster player in the NFL.

Boyko was a starting left tackle in college who also played guard in his final season. In the NFL, he was mostly listed as a backup left tackle but also practiced as an NFL left guard.

Boyko was never exceptionally strong nor was he exceptionally quick with long arms. Therefore he did not really fit the bill as a left tackle nor was he a power blocker able to play left guard well enough to become a starter. His limitions showed up at both the NFL and CFL level.

Sometimes we can underappreciate how good some of our CFL offensive lineman are. For example, Hunter Steward is an exceptional athlete who can play left guard and left tackle. He is both an outstanding pass and run blocker.

Joel Figuroa played left tackle in high school, and played both guard and tackle at college, on both the right and left side. He is both quick and strong, an excellent pass and run blocker.

Switching from the left side to the right side or vice versa is a huge change for any offensive lineman. It involves a different stance, different lead foot, different drop foot on pass protection, different punch hand, etc.