In Mark Washington We Trust

[Rammer]

Lions are doing a presser for 2PM and are expected to announce Mark Washington as the DC....thoughts.

Source TEAM 1040 news.

BC Lions To Name Mark Washington New DC
Leos will make announcement at 2 p.m. Thursday
Karen Thomson December 12, 2013 8:30am PST

BC Lions have called a 2 p.m. news conference Thursday to announce former Defensive Backs Coach Mark Washington has been promoted to the Defensive Coordinator.

Washington has been with the team since 2007 and will replace Rich Stubler who left for Winnipeg over the weekend.

BC seems to be having a bit more trouble landing a new Offensive Coordinator—Paul LaPolice recently turned down the position to remain at TSN as an analyst.
- See more at: http://www.teamradio.ca/news/bc-lions-t ... QMsaS.dpuf

[South Pender]

He's a big question mark (no pun intended) in my mind. I guess we'd have to assume that he has been regarded as a successful DB coach as he's been brought back by the Lions for six years in that position. The questions, I think, are (a) whether or not he has a deep understanding of defensive strategy writ large involving all position groups and the interfacing of these groups, (b) whether he is a good organizer and multi-tasker, (c) whether or not he has solid leadership skills and can inspire his position coaches and the players, and (d) whether he is an innovative, non-rigid, thinker, who can adapt and adjust and can listen to others while, at the same time, not losing confidence in his own ideas, and (e) whether he thinks quickly on his feet. With regard to the last of these, perhaps his time (and I don't know how long it lasted) as a talk-show host would indicate that he does have this ability.

With Bene as a former DC, we can likely expect some mentoring and help being given MW as he learns the job, but it certainly doesn't give me the confidence going into 2014 that a veteran DC would have. Still, all of these guys had to start their DC careers somewhere.

[Spud387]

I am not too worried about the D. Benny was a DC, Mark has paid his dues and we have a very good and veteran defense.


I am concerned about our offense. We have a very young receiving corp, uncertain OLine, Lulay recovering from surgery, and have struck out so far finding an OC :s

[Rammer]

He's a big question mark (no pun intended) in my mind. I guess we'd have to assume that he has been regarded as a successful DB coach as he's been brought back by the Lions for six years in that position. The questions, I think, are (a) whether or not he has a deep understanding of defensive strategy writ large involving all position groups and the interfacing of these groups, (b) whether he is a good organizer and multi-tasker, (c) whether or not he has solid leadership skills and can inspire his position coaches and the players, and (d) whether he is an innovative, non-rigid, thinker, who can adapt and adjust and can listen to others while, at the same time, not losing confidence in his own ideas, and (e) whether he thinks quickly on his feet. With regard to the last of these, perhaps his time (and I don't know how long it lasted) as a talk-show host would indicate that he does have this ability.

With Bene as a former DC, we can likely expect some mentoring and help being given MW as he learns the job, but it certainly doesn't give me the confidence going into 2014 that a veteran DC would have. Still, all of these guys had to start their DC careers somewhere.

The DC will be an easier integration for a newbie, as Benevides has the know how to keep that side of the football being productive. Still not excited about the nepotism that is the Lions Den. If that continues with the OC, this could easily get ugly for a GC hosting season. The only way out now if the product suffers is to clean house, and while Wally would probably survive that scenario should it arise, he is the architect that has brought us to this situation. Better start winning and find that 'new' OC, now that we know Mark Washington is on the D side of things.

[B.C.FAN]

Washington has paid his dues and is well respected. And with Bene and Wally around, he'll have no shortage of defensive strategists to give him advice.

The problem will be finding an experienced OC and play-caller to take charge on the other side of the ball. Going into a Grey Cup-hosting season with two novice coordinators is a recipe for trouble.

[TheLionKing]

Washington has certainly served his time under two of the better defensive coordinators in the league in Dave Ritchie and Rich Stubler. Hope he's learned a thing or two.

[WestCoastJoe]

I was disappointed in our "prevent" defence under Stubler. I was disappointed in the pass rush. I suspected that there was a disconnect between Roy Shivers and Stubler. Shivers brought the D Linemen in. Someone found them wanting and shipped them out. Julius Williams? Breakdowns at key times. Veteran players grumbling. Was Benny really Stubler's boss? Stubler had been his "sitting behind him" mentor up in the booth for one year (and wasn't that kind of odd?). So not gonna miss Stubes too much.

Mark W? Who knows? A bit of a roll of the dice. At least we had a guy in mind, and "in place" when we dismissed his predecessor.

OC? Yikes. This spot is becoming a concern since Plan A and Plan B turned us down. Naive, wishful thinking? Naive thinking LaPo or Cortez would be available? Those guys bring credentials. Would those guys have brought dynamite offence? Dunno ... but they had the creds. A young guy? No acknowledged master on board to mentor him. Yikes ...

[South Pender]

OC? Yikes. This spot is becoming a concern since Plan A and Plan B turned us down. Naive, wishful thinking? Naive thinking LaPo or Cortez would be available? Those guys bring credentials. Would those guys have brought dynamite offence? Dunno ... but they had the creds. A young guy? No acknowledged master on board to mentor him. Yikes ...

Yeah...yikes indeed. We seem to be down to Khari Jones at the moment (maybe he'll turn us down too, LOL). But someone mentioned Marcel Bellefeuille as a possibility.

[Rammer]

OC? Yikes. This spot is becoming a concern since Plan A and Plan B turned us down. Naive, wishful thinking? Naive thinking LaPo or Cortez would be available? Those guys bring credentials. Would those guys have brought dynamite offence? Dunno ... but they had the creds. A young guy? No acknowledged master on board to mentor him. Yikes ...

Yeah...yikes indeed. We seem to be down to Khari Jones at the moment (maybe he'll turn us down too, LOL). But someone mentioned Marcel Bellefeuille as a possibility.

I would be good with Bellefeuille, as I believe he would do things much differently than what his predecessor has done, and at least would do things his way vs Wally's conservative ... whoops mean Benevides conservative ways with a lead.

[TheLionKing]

It's now official. Mark Washington is the Lions' new Defensive Coordinator. I wish him well.

[pennw]

IMO Wally never wanted Chap to go , nor did MB . It was pressure from the fans that was responsible for it . I suspect Wally had a bit of resentment at having to do that and firing Stubler was what Wally wanted . Fans got their wish and Wally got his too , in that case . I have no proof of this , only a feeling that this was the case . But even that factor aside , it still was the right move to fire Stubler , and he will be the much easier Coordinator to replace . I can't see us doing any worse with Mark Washington , and hoping he can maybe entice his pal Baron Miles to re-join the Lions .
I can't see the defense getting any worse with out Stubler , his "bend" philosophy is what lost us the WSF and Wally even made post game remarks on what he thought of the meltdown .
As for replacing Chap , this will be interesting . I think it will be a regression , unfortunately , but , hey the fans got their wish . Happy 2014 .

[Toppy Vann]

IMO Wally never wanted Chap to go , nor did MB . It was pressure from the fans that was responsible for it . I suspect Wally had a bit of resentment at having to do that and firing Stubler was what Wally wanted . Fans got their wish and Wally got his too , in that case . I have no proof of this , only a feeling that this was the case . But even that factor aside , it still was the right move to fire Stubler , and he will be the much easier Coordinator to replace . I can't see us doing any worse with Mark Washington , and hoping he can maybe entice his pal Baron Miles to re-join the Lions .
I can't see the defense getting any worse with out Stubler , his "bend" philosophy is what lost us the WSF and Wally even made post game remarks on what he thought of the meltdown .
As for replacing Chap , this will be interesting . I think it will be a regression , unfortunately , but , hey the fans got their wish . Happy 2014 .

It's been pretty clear since Wally got here that ONE man makes the final call on the football side and that is Wally Buono.

I am sure the pressure though of the offense sucking and not exciting that led to fans staying away just added fuel to the fire as Wally was fuming a long time before on that one. It is funny - as GM he came out with guns blazing on his offensive woes but as HC he used to go into denial until the season he admitted that the coaches had to take a long at schemes too.

[notahomer]

Well glad one coordinator is chosen. Wonder if the other one will be chosen by christmas? Doesn't really matter, I'd rather they got the right guy that rush it....

[Hawkballer 14]

OC? Yikes. This spot is becoming a concern since Plan A and Plan B turned us down. Naive, wishful thinking? Naive thinking LaPo or Cortez would be available? Those guys bring credentials. Would those guys have brought dynamite offence? Dunno ... but they had the creds. A young guy? No acknowledged master on board to mentor him. Yikes ...

This might be a case of "the grass is not always greener"...

Good luck to Mark Washington, congrats on the promotion: smart guy, good DB coach but stepping into a pressure cooker of a situation (Grey Cup in Vancouver next winter).

[Rammer]

Well glad one coordinator is chosen. Wonder if the other one will be chosen by christmas? Doesn't really matter, I'd rather they got the right guy that rush it....

Benevides suggested that he had 6 candidates in mind for the OC Khari Jones being one, and that the selection should be concluded just after Christmas.