2014 free agents

[David]

Ok so the Vancouver off-season home sounds temporary if his girlfriend is completing her schooling here. And perhaps the Lions were in tough if Butler didn't like the idea of playing for one of the Riders main rivals.

Yes, I actually heard Farhan Lalji say this on TEAM1040 last week, SG. It kind of softened the blow a bit to know that he's only here for his girlfriend's education. I've heard he prefers to play safety. Perhaps the Lions had him more in mind for nickel (hence the reason for his "didn't feel right" comment)? Still crushed that we couldn't land this guy. If you watch his Ti-Cat presser, he just seems really marketable.


DH

[SammyGreene]

Yes, I actually heard Farhan Lalji say this on TEAM1040 last week, SG. It kind of softened the blow a bit to know that he's only here for his girlfriend's education. I've heard he prefers to play safety. Perhaps the Lions had him more in mind for nickel (hence the reason for his "didn't feel right" comment)? Still crushed that we couldn't land this guy. If you watch his Ti-Cat presser, he just seems really marketable.


DH

Crushed as well David. I'm still shocked he was on the market in the first place and Taman deemed another year of Geroy at well over $100,000 was more valuable than locking up Butler.

[South Pender]

Chris Matthews gone...to the Seahawks. Should help them; they need a tall receiver. This probably means goodbye, Sidney Rice.

[notahomer]

Chris Matthews gone...to the Seahawks. Should help them; they need a tall receiver. This probably means goodbye, Sidney Rice.

Wow, Seahawks can use him.....

[South Pender]

Chris Matthews gone...to the Seahawks. Should help them; they need a tall receiver. This probably means goodbye, Sidney Rice.

Wow, Seahawks can use him.....

He'll have a chance to compete, for sure, but whether he makes the team is uncertain. He's pretty fast for a big man (4.55 in the 40), but not quick off the line--a long-strider who takes time to reach top speed. One NFL scout rated him thus: "not quick enough for a wide receiver, not thick enough for a tight end." Close to Megatron size (6-5, 230), but not nearly as quick or fast. Some would see Matthews as a red zone guy in the NFL. Should be able to do much of what Sidney Rice could do (outreach defenders, win jump balls, box out smaller corners) and is, evidently, a good blocker for receivers in his area. Actually, as I think about this some more, I'd probably rate him 50/50 to make the 'Hawks. Sure did well in the Peg in his rookie season (81 catches), but missed most games last year (turf toe, back problems), so durability may be a factor. If he doesn't make it, we could sure use him here, as a slot receiver.

[notahomer]

......One NFL scout rated him thus: "not quick enough for a wide receiver, not thick enough for a tight end." ......

It is always cool seeing CFLers taking snaps in the NFL, IMO. The ones that hurt are the ex-Lions. Bombers obviously had some talent on that team.

[WestCoastJoe]

http://www.cfl.ca/article/lions-ink-mcc ... ky-schmitt

Lions ink McCallum to extension; sign K Ricky Schmitt

Posted: February 20, 2014 10:30 AM

BCLions.com Staff

VANCOUVER -- The BC Lions announced this morning that kicker Paul McCallum has signed a contract extension and free agent kicker Ricky Schmitt has agreed to terms on a contract with the team.

McCallum enters his 22nd CFL season in 2014, the last nine of which have been with the BC Lions. Last season, the Vancouver native was good on 85 per cent of his field goal attempts (28 of 33) and notched 137 total points.

“Paul has been an outstanding kicker throughout his long career,” said VP of football operations and GM Wally Buono. “His consistency as a field goal kicker is exceptional and with the addition of Ricky I’m pleased to know that this is where he will be focusing his efforts as we continue building a championship team.”

McCallum, a two-time CFL All-Star in 2010 and 2011 and the league’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player from 2011 is just one of five players to ever play in 20 or more seasons and is the only CFL kicker to record 10 or more consecutive seasons with a success rate of 80 per cent or better on field goals.

In a process that is usually as confidential as any in the CFL, Wally Buono and the BC Lions opened up their strategy to Twitter to let fans into their world.

“I’m as excited as I have ever been about the game of football and being a member of the BC Lions,” said McCallum. “We have a very solid group of veteran leadership with a great blend of young talent on this team and I believe 2014 is going to be a very special year. Working with Ricky is also going to be very enjoyable, he’s one of our league’s best young kickers and we’ll be very effective together.”

Schmitt meanwhile comes to the Lions after a championship season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Virginia Beach native ranked among the CFL’s top-three kickers in punting yardage, net punting yardage and kickoff yards in 2013.

“Ricky has one of the strongest legs in the league and he demonstrated that in some pretty tough conditions last season in Regina,” said head coach Mike Benevides. “With Paul looking after field goals and Ricky responsible for punting and kickoffs, I believe we have secured one of the best tandems in the CFL.”

Schmitt was originally signed as a free agent by the Riders in November 2012 and appeared in the Western Final that year. Last season, he dressed for all 18 regular season games as well as both West Division playoff games and the Grey Cup.

“I’m very pleased to be joining the Lions,” Schmitt said from his Virginia Beach home. “The opportunity to be a part of this organization and work with a kicker of Paul’s ability and experience was an opportunity that I could not pass up. I can’t wait to get started on working towards bringing a Grey Cup to BC.”

Good signing as far as the kicking aspect goes.

Bit of a puzzler. Schmitt is an import.

So, in order to suit up two kickers, we make ourselves a bit thinner elsewhere on the game day roster. Also we use up an import spot on the game day roster.

[DanoT]

With Schmitt punting and doing kick offs, it does strengthen those aspects of special teams.

Because Schmit uses up an import spot, might that "one less import elsewhere" be Anton MacKenzie being replaced as a rotational LB by a NI LB. Who would that LB be?

Or will the Lions go with one less starting import receiver and thus take advantage of their strongest NI depth--Canadian receivers?

[B.C.FAN]

Schmitt is an import. He's a good punter but he'll have a big impact on the ratio, taking a designated-import spot that would otherwise go to a backup/rotational player. Last year's designated imports for most games were Tim Brown, Anton McKenzie and Lin-J Shell. This year Jamall Johnson is already pencilled in for McKenzie's role. Shell is pencilled in as starting nickel, but the Lions will need a dimeback to take over Shell's old role. The only way to get Tim Brown or another backup KR onto the roster is to start 8 non-imports. And if the 8th starter is Jabar Westerman, there can only be 3 imports in the DL rotation.

[South Pender]

I'm disappointed in this signing of an import punter (essentially). It seems like a waste of an import position. In my view we need to focus on using the import slots we have left to get high-quality imports filling the gaping holes in our D-line and possibly O-line and secondary. Surely there were some NI kickers out there that could have helped us with punting and kickoffs. I'm blanking on this, but are there any other CFL teams using up an import spot on a kicker or punter?

[WestCoastJoe]

If the Lions go through with this, and suit up two kickers, one of whom is an import, I see this as a conservative, defensive move.

Field position Benevides mentions in the video. Gheez, it seems to me the best teams establish that with a high octane offence and a rugged defence.

Two kickers?

Yeay, we are going for field position.

Reduce our ability to suit up an import at LB or DB or Kick Returner, or backup RB. Ughhhh ...

Is this Benny's idea? Or Wally's? Or Chuck McMann's? I don't really like it.

Yeay, we win the field position game. Yeayyyyy

Deeper kickoffs. Whooo Hoooooo

Longer punts. Whooo Hooooooo

Well, I have already expressed my general lack of interest or excitement in the preeminence of the kicking game.
.............

Is this just a PR exercise in showing that free agents will sign with us?
.............

Brag on about the importance of field position, Benevides.

[TheLionKing]

Not liking this move. Import spot could better be used for a lineman, or a defensive back. I guess JR Larose will be our safety again .......

[korey&dante4ever]

I like this move.
We couldn't go into the season having McCallum kick it to the 20-25 yard line on every kickoff, and not being able to kick FG's from the 47+
Schmitt has a huge leg and put it to the 5 consistently last year. It was a big advantage for the Riders.

[notahomer]

Not liking this move. Import spot could better be used for a lineman, or a defensive back. I guess JR Larose will be our safety again .......

Seems puzzling. Guess we'll see. Lots of Lions moves don't seem to be making sense, IMO but I guess the proof will be in the pudding.......

[B.C.FAN]

There's no question that Schmitt has a stronger leg than McCallum and can give the Lions an extra 5 years on every punt and kickoff. The question is whether the extra distance that Schmitt provides is worth using an extra roster spot (and a designated import spot) for a second kicker. Keeping in mind that factors such as wind and directional kicking can affect kicking stats, here are some comparative 2013 numbers (and league rankings) for McCallum and Schmitt:

Kickoff average:
Schmitt 65.0 yards (1st)
McCallum 59.6 yards (6th)

Punting average:
Schmitt 45.0 yards (3rd)
McCallum 40.6 yards (9th - behind 2 Toronto kickers)

Net punting average:
Schmitt 36.9 yards (4th)
McCallum 34.4 yards (8th)

Punts inside the 20 yard line:
Schmitt 34 (1st)
McCallum 29 (5th)

Punts inside the 10 yard line:
Schmitt 11 (3rd)
McCallum 12 (2nd)

As a field goal kicker, McCallum is still among the best in the league, hitting on 84.8% of his attempts last year. He was purrfect inside the 30 yard line, 22 of 23 inside the 40 and 6 of 10 from beyond 40. The coaches' reluctance to use him on longer field goals has more to do with their fear of a long return than with a lack of confidence in McCallum's leg strength. And don't forget that he has been purrfect in the playoffs since he was acquired by the Lions. He has made 35 consecutive playoff field goals. His last playoff miss was in 2004. Most Lion fans don't hold that one against him.