Training camp 2022

[SammyGreene]

Disappointing to hear Thomas is now a no show. Arguably our two most intriguing newcomers on offence and defence (Steven Richardson) are not in the picture going into the season.

[David]

Those are two of the players I had my eye on, SammyGreene. Sucks.

And for those wondering, Stove tore his Achilles. I believe I heard McEvoy says they hope to get him back late in the season, but that may be optimistic.

If you recall, the Riders lost 4 players in one day, including projected starters Larry Dean and Freddie Bishop III. While the injuries were suffered in July, not April, they never came back in 2021.


DH

[Hambone]

Those are two of the players I had my eye on, SammyGreene. Sucks.

And for those wondering, Stove tore his Achilles. I believe I heard McEvoy says they hope to get him back late in the season, but that may be optimistic.

If you recall, the Riders lost 4 players in one day, including projected starters Larry Dean and Freddie Bishop III. While the injuries were suffered in July, not April, they never came back in 2021.


DH

In the case of those Riders they suffered the injuries literally on the eve of training camp for a shortened season. Grey Cup was played 5 months after they went down almost to the day. Stove's injury was suffered 7 months prior to Grey Cup. That does give him an extra 2 months to recover. When it was first indicated he might be back late in the season I was hopeful "late" meant sometime in September. Once I heard Achilles was the injury I downgraded that to maybe in time for the playoffs best case. Much will depend on what type of Achilles injury he suffered. There's quite a range of different severities to Achilles injuries and with that a wide range of recovery times anywhere from 4 months to 12 months. One positive is that as a professional athlete he should be far more dedicated to the prescribed physiotherapy than us arm chair athletes thus recover quicker.

[B.C.FAN]

Rookie camp wrapped up Friday morning with a crisp, 90-minute padded practice that featured skelly and team play, field goal kicking and punting. I counted 51 players on the field, including DB Jacob Firlotte and WR Hakeem Butler, who were limited participants. QB Nathan Rourke again watched from the press box.

Isaac Harker took first-team reps at QB in skelly, backed up by Kevin Thomson and Michael O'Connor. Thomson took first-team reps in team play, followed by O'Connor and Harker. None of the QBs has stood out. Harker was the most efficient but he was also the most conservative in his decision-making. Thomson and O'Connor tried to push the ball a bit deeper down the field but were often late on their throws, resulting in the ball hanging in the air waiting to be picked. DB Mallory Claybourne had an interception of Thomson on a pass into double coverage. Receiver Alexander Hollins was injured on the play, trying to come back on the underthrown pass. Austin Joyner dropped a potential interception off O'Connor on a similar play. That was the second dropped pick I saw from Joyner in as many practices.

Punter Nathan Hierlihy was inconsistent, hitting several 35-yarders and a couple of 55-yarders.
Placekicker Mark Millan struck the ball well. Unofficially, he hit 4 of 5 field goal attempts, missing wide right from 47 yards and also making a kick from the same distance.

WRs Shelton Gibson, Montay Crockett, Dallas Dixon, Zac Parker and Sean Modster and RB Bruce Anderson took reps as returners. That skill could be valuable if DeAnthony Thomas is a no-show to main camp, as reported by Farhan Lalji.

In general, rookie camp participants all looked professional, seemed to know their assignments and showed good camaraderie on the field, but no one really stood out. The defensive backs consistently locked down the receivers. The undermanned offensive line, with only 5 players taking all reps in camp, prevented the DL from getting any pressure on the QBs.

The offensive player who made the biggest impression on me was RB Bruce Anderson, who spent time with Edmonton last year, primarily as a punt returner. That might be his best hope to make the roster. The backfield is already crowded with veterans James Butler and Jamel Lyles. The Lions also announced the signing of Wayne Moore this spring but he no longer shows on the roster.

The rookie DBs all showed well against this crop of receivers. Two rookies who made the biggest impression on me were Tyneil Cooper and Howard Wilson.

I didn't notice the narrowed hash marks from the sideline grandstand but the offence seemed to attack both sides of the field equally and the better angles should help the kickers. It will be interesting to see how that pans out in live action.

One other general observation is that I couldn't tell by looking at their performance which players were Canadians, Americans or Globals. Several times I looked up a number after a good play and noticed it was a rookie draft pick, junior player or Global. I hope most of the current draft picks stick around and get time to earn a roster spot.

By my estimate, the Lions have to trim the roster by about 5 players by Saturday to get down to the limit of 85 players, plus draft picks and other non-counters. A few camp no-shows will make up part of that number but I would also expect several of the 22 players on the defensive line to be cut, plus a few receivers and DBs. The Lions are already thin on the OL and at linebacker so I don't expect much change there.

[Grandma Lion]

Where can a person listen to training camp reports? I am in Saskatchewan. I used to always listen on Team1040 (which no longer exists). I am really hoping I can listen on-line next week.

[David]

The Lions also announced the signing of Wayne Moore this spring but he no longer shows on the roster.

Wayne Moore has retired, per Farhan Lalji. He was never going to be our feature back but still disappointing given his back-up ability and special teams prowess.

The undermanned offensive line, with only 5 players taking all reps in camp, prevented the DL from getting any pressure on the QBs.

Not going to read too much into this yet but, yeesh, this is not encouraging with that much of an off-season focus on this position group and the number of bodies deployed at rookie camp.


DH

[OV:54-40]

I guess certain roster moves don't get announced?

Hambone told me here about C. Hammond no longer with the team; and now I don't see former draft pick receiver Cordell Hastings listed either ? = 2 draft pick guys who packed it in, in fairly short order ?

Wayne Moore retires? - there are a number of undrafted RBs who they might be able to sign?

[Hambone]

By my estimate, the Lions have to trim the roster by about 5 players by Saturday to get down to the limit of 85 players, plus draft picks and other non-counters. A few camp no-shows will make up part of that number but I would also expect several of the 22 players on the defensive line to be cut, plus a few receivers and DBs. The Lions are already thin on the OL and at linebacker so I don't expect much change there.

Is that 85 including non-counters? I count 102 on the roster on their website. The 102 includes Li. Is he actually there now or still doesn't have immigration issues worked out? It also includes Stove who of course won't be at camp. I can't recall if there were any other late season or offseason injuries that might sideline any others.

Pretty safe to assume at least 1 if not both of those 2 kickers won't be there for main camp.

I come up with 7 non-counters for sure being this year's draft picks. I don't recall whether Packer signed and came to camp last year or just stayed in college. If he didn't attend 2021 camp he'd still be a non-counter. CJFLer Clarot might also be a non-counter.

[David]

Depth chart included in this B.C. Lions preview. https://www.cfl.ca/2022/05/13/lions-off ... um=twitter

I know this is fluid but a couple of oddities. Godber and Peirson are the only ones listed at Centre (I thought Knevel and Chungh would be the only Nationals on the line this year?). Norman is listed as 3rd string LT but can fill in at centre if we run into problems.

Betts and Menard penciled in as starting DT and DE respectively. I thought they would have rotated on the end.


DH

[B.C.FAN]

Depth chart included in this B.C. Lions preview. https://www.cfl.ca/2022/05/13/lions-off ... um=twitter

I know this is fluid but a couple of oddities. Godber and Peirson are the only ones listed at Centre (I thought Knevel and Chungh would be the only Nationals on the line this year?). Norman is listed as 3rd string LT but can fill in at centre if we run into problems.

Betts and Menard penciled in as starting DT and DE respectively. I thought they would have rotated on the end.


DH

Ignore that depth chart. It's an anonymous guess by cfl.ca staff who seem to have little insight. No way the Lions start 10 nationals. Godber, Scarfone and Betts will be backups/rotational players at best. Purifoy, Breaux and Sayles won't necessarily line up as shown. Sayles was ineffective at safety last year.

[SammyGreene]

Another great report BC FAN. Sure hope the CBA gets taken care of and training camp starts on time Sunday.

Looking forward to seeing a TC depth chart. Farhan on Taylor&Dhaliwal yesterday again stated the Lions will go with an American at centre and Knevel will get his opportunity to replace Steward at guard.

I haven’t heard anyone from the Lions suggest this including Rigmaiden recently. They re-signed Godber and Pierson is also under contract. Pretty sure neither are capable of playing special teams.
Rigmaiden did say it’s Knevel or an American at guard.

[B.C.FAN]

By my estimate, the Lions have to trim the roster by about 5 players by Saturday to get down to the limit of 85 players, plus draft picks and other non-counters. A few camp no-shows will make up part of that number but I would also expect several of the 22 players on the defensive line to be cut, plus a few receivers and DBs. The Lions are already thin on the OL and at linebacker so I don't expect much change there.

Is that 85 including non-counters? I count 102 on the roster on their website. The 102 includes Li. Is he actually there now or still doesn't have immigration issues worked out? It also includes Stove who of course won't be at camp. I can't recall if there were any other late season or offseason injuries that might sideline any others.

Pretty safe to assume at least 1 if not both of those 2 kickers won't be there for main camp.

I come up with 7 non-counters for sure being this year's draft picks. I don't recall whether Packer signed and came to camp last year or just stayed in college. If he didn't attend 2021 camp he'd still be a non-counter. CJFLer Clarot might also be a non-counter.

It's 85 plus non-counters: 7 draft picks, junior Kyle Clarot and QB intern Garrett Rooker for sure, possibly other national QBs and injured players, as per the CBA:

The C.F.L. shall annually determine the number of players permitted to attend the training camp for a Member Club, provided that not less than 68 players and not more than 85 players under registered Standard Player Contracts may attend in any year, excluding:
(i) Players selected in the current year Canadian and Global Draft, and
(ii) Players selected in a previous year’s Canadian Draft by the Member Club that have never attended a professional training camp in Canada or elsewhere, and
(iii) Junior players not under contract, and
(iv) Two additional undrafted National Players comprised of either: (A) A Player who was eligible for the current or the previous years’ C.F.L. Draft, or (B) A C.J.F.L. Player whose junior eligibility had terminated in the previous C.J.F.L. season.
(v) A National quarterback who is playing and participating in training camp at the quarterback position.

Notwithstanding the above, each Member Club may have up to a maximum of two Veteran Players who are injured and unfit to play as a result of an injury/injuries sustained while playing football, attend at training camp in order to rehabilitate the injury/injuries and attend at meetings ...

Rosters must be cut by another 10 players to 75 plus non-counters after the third day of camp Tuesday.

[Hambone]

I guess certain roster moves don't get announced?

Hambone told me here about C. Hammond no longer with the team; and now I don't see former draft pick receiver Cordell Hastings listed either ? = 2 draft pick guys who packed it in, in fairly short order ?

Wayne Moore retires? - there are a number of undrafted RBs who they might be able to sign?

I missed Hastings being released. Looks like that happened a week or two before Hammond. No idea if it was a case of them packing it in or the Lions deciding to move on from them. At least we're only losing 3rd and 5th round guys as opposed to the Riders who just lost 2 of the 3 guys they picked in the first 2 rounds over 2020 & 2021; Riley (7th overall - 2020) and Jana (17th - 2021). I'm not sure why Hastings didn't at least earn a few reps in the 7 games he suited up for. I don't think he even got any special teams reps. He did look a bit out of place on the sidelines amongst his team mates in that he looked tall and quite slight for a football player. Made me think if Elias Pettersson put on a football uniform he'd look a lot like Hastings.

Why sign more tailbacks now? BC still has 6 tailbacks and 2 fullbacks to man what is typically 3 offensive units. Looking back at depth charts for several BC training camps going back to 2015 that's what they've normally worked with. In 2015 they started with 6 tailback candidates. In 2019 they had 4. At the same time they always had either 2 or 3 fullback candidates. It's not like there's an unlimited number of reps available when 6 tailbacks have to share reps on 3 units. I've also noticed in the past that if an injury hits during camp (which has been rare for tailbacks) or they don't like the performance of somebody they get a new prospect in almost overnight. No doubt they have some guys they've talked to on speed dial if the need arises.

[Hambone]

Thanks BCF. Where was that located. I looked at the CBA and Bylaws and couldn't find it but I didn't look real hard. I knew that text was out there and I'd read it many times before but couldn't remember where. Sometimers kicking in I guess.

[OV:54-40]

CFL, and media depth charts are often way out to lunch.

No way Betts is playing regular reps at DT; I'll bet it's him and Menard splitting reps at one DE spot, and maybe one guy establishes himself as more full-time. Cherry I could see getting some reps at DT in the rotation.

Sayles at safety would be a mistake IMO - unless he learned lots in his experience there last season and figured some things out.

With 3 NI starters on D, then only need 4 on O - so either 3 interior O-Line + one receiver or 2 O-line + 2 receivers. ?

Unless Campbell learned or remembered something from the RedBlacks GC 2016 season, where it was not 7 only need apply, but 11 or 12 Canadians playing regular reps combined on O & D late in the season and in the play-offs.