Yikes! Lions 2024 potential free agents

[Toppy Vann]

Should be noted Jake Dolegala did not have the practice reps leading to the game that he will have this week so the true test as a Lion is yet to be seen.

That said it might be good to at least use Brice on short yardage in order to get him some game snaps.

Not saying David Mackie has not done a good job at that spot but they can use him in Cottoy's spot for now.

I think it's too late for Brice on short yardage as David Mackie is proving to be one of the most surest short yardage QBs rivalling Tommy Stevens and Chris Streveler.
Yes it takes away what a QB can do in tossing a pass out of that formation but he could still run like the best of them and plow ahead. It would be unwise to put Brice there now. Mackie fires up the offense and the entire team when he's out there for short yardage.

I'm not sure how Rick Campbell handled his QBs in other teams but lack of reps for back ups is problematic across the CFL. Shadow reps help imprint the plays and reads but it doesn't replace actual throwing, handing off or dealing with the game stuff.

What is good about what Rick Campbell does in practices is put his QB in game situations where the starter is focused on reads and execution. They 're not just running plays.

We'll not likely with these coaches in the CFL see the Wally Buono days of 4 QBs in practice - Dickenson, Printers, Pierce and Jarius Jackson (although his 2005 was lost in the first exhibiition game in 2005 where he injured his thumb badly on the Lions first play from scrimmage. That led to Pierce in the 4th coming on and winning the game for BC. Put Wally i n the camp of how can I cut a guy who does that.

[David]

Should be noted Jake Dolegala did not have the practice reps leading to the game that he will have this week so the true test as a Lion is yet to be seen.

That said it might be good to at least use Brice on short yardage in order to get him some game snaps.

Not saying David Mackie has not done a good job at that spot but they can use him in Cottoy's spot for now.

Not quite certain I follow your logic, Don. How does bringing Brice in for QB sneaks help his development?

Farhan Lalji reported that the club is happy with Brice’s progress, so it will be interesting to see whether he gets some reps in Edmonton and just how short Dolegala’s leash will be. The latter was disappointing in preseason while the former was hardly lights out, but showed promise.


DH

[Hambone]

We'll not likely with these coaches in the CFL see the Wally Buono days of 4 QBs in practice - Dickenson, Printers, Pierce and Jarius Jackson (although his 2005 was lost in the first exhibiition game in 2005 where he injured his thumb badly on the Lions first play from scrimmage. That led to Pierce in the 4th coming on and winning the game for BC. Put Wally i n the camp of how can I cut a guy who does that.

I'd like to check out the CBA circa 2005 to compare it to the current edition. I'm thinking in giving so many reps to QBs.farther down the depth chart Wally benefitted from several more hours per week for practice. Would he have managed the QBs the same way under today's tighter practice rules?

As for passing the short yardage from Mackie to Brice there are inherent risks in the minds of anybody who fears risk to injury for the starter handling short yardage duties. BC will have only 2 QBs at their disposal vs Edmonton. Lose one on a QB short yardage play and they are one hit away from finishing the game with God knows who behind center.

[don corleone]

Dolegala is hardly a short yardage guy and lack of mobility has been the main criticism but maybe he just hasn't been given a chance.

[don corleone]

Not quite certain I follow your logic, Don. How does bringing Brice in for QB sneaks help his development?

Farhan Lalji reported that the club is happy with Brice’s progress, so it will be interesting to see whether he gets sees some reps in Edmonton and just how short Dolegala’s leash will be. The latter was disappointing in preseason while the former was hardly lights out, but showed promise.


DH

No big quantum plan for developing Brice other than him taking snaps in live action just to acclimatize to the experience. Could be that he is past all that and ready to go.

Not my position to be critical of the roster but I was not overly impressed with the team that started the season given choices with Prukop being one of the casualties that surprised. Only fair to let it play out and see where the chips land at seasons end.

That is why I say it is not right to look past the people responsible for those decisions rather than to just let them try some different players next year and see what happens. They totally left the team vulnerable in the event of an injury to VA and now it has happened. That said, I'll give Dolegala a chance.

Door is certainly open for Nathan Rourke to grab the wheel if he chose to do so. Instant success would make it interesting.

[David]

No big quantum plan for developing Brice other than him taking snaps in live action just to acclimatize to the experience. Could be that he is past all that and ready to go.

Not my position to be critical of the roster but I was not overly impressed with the team that started the season given choices with Prukop being one of the casualties that surprised. Only fair to let it play out and see where the chips land at seasons end.

That is why I say it is not right to look past the people responsible for those decisions rather than to just let them try some different players next year and see what happens. They totally left the team vulnerable in the event of an injury to VA and now it has happened. That said, I'll give Dolegala a chance.

Door is certainly open for Nathan Rourke to grab the wheel if he chose to do so. Instant success would make it interesting.

I am, frankly, surprised the club didn't make a bigger off-season push for CFL FAs and US FAs (college, ex-NFL etc.) given the Grey Cup hosting season. Our vulnerabilities have been well-documented. Only improvement I can see is a bit more stout against the run and slightly better with the run (Stanback), although we don't use him enough. Still not getting a good or consistent enough pass rush, and still weak on the right side of the offensive line. Not sure why they thought they could enter the season with Chungh and Perkins and things would magically improve.

We'll see what happens - if anything - as the season unfolds...

DH

[don corleone]

The other side of short yardage with David Mackie is if he were ever to throw a pass it might catch the other team off guard. In that sense the more reps he gets as a straight ahead guy establishes the trend and expectations of the D. Would have to save it for a big game.

Interesting that Montreal signed Dom Davis. Antonio Pipkin at one time played ahead of VA in Montreal and might not be a bad idea at this point in a Grey Cup hosting season with a wounded VA and 10 games to go.

[Toppy Vann]

The other side of short yardage with David Mackie is if he were ever to throw a pass it might catch the other team off guard. In that sense the more reps he gets as a straight ahead guy establishes the trend and expectations of the D. Would have to save it for a big game.

Interesting that Montreal signed Dom Davis. Antonio Pipkin at one time played ahead of VA in Montreal and might not be a bad idea at this point in a Grey Cup hosting season with a wounded VA and 10 games to go.

The accolades for Dom Davis hopefully for him will come true again as he sure looked not like the Davis of old when he was doing short yardage for BC.

Yah, I'd like to see Mackie throw a pass BUT the reality is that these guys not used to passing often blow it big time in a game. Fine in practice but when the DEF sees it's a throw, they know it's not going to be a bomb so they know how to go for an INT positionally.

We used to snap the ball threw my legs with our 230 lb tackle at FB. He could throw it 50 yards but never hit a target. We'd run him first off tackle off that same direct snap.
Fortunately, in those days as UBC played 4 down, 11 man football so did we in HS so it wasn 't bad blowing a down on him just in case he could find the deep REC.

Giving Brice something to do would keep his head in the game more as it's hard to watch and be totally focused on the game if you know you are never going to play.
But I'd not give him short yardage now as Hambone and others note, they're down in QBs.

[Hambone]

Interesting that Montreal signed Dom Davis. Antonio Pipkin at one time played ahead of VA in Montreal and might not be a bad idea at this point in a Grey Cup hosting season with a wounded VA and 10 games to go.

Not much interesting. Thanks to a poor 1st half when Caleb Evans started the first game after Fajardo went down Alexander's performance to beat the Riders propelled him into the #2 spot. Then this past week they lost Evans for the season. They signed Davis to be QB3 and designated sneaker for the rest of the year.

[don corleone]

Not much interesting. Thanks to a poor 1st half when Caleb Evans started the first game after Fajardo went down Alexander's performance to beat the Riders propelled him into the #2 spot. Then this past week they lost Evans for the season. They signed Davis to be QB3 and designated sneaker for the rest of the year.

Interesting that it was a move by the defending champs who may have in mind to repeat their GC win.

[Hambone]

Not much interesting. Thanks to a poor 1st half when Caleb Evans started the first game after Fajardo went down Alexander's performance to beat the Riders propelled him into the #2 spot. Then this past week they lost Evans for the season. They signed Davis to be QB3 and designated sneaker for the rest of the year.

Interesting that it was a move by the defending champs who may have in mind to repeat their GC win.

It was an essential move for them to get some sort of veteran presence onto the roster. So they parachute Davis in to suit their specific situation and need.

Fajardo is still only a limited participant in practice. Evans is done for the year. That left them with Alexander and raw rookie James Morgan who has yet to take a snap outside of preseason action as their QB1 and QB2 for this week and possibly next. They could have found another rookie but likely wanted some sort of veteran out of what is a very shallow pool of not much more than Davis, Pipkin and Cornelius.

I think they wanted somebody who could arrive on the next plane to suit up for this weekend's game. Davis checks the boxes. Veteran who with the exception of his disappointing play in BC has been solid in short yardage. He's also worked in Calvillo offense before thus should know the system and terminology enough to execute their short yardage and other offense should circumstances dictate he has to go in. Cornelius doesn't have that familiarity and Pipkin was last in Montreal back in 2019.

[Toppy Vann]

Bad for Caleb Evans after his last game:

Evans appeared to sustain the injury following a seven-yard run to the five-yard line with 2:06 remaining in Montreal's 33-16 win. He came on in relief of starter Davis Alexander, who briefly left the game after being hit hard by Ticats lineman Casey Sayles. Evans threw a 39-yard touchdown to David Dallaire on his first play to put the Als up 27-8.

Danny Macioca in his time with Jason Maas as HC has not made many bad moves. That is turning out to be a very good GM/HC team it seems. Maas even when he has reason to be angry with some calls is not the same guy he was HC in Edmonton nor even the same person as OC with Saskatchewan. Either he's realized that controlled anger is all that a HC can exhibit (where half of that is acting) or they puttiing something in his water bottle. He's definitely got himself under control and not just because his team is winning. He's built a good culture of performance.

During his struggles in BC on short yardage, I would not have been one subscribing to this belief based on his demeanour and results. He really looked off taking the field.

“I have always admired the attitude of this veteran who leads by example in the locker room and on the field,” said general manager Danny Maciocia in a statement. “His energy is contagious, he knows our team and the CFL well.”

https://3downnation.com/2024/08/06/mont ... ng-injury/

[Toppy Vann]

How is it that Rasheed Bailey got cut and is stll not picked up? TSN were giving him accolades during this season as well as his time with the Bombers. He got good passing and YAC yardage with WPG despite the number of other guys pickiing up passes in their system.

Bailey, 30, was the Argos’ second-leading receiver with 24 catches for 245 yards and a pair of touchdowns through six games. He signed with the team as a free agent on February 26, after spending the first four years of his CFL career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

https://www.cfl.ca/2024/07/26/argos-rel ... -2-others/

[David]

Great question, Toppy. Not sure, either.

???

DH

[Hambone]

Great question, Toppy. Not sure, either.

???

DH

If it's a question now I suppose it could be the same question during free agency. It's been roughly 2 weeks now since the Argos released him which is the same amount of time it took the him to find a home after he hit free agency in February.

It always takes two to tango. Somebody might be interested in him but is he interested in being picked up by that club? Could it be nobody is ready to offer him what he almost certainly wants; an offer to come in and immediately be given a starters position at starter's money? If he's only being offered a PR spot he might not be interested and is willing to wait until somebody gets desperate.