Lions starting RB on July 18th?

[Toppy Vann]

Just heard Wally on the Team 1040 Saturday morning football show say it is a long season and not a question of one vs the other. That makes some sense as it was noted that Joe Smith signed a contract extension in '08.

[Bosco]

Just heard Wally on the Team 1040 Saturday morning football show say it is a long season and not a question of one vs the other. That makes some sense as it was noted that Joe Smith signed a contract extension in '08.

Yes but... I believe that a full year of a CFL contract is only guaranteed if a player is on the roster after September 1, so....IF Smith were cut, I don't believe that the Lions would be on the hook for the balance.

[lion24]

I have to admit I am a little disturbed about this whole "rb conroversy" kind of thing that may be happening? I think Smith has been our horse and I would hate to just discard him as he has had a few tough games. Running backs need some blocking as well and he has not had much so far along with battling injury. Smith made the commitment to stay in BC and I would like to support him as long as he is a Lion. I realize the talent that Logan has as well and his strength is finding running room at times when there shouldn't be with his quickness and speed. The Lions obviously need to get him some touches with his talent but to annoint him the starter is premature as it is one game against a struggling team. I hope we don't forget how much Joe has done for us and still can do for the Lions.

[No Ordinary Joe]

I have to admit I am a little disturbed about this whole "rb conroversy" kind of thing that may be happening? I think Smith has been our horse and I would hate to just discard him as he has had a few tough games. Running backs need some blocking as well and he has not had much so far along with battling injury. Smith made the commitment to stay in BC and I would like to support him as long as he is a Lion. I realize the talent that Logan has as well and his strength is finding running room at times when there shouldn't be with his quickness and speed. The Lions obviously need to get him some touches with his talent but to annoint him the starter is premature as it is one game against a struggling team. I hope we don't forget how much Joe has done for us and still can do for the Lions.

[Blitz]

Well, it's a treat, in some ways, to have a controversy, at another position rather than quarterback for a change!!

First of all, accolades to Jarious Jackson, who played a great game and to Geroy Simon who really stepped it up big time. The key of course was that we had the running game going and that's such a key to offensive success. From that, Jarious got time to throw and then we were able to attack vertically. We kept our defense off the field in the first half a lot and that kept them fresh and we got a couple of key interceptions.

So, no question the running game is so important to our offence. Our lack of success, offensively, in the first two games, was predicated on the lack of a running game, as was the was the end of last season.

I have argued since the first exhibition game this season, that our Leos should be going two back set with Smith at fullback and Logan at tailback. We could also alternate with a power set on occasion with Green at fullback and Smith or Logan at tailback just to keep everyone fresh and involved.

Smith/Logan gives us an inside/outside running attack. Logan can step up to fifth receiver and Smith can play tailback in the ace formation. Of course that would mean sitting Rodgers down but I reallly believe we would be stronger offensively by doing that. Logan would also give us much more of a threat as a kick returner with Ian Smart and he could also be a backup punt returner.

The only other choice, with this cocept, would be to play an extra import on offence but that would mean playing one less import on defense. That import is also used for downfield kick coverage.

I just don't see us getting more out of a fifth receiver than having both Logan and Smith on the field a lot at the same time but I've argued for a combination Smith/scatback style runner for more than three seasons now. We saw, last season how effective we were running the football when both Smith and Smart were in there. When you look at how much we utilize Rodgers on offence in comparison to how much we could use Logan....to me it's a no brainer....

[Leothelion]

I have to believe that Joe will start if healthy. Now if he can not produce for some reason------
In order to get both of them on wally wants to drop an american receiver or smart. what is wrong with dropping an extra defensive back? do they really need 7 defensive backs?

leo

[Rammer]

I have to believe that Joe will start if healthy. Now if he can not produce for some reason------
In order to get both of them on wally wants to drop an american receiver or smart. what is wrong with dropping an extra defensive back? do they really need 7 defensive backs?

leo

It is easier to remove an offensive player, as you set the tone (or should), whereas on D you are reactive to what is being done by the offense of the other team. So it is easier to remove a 5th receiver as he only gets 4 or so plays thrown his way. Smart is the wildcard here, as Logan or Rodgers would have to pull dual duty and IMO if it was Logan, it would reduce his effectiveness.

[SammyGreene]

Wally offered LU this response in today's paper.

Buono was far more focused Saturday on the memorial service for late president Bob Ackles and sidestepped the matter, though he had the look Friday of a man who had already made up his mind.

"Were you surprised? I wasn't," the coach said of Logan. "He's exactly what I thought."

We should learn tomorrow when they return to the practice and see how the first team reps are dealt with. I could see this playing out two ways:

• Wally sticks with Logan and sees if can continue to be productive over 2 or 3 games before making a long term decision.

• Smith is immediately put back in the line-up and knows the bar has been set very high by his replacement. How he responds will determine if Wally does have a decision to make.

If there is anything to read into Wally's comment is he plans on sticking with Logan again this week.

They both offer such contrasting styles and it would be nice to see that implemented into a game plan. I love Smith's punishing style and Logan gives the Lions another game-breaker on the field, other than Simon.

Perhaps if Boden was still here we would see it happen but the Lions still don't seem interested in dropping an import receiver and giving Adam Nicolson an expanded role. Perhaps if Boden was still here it would be a different story.

Also adding to the ratio puzzle was LU mentioning on the pre-game show the coaching staff being so high on Walter Stith that they wanted to find a way to keep him on the active roster upon Murphy's return.

[Lion Guy]

I'll take the Aquilini approach,

"What kind of running back do I like? I like one that wins."

8)

[RoarLionsRoar]

Blitz (or anyone else), is there any chance that Stith remains on the Lions this year and for years to come at the expense of either Jimenez or Murphy?

I've just been so impressed with his perfomances so far that I have a hard time believing Wally will take him out of the line-up, even upon Murphy's return.

Thoughts?

[Rammer]

Blitz (or anyone else), is there any chance that Stith remains on the Lions this year and for years to come at the expense of either Jimenez or Murphy?

I've just been so impressed with his perfomances so far that I have a hard time believing Wally will take him out of the line-up, even upon Murphy's return.

Thoughts?

Murphy's contract is up at the the end of this season, he has indicated previously that he has other business interests that pay handsomely. However, since he came back shortly after the birth of his triplets, you would have to factor that into the equation and it tells me that he still has the itch to do the job. In addition to that, Jimenez also has his contract coming to a conclusion and you may have a potential keep Stith (his contract won't be as hard against the SMS cap as Jimenez's), can't see him moving along, especially if there is an opportunity to trade one or the other this season.

[Zarquon]

From todays Province:

"Joe Smith is the starting tailback on this team."

Wally Buono can be skillfully evasive at times, but there was no mistaking the position taken Monday by the Lions coach in the wake of the strong debut against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers by replacement Stefan Logan.

After a practice in which one new father on the offensive line arrived 30 minutes late due to flight issues and another dad had a day off after the weekend birth of his first son, Buono tried clearing up some positional issues as best he could.

It wasn't easy.

Like last week, Logan had first-team practice reps. Smith said he still had a shoulder injury and didn't practise, but said it would be up to the coaching staff whether he plays Friday at B.C. Place Stadium against Winnipeg.

Buono, meantime, said he did not know if Smith was cleared to practise. But the coach was very clear the Lions aren't suddenly about to shift the entire offensive structure to put Logan and Smith in the backfield at the same time.

And he made it obvious that any similarity with situation involving Smith and Antonio Warren, the last Lions back to carry the mail before he was cut two years ago, is merely coincidental.

"Antonio was a guy who was in his option year who was diminishing in skill and was disgruntled. Joe's a very good all-round football player," Buono said.

When he has two healthy backs, Smith will go ahead of Logan, the coach said, as there is no import roster flexibility short of moving a non-import receiver or defensive player.

Not that Smith seemed too worried about losing his roster spot permanently, based on how he spent his time when the Lions were playing Friday without him. And if there was a message being sent by Buono, it was not received.

"I was playing in the garden, and I took a shower," he said. "There's no message [being sent]. You're injured. You rehab. That's it."

Well if we have an injury to a non-import LB (Jamal Johnson or Floyd) what about putting in Potinger and then adding in Logan.