2014 free agents

[WestCoastJoe]

Wally says he made very competitive offers.

Doesn't sound like it. The market sets the prices. It is not what Wally thinks guys are worth.

And i doubt if we are up against the cap.

The market has gone up. And it looks like the boat has sailed without us.

I do not believe we wanted to lose Moore, Myddleton, Bell or even Banks. But I think we did not want to pay market value.
..........

Forget free agency for a minute. Can we field a competitive team?

If we go with the D Line from last year? With the O Line from last year? Without Moore. Without Banks. Without Albright and Myddleton in an already makeshift O Line.

Maybe ... But it does not look like we are overflowing with breakout talent. And we are unknown and unproven at OC and DC.

Concerned? Yes. Without hope? No.

[DanoT]

Loosing Josh Bell is the biggest disappointment so far in Free Agency. Offering him a low ball amount of $ will also have a negative impact on other signings and contract negotiations going forward beyond FA.

Wally is just too stubborn and it will cost the team long term.

[The_Pauser]

Wally says he made very competitive offers.

Doesn't sound like it. The market sets the prices. It is not what Wally thinks guys are worth.

And i doubt if we are up against the cap.

The market has gone up. And it looks like the boat has sailed without us.

I do not believe we wanted to lose Moore, Myddleton, Bell or even Banks. But I think we did not want to pay market value.
..........

Forget free agency for a minute. Can we field a competitive team?

If we go with the D Line from last year? With the O Line from last year? Without Moore. Without Banks.

Maybe ... But it does not look like we are overflowing with breakout talent. And we are unknown and unproven at OC and DC.

Concerned? Yes. Without hope? No.

Moore was a great receiver for us last year, but I don't think we lose a whole lot. We still have Arceneaux, CT, and Gore as our main options. Ernest Jackson is probably ready to be a starter again, and Korey Williams has looked good. SJ Haidara is due for an increased role, and we still have Marco Iannuzzi hanging around. And there's still the potential to find another WR in the free agent camps. I'm not too worried about this loss.

The loss of J-Bell hurts, as does the Korey Banks loss. Bell will probably be replaced by Cam Chism, though I don't now how sold I am on him yet. He's still very green. I don't see a replacement for Banks at all. Lin-J Shell maybe? But isn't he too small too?

Like I said earlier, I wouldn't get too concerned yet. There's still quality FA's out there for the DL, and for linebacker. DB might be a bit of a challenge because the loss of Bell creates a hole in a secondary that already had a gaping hole at safety, but hopefully this can be addressed at FA camp.

With uncertainty over Lulay's shoulder, I would expect our running game to be the focal point of our offense, at least to start the season. Having both Harris and Logan in the lineup should give us a huge advantage. Scheming a game plan to deploy them both will be Khari's challenge.

[South Pender]

On another note:

Bell got 110K from Calgary. We offered him 70k. (Can't name the source, but trust me). Ottawa was in the mix too, so that explains the 40k discrepancy.
Tells us one of two things:
1) How Wally views Bell as a football player.
or
2) We are seriously up against the salary cap.

I really hope it's the former.

I think it is the former. Although he's 29, he's really only had one year in the CFL, and, in my opinion at least, wasn't always stellar in that year. He made some mistakes, although I'd say he improved over the course of the season. I don't see him as worth the reported $110K. It's too bad to see guys go, I realize, but it's important to get full value for big dollars. Wally and Bene may know or believe some things we're not aware of--like the sense that either Keynan Parker or Cameron Chism can be groomed to produce as well as Bell for a lot less money. I feel that we have to trust the GM and HC to know where the precious dollars can be best spent. There may be an increased role planned for Shell. At 6-0, 202, he is somewhat bigger than Banks and may be ready to step up.

[korey&dante4ever]

I've also heard Mark Washington really likes DB Ronnie Yell who we added late last year.

[Toppy Vann]

They've strengthened their US scouting it seems and this might be lighting a fire under the GM.

It does seem the FAs are moving for more money and in the CFL where 180K is top dollar for a top REC I can see players moving to the best payers.

I'd be curious to know the perception of current CFL players about playing for BC and Wally and MB and what their views are.

I see Sheets signed in the NFL and with Dressler gone Durant will have to have eyes for others now. Could be a challenge for him.

[Blitz]

The reason that Bell said he signed with Calgary was for one reason - Rich Stubler and compared Stubler's scheme to similar ones in Green Bay and Baylor and commented both on its aggressiveness and complexity.

The article is below:

Former Lion Bell follows Stubler to Stampeders

By Rita Mingo, Calgary Herald February 12, 2014 6:04 PM

Joshua Bell’s logic for joining the Calgary Stampeders can be explained in two words: Rich Stubler.

“Oh, that was THE factor,” insisted the defensive back. “That was THE factor. To be back with Coach Stubler . . . I like his scheme, similar to the scheme I played at Green Bay and when I was at Baylor. I love how aggressive it is.”

Bell will be reunited with the Stamps’ new defensive co-ordinator as he, too, comes over from the B.C. Lions as a free agent signing, announced Wednesday by the Stamps. Bell spent the past two seasons with the Lions and in 2013 made 16 starts at halfback, amassing 45 tackles, four special teams tackles, four pass knock-downs and one interception.

“I didn’t want to go through free agency, but once it came, I was just open to anything,” said the 29-year-old Los Angeles native. “I was looking for an experience, with Ottawa, B.C. and Calgary in the mix.

“I’m extremely excited to be done with the free agent period and have a more concrete idea of what’s going on, especially to be a part of what was the most powerful team last year in the CFL and I’m excited about helping them get to the Grey Cup.”

Prior to heading north, Bell toiled in the National Football League with both the Denver Broncos and the Green Bay Packers. He brings a wealth of experience, which the Stamps are counting on.

“I think I can just be an extension of Coach Stubler and the coaching staff,” the 6-foot, 177-pound Bell explained. “I probably know more than most of the defence all ready. I think it’ll be a great experience for me to be back there and bring the things I’ve always brought, but also be an extra resource . . . more informative, help explain the rules as they pertain to the secondary.

“Coach Stubler does a lot of complex things, complicated things; it takes a lot of communicating. Coaches can’t get out there and make the calls, so maybe I’ll be influential in being able to communicate to the team.”

The Stamps will need to rely on some new faces in the defensive backfield, with key individuals like Derrius Brooks (signed with New Orleans Saints), Chris Randle (traded to Winnipeg) and Eric Fraser (plucked by Ottawa in the expansion draft) no longer in the picture.

“Joshua is a talented player with experience on both sides of the border who has established himself as a very good CFL player,” said head coach/GM John Hufnagel in a release. “With the departure of several members of our secondary this off-season, he has an excellent opportunity to step in and play an important role with us this season.”

“I’ve seen it all, I’ve done it all,” added Bell. “I’ve been in a lot of different positions and situations where nothing gets too big for me. This defence is already good, so I just want to come in and do my part.”

[Shi Zi Mi]

Well.....I'll be interested to see where Buono goes from here. If you take a look at the roster, the Lions have 2 quality NI olineman under contract.....and one, Fabien, is coming back from a serious knee injury.......they lost Matt Albright to Ottawa and Myddleton to hamilton.........so where does Buono find the NI olineman that he needs?

You won't find them at tryout camps and teams are unwilling to trade any of theirs......so how do you form a quality oline when you don't have the players?

[South Pender]

Well.....I'll be interested to see where Buono goes from here. If you take a look at the roster, the Lions have 2 quality NI olineman under contract.....and one, Fabien, is coming back from a serious knee injury.......they lost Matt Albright to Ottawa and Myddleton to hamilton.........so where does Buono find the NI olineman that he needs?

You won't find them at tryout camps and teams are unwilling to trade any of theirs......so how do you form a quality oline when you don't have the players?

Well, one will probably be an import (to replace Ben Archibald), which leaves a need for one NI guard. Not necessarily mission impossible.

[Blitz]

Like a number of Lionbackers I'm disappointed in the off-season so far.

The changes so far have included:

1. The loss of two very experienced coordinators and the loss of Jarious Jackson. Their replacements either have no experience or one year of experience in the position. We also lost Jarious Jackson, a highly respected man among Leo players and replaced him with Joe Paopao, whose resume as a coach is more than lacking. Many Lionbackers wanted a change in the leadership of our offence, it seemed to be split on Stubler but we lost a very, very highly regarded coach when he left. On offence we didn't get our first two choices in terms of a coordinator and Jackson's departure was a surprise.

2. Our free agents have chosen to leave us. Bell was our starting short side halfback last season, a tough spot to play and he had a learning curve but finished the season strong. We've also lost our best receiver in Nick Moore, the 3rd best receiver in the CFL last season and that is a bigger loss than is being made out so far.

3. We have not been able to sign any free agents so far and there were some available who could have filled big holes. One illusion that exists regarding Buono is that he doesn't like to sign free agents. The reality is that most free agents have never wanted to sign with Wally. When they have signed here its usually because they didn't have other good choices or Wally has been wiling to overpay. There is usually no way that they will sign with Wally if the money is equal or close. The reason: experienced CFL players know Wally's rep for being untrustworthy. He may be a winning coach and a former CFL Hall of Famer but players who have been around the CFL get to know his reputation.

4. Wally's decision to let Korey Banks go (on the premise that he wants a bigger nickelback) was not the reason he said goodbye to Banks. Korey Banks could have been moved to wideside halfback or been used as a safety if we went to an import. He is a leader, an excellent tackler, smart, and has at least one or two more good seasons in him. The reason he was moved was because he was our most expensive back and Wally wanted the money to sign free agents and now we've lost our defensive leader and a player who would have still been a valuable asset for this upcoming season and possibly next and we have no free agents to show for it.

I see this 2014 season as a turning point, one way or the other. Our offence should be good because we will feature the running game of late last season, which was more than impressive using the combination of two talented running backs in Harris and Joystick but Joystick will probably only have one more season in him. Our defense looks like it will have greater challenges.

This may prove to have been the right time to make key changes, to revitalize, and to fight back to being a top CFL team. However, this season could also prove to be the beginning of another long slide as happened here from 2008 to part way through 2011.

Its easy to forget that, until we turned things around in that magical 2011 season our Leos had been a dwindling team for almost 3 1/2 seasons and there had been a lot of calls for Wally to step aside. The glow of that 2011 season obscured those 3 plus years that preceded it and the 2012 season was also very successful, at least until the WDF.

This off-season to me, feels like a turning point, either good or bad. One thing for sure, we had better do a great job of bringing in some very good talent to training camp this year. We have lost a lot of talent and experience and leadership, lost some good players, have not signed any good players so far, and as far as I am concerned, most CFL teams have either improved or at least stayed the same while we look like the CFL team that has slid the most so far in 2014.

I wish I was more optimistic but right now I'm not. Hopefully there will be better news in the days and weeks ahead.

[WestCoastJoe]

Good post, Blitz.

Chapdelaine gone.

Plan A replacement still a TV commentator. Very naive thinking he would give that up.

Plan B replacement still in Regina. Very naive also.

Plan C with one year experience as OC. Some desperation creeping in?

Stubler gone.

Replacement with no experience as DC.

Jarious gone.

Banks gone.

Moore gone.

Bell gone.

Two backup NI O Linemen gone.

Two absolutely key areas, O Line and D Line, with many, many question marks. Three more question marks behind the D Line.

Benny still seemingly safe and protected, out of the line of fire, behind Wally's Teflon shield.

Wally safe upstairs with his lifetime contract.

Competition heating up around the league. Coaching talent up. Salaries up. New team.
.........

Wally seems placid. Back from Hawaii. Benny seems content, the few times he is in the news.

I am glad to see the concern shown here on Lionbackers. At Lions HQ, it seems like all is good on the Good Ship Leo. Some players expressing concern and disappointment.

Not without hope. But are our heads in the sand? We have not won a playoff game since 2011. Are we content to be middle of the pack?

[WestCoastJoe]

9 and 9 is a distinct possibility.

10 wins.

8 wins.

Early playoff exit?

Fan happiness? Fan discontent?

Press conference:

Coach: Well we had some new coaches, new schemes. Lost some key players. Too much age in the D Line. Injury problems and lack of depth in the O Line.

Questioner: Yeah. And you still feel you should not be released?

Coach: We put a good product on the field.

Questioner: So we are content with middle of the pack?

[notahomer]

Its weird too just because Vancouver is hosting the Grey Cup. I found the introduction of the logo thing a little odd considering free agency is on. Okay, its a beautiful logo but does it need to be introduced during the second day of free agency? A logo designed by a free agent that may not be back (optics say he'll be back but who knows?).

I hope our bellyaching will require heavy doses of crow come the end of the Grey Cup game in November but I just don't see it at this point. Guess we'll see.....

[TheLionKing]

Jamal Johnson IS still available and would be a very nice addition...but hey, at this point, lint from Ottawa would make a nice addition...

I highly doubt that Johnson would sign with the Lions. (assuming that the Lions are interested). He was part time player during his 1st go around with the Lions before signing in Hamilton.

[TheLionKing]

The reason that Bell said he signed with Calgary was for one reason - Rich Stubler and compared Stubler's scheme to similar ones in Green Bay and Baylor and commented both on its aggressiveness and complexity.

The article is below:

Former Lion Bell follows Stubler to Stampeders

By Rita Mingo, Calgary Herald February 12, 2014 6:04 PM

Joshua Bell’s logic for joining the Calgary Stampeders can be explained in two words: Rich Stubler.

“Oh, that was THE factor,” insisted the defensive back. “That was THE factor. To be back with Coach Stubler . . . I like his scheme, similar to the scheme I played at Green Bay and when I was at Baylor. I love how aggressive it is.”

Bell will be reunited with the Stamps’ new defensive co-ordinator as he, too, comes over from the B.C. Lions as a free agent signing, announced Wednesday by the Stamps. Bell spent the past two seasons with the Lions and in 2013 made 16 starts at halfback, amassing 45 tackles, four special teams tackles, four pass knock-downs and one interception.

“I didn’t want to go through free agency, but once it came, I was just open to anything,” said the 29-year-old Los Angeles native. “I was looking for an experience, with Ottawa, B.C. and Calgary in the mix.

“I’m extremely excited to be done with the free agent period and have a more concrete idea of what’s going on, especially to be a part of what was the most powerful team last year in the CFL and I’m excited about helping them get to the Grey Cup.”

Prior to heading north, Bell toiled in the National Football League with both the Denver Broncos and the Green Bay Packers. He brings a wealth of experience, which the Stamps are counting on.

“I think I can just be an extension of Coach Stubler and the coaching staff,” the 6-foot, 177-pound Bell explained. “I probably know more than most of the defence all ready. I think it’ll be a great experience for me to be back there and bring the things I’ve always brought, but also be an extra resource . . . more informative, help explain the rules as they pertain to the secondary.

“Coach Stubler does a lot of complex things, complicated things; it takes a lot of communicating. Coaches can’t get out there and make the calls, so maybe I’ll be influential in being able to communicate to the team.”

The Stamps will need to rely on some new faces in the defensive backfield, with key individuals like Derrius Brooks (signed with New Orleans Saints), Chris Randle (traded to Winnipeg) and Eric Fraser (plucked by Ottawa in the expansion draft) no longer in the picture.

“Joshua is a talented player with experience on both sides of the border who has established himself as a very good CFL player,” said head coach/GM John Hufnagel in a release. “With the departure of several members of our secondary this off-season, he has an excellent opportunity to step in and play an important role with us this season.”

“I’ve seen it all, I’ve done it all,” added Bell. “I’ve been in a lot of different positions and situations where nothing gets too big for me. This defence is already good, so I just want to come in and do my part.”

I guess the $110,000 is a non-factor in his decision to leave.