A Look at Receivers

[Blitz]

I agree TheLionKing that training camp allows coaches to experiment but players are also learnng the playbook and practicing plays at their specific positions.

I agree South Pender that, while Ernest Jackson needs to be able to play the outside position better but he has also been a player, in his limited action, who has made tough catches, run the reverse very well, and been a difficult player to bring down. No doubt he will have to be very 'earnest'' at training camp and 'earn' his starting position ...and there are a number of receivers this year at training camp who are challenging him.

When we are in the four receiver set this season it will likely be Arsenault or Gore lined up outside. However, I would much prefer us to run 'packages' for the five receiver set rotating players like Haidara and Pooblah in the fifth receiver position. Pooblah gives you a deep threat while Haidara could shift inside and either Gore or Arsenault could shift outside when he Haidara comes into the game.

We have to use the wideside outside reciever position more this year. Defenses, in zone, often allow the underneath throw to the wideside. We also need to use the short side wide receiver position underneath more often and not just as a deep threat. Defenses have cheated too often in the past, sliding off our outside receiver positions to help out against our slot receivers.

One of the reasons that I prefer a different receiver at wide side outside receiver is that Lulay tended to ignore Iannnuzzi out wide but if Paris Jackson ever entered a game and played in that position Lulay threw to him. A secnd reason is that Iannuzzi has not shown that he is a great deep threat and a third reason is that Iannuzzi is not a great blocker and you can use the fifth receiver in motion to block the backside on rollouts. I also believe a big target is advanageous in the fifth reciever postiion outside and height/size is a positive factor at a position that can have a tendency to be ignored.

I also admit to having a strong bias towrrds taller, bigger recievers, as long as they have the requisite speed and route running abilities over smaller receivers and I would give up .1 or .2 tenths of a second of speed for that greater size for most situations (while realizing that there have been some great smaller receivers in the CFL in the past)

Certainly quarterbacking will also have an impact on how we play this season. Glenn, who may start the season for us at quarterback has been successful in Calgary playing with a solid running attack and making quick decisions in the passing game while also being a very shifty pocket quarterback. Glenn is not a play action bootleg type of quarterback like Lulay can bring to the table. However, Glenn makes quicker decisons than Lulay in the pocket as well as being shiftier in the pocket ( Lualy prefers to take off when feeling pressure in the pocket whereas Glenn throws or slides). Glenn is more of a Dickenson style of quurterback.

Because of the different styles of Lualy and Glenn play selection will be a factor based on which one is behind center. However, the key this season is our runnng attack. If we can run the football like we left off last season we are going to be a difficult offence to stop and with the knowledge all off-season that we had both Logan and Harris to play the backfield in 2014, we should have developed even more plays that will take advantage of each as well as hopefully a certain number of plays in which both can line up in the backfield at the same time.

The new recipe for CFL offensive success now involves an increased focus on the running game. Calgary and Saskatchewn have shown how impactful a powerful running game is to an offence. An increased focus on running the football may mean less passes but it also leads to the potential for a more successful passing attack.

[notahomer]

......................The new recipe for CFL offensive success now involves an increased focus on the running game. Calgary and Saskatchewn have shown how impactful a powerful running game is to an offence. An increased focus on running the football may mean less passes but it also leads to the potential for a more successful passing attack.

Neat how this ebbs/flows in both leagues, IMO (CFL and NFL). They (the NFL) have gone more and more passing for a long time but still the current Champs (the Seahawks ) certainly have a strong dose of run in the medicine they like to dispense to opposing defences. IMO, the RIDERS really sucked and maybe wouldn'nt have even made the playoffs without Sheets. Sheets ability to run the ball helped the Riders passing game and probably even was enough of a distraction to help DD get in some jogging too, perhaps?

IMO, it just seemed like our (the Lions, I mean) passing attacked had just been stymied due to the lack of a run game. "lets pin those ears back and go have a huge helping of Lulay for Lunch" is what many defences seemed to say since odds were the Lions were probably trying to throw the ball.....

[Blitz]

Neat how this ebbs/flows in both leagues, IMO (CFL and NFL). They (the NFL) have gone more and more passing for a long time but still the current Champs (the Seahawks ) certainly have a strong dose of run in the medicine they like to dispense to opposing defences. IMO, the RIDERS really sucked and maybe wouldn'nt have even made the playoffs without Sheets. Sheets ability to run the ball helped the Riders passing game and probably even was enough of a distraction to help DD get in some jogging too, perhaps?

CFL and NFL teams have won championships with different styles of play but the tried and proven recipe is still a smothering defense and a very effective running game. In the CFL the keys right now to a championship recipe is 1) you gotta stop the run and 2) you gotta run the football.

[notahomer]

Neat how this ebbs/flows in both leagues, IMO (CFL and NFL). They (the NFL) have gone more and more passing for a long time but still the current Champs (the Seahawks ) certainly have a strong dose of run in the medicine they like to dispense to opposing defences. IMO, the RIDERS really sucked and maybe wouldn'nt have even made the playoffs without Sheets. Sheets ability to run the ball helped the Riders passing game and probably even was enough of a distraction to help DD get in some jogging too, perhaps?

CFL and NFL teams have won championships with different styles of play but the tried and proven recipe is still a smothering defense and a very effective running game. In the CFL the keys right now to a championship recipe is 1) you gotta stop the run and 2) you gotta run the football.

EXACTLY..... and IMO, I hope those are ALWAYS part of the 'tried and proven' recipe....

[TheLionKing]

CFL and NFL teams have won championships with different styles of play but the tried and proven recipe is still a smothering defense and a very effective running game. In the CFL the keys right now to a championship recipe is 1) you gotta stop the run and 2) you gotta run the football.

Don't tell that to an ex-offensive coordinator

[ballhawk]

I have observed most (not quite all) Lions Training Camp sessions so far this year in Kamloops and can provide an update on the receivers at this time. Currently, apparently only 8 healthy receivers remain due to early cuts and injuries. Of the 12 remaining receivers on the roster Arceneaux is injured, as is Publah, Adekolu, and Iannuzzi. Adekolu was injured yesterday in practice (knee, thigh), while Publah returned to practice today after about a 3 day absence with a hamstring injury. He seems to be limping and appears nowhere near 100 percent. Iannuzzi's injury is somewhat of a mystery - always dressed but not participating in practice for the last 4 days.. The healthy receivers have been working very hard.

Arceneaux strikes me as the total professional. One day after surgery (today) he was working hard out on the field throughout practice on his own, as well as watching plays and encouraging his teammates.

I can't see more than 8 receivers travelling to Edmonton at this time - less than 8 if more injuries occur.

It's interesting to note the ages of the 12 Lions receivers currently on the roster. From oldest to youngest they are as follows: Courtney Taylor 30 yrs. 2mo.; Ernest Jackson 27 yrs. 9 mo.; Shawn Gore 27 yrs. 2 mo.; Marco Iannuzzi 27 yrs. 1 mo.; Korey Williams 26 yrs. 11 mo.; Kito Publah 26 yrs. 9 mo.; Emmanuel Arceneaux 25 yrs. 10 mo.; Stephen Adekolu 25 yrs. 5 mo.; S.J. Haidara 25 yrs. 2 mo.; Jabin Sambrano 24 yrs. 3 mo.; Brian Burnham 24 yrs. 2 mo.; Whitman Tomusiak 22 yrs. 9 mo.

[WestCoastJoe]

I have observed most (not quite all) Lions Training Camp sessions so far this year in Kamloops and can provide an update on the receivers at this time. Currently, apparently only 8 healthy receivers remain due to early cuts and injuries. Of the 12 remaining receivers on the roster Arceneaux is injured, as is Publah, Adekolu, and Iannuzzi. Adekolu was injured yesterday in practice (knee, thigh), while Publah returned to practice today after about a 3 day absence with a hamstring injury. He seems to be limping and appears nowhere near 100 percent. Iannuzzi's injury is somewhat of a mystery - always dressed but not participating in practice for the last 4 days.. The healthy receivers have been working very hard.

Arceneaux strikes me as the total professional. One day after surgery (today) he was working hard out on the field throughout practice on his own, as well as watching plays and encouraging his teammates.

I can't see more than 8 receivers travelling to Edmonton at this time - less than 8 if more injuries occur.

It's interesting to note the ages of the 12 Lions receivers currently on the roster. From oldest to youngest they are as follows: Courtney Taylor 30 yrs. 2mo.; Ernest Jackson 27 yrs. 9 mo.; Shawn Gore 27 yrs. 2 mo.; Marco Iannuzzi 27 yrs. 1 mo.; Korey Williams 26 yrs. 11 mo.; Kito Publah 26 yrs. 9 mo.; Emmanuel Arceneaux 25 yrs. 10 mo.; Stephen Adekolu 25 yrs. 5 mo.; S.J. Haidara 25 yrs. 2 mo.; Jabin Sambrano 24 yrs. 3 mo.; Brian Burnham 24 yrs. 2 mo.; Whitman Tomusiak 22 yrs. 9 mo.

Thanks for the report, ballhawk. Great stuff from all the guys at TC.

Manny ia amazingly young for his travels. Hope he has a great year.

[ballhawk]

Thanks WestCoastJoe. The Lions Roster listing for Manny's BD is different from my daily training camp brochure and chart. The Lions Roster listing shows Manny's BD to be currently at 26 yrs. 9 mo. Just a little bit older than I previously reported!

[TheLionKing]

I have observed most (not quite all) Lions Training Camp sessions so far this year in Kamloops and can provide an update on the receivers at this time. Currently, apparently only 8 healthy receivers remain due to early cuts and injuries. Of the 12 remaining receivers on the roster Arceneaux is injured, as is Publah, Adekolu, and Iannuzzi. Adekolu was injured yesterday in practice (knee, thigh), while Publah returned to practice today after about a 3 day absence with a hamstring injury. He seems to be limping and appears nowhere near 100 percent. Iannuzzi's injury is somewhat of a mystery - always dressed but not participating in practice for the last 4 days.. The healthy receivers have been working very hard.

Arceneaux strikes me as the total professional. One day after surgery (today) he was working hard out on the field throughout practice on his own, as well as watching plays and encouraging his teammates.

I can't see more than 8 receivers travelling to Edmonton at this time - less than 8 if more injuries occur.

It's interesting to note the ages of the 12 Lions receivers currently on the roster. From oldest to youngest they are as follows: Courtney Taylor 30 yrs. 2mo.; Ernest Jackson 27 yrs. 9 mo.; Shawn Gore 27 yrs. 2 mo.; Marco Iannuzzi 27 yrs. 1 mo.; Korey Williams 26 yrs. 11 mo.; Kito Publah 26 yrs. 9 mo.; Emmanuel Arceneaux 25 yrs. 10 mo.; Stephen Adekolu 25 yrs. 5 mo.; S.J. Haidara 25 yrs. 2 mo.; Jabin Sambrano 24 yrs. 3 mo.; Brian Burnham 24 yrs. 2 mo.; Whitman Tomusiak 22 yrs. 9 mo.

Based on your observation, who would you consider to be the front runners for the starting position ?

[sj-roc]

Iannuzzi's injury is somewhat of a mystery - always dressed but not participating in practice for the last 4 days.

Glutened? Always a possibility for him though I'm not sure how severe his symptoms would be. Any signs of what might look like food poisoning?

[ballhawk]

Based on your observation, who would you consider to be the front runners for the starting position ?

It's been a gruelling 2 weeks for the receivers, more so than any other position at this year's camp. A short roster of receivers has led to more work, less rotation, and more injuries. Today, to add to the woes, Haidera, Taylor, Burnham, and Gore seemed to get nicked. Add to this, Adekolu, Publah (who was in and then out of practice), Arceneaux, and apparently Iannuzzi (injury unknown), who had extremely limited, if any, meaningful participation.

In Edmonton it may be the case of the walking wounded.

As for the front runners, the incumbents Arceneaux, Taylor, Gore and Jackson for sure. But you can add a very impressive, athletic and artistic group of seven - Haidera, Williams, Sambrano, Burnham, Adekolu, Pulah and Tomusiak. These 11 make up a very impressive group of receivers and will serve the Lions well through the season. I really don't want to see any of these 11 cut. I can't tell how impressed I was watching these 11 guys day in and day out over training camp.

[WestCoastJoe]

Based on your observation, who would you consider to be the front runners for the starting position ?

It's been a gruelling 2 weeks for the receivers, more so than any other position at this year's camp. A short roster of receivers has led to more work, less rotation, and more injuries. Today, to add to the woes, Haidera, Taylor, Burnham, and Gore seemed to get nicked. Add to this, Adekolu, Publah (who was in and then out of practice), Arceneaux, and apparently Iannuzzi (injury unknown), who had extremely limited, if any, meaningful participation.

In Edmonton it may be the case of the walking wounded.

As for the front runners, the incumbents Arceneaux, Taylor, Gore and Jackson for sure. But you can add a very impressive, athletic and artistic group of seven - Haidera, Williams, Sambrano, Burnham, Adekolu, Pulah and Tomusiak. These 11 make up a very impressive group of receivers and will serve the Lions well through the season. I really don't want to see any of these 11 cut. I can't tell how impressed I was watching these 11 guys day in and day out over training camp.

Wooeiee. Great stuff, Man. Good to have the eyes watching for us.

[B.C.FAN]

In Edmonton it may be the case of the walking wounded.

As for the front runners, the incumbents Arceneaux, Taylor, Gore and Jackson for sure. But you can add a very impressive, athletic and artistic group of seven - Haidera, Williams, Sambrano, Burnham, Adekolu, Pulah and Tomusiak. These 11 make up a very impressive group of receivers and will serve the Lions well through the season. I really don't want to see any of these 11 cut. I can't tell how impressed I was watching these 11 guys day in and day out over training camp.

Thanks for your observations, Ballhawk. It's great to have a set of eyes on practice throughout camp. Many of us are forced to rely on quick impressions from a few days in camp. I hope you can help break down other positions.