Lionbackers.com

chwk_lionsfan wrote:call me crazy, but if have a feeling that Justin Capicciotti will sign tomorrow.

Mike Edem has taken the long way to becoming a member of the B.C. Lions.

The 26-year-old Canadian safety signed with Lions on Tuesday, the opening day of free agency in the CFL, after finishing last season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

The University of Calgary product says that he talked extensively with Lions leading up to the 2013 CFL Draft. He felt he had developed a rapport with then B.C. defensive backs coach Mark Washington, and was certain the Lions were going to take him with the No. 6 selection.

The Montreal Alouettes, who Edem says he had spoken only sparingly to, opted to pick him at No. 3.

He signed a two-year deal with the Lions on Tuesday. Defensive back Brandon Stewart, a nine-year CFL veteran who also played in Hamilton last year, also signed a two-year deal with B.C. on Tuesday. Edem says that he spoke with Seattle native Stewart, 29, on Tuesday and said, “we’re both excited to get started with B.C.”

B.C. has also come to terms on one-year deal with American slotback Nick Moore, 29, who had a 1,000-yard season with the Lions in 2013 and then signed as a free agent with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Westerville, Ohio, product had 76 catches for 899 yards with Winnipeg last season.

“I wanted to play for Mark Washington,” Edem said, pointing to the man who’s about to enter his third season as the team’s defensive co-ordinator. “I was looking forward to getting drafted by B.C. in 2013, because I wanted to play for him then.

“Mark has a good reputation. He’s a good coach, but he’s also a good person. People can forget sometimes how important that is.”

Edem also says he’s keen to play alongside veteran Lions defensive back Ryan Phillips, 33.

“He has the most picks of any active player,” Edem said of Phillips, who has 46 interceptions over his 11-year career with B.C., “so he obviously has a thing or two that he can teach you.”

“I remember preparing for that draft (2013) and knowing that Mike was a really good athlete,” Washington said. “I thought he could be a star in this league. You try to forecast what they can do. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t. But sometimes it’s all about being in the right environment. It’s amazing sometimes how things fall back into your lap.”

“If Mark Washington pushed for me, I’d like to say, ‘Thank you,’ “ Edem said. “I’m looking forward to working with him.”

Lions GM Wally Buono, not normally a big player in free agency, broke from his customary pattern and signed three players from a deep and wide pool. He also lost three. Running back Andrew Harris, as expected, signed with his hometown Blue Bombers. He was joined by fullback Pascal Lochard, a second-round draft pick of the Lions in 2014, who was part of Winnipeg’s signing spree. A third Lion, linebacker Alex Hoffman-Ellis, reached agreement on a new deal with Hamilton.

“We’ve improved our team,” Buono said. “Have we made a big splash? That’s not the issue. We made a splash earlier by signing Travis (Lulay) and Chris Rainey. Today was about making our team better and stronger. We had bigger needs than in years past. Because of the loss of (nickelback) Josh Johnson and (cornerback) Steven Clarke (both to the NFL), that resulted in more openings. Trying to improve your Canadian content, with Mike Edem, is another part of it. I still believe his best is yet to come.”

Moore, 29, had his only 1,000-yard season with the Lions in 2013, when he had 73 catches, 1,105 yards and six touchdowns before he bolted for Winnipeg in free agency. He is back — at a reduced ticket from the $185,000-a-year deal he signed with the Blue Bombers.

“The thing I was sensitive to is the coaches went to bat for Nick,” Buono said. “It wasn’t strictly me. When we sat down, we talked about what we wanted to do in free agency, and see how we were going to build our team. The consensus was, over and over again, if we had this kind of receiver, he would definitely help us.”

Moore’s signing received a push from Marcel Bellefeuille, the Lions’ new receivers coach, who was the offensive coordinator last season in Winnipeg.

SammyGreene wrote:Fingers crossed that Capicciotti ends up here but the Riders didn't do enough yesterday given how much money Jones freed up by dumping Dressler and Chick.

SammyGreene wrote:According to LU yesterday, Wally hinted Austin Collie might not fulfill the final year of his contract. That would make Nick Moore's signing make even more sense as the Lions continue to tweak the ratio. I could see 3 nationals on defence, especially if the play a 30 (Westerman/Menard, Edem/Fraser, Lokombo) and 4 on offence, including 3 on the o-line and just Gore among the receivers.

JohnnyMusso wrote:Looks like Lions will haul in another Free Agent:

FarhanLaljiTSN · 9m9 minutes ago
#BCLions close to a deal with RB Jeremiah Johnson. #CFLFA

Replacement for Harris?

Lionsfan65 wrote:Just looked up Johnson's combine stats for his draft year, which was the same year LeSean McCoy was drafted.

Johnson measured 5'09,209 lb and ran a 4.59 40. He was projected to go sometime in the 3rd round but somehow managed to go undrafted.

Johnson, who turns 29 on Feb. 15, has scored 13 touchdowns (11 rushing, two on receptions) in the past 20 games over two seasons with Toronto and Ottawa, his last stop. “He’s physical,” Buono said. “He’s runs the ball well, he catches the ball well, and he can find the end zone. That’s a good thing.”

Though the Lions have a five-time CFL all-star, Jovan Olafioye, at right tackle, they could move him to the left side with the addition of the 6’6”, 320-pound Adcock, who dressed for nine games at right tackle for the Roughriders in 2015 in an injury-marred campaign (knee).

“We wanted to get bigger and more physical up front,” Buono said. “The only way to do that is to get bigger and more physical athletes to compete.”

(Johnson's) nine majors along the ground last season came in just 10 games. He began the year in Ottawa as a backup to Chevon Walker. Johnson took over the starting gig when Walker was released in August, but he dislocated his foot in October, thus ending his season

He rushed 97 times for 448 yards on the campaign. He had one game with more than 15 carries; he ran for 100 yards on 17 attempts, including scoring twice, at B.C. Place on Sept. 13 in a 31-18 Redblacks win over the Lions.

“I know that I have a nose for the end zone,” said Johnson, “and from anywhere on the field.”

He played his college ball at Oregon. He and wife Shanel still make their home in Eugene, Ore., along with their six-year-old daughter Jordyn and one-year-old son Isaac. He says having his family so much closer than when he was with the Redblacks will help with his “morale.”