2014 free agents

[Hambone]

I think that Moore and others are not acutally free agents until Feb. 15, so I asume Wally game Moore permission to try out early with the NFL.

Free agency doesn't kick in til Feb. Guess Buono gave his blessing for Moore to gage if there any NFL interest out there. Wonder if he would do the same for Keron Williams.

Teams don't have to give the players permission to try out now but they'd be crazy not to. It's in the team's best interest to find out if the player really has a shot or not and the sooner the better. The option year clause is gone so holding a player to the Feb.15th date is forcing them to become a CFL FA before they can try out meaning if they don't get an NFL offer they come back on the open CFL market. Anything you can do to accelerate the tryout process so that the player can find out where he really stands south of the border while you still have his rights is better for your team.

[The_Pauser]

I'm hoping that Nick Moore is back as a Leo next season. In his first year as a full time starter he finished third in the CFL in receiving, ahead of notable CFL recievers as McDaniel, Getzlaf, Dressler, and Owens. He made 73 catches in 2013 for 1105 yds and a 15.1 yards per catch average. He was the leading receiver on our Leos.

That's not easy to replace, even with all the import receivers our Leos will be able to sign.

I don't like Moore's chances in the NFL. He could turn our to be a practice player or a depth player. I hope he is listening to Manny and will sign a new contract with our Leos unless he really gets a decent NFL offer.

Nick Moore certainly proved me wrong this year (and I'm happy about that). I don't think he is irreplaceable, but given his age and his progression it would be a big loss to our receiving group.

What this uncertainty does allow for, is for us to leave him unprotected in the expansion draft. Does Ottawa take a chance on a guy who's exploring his options down south, who is also a pending free agent up here?

[WestCoastJoe]

February 15, 2014

Not all that happy when our team has to go shopping in free agency.

This is more of a problem with non imports than with imports. Non imports need to be developed. Imports are almost ready made, assuming your team can judge talent.

Some non import needs, as perceived ...
..................
Safety? Who is out there? Some NI DBs and safeties might be available.

We do have Matt McGarva, and Keynan Parker, along with incumbent J.R. LaRose.

Calgary has FA Jeff Hecht, DB, undrafted.

Edmonton has Mike Miller, DB, undrafted.

Hamilton has Marc Beswick, drafted 31st in 2008. B.C. boy.

Montreal has Michael Carter, DB, drafted 19th by the Lions in 2011.

Regina has Craig Butler, drafted 12th in 2011. All star in his rookie season. Hmmmm

and Graig Newman, undrafted B.C. boy.

and Paul Woldu, CB, drafted in Rd 5 in 2008.
...........

O Line? IMO Valli and Kabongo showed they can get the job done, as evidenced by our late season run. IMO the problem has been more of a lack of smoothness. Confusion. Lack of clarity. Too much stuff in the head. Mobility? IMO not as important. And the OC and the O Line coach have to work together smoothly. Not sure that has been the case here in B.C. My concerns are with the overall lack of development of our NI O Line roster in the 11 years of this regime under Dan Dorazio.

Dimitri Tsoumpas, Calgary. The Stampeders would have to be suicidal to let him go IMO. Good luck to us acquiring him.

Scott Mitchell, Edmonton. Drafted 2nd overall in 2011. Hello, Ed Hervey, are you going to let this guy slip away? That would be nice.

Josh Bourke, Montreal. Cannot see Popp letting this guy slip away. We should be so lucky. 3rd round pick by the Alouettes, who seem to have the knack of drafting and developing NI O Linemen. IMO ...

Andrew Jones, Toronto. He left us once already.

Wayne Smith, Toronto. 34 years old.

Three from Winnipeg ...

Steve Morley, 32, #1 overall pick back in 2003.

Marc Parenteau, 33 years old.

Justin Sorensen ... We sent him home once. Giant of a guy. Dorazio gave up on him, or vice versa.
.................

D Linemen ...

Etienne Legare, Calgary

Ted Laurent, Edmonton. Jump on him like a fat kid on a Smartie. Can't see Hervey letting him slip away.

David Lee, Toronto

Zander Robinson, Toronto

Ryan Lucas, Winnipeg
.............

LB?

Henoc Muamba, Winnipeg ... The Bombers must re-sign him. Even if we got him, would we start him, as a non import?
.............

To me the CFL teams are built on NI talent, drafted and developed. If we are lacking there, it is our own fault, and IMO we deserve the consequences. I wouldn't expect us to effectively poach any essential non import pieces from other teams.

Imports? Get our own from the huge pool of talent in American colleges, or better yet, with some NFL experience.

IMO ...

[WestCoastJoe]

IMO the talent of our import D Linemen went downhill during Stubler's time here. Shivers brought in boatloads of guys. We kept veteran Khreem Smith, and brought Eric Taylor over from Toronto, where he played for Stubler. It seemed to me that Stubler and Shivers were far from being on the same page in judging the quality needed in import D Linemen.

Hopefully Mark W and Roy can see and want the same things. We need some new blood in the D Line. From the USA. Not from other CFL teams.

[South Pender]

IMO the talent of our import D Linemen went downhill during Stubler's time here. Shivers brought in boatloads of guys. We kept veteran Khreem Smith, and brought Eric Taylor over from Toronto, where he played for Stubler. It seemed to me that Stubler and Shivers were far from being on the same page in judging the quality needed in import D Linemen.

Hopefully Mark W and Roy can see and want the same things. We need some new blood in the D Line. From the USA. Not from other CFL teams.

Agreed about the need for new import talent on the D-line. Whom do you see as worth keeping of our current import D-linemen? K. Williams, Taylor, Smith, Jordan, Wilson, Awasom? There's also an import DT we picked up and put on the practice roster in October, Wade Myles (6-1, 300 lbs.).

[WestCoastJoe]

IMO the talent of our import D Linemen went downhill during Stubler's time here. Shivers brought in boatloads of guys. We kept veteran Khreem Smith, and brought Eric Taylor over from Toronto, where he played for Stubler. It seemed to me that Stubler and Shivers were far from being on the same page in judging the quality needed in import D Linemen.

Hopefully Mark W and Roy can see and want the same things. We need some new blood in the D Line. From the USA. Not from other CFL teams.

Agreed about the need for new import talent on the D-line. Whom do you see as worth keeping of our current import D-linemen? K. Williams, Taylor, Smith, Jordan, Wilson, Awasom? There's also an import DT we picked up and put on the practice roster in October, Wade Myles (6-1, 300 lbs.).

I don't want to speak against any of our guys. But ... some observations ...

Eric Taylor has given yeoman service. Keron Williams seemed to disappear in the middle of the line. I really like Khreem Smith, but he is getting older. Chris Wilson? Didn't do much. Backups? Not distinguised. We got older. We didn't have young blood pushing. And now we find ourselves with a near total re-building job.

Jabar Westerman as a non import is fine. We need depth behind him.
...........

We are far from the flagship status of last year's preseason. More like middle of the pack it seems to me.

And yet, we have some serious weapons. Travis. Andrew. Stefan. Receivers.

Bighill and Solo on D. Talented DBs.

But IMO we are not superior in our talent.

And our non import roster is not up the standard of the top teams, it seems to me. We are relatively close. NI O Line suspect. NI D Line thin. NI DBs non existent. NI LBs non existent. NI receivers excellent. Harris excellent. Building the NI roster takes time, judgment and teaching.

Our Xs and Os leaders are unproven.

One has hopes ...

But we could easily slip down the slope and become Team Turmoil. Benny cannot avoid the spotlight forever, even in the shadow of Teflon Wally.

IMO ...

[DanoT]

I'm in favour of going with the rookie OC and DC because they have both been coaching for a while. While it is not the kind of thing one might expect going into a Grey Cup hosting year, I am glad that the Lions appear to be looking longer term/bigger picture but I expect some stumbles at the start of the season and by the end of the season: no one is a rookie so anything is possible.

[WestCoastJoe]

Mike Beamish writes about Nick Moore and his tryouts with NFL teams ...

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/foot ... story.html

Excerpts ...

Lions' Nick Moore showcases talent for NFL

By Mike Beamish, Vancouver Sun January 8, 2014 3:37 PM

VANCOUVER — Nick Moore has only one full season as a professional pass-catching star in Canada, but that glimpse was enough for three National Football League teams to consider that he might have a future down south.

Since the end of the 2013 CFL season, the Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans and San Diego Chargers have auditioned the 27-year-old Moore, the younger brother of New Orleans Saints wide receiver Lance Moore.

CFL free agency begins on Feb. 15, and Moore’s Canadian agent, Fred Weinrauch, is in a holding pattern until his client decides in which direction he is headed. Moore has until Jan. 15 before the window which allows him to work out for NFL teams closes.The three-year CFL veteran said he has no more workouts planned at this time.

Moore was a two-time All-MAC selection at the University of Toledo. But unlike his older brother, who also went undrafted by the NFL, he had tryouts with the Vikings, New England Patriots and St. Louis Rams but failed to catch on. Nick joined the Lions in October, 2010.

[Toppy Vann]

Dave Stala, 34 cut by the Ticats after 14 games last year and 10 catches for 144 yards last season according to TSN.ca.

Not much production there.

[B.C.FAN]

Some encouraging news on the Lions' free-agent front. According to Rick Dhaliwal of News1130, the agent for Nick Moore contacted the Lions and asked for a contract offer, which was expected to be delivered as soon as today. Moore has worked out for three NFL teams but teams are limited in what they can offer as signing bonuses. Some up-front money from the Lions and a two- or three-year, six-figure CFL contract might start to look pretty good.

Dhaliwal also said Wally will also make an offer soon to free-agent DB Josh Bell but not to DL Keron Williams, who will be allowed to test CFL free agency.

[DanoT]

Given the large number of FAs this year, I wonder if Trestman with his knowledge of CFL rosters will do some cherry picking?

[TheLionKing]

Some encouraging news on the Lions' free-agent front. According to Rick Dhaliwal of News1130, the agent for Nick Moore contacted the Lions and asked for a contract offer, which was expected to be delivered as soon as today. Moore has worked out for three NFL teams but teams are limited in what they can offer as signing bonuses. Some up-front money from the Lions and a two- or three-year, six-figure CFL contract might start to look pretty good.

Dhaliwal also said Wally will also make an offer soon to free-agent DB Josh Bell but not to DL Keron Williams, who will be allowed to test CFL free agency.

Encouraging news on the Moore front.

[TheLionKing]

Dave Stala, 34 cut by the Ticats after 14 games last year and 10 catches for 144 yards last season according to TSN.ca.

Not much production there.

Signed by the Alouettes.

[Hambone]

Dimitri Tsoumpas, Calgary. The Stampeders would have to be suicidal to let him go IMO. Good luck to us acquiring him. IMO ...

Good luck is right. Tsoumpas has retired but will stay with the Stamps in a strength and conditioning role. He says he has recovered from his concussion but has decided the risks of continuing to play are not worth it.

[B.C.FAN]

Dimitri Tsoumpas, Calgary. The Stampeders would have to be suicidal to let him go IMO. Good luck to us acquiring him. IMO ...

Good luck is right. Tsoumpas has retired but will stay with the Stamps in a strength and conditioning role. He says he has recovered from his concussion but has decided the risks of continuing to play are not worth it.

That's too bad. He had a promising career. Kudos to him for putting his health first and to the Stamps for giving him a role with the club.