Training camp 2022

[B.C.FAN]

Hello everyone. 1st time poster, but long-time listener (I guess reader to be exact). Thanks to all of the Insiders on this forum for your updates over the years.

Does anyone know where a Lions training camp depth chart can be found? I don't see one on the Lions training camp section on their website this year. Even though it has been alphabetical the past few years, it was still nice to see what positions the rookies are lining up at, & if any vets have moved (thanks to this forum, it sounds like Lee to safety is one significant move)

Unfortunately, the Lions don’t publish a training camp depth chart. You have to read Lionbackers to find out who is taking first-team reps. Hambone listed the first team offence on defence on Thursday, and he and I have posted updates each day since. The team handed out an alphabetical position chart at Fan Fest but I haven’t seen it posted on the team website. In past years, they’ve posted regular updates on the training camp
page at bclions.com.

[Clash Dance]

Thanks B.C. Fan. As always, I look forward to the updates from all of you able to be in Kamloops for TC.

[Hambone]

Hello everyone. 1st time poster, but long-time listener (I guess reader to be exact). Thanks to all of the Insiders on this forum for your updates over the years.

Does anyone know where a Lions training camp depth chart can be found? I don't see one on the Lions training camp section on their website this year. Even though it has been alphabetical the past few years, it was still nice to see what positions the rookies are lining up at, & if any vets have moved (thanks to this forum, it sounds like Lee to safety is one significant move)

I think the drawback with that idea is that things change so rapidly that the shelf life on a depth chart is shorter than the time if takes for the ink to dry on it.

[maxlion]

Thanks to BC Fan and Hambone for the great reporting!

Am I right in thinking that Butler is a lock for starting RB? He seemed to improve over last season so I'm happy to see him back.

The Awe signing was a surprise. I'm not sure that he addresses a pressing need but he adds depth, talent and experience. Our special teams should be better this year.

A few areas I'm not as optimistic about--mainly def and off line and QB--but ready to be surprised and excited for a new season!

[B.C.FAN]

Thanks to BC Fan and Hambone for the great reporting!

Am I right in thinking that Butler is a lock for starting RB? He seemed to improve over last season so I'm happy to see him back.

The Awe signing was a surprise. I'm not sure that he addresses a pressing need but he adds depth, talent and experience. Our special teams should be better this year.

A few areas I'm not as optimistic about--mainly def and off line and QB--but ready to be surprised and excited for a new season!

Butler looks great at RB against the holdover DL. Jamel Lyles and Bruce Anderson may both stick around but they are hampered by lack of talent on the second and third team OL. Anderson showed good hands in rookie camp last week but he struggled on Saturday.

I’m excited to see Rourke as starting QB. He lacks experience but he has a strong arm, tremendous work ethic, good grasp of the offence and is a
multipurpose threat with his feet. Michael Reilly led the league in passing last year as a sitting duck with a bad elbow. Rourke is much more dangerous, and B.C.’s receiving corps is arguably the best in the league.

[TheLionKing]

Thanks for the report BC Fan . Keep them coming.

[B.C.FAN]

Sunday's practice was a light 65-minute walkthrough featuring a lot of post-Fan Fest stretching and a limited number of situational offensive, defensive and special teams reps.

Recently signed second-round draft pick Noah Zerr had a walking boot on his right foot and was using a crutch but still took part in positional drills with the offensive line. I don't know what happened to him. Four walking wounded players in uniform took part in stretching exercises with the training staff on the sidelines: LB Jacob Firlotte, who was hurt in rookie camp, DBs Mallory Claybourne and Howard Wilson and receiver Hakeem Butler.

Phil Norman took first-team reps at centre, a position his has split with Peter Godber since camp opened on Thursday. The rest of the first-team offence has been unchanged since the start of camp.

On defence, Mathieu Betts took first-team reps at the defensive end position he has shared with David Menard. In a unique twist that can only be attempted at a walkthrough, the Lions lined up 13 players on the first-team defence, with second-year DB Jalon Edwards-Cooper and rookie Tyneil Cooper on the field together at field halfback. Cooper also took second-team reps at the position, so I suppose he can be considered 1A at the most interesting defensive positional battle. I expect to see some changes on the defensive line by the end of camp but so far Obum Gwacham, Tim Bonner and Josh Banks have retained their first-team positions from last year.

I always like to look at which rookies are getting a lot of special teams reps. Generally, those players have a good chance of cracking the roster. Among rookies getting regular roles on special teams are American DE Sione Teuhema, Global nose tackles Karlis Brauns and Tibo Debaillie and national draft picks Ryder Varga, Frednick Eveillard and Joshua Archibald.

James Butler and Loucheiz Purifoy are the primary kick returners, backed up by Bruce Anderson and Darius Clark.

[David]

I expect to see some changes on the defensive line by the end of camp but so far Obum Gwacham, Tim Bonner and Josh Banks have retained their first-team positions from last year.

Not ideal given that this position group was our Achilles heel last year. I thought Gwacham and Bonner were quite effective last season and assume that Woody Baron would take one DT position, with an upgrade coming from Betts/Menard, so only mildly concerned. Still, I would like either a National (Cherry?) to step up or a first-year International.

Thought this was an interesting tidbit from today's Province.

Rookie Kevin Thompson, who was the only quarterback in camp, showed well, as did offensive lineman Jarell Broxton, who made the team out of camp last year but tore his bicep in his first game and missed the rest of the season. Campbell also liked what he saw from his drafted defensive linemen like Nathan Cherry, Joshua Archibald and Global player Karlis Brauns.

“I’m impressed with the rookies so far,” said Campbell. “There was a point of emphasis, especially when we signed the free agents in the off-season … we wanted to get more depth Canadian and global-wise because we want to be able to rotate (defensive linemen).

“Those guys did a good job in rookie camp and they’re gonna get every opportunity to rep with the veteran group and we’re hoping that a couple of those guys come out of that and are ready to help contribute in a rotation right away.”

DH

[Gridiron Ernie]

Much appreciated camp reportage -- B.C.FAN and Hambone! Excitement is building day by day. I've no idea how the Lions will do this year so far as the standings, but there's no reason I see that they can't be wonderfully entertaining all along the way.

I just read an interesting article--Dante Marsh interviewed by JC Abbott--(Marsh is a TC guest coach with the Riders) and he discusses in some detail the ramifications of the adjusted hashmarks this year. How the player-types/positions will necessarily evolve in the coming years as a result. https://3downnation.com/2022/05/22/the- ... ers-coach/

[CrazyCanuck89]

I expect to see some changes on the defensive line by the end of camp but so far Obum Gwacham, Tim Bonner and Josh Banks have retained their first-team positions from last year.

Not ideal given that this position group was our Achilles heel last year. I thought Gwacham and Bonner were quite effective last season and assume that Woody Baron would take one DT position, with an upgrade coming from Betts/Menard, so only mildly concerned. Still, I would like either a National (Cherry?) to step up or a first-year International.

Thought this was an interesting tidbit from today's Province.

Rookie Kevin Thompson, who was the only quarterback in camp, showed well, as did offensive lineman Jarell Broxton, who made the team out of camp last year but tore his bicep in his first game and missed the rest of the season. Campbell also liked what he saw from his drafted defensive linemen like Nathan Cherry, Joshua Archibald and Global player Karlis Brauns.

“I’m impressed with the rookies so far,” said Campbell. “There was a point of emphasis, especially when we signed the free agents in the off-season … we wanted to get more depth Canadian and global-wise because we want to be able to rotate (defensive linemen).

“Those guys did a good job in rookie camp and they’re gonna get every opportunity to rep with the veteran group and we’re hoping that a couple of those guys come out of that and are ready to help contribute in a rotation right away.”

DH

I think Woody and Cherry are considered more to be three techniques. I do worry about Cherry's size at 250lbs, unless the roster wrong. Richardson was supposed to be that one technique, so it will be interesting, to see who will take over for him?

[SammyGreene]

Miles Fox had an impressive couple of seasons at Wake Forest. Coming off attending a Bills rookie mini-camp last week so likely on the Lions' radar for a while.

Aren't we overdue to find the next Tyrone Williams?

Kamloops)- The BC Lions announced this morning that American defensive lineman Miles Fox has signed with the team.

Fox (6’1, 297 lbs)- transferred from Old Dominion to Wake Forest for his final three seasons of eligibility (2019-2021). After missing the 2019 season due to a torn Achilles, the Georgia native earned First-Team All-ACC honours and an ACC Comeback Player of the Year nomination in 2020.

In 21 total games with the Demon Deacons, Fox racked up 58 combined tackles (31 solo, 27 assisted), 17.5 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks, including a takedown of Trevor Lawrence in a game against Clemson in 2020.

[B.C.FAN]

Miles Fox had an impressive couple of seasons at Wake Forest. Coming off attending a Bills rookie mini-camp last week so likely on the Lions' radar for a while.

Aren't we overdue to find the next Tyrone Williams?

Kamloops)- The BC Lions announced this morning that American defensive lineman Miles Fox has signed with the team.

Fox (6’1, 297 lbs)- transferred from Old Dominion to Wake Forest for his final three seasons of eligibility (2019-2021). After missing the 2019 season due to a torn Achilles, the Georgia native earned First-Team All-ACC honours and an ACC Comeback Player of the Year nomination in 2020.

In 21 total games with the Demon Deacons, Fox racked up 58 combined tackles (31 solo, 27 assisted), 17.5 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks, including a takedown of Trevor Lawrence in a game against Clemson in 2020.

That's a good signing. The only nose tackles listed on the camp position chart are incumbent Josh Banks, rookie Cameron Murray and Globals Karlis Brauns and Tibo Debaillie. One player I would like to see get first-team reps is Kevin Thurmon,, who played 3 late-season games last year and had 5 tackles in the season finale against Edmonton. He's listed as a 3-technique but at 6-3, 298 lbs. he has the body of a nose tackle and has looked strong against the second-team O-line.

[Hambone]

I think Woody and Cherry are considered more to be three techniques. I do worry about Cherry's size at 250lbs, unless the roster wrong. Richardson was supposed to be that one technique, so it will be interesting, to see who will take over for him?

On the 2022 Combine Results page Cherry was listed at 6'1-3/8" and 271#. I would assume those were accurate measurements taken that day. It would seem he's bulked up but as is often the case with young players can he maintain that weight and can he do so without losing much in terms of speed and quickness?

[B.C.FAN]

So much for my liking Thurmon. The Lions released him today, along with seven others, including RB Jamel Lyles, second-year DB Austin Joyner and newly signed Jordan Hoover.

[David]

Apparently, Hoover failed his physical and never stepped on the field.

Lyles is a mystery. He was cut last season too but I thought that had to do with him not being vaxed. Joyner's release points to the talent and depth we have back there.


DH