Lionbackers.com

TheLionKing wrote:Lions have agree to terms with Rwabukamba

Is he our new Safety?

Lions4ever wrote:

The_Pauser wrote:EJ signed in Ottawa

S#!*

Two years for $270k (130+140) acc to a Justin Dunk tweet.

pennw wrote:

The_Pauser wrote:EJ signed in Ottawa

Not to surprising he went elsewhere after being held back in BC for too long .

Well now Tuenei and Burnham move up the depth chart, likely for lower pay than what was offered to Jackson.

Very little chance of playoff $ with Ottawa but likely becomes the main go to guy.

Blue Bombers sign former Stampeder Stanley Bryant

Rwabukamba should be adequate at safety. Plays corner also.

Athletic enough. Decent speed. Best 40 of 4.47. Not big, but OK. 5'11" 190.

Keenan MacDougall is bigger.

6'2" 208

Round 3 pick by Calgary in 2012.

4.52 in the 40. Athletic in terms of vertical.

If we sign him ...

Greg Wojt? I would be surprised if we pursued an O Lineman. Go with our young guys.

Did Wally really want EJ back, at the necessary price?

WestCoastJoe wrote:Keenan MacDougall is bigger.

6'2" 208

Round 3 pick by Calgary in 2012.

4.52 in the 40. Athletic in terms of vertical.

If we sign him ...

I think I like the Rwabukamba signing a bit more. He was Edmonton's starting safety most of last season. MacDougall apparently was a DB at U of Sask but mostly played special teams and backup OLB in Calgary. Rwabukamba would seem a safer signing to keep safety as a NAT position. MacD might be more of a project.

Hambone wrote:

WestCoastJoe wrote:Keenan MacDougall is bigger.

6'2" 208

Round 3 pick by Calgary in 2012.

4.52 in the 40. Athletic in terms of vertical.

If we sign him ...

I think I like the Rwabukamba signing a bit more. He was Edmonton's starting safety most of last season. MacDougall apparently was a DB at U of Sask but mostly played special teams and backup OLB in Calgary. Rwabukamba would seem a safer signing to keep safety as a NAT position. MacD might be more of a project.

I agree, Hambone.

Bombers loading up for a run at the Grey Cup

Kyle Walters didn’t waste any time making a splash on the free-agent market.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ GM added five players Tuesday, the first day of CFL free agency. Walters bolstered his offensive line by coming to terms with American Stanley Bryant and signing fellow offensive lineman Marc Dile, international receiver Darvin Adams as well as defensive lineman Ivan Brown and linebacker Sam Hurl, both Canadians.

Waters’ free-agent activity wasn’t surprising, given Winnipeg (7-11) missed the CFL playoffs last year and is hosting the 2015 Grey Cup game.

Improving an offensive line that allowed a league-high 71 sacks was definitely an off-season priority for Walters. And he reportedly signed Bryant, a towering six-foot-five, 313-pound tackle who spent the last five seasons with the Calgary Stampeders, to a deal worth $160,000 annually to help keep starter Drew Willy upright.

The six-foot-four, 300-pound Dile spent the last three seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Florida native was a starter in ’12 but battled injuries the last two years. Brown, a 29-year-old Regina native, is entering his seventh CFL season having also played for Montreal, Hamilton and Toronto.

The six-foot-two, 182-pound Adams had 18 catches for 237 yards and a TD last year with Toronto, missing eight games with a torn meniscus. Over two seasons with the Argos, he recorded 21 receptions for 261 yards with two TDs.

Adams said Tuesday he’s fine physically and looking forward to a new start with Winnipeg.

"I’m ready for it," he said during a conference call. "I think this is the best off-season I’ve had. I don’t think I could be more prepared.

"I thank (the Argos) for the opportunity they gave me to put me in the position I’m in now to even have Winnipeg look at me."

Hurl, a Calgary native, had 36 tackles, two fumble recoveries and a sack last year with Saskatchewan. Over three seasons with the Roughriders, the six-foot-one, 225-pound linebacker recorded 41 tackles, 35 special-teams tackles, two sacks and two fumble recoveries.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/bl ... ee-agency/

sj-roc wrote: Two years for $270k (130+140) acc to a Justin Dunk tweet.

Too much for Wally's budget, and our roster situation. I liked EJ, of course. But we do seem to have some promising Internationals. Burnham and Tuinei, for example. And some Ints who have produced for us. Manny. Courtney.

Receiver should not be a problem for us, it seems to me. Loads of talented Ints to recruit. Nationals to develop.

Be interesting to see what new Ints are brought to T Camp.
............

And as always, quarterback is key.

TheLionKing wrote:Bombers loading up for a run at the Grey Cup

Kyle Walters didn’t waste any time making a splash on the free-agent market.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ GM added five players Tuesday, the first day of CFL free agency. Walters bolstered his offensive line by coming to terms with American Stanley Bryant and signing fellow offensive lineman Marc Dile, international receiver Darvin Adams as well as defensive lineman Ivan Brown and linebacker Sam Hurl, both Canadians.

Waters’ free-agent activity wasn’t surprising, given Winnipeg (7-11) missed the CFL playoffs last year and is hosting the 2015 Grey Cup game.

Improving an offensive line that allowed a league-high 71 sacks was definitely an off-season priority for Walters. And he reportedly signed Bryant, a towering six-foot-five, 313-pound tackle who spent the last five seasons with the Calgary Stampeders, to a deal worth $160,000 annually to help keep starter Drew Willy upright.

The six-foot-four, 300-pound Dile spent the last three seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Florida native was a starter in ’12 but battled injuries the last two years. Brown, a 29-year-old Regina native, is entering his seventh CFL season having also played for Montreal, Hamilton and Toronto.

The six-foot-two, 182-pound Adams had 18 catches for 237 yards and a TD last year with Toronto, missing eight games with a torn meniscus. Over two seasons with the Argos, he recorded 21 receptions for 261 yards with two TDs.

Adams said Tuesday he’s fine physically and looking forward to a new start with Winnipeg.

"I’m ready for it," he said during a conference call. "I think this is the best off-season I’ve had. I don’t think I could be more prepared.

"I thank (the Argos) for the opportunity they gave me to put me in the position I’m in now to even have Winnipeg look at me."

Hurl, a Calgary native, had 36 tackles, two fumble recoveries and a sack last year with Saskatchewan. Over three seasons with the Roughriders, the six-foot-one, 225-pound linebacker recorded 41 tackles, 35 special-teams tackles, two sacks and two fumble recoveries.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/bl ... ee-agency/

I wouldn't count the Bomber moves as loading up for a Grey Cup. They have lots of holes to fill just to elevate themselves to being a solid playoff contender, never mind Cup conternder. I think these moves do a nice job of getting them to the next level. Lest we forget after starting a surprising 5-1 the bumbled to a more Bomber-like 2-10 record the rest of the way. I do llke what they've done though. Their offseason focus has been on rebuilding their OL and they've done a nice job of that adding Picard at centre and Bryant at one tackle. Dile missed a lot of last year to injury and seems to have been more of a rotational OL in Hamilton than starter but would be looked at as a starter. Like Ottawa with Jackson Winnipeg may be projecting Adams to start. Hurl and Brown at NAT depth players.

The Lions have confirmed the free-agent signing of former Edmonton safety Chris Rwabukamba. Here's more on the move from LU, who thankfully includes a pronunciation guide (Rub-ah-come-buh):

Leos not playing safe at safety

B.C.FAN wrote:The Lions have confirmed the free-agent signing of former Edmonton safety Chris Rwabukamba. Here's more on the move from LU, who thankfully includes a pronunciation guide (Rub-ah-come-buh):

Leos not playing safe at safety

I'm still hoping we bring in LeFevour, and it would be nice to bring in Justin Hickman. Our Dline needs some help and we can't rely on Smith to continue playing as a starter for much longer.

I hope the Lions sign another kicker. I hate to see us heading into the season with Paul McCallum doing the punting again.