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SammyGreene wrote: Thu May 15, 2025 10:39 am I see they have signed yet another receiver today ( Preston Smith). Obviously they are not completely satisfied with the new receivers they currently have and perhaps Buck & staff think their 4th or 5th veteran receivers (Eberhardt & Berryhill) aren’t good enough.

I don’t think any starting jobs on offence are up for grabs except centre and right guard. The starting 5 receivers are set and have performed well when the ball has been catchable. Hatcher and McInnis have been phenomenal. Berryhill and Eberhardt have looked good whenever they’ve had a chance.

I think the coaches are just looking for the next guy, who might start on the practice roster and step into the lineup when needed, as Berryhill, Eberhardt, Hatcher and Hollins did before them. No one stood out in the original crop of rookie receivers. Seven McGee is a recent addition who has shown the ability to get open and catch the ball, but at 5-9 he’s not going to win many jump balls. Jared Gipson and David Durden are two rookies with good hands who are over 6 feet. The latest signing, Preston Smith, is the biggest of the bunch at 6-4. All of those guys should be in the mix.

Hambone wrote: Tue May 13, 2025 8:04 pm

SammyGreene wrote: Tue May 13, 2025 4:52 pm

I know Moj is technically employee of the Lions and perhaps he is not being paid to be up there. But he has shared nothing on social media on the Lions camp so far.

Key training camp battles? How is Buck running practices compared to Campbell? There should be loads of info to pass on. Thank goodness for BC FAN.

Meanwhile his colleagues in other camps like Mark Stephen (Calgary), Derek Taylor (Winnipeg) and Dave Campbell (Edmonton) are posting on a regular basis.

Thru Campbell I learned former Lion Manny Rugumba is lining up with the 2nd team defence and he interviewed Hollins yesterday about his familiarity with Maksymic’s offence. And he did have good things to say about his former team.

Hopefully him and Guilio will be doing their nightly training camp show next week. Wouldn’t be a bad idea to let your followers know.

No idea what Moj or Guilio do with their time when not covering the Lions or doing PxP. I think Moj covers other sports and leagues as part of his podcasts. Guilio used to be a firefighter but I think has retired. For them to do what the likes of Stephen, Taylor and Campbell do they have to leave home for 3 weeks. Those other guys can walk out their front in the morning, pop down to the stadium for practice and a few interviews and be back home by mid afternoon. Next day wash, rinse, repeat. I expect Moj for one will show up at camp probably after the first preseason game. And of course the Lions have their main media guy Matt Baker putting together content each and every day.

Doesn't Moj and Carravatta have a cooking show ? They're incessantly talking about food during the broadcast.

TheLionKing wrote: Thu May 15, 2025 7:48 pm
Doesn't Moj and Carravatta have a cooking show ? They're incessantly talking about food during the broadcast.

There have been times during the season that the cooking references have been the best part of the broadcast

I'm fine with the radio broadcasters. Better than the TV broadcast at times...

The Lions made a couple of changes to their training camp roster Friday, adding American defensive lineman Jalil Clemons from Southern Mississippi and releasing national fullback Dylan St. Pierre, who has bounced on and off the roster and practice roster for the past few years.

The Buck Pierce offence doesn’t use fullbacks, but St. Pierre and versatile special teamer Riley Pickett had been taking reps at tight end. Pickett showed off his hands with a nice one-handed catch in a drill yesterday.

Riley Pickett is one of the club's most versatile and improved players. He was drafted in the 5th round as a D-lineman and special teamer, then became a reliable long snapper, then fullback and now TE. He's just a great athlete and kind of a Swiss Army knife that all teams need.

As for these late signings, I wonder if at least some (all?) were players that impressed at their US tryout camps but didn't have their passports that the club still wants to bring in for a look-see (as opposed to "not happy with what they've got")?


DH

No, the recent signings seem to be all 23/24yrs old seniors but didn’t get drafted so now they are looking for options. Thats why they are later.

Winter signings were generally 27yr olds been to nfl camp types.

B.C.FAN wrote: Fri May 16, 2025 9:01 am The Lions made a couple of changes to their training camp roster Friday, adding American defensive lineman Jalil Clemons from Southern Mississippi and releasing national fullback Dylan St. Pierre, who has bounced on and off the roster and practice roster for the past few years.

The Buck Pierce offence doesn’t use fullbacks, but St. Pierre and versatile special teamer Riley Pickett had been taking reps at tight end. Pickett showed off his hands with a nice one-handed catch in a drill yesterday.

Who is filling the tight end spots with 1s and 2s ? Pierson, Pickett, horvath, or any of the extra oline guys?

TheLionKing wrote: Thu May 15, 2025 7:48 pm
Doesn't Moj and Carravatta have a cooking show ? They're incessantly talking about food during the broadcast.

I think they've either been Jonesing for an eating show or maybe to get some meals comped.

The Lions held a non-padded practice Friday morning in cool, cloudy conditions that felt more like the Lower Mainland than normally sunny Kamloops.

Newly signed receiver Preston Smith and defensive lineman Jalil Clemons were on the field. Clemons spent most of practice working out by himself and with training staff, but Smith saw some action and made a nice catch on a post pattern in skelly. At 6-4, Smith is a full head taller than many of the other rookie American receivers in camp, and is closer in stature to national starters Justin McInnis and Jevon Cottoy (both 6-5) and former Stampeder Rysen John (6-7),

Rookie receiver Jared Gipson took first-team reps in place of Stanley Berryhill, who watched from the sideline and is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. Tyler Packer and David Foucault shared first-team reps at right guard, one of the two line positions where there has been an open competition for starting roles. Riley Pickett and rookie 8th round draft pick Luka Stoikos took reps at fullback/tight end, and both caught passes.

Rookie American Jeremy Lewis from East Carolina took first-team reps at weakside linebacker while ex-Ticat Tre Crawford remained at defensive end opposite Mathieu Betts. The rest of the first-team defence has been unchanged all week. Veteran DE Sione Teuhema has been taking reps with the second team.

Head coach Buck Pierce was more visible Friday. It may have been partly due to the light-coloured hoodie he was wearing, but he was standing on the field, walking around checking in the various drills and occasionally consulting with his assistants. Usually he stands alone on the far sideline.

In a sign that the first preseason game is drawing near, the Lions held their first full kickoff practice, with former NFL RB/returner Jason Huntley as the main returner.

Team sessions featured a lot of work on the running game and short-passing game. Nathan Rourke, who has often looked better this week as a runner than a passer, didn't complete a pass of over 12 yards. He overthrew Gipson on a post pattern at the goal line in the first team session, then had a deep pass for Keon Hatcher knocked down by former Rider cornerback Deontai Williams. Rourke also sailed a pass over the head of Justin McInnis in the end zone in a goal-line drill, but he managed to hit Ayden Eberhardt with a nice pass on the sideline on a rollout.

Chase Brice, taking third team reps, hit junior invitee Colton Meikle of the Kamloops Broncos with the only downfield completion in team play.

Jeremiah Masoli took his turn at second-team QB, and has shown no hesitation this week to throw deep or tuck the ball in and run. Masoli threw a deep post TD pass in skelly to second-year national receiver Ezechiel Tieide, who continues to impress. Tieide also caught a TD pass on a post pattern against Jalon Edwards-Cooper in 1-on-1s.

Fellow national backup receivers Rysen John and Keiran Poissant, who haven't had many balls thrown their way in camp, both made plays in skelly. John had two catches, while Poissant caught a deep TD pass on a post pattern against rookie Robert Carter.

Veteran national DB Patrice Rene, who has been taking second-team reps at nickelback, had the only interception of the day in skelly.

The Lions will be back at Hillside Stadium at 8:30 a.m. Saturday for the final full practice before they travel to Vancouver Island for Monday's first preseason game in Langford.

B.C.FAN wrote: Fri May 16, 2025 9:01 am The Lions made a couple of changes to their training camp roster Friday, adding American defensive lineman Jalil Clemons from Southern Mississippi and releasing national fullback Dylan St. Pierre, who has bounced on and off the roster and practice roster for the past few years.

The Buck Pierce offence doesn’t use fullbacks, but St. Pierre and versatile special teamer Riley Pickett had been taking reps at tight end. Pickett showed off his hands with a nice one-handed catch in a drill yesterday.

They almost have no choice but to have an American RB on the roster to back up Butler. Huntley winning the returner job would make it easy but Horvath would be a different dynamic.

SammyGreene wrote: Fri May 16, 2025 2:20 pm

B.C.FAN wrote: Fri May 16, 2025 9:01 am The Lions made a couple of changes to their training camp roster Friday, adding American defensive lineman Jalil Clemons from Southern Mississippi and releasing national fullback Dylan St. Pierre, who has bounced on and off the roster and practice roster for the past few years.

The Buck Pierce offence doesn’t use fullbacks, but St. Pierre and versatile special teamer Riley Pickett had been taking reps at tight end. Pickett showed off his hands with a nice one-handed catch in a drill yesterday.

They almost have no choice but to have an American RB on the roster to back up Butler. Huntley winning the returner job would make it easy but Horvath would be a different dynamic.

Huntley and Horvath have been non-factors at RB in camp. James Butler is the undisputed No. 1 and is the only running back who has been given a chance to catch the ball out of the backfield. Second-year American Jordan Terrell has taken all second-team reps. It might take a big game from Huntley or Horvath in Langford to shake things up.

B.C.FAN wrote: Fri May 16, 2025 2:27 pm

SammyGreene wrote: Fri May 16, 2025 2:20 pm

B.C.FAN wrote: Fri May 16, 2025 9:01 am The Lions made a couple of changes to their training camp roster Friday, adding American defensive lineman Jalil Clemons from Southern Mississippi and releasing national fullback Dylan St. Pierre, who has bounced on and off the roster and practice roster for the past few years.

The Buck Pierce offence doesn’t use fullbacks, but St. Pierre and versatile special teamer Riley Pickett had been taking reps at tight end. Pickett showed off his hands with a nice one-handed catch in a drill yesterday.

They almost have no choice but to have an American RB on the roster to back up Butler. Huntley winning the returner job would make it easy but Horvath would be a different dynamic.

Huntley and Horvath have been non-factors at RB in camp. James Butler is the undisputed No. 1 and is the only running back who has been given a chance to catch the ball out of the backfield. Second-year American Jordan Terrell has taken all second-team reps. It might take a big game from Huntley or Horvath in Langford to shake things up

In fairness, you are only going to see where RBs stack up in real game with full blocking and tackling, and that probably goes for a lot of tackle box positions. Look forward to Monday.

Qman wrote: Fri May 16, 2025 12:06 pm No, the recent signings seem to be all 23/24yrs old seniors but didn’t get drafted so now they are looking for options. Thats why they are later.

Winter signings were generally 27yr olds been to nfl camp types.

The larger point was that we can't assume they're still signing guys because they don't like who they brought to camp. To your point, if they're younger guys they're likely at least a year away from starting anyway.

My thought is that they may have been held up by immigration/passport issues or mgt was waiting 'til the roster was trimmed down before bringing them in.


DH