Off-Season Plans

[No Ordinary Joe]

Since I'm still so emotionally drained from the loss today, I can't even bring myself to post and/or look in threads dealing with the game right now. Instead, I ask...what now? There's a few issues facing this team right now as we look ahead to '08.

A few:

- Bob O'Billovich: There's no secret that Obie is, or should be, among a very short list of candidates for the vacant GM position in Hamilton. His ability to find talent is something that would be greatly missed if he was to leave. How could he be replaced or will this be a problem we won't have to deal with when all is said and done?

- Dave Ritchie: There's been numerous rumors of his possible retirement at the end of the year. Without another Grey Cup would Dave want to stay here in attempts to win another one or is he going to sail off into the sunset? Or could he possibly be a guy that may be looked at to fill a head coaching position somewhere else?

- Kelly Bates: Soon to be a free agent. Will he stay or will he go? With Dean Valli's steady progression can we afford to let Kelly walk and bring Dean in as a starter the way Sherko came in this year after Bobby Singh was released?

- Cory Rodgers: Opinions of him have been both positive and negative this year. Has he done enough to keep his spot for next year or will Josh Boden's encouraging progress push Rodgers out of the picture? If Rodgers leaves, who steps up next year; Ortiz, Mock, Currie, Nicholson?

- Mark Washington: Getting a bit long in the tooth and didn't play as effective as he has in years past. However, he's a veteran and a leader on Defence and the Leos may want to keep that leadership around.

- The QBs: What the hell do we do with our 3 QBs? Does Dave retire? Does he come back? Does he continue playing but in a different uniform? Will Jarious want to once again battle with two top notch QBs for playing time or will he want to go somewhere where he's guaranteed a better than good chance to play often? Does Buck's health change the organization's feelings on him being our QB of the future?

A lot of questions to be asked and answered between now and training camp.

[Lions_Fan_4_Life]

I'll just use the names you used and say what I think:

Obie: Unfortunately he'll probably leave. One of the better guys in our history..

Ritchie: IMO I think he'll stay another year just because it was a disappointing end...

Bates: I don't know, you know he wants to stay a Lion/go home to the Riders...

Rodgers: Mock, Ortiz, Currie and Nicholson aren't ready yet, seriously they've been here all year and when they've had opportunities (minus Ortiz) they haven't really risen to the occasion. I like Boden, but Rodgers more right now.

Washington: You're 100%....he was slow during the year and he can't do as much defensively as he'd like to. That said, he liike Baron Miles are some great veterans.

QB's: Dickenson: Retire
Pierce: Starting in BC
Jackson: Starter in some other city.

[Jer Bear]

Speaking of Rodgers I believe he will be receiving a fine from the league shortly for showing and Under Armour logo on TV several times. Washington got fined for this early this year on the Riderville side of things.

[midwestlion]

Rodgers: Mock, Ortiz, Currie and Nicholson aren't ready yet, seriously they've been here all year and when they've had opportunities (minus Ortiz) they haven't really risen to the occasion. I like Boden, but Rodgers more right now.

All the above are drop offs from Kendrick Jones. It is hard to justify keeping Rodgers around. But hey it aint my team

[TheLionKing]

I think the biggest question that the Lions have to address the off season is the quarterbacks. Will they resign Jarius Jackson or will Dickenson retire. I have a hunch that DD will return.

[cromartie]

I'd like to think the Lions offer Obie just the right workload for the salary. Perhaps he's comfortable here.

Bates has indicated publicly previously he wants to remain a Lion. Whether he's resigned or one of the other guys get his spot probably depends on what we need the salary for.

Ritchie seems to want to be HC again. If he doesn't get that opportunity, he may return. He doesn't seem to be the retiring type.

I think Washington's done.

I think the answer to the receiver question is likely "none of the above".

I too believe Jarious will move on. I'm inclined to think DD will return, but there comes a point in time where we need to find out if Buck's worth the money.

[Spud387]

My bit on the QB situation:

Dave Dickenson: will play 1 more year... depending on how he performs MAYBE 2 years max.
Buck Pierce : Will stay around and can hopefully progress more with Dickenson around
Jarious Jackson: Will be let go and some other team that wants a bonified backup will take him.
Gino Gudouli[sp]: Will be our 3rd stringer. Wally like this guy and sees promise in him.

[Shi Zi Mi]

I think DD is done in BC........whether he gets a chance somewhere else remains to be seen.........let's face it, his great days are behind him and he's just not effective enough to command the salary that he expects.........with his age, immobility and concussion history, no one will trade for him.........I kind of doubt that any team, including the Lions, would be willing to sign him for even half the money he currently gets......too high risk.

I can see Buono using his salary to resign Jarious Jackson and Joe Smith.

[Big Time]

No way DD is back unless he takes a significant pay cut. By significant, I would say down to the 150K range. If he doesn't, then it's time to let him go. I would be all for having DD back as a QB coach or a backup, but his time has come IMO. It's time to move forward with BP, GG and JJ. My hope is that they sign JJ and him and BP can fight it out for the starter spot next year.

[B.C.FAN]

There isn't room under the salary cap or on the field for B.C.'s three quarterbacks next year. What if, by some miracle, all three stay healthy? Do you keep two players on the bench who could be starting for another team? How would you keep them happy?

It's time for JJ and Buck to compete for the No. 1 job. If Dickenson comes back as a player, it would have to be in a reduced role and salary as third-stringer/QB coach. More likely, he will move on and start fresh in a similar role in Calgary, perhaps as a second stringer/QB coach.

A more bold move, and one with more trade value, would be to send JJ or Buck to another team in return for some veteran help along the offensive line, at receiver, linebacker or defensive tackle, which are all positions where the Lions lack veteran depth and have players nearing retirement.

[Power-O-O-O-O]

- Bob O'Billovich: There's no secret that Obie is, or should be, among a very short list of candidates for the vacant GM position in Hamilton. His ability to find talent is something that would be greatly missed if he was to leave. How could he be replaced or will this be a problem we won't have to deal with when all is said and done?

I hope they can keep Obie on board, but it really is up to Obie, isn't it. If Obie does go, maybe we could hire Shivers for that position. He found the Riders some good talent as witnessed yesterday.

- Dave Ritchie: There's been numerous rumors of his possible retirement at the end of the year. Without another Grey Cup would Dave want to stay here in attempts to win another one or is he going to sail off into the sunset? Or could he possibly be a guy that may be looked at to fill a head coaching position somewhere else?

Again this is Ritchie's choice isn't it? He has done a great job with the defense.

- Kelly Bates: Soon to be a free agent. Will he stay or will he go? With Dean Valli's steady progression can we afford to let Kelly walk and bring Dean in as a starter the way Sherko came in this year after Bobby Singh was released?

Don't know if we can afford to move Valli in as a starter yet. If anything we need to add/develop our canadian depth on the o-line.

- Cory Rodgers: Opinions of him have been both positive and negative this year. Has he done enough to keep his spot for next year or will Josh Boden's encouraging progress push Rodgers out of the picture? If Rodgers leaves, who steps up next year; Ortiz, Mock, Currie, Nicholson?

They will find someone to challenge and likely replace Rodgers.

- Mark Washington: Getting a bit long in the tooth and didn't play as effective as he has in years past. However, he's a veteran and a leader on Defence and the Leos may want to keep that leadership around.

Maybe he will retire. If not, keep him around for a veteran presence who can still play a role.

- The QBs: What the hell do we do with our 3 QBs? Does Dave retire? Does he come back? Does he continue playing but in a different uniform? Will Jarious want to once again battle with two top notch QBs for playing time or will he want to go somewhere where he's guaranteed a better than good chance to play often? Does Buck's health change the organization's feelings on him being our QB of the future?

This is the toughest choice, but I think the choice is clear.
Dickenson cannot be relied on as a full season starter at this point in his career. A fully healthy DD is a dangerous weapon, but he has not been able to stay healthy. I like him in more as a back-up support role.
I say bring back Buck and Jarious and let them compete for the number one job.