Looking ahead to next season

[Area51]

Now that this season was a complete wasted failure it's time to start thinking about next year's team. Here's a few of my initial thoughts:

QB:
It's time to pick a starter and then pick a back up out of Dickenson/Jarious/Bucky. Guidugli is well suited for the third string clipboard holder. Somewhat competent in an emergency situation, but not nearly far enough along in his development to be a distraction by pining for playing time.

Get rid of one of Dickenson/Jarious/Bucky to help fill a weakness in another area and at the same time clear up who the starter and back ups are. Based on his age and injuries, I can't see Dickenson's trade value being equal to what he could actually contribute. I still think he would have been the best suited of the three to lead BC in the playoffs - - how does your 3rd stringer at the begining of the year suddenly become the go to guy in the playoffs?!? Especially when Jarious got his starts becuase of injuries to the two guys in front of him.

Hopefully there's a team in the league who'll be fooled by Jarious' potential and the success BC had this year with him starting and give up a starter in a trade for him.

LB:
Wow, what a major weakness BC had exposed this year. Glatt and Otis are good to excellent starting LBs, and JJ showed he can be a contributor, but he's got to stay healthy. After that there's nothing. Pottinger starts for most of the season just as Jarious did, but then in the playoffs he gets replaced by a waiver pick up who'd been around for a month. Definetly need to add a starting LB and use JJ to rotate with the others or fill in for injuries when needed.

OL:
Another area with a major lack of depth. Last year when Singh went down Sherk was able to step in with little drop off, and then they had Dean Valli move to the back up spot. Contrast to this year when Sherk went down yesterday. Valli's not quite ready to start yet, and Plant was completely dominated. BC needs to add someone who can step in for the guards if needed without any drop off. How nice would it have been to have Bobby Singh available yesterday?!?

DL:
It took Williams and Hunt a few games to get going, but once they got into game shape, they were excellent interior tackles. Wake showed he can put up big stats and make impact plays, but he struggled with consistency throughout the year. There was no consistency issues with Brent Johnson though - - his season when consistently downhill. To me the turning point was when he was in pursuit of a QB and thought he was held, but instead of getting after the QB he decided to pull up IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PLAY to turn and wave his arms at the ref. Ricky Foley showed he's ready to be a force in the last game against Calgary, but for some readon he's been seemingly froze out of the picture. No idea of this will change next year, but it's time to decide if they're going to let Foley play or watch him leave after next year.

[cromartie]

We already have one of these threads. Can a mod do the honors?

[FINELION77]

you guys like Area51 have memory loss! DAve went down! Buck went down! who * do you think won all those games????????????????du, does it start with a J? you ungrateful *! while dave was pullin his pud J was winnin games! Walley screwed it up Sunday, the team that was counting on J fell apart! Dave has credentials but can you really expect a 3 concusion man who played 20 some mins all season! to beat a hard nosed hungery team like Sask. who had a vendeta against BC from last years trashing????? they may be green, dumb farmers! but they were on a mission that we were not prepared 2 deal with!!!!!!!!!!just another important game we underestimated and lost!how many western final loses will it take before we get our S_it together???????????????

*Edited for language

[FINELION77]

Area51 you have a few creds! but your long gone from the game! wanna here from someone still in the game? if you only knew the 1/2 of what you think you know you might have enough 2 blow your nose! heresay and speculation is not admissable in court!! so tired of back seat drivers that don't currently play "THE GAME" step off and let those who live it talk the talk!!!!!!!

[Rammer]

you guys like Area51 have memory loss! DAve went down! Buck went down! who * do you think won all those games????????????????du, does it start with a J? you ungrateful *! while dave was pullin his pud J was winnin games! Walley screwed it up Sunday, the team that was counting on J fell apart! Dave has credentials but can you really expect a 3 concusion man who played 20 some mins all season! to beat a hard nosed hungery team like Sask. who had a vendeta against BC from last years trashing????? they may be green, dumb farmers! but they were on a mission that we were not prepared 2 deal with!!!!!!!!!!just another important game we underestimated and lost!how many western final loses will it take before we get our S_it together???????????????

*Edited for language

In retrospect DD should have been pulled also, we were waiting for the magic finish that we fans have become use to seeing, especially versus Saskatchewan. Tough loss, cold start with two quick turnovers, and that seemed to give the Riders the confidence that they needed to hold onto that lead. Still you have to think that JJ's 3/12 with two picks isn't exactly stay in at QB material. I alos think that Buck wasn't up to the hits that were coming once Sherko and Valli went down, DD much either for that matter.

As for showing up at the WDF, it almost seems as if the Lions are expecting the opponent to bend over as the Western Division first place finish entitles them to a GC appearance. Riders were on a mission, got up, and didn't turn the ball over, they were the better team on the day and were hungry.

[MacNews]

Agree Rammer, neither of our 3 QBs should've played Sunday. JJ already earned his shower, and DD and Buck aren't able to absorb the hits like JJ.

What do you do, put JJ back in and risk a 3rd pick? Or aggravate Buck's injury?

[Lions4ever]

Was there not a game this season where JJ was abysmal in the 1st half but came out in the 2nd half and was absolutely on fire? Which game was that? That's a hunch I would have played FWIW.

[Blitz]

In retrospect DD should have been pulled also, we were waiting for the magic finish that we fans have become use to seeing, especially versus Saskatc

I don't know of any magic finishes Dickenson has ever had against Saskatchewan. Except for last year's Western Final he's usually the quarterback, when we lose to them. They are also the team that causes him to be injured, more than any other.,

The views of the majority of Lionbackers are generally different than the views of the rest of the league when it comes to our quarterback decisions in the playoffs. The other night, on TSN. we had yet another CFL player, questioning Wally's addiction to going to Dickenson in the playoffs when he is rusty...stating Printers should have started the '04 Grey Cup and that Jarious should have been left in the game in the Western Final.

The view around the league is that Wally's quarterback decisions in the playoffs have been flawed, that he has gone to the vet in Dickenson, when the odds did not favor him, and that our game plans in the playoffs have been way too conservative, especially offensively, during the playoffs.

[No Ka Oi]

They win as a team and lose as a team.

In retrospect, I would of put Jarius back in for the 4th quarter when it was obvious that Dave was out of his element. I didn't think JJ was playing that badly that he should be pulled in the 2nd quarter, for a guy who was obviously out of shape and rusty in the last game of the season?

If the Lions bring in an new offensive coordinator, that would mean a demotion for Kruk and Dorazio. And why did Joe Smith only touch the ball 8 times in such a close game? That was the same number of carries he had in the last home game vs Sask, where we got hammered and the OC's were roundly criticized? Wouldn't rushing the ball or throwing screen passes taken some of the pressure off Dave and the ailing O-line?

Oh well, sour grapes at this point. What should they do for next year?

Sign Jarius to a similar contract as Buck's and have an open competition in training camp for Job 1. Release DD and find replacements for Wake (or did he sign a 3 yr deal?) and Jiminez.

Hire a new O-coordinator and demote Kruk and Dorazio.

I think they can get at least another year out of M. Washington, B. Miles and T. Williams. The Lions may have to re-think J. Glatt and J. Johnson and their roles on the team, or perhaps bring a new run-stopper MLB a la B. Simpson?

The Lions don't seem to be getting much depth on their kickoffs with B. Anderson and teams often get good field position with only an short runback. I would like to see the ball pounded to the 10 yd line, not the 25.

I would keep our receiving corp intact, including C. Rogers who as all the talent but just needs more gametime. He reminds me of James Murphy in Wpg. The Lions should perhaps rethink using J. Boden as the "go-to guy".

Despite the slagging they took, I would keep our D. secondary intact. There is little wrong with them an attitudinal adjustment couldn't cure, and they probably got that as a result of their last two games.

Oh yeah, and I would re-sign Joe Smith to a longterm extention.

Other than that the Lions should have a stacked team for next season...15 wins anyone??

[TheLionKing]

Lions need to find a speedster in the wide receiver position. Josh Boden is not the answer.

[B.C.FAN]

Lions need to find a speedster in the wide receiver position. Josh Boden is not the answer.

I disagree. Boden is a younger, quicker Ryan Thelwell, with the same shiftiness, better hands and a huge upside. He's a starter. Rogers I'm not so sure about.

[Blitz]

disagree. Boden is a younger, quicker Ryan Thelwell, with the same shiftiness, better hands and a huge upside. He's a starter. Rogers I'm not so sure about.

Boden will be one of our five recivers next season along with Clermont, Simon, and Paris Jackson. Boden will likely line up as the fifth receiver in the five pack receiver set. However, I believe Rodgers is gone for next season and if he isn't he should be.

One of the reasons we chose to keep Rodgers was his ability as a returner as well as a receiver. Rodgers was horrible on kick returns and we didn't use him as a punt returner to ever spell Smart.

As a reciever Rodgers averaged one a a half catches a game for about a 19 yard per game average. As one of our starting four receivers he wasn't a deep threat or an underneath threat. As one of our two import receivers on offence that just isn't enough of a contribution to our offence.

It's one of our two priority areas for next season.

The second would be to find a run stopping middle linebacker and move Glatt to outside linebacker, which I have always felt was his more natural postiton.

[Balraj]

Why would you demote Jamal Johnson? have you ever seen him hit? sure he's had an injury or 2 but so has buck does that mean that you demote him? no. You would also want to hire a new O coach who would then come in a create a new O that will take some time to learn. Wally's has always kept his coaches the same and the offensive philosophy the same with a little tinkering here and there. I don't see a need to change that.

[FINELION77]

Anybody agree that an offer 2 get J. Chapp back would be a positive step since he was let go? ( don't try and put a square peg in a round hole?)

[TheLionKing]

As far as I'm concerned Chapdelaine burned his bridges. Hope he enjoys coaching high school football.