Ricky Foley brings new attitude this time around

[MisterJones]

Foley brings new attitude this time around

Defensive end expected to have larger role with team this season

By Lowell Ullrich, Canwest News ServiceJune 8, 2009 5:21 AM

Two years ago Ricky Foley competed for a starting defensive end job with the B.C. Lions at training camp and lost out to Cam Wake, a player who was twice named the CFL's top defensive player.

Hindsight has a way of making Lions coach Wally Buono look like a genius.

Wake has gone and cashed in his success with the NFL's Miami Dolphins and Foley again began his quest for a spot as a second non-import starter on the front four alongside Brent Johnson, a feat that could well set a precedent in the three-down league.

Buono talked repeatedly while doing his winter housecleaning about the need for his remaining core players to step forward and never once mentioned Foley.

It was an understandable oversight. All the 26-year-old has done since joining the Lions three years ago is serve as a situational pass rusher. But if the Lions are going to push past the growing pains associated with change, players who've previously been in understudy roles will have to excel now that they have been given another chance.

And not only does Foley's passport give him his best chance to start in two years, so much of what the Lions do to establish their Canadian ratio this year is predicated on how he performs during the blink-of-an-eye process known as training camp.

The Lions started for real yesterday. They play their first pre-season game June 17 in Calgary.

If any backup had a sense of entitlement to an opening, it might be a player whose first step to the quarterback is as quick as any in the league. Luckily for his sake and that of a Lions team looking to rid themselves of the belief they should automatically be handed a playoff spot every year, that notion has passed.

"I eliminated that attitude from Day 1," Foley said on Day 1 of camp in Abbotsford.

The attitude was lost not when Wake left or when the Lions signed fellow Canadian Nautyn McKay-Loescher, then added imports Kyle Mitchell and Gary Butler to create camp competition.

It went when Foley looked in the mirror, or more specifically, at game tape.

"I looked at the last two years," he said. "One play I look like I'm an all-pro in the NFL and the next four or five I shouldn't even be starting in [Canadian Interuniversity Sport].

"My job is to play with a consistency that is on par with every-down starters in this league."

Playing two Canadians on either end of the defensive front not only might be a league first but would also open up other options for the Lions at camp, like starting three American receivers or at linebacker.

Small wonder, perhaps, why James (Quick) Parker, who still holds the CFL single-season record with 26.5 sacks, was on hand for the first time in five years to help out.

"You can't just speed-rush people," Parker said after his first day of work with Foley. "He has some speed but if they take away your speed rush what are you going to do? I think I can teach him some stuff for sure."

Where Foley does not need help are lessons in humility, which represents a radical departure from the past when he would meet with Buono to let off a little steam. Losing a position battle can do that to a guy.

"I've still got a chip on my shoulder, don't get me wrong, but it's not bitterness," Foley said. "Sometimes I tried to get by just being an athlete. This year I focused on being a football player and not just an athlete that can spy the quarterback and create matchup problems.

"The clock is ticking -- how many chances do you get?"

Foley was talking about himself. He could have been speaking about any veteran on his team.

O-lineman bolts

The Lions found themselves one brick shy of a load at left tackle after NFL journeyman Martin Bibla decided to pack it in after just one practice with the rookie group. His defection has opened the door for a former spreader of the Mormon faith, Vaughn Lesuma, who is approaching his unexpected call-up with almost missionary zeal.

"It was a big surprise," Lesuma said. "The B.C. Lions are a great organization. I was flattered and humbled at the same time."

Lesuma, who grew up playing rugby and basketball in Fiji, was in Laie, Hawaii, just finishing up a gym workout on Friday, when the Lions informed him of a late training camp opening. Bibla, a fourth-round draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2002, has similar credentials to Rob Murphy, the two-time CFL most outstanding lineman who signed with the Toronto Argonauts. He was expected to push Walter Stith, last year's back-up at the position, for the starting left tackle spot. But Bibla stuck around for only two days of rookie camp before packing his bags.

"I got the sense he didn't like the way we wanted things done here," said Buono of Bibla. "It was an idea he formulated after one practice."

While Bibla is a seasoned pro, Lesuma is anything but. A late starter, he played football for the first time four years ago at junior college before transferring to Washington State for his final two years. He started 10 games for the Cougars last season as a 26-year-old left tackle. His entry into university was delayed by his faith's missionary work, which saw him promoting his religion in gang-infested neighbourhoods of southern California.

"It helps to be 6-4 and 323 pounds," Lesuma says.

With Bibla's defection, Lesuma joins Stith and Darren Marquez in a three-way competition to replace Murphy.

LATE ARRIVAL

Jerel Myers, an import wide receiver who played with the Lions in 2005, missed the first of two-a-day practices yesterday after botched flight connections delayed his arrival in Vancouver. He is rooming with Paris Jackson, his fellow rookie at the training camp of the Buffalo Bills in 2003

http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Foley ... story.html

[WestCoastJoe]

"I looked at the last two years," he said. "One play I look like I'm an all-pro in the NFL and the next four or five I shouldn't even be starting in [Canadian Interuniversity Sport].

"My job is to play with a consistency that is on par with every-down starters in this league."

"I've still got a chip on my shoulder, don't get me wrong, but it's not bitterness," Foley said. "Sometimes I tried to get by just being an athlete. This year I focused on being a football player and not just an athlete that can spy the quarterback and create matchup problems.

"The clock is ticking -- how many chances do you get?"

Ricky Foley has played very well on special teams. He is an amazing athlete. Powerful and fast. It will be interesting to see if he can win the Defensive End job. There is lots of competition.

Gary Butler continues to make a strong impression on many observers. He is listed at 235 lbs., about 10 lighter than Foley. Butler looks to be very fast, like Foley. It seems to me that Foley is quite a bit stronger.

Caesar Rayford is looking very capable IMO. For a guy that tall, he can really move. I expect he will be able to provide a good pass rush. Since he is something of a "project," I'm wondering if he has enough of the football skills and instincts necessary to be effective at the pro level, to go along with his rare physical attributes.
.............

"It was a big surprise," Lesuma said. "The B.C. Lions are a great organization. I was flattered and humbled at the same time."

"It helps to be 6-4 and 323 pounds," Lesuma says.

Lesuma looked huge, when I was watching him work out with Dorazio and the O Linemen yesterday. He is even heavier than I thought. He looks like he could be a very good player. Once again, with his relative inexperience, it would seem he might something of a "project."

[Area51]

Look at the ratios and it seems pretty obvious that BC needs Foley to start at end.

Reid, Haji, BJ, Glatt and whoever plays FB look to be sure NI starters. That leaves two more spots to be filled - - LG, SB and DE would need to have two NIs starting. With Plant gone (I'm guessing for good) maybe Dean Valli gets a spot at G. Which leaves SB or DE to be filled. I don't think there's much question Foley and an import receiver would have far more impact than one of the import ends and either Anderson or Green at SB.

Signing McKay in the off season was a pretty strong tell that BC was going with Foley & BJ at end this year.

[OV - 54:40]

"a league first" ??? - seems Ullrich doesn't know CFL history, let alone BC Lions history very well; the 83 BC team that played in the GC had Rick Klassen and Brett Racette at DEs (Hebler was injured i believe); and the 94 GC Champ Lions had an all NI D-Line (in a 3-4 formation); the 92 GC Champ Stamps had Kent Warnock, Zizakovic and Hasselbach starting on their D-Line.

This Canadians/NIs should only be playing certain positions stuff is an invention of much more recent CFL history and some ill-informed, cliched football "reporters" have helped to spread this notion around.

[WestCoastJoe]

Possible non-import starters, IMHO

Valli - left guard

Reid - centre

Haji Rasouli - right guard

Bwenge or Lumbala - fullback

Jackson - slotback

Johnson - defensive end

Glatt - MLB

Foley - defensive end (possibly)

With the abundance of non-import talent Buono has stockpiled over the years, he has occasionally started more than 7 (required) of them. That might happen again this year, if Foley wins the DE spot.

Tad Crawford is another one who is close to being a starter, IMO.

[OV - 54:40]

Possible non-import starters, IMHO

Valli - left guard

Reid - centre

Haji Rasouli - right guard

Bwenge or Lumbala - fullback

Jackson - slotback

Johnson - defensive end

Glatt - MLB

Foley - defensive end (possibly)

With the abundance of non-import talent Buono has stockpiled over the years, he has occasionally started more than 7 (required) of them. That might happen again this year, if Foley wins the DE spot.

Tad Crawford is another one who is close to being a starter, IMO.

Real training camp competition should yield LOTS of possibilities: Carter & Hetherington as receivers; Andrew Harris or Lumballa & Bwenge at tailback; Sorenson at OT; Yurichuck at MLB; Arakgi or McEachern at OLB, Pierre-Etienne at DT - all positions where there are openings for guys to step-up and claim playing time with good camps. Pencilling in stuff limits the possibilities for NIs though. I'll bet on Hameister-Reis winning out at guard over Valli. Foley and Crawford might make excellent CFL starters on defence.

[WestCoastJoe]

Real training camp competition should yield LOTS of possibilities: Carter & Hetherington as receivers; Andrew Harris or Lumballa & Bwenge at tailback; Sorenson at OT; Yurichuck at MLB; Arakgi or McEachern at OLB, etc. Pencilling in stuff limits the possibilities for NIs though. I'll bet on Hameister-Reis winning out at guard over Valli. Foley and Crawford might make excellent CFL starters on defence.

Yes.

Carter is a defiinite possibility down the road. Hetherington looks very slim and fast this year with good hands.

Andrew Harris is no Training Camp filler. He can play. Not sure if he can make the squad, but he looks fast, shifty and strong.

Hameister-Ries looks very strong this year.

Yurichuk, Arakgi, McEachern, Foley and Crawford all look like potential starters at some point.

No wonder Buono seems rather relaxed despite all the changes from last year.

We'll see how he is feeling when the bullets start flying, but the non-import talent (a lot of it inexperienced still) seems to be there.

[David]

Real training camp competition should yield LOTS of possibilities: Carter & Hetherington as receivers; Andrew Harris or Lumballa & Bwenge at tailback; Sorenson at OT; Yurichuck at MLB; Arakgi or McEachern at OLB, Pierre-Etienne at DT - all positions where there are openings for guys to step-up and claim playing time with good camps. Pencilling in stuff limits the possibilities for NIs though. I'll bet on Hameister-Reis winning out at guard over Valli. Foley and Crawford might make excellent CFL starters on defence.

I don't believe the Lions are in any rush to start raw rookies. I believe that they'll ease some of these guys along (i.e. James Yurichuk) with special teams work. Others will start the season on the practice roster. IMO Matt Carter is not yet ready to play and is a strong candidate to be placed on the practice roster. I would put Hetherington ahead of him on the depth chart at this point. Even Justin Sorensen will need some seasoning (this became evident when they decided after rookie camp that the best place for him is at right tackle.....behind perennial all-star Jason Jimenez!).

And I'll take that bet with you about our starting Guard. I believe the 'veteran' Dean Valli will start the season over Jon Hameister-Ries.

DH

[PigSkin_53]

The limited times that RF had the opportunity to compete in last seasons rotation in a meaningful way, were too few and far between for my liking.

The times that he did get the nod he a showed an extra-ordinary explosive side of himself that too few of us realized was latent, but had not the context to fully develop yet.

When he was called upon he did not disappoint but instead showed why he has come of age and is fully ready to join the front four this season.

Rick as you know was stuck in a tweener’s dilemma for rush end and linebacker a couple of seasons ago and was competing with Cam Wake, a battle he just could not hope to win. Thanks to his strength and endurance coaching (Chris Boyko) last off-season he is bigger and faster and extremely hard to hold back this time round.

With the aid of Quick Parker’s tutelage and experience this time I feel sure that Rick will like cream find a way to rise to the top of his game, and make the most of the occasion given him.

Go Rickie, like a heat seeking missile acquire and execute target.