Lionbackers.com

B.C.FAN wrote:

CatsEyes wrote:Neat to see Quinn doing well. He worked for me as a server for a few months-really cool to see a local boy make good so far

He might want his old job back. He didn't make it to main camp.

Mike Beamish ‏@sixbeamers
B.C. Lions will have one deletion prior to the start of training camp: junior punter Quinn Van Gylswyk going home after 3-day rookie camp.

Players to watch

Lowell Ullrich
The Province

RB NIC GRIGSBY

There's room for at least nine new faces, counting the practice roster, on a tentative depth chart, but you'll move ahead with the Lions if you're a rookie import who can return kicks. Grigsby didn't return kicks at Arizona and as such may be this year's version of 2011 heralded camp prospect Keegan Herring of Arizona State. But at 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, he at least fits the mould as a Stefan Logan clone and has a slight edge on fellow rookie runners of similar size with NFL experience with three clubs.

WR KIERRIE JOHNSON

B.C.'s patience last year paid off and when the Grey Cup rolled around, the diminutive rookie was productive, scoring his first CFL touchdown in the biggest game of the year. But the receiver spot generally is the place for some good battles, especially if the Lions see a better kick returner. Among those to battle Johnson: Darnell Jenkins, a 29-yearold CFL rookie from Miami.

DB JEROME DENNIS

Anthony Reddick received an offseason contract extension and Dennis, who arrived early last year from Hamilton during the Lions' early-season meltdown, did not. The Lions also have to find a spot on the field for Lin-J Shell and may not have the roster flexibility to carry two similar players, one reason perhaps why Dennis is reportedly in excellent shape for camp.

SB NICK MOORE

It's rare a player makes this list two years in a row. Moore, 25, made it through the 2011 season but was bypassed as a starter by Kierrie Johnson. Any kind of showing by Courtney Taylor, who joined the club last year, or any rookie import at camp and Moore might be in trouble.

2010 DRAFT CLASS

We'll exclude Shawn Gore, Akeem Foster and ahem, Danny Watkins, but everyone else still with the Lions in this group should know they are being watched.

DBs Cauchy Muamba and Hamid Mahmoudi, LB Joash Gessee and OL Adam Baboulas will be pushed by this year's draft class, as the Lions have said they don't want any of their picks to be cut and be lost again to their CIS schools as has too often been the case in recent years.

The only surprise from the first practice, though it had been known to the Lions for about a week, was that LB Adam Leonard’s rehab from mid-season ACL surgery is still not complete, no surprise considering how long it took Jamall Lee to come back from the same thing last year. It means Anton McKenzie will have another backup for the forseeable future.

B.C.FAN wrote:The battle for starting spots on the offensive line may have ended on the first day of camp. According to LU, last year's starting guards, Jesse Newman and Dean Valli, were both carted off the field Sunday. Newman may need arthroscopic surgery on his knee. Jon Hameister-Ries can reclaim the starting left guard position just by staying healthy, which has been his biggest challenge in the past.

Fifth Quarter blog

TheLionKing wrote:

B.C.FAN wrote:The battle for starting spots on the offensive line may have ended on the first day of camp. According to LU, last year's starting guards, Jesse Newman and Dean Valli, were both carted off the field Sunday. Newman may need arthroscopic surgery on his knee. Jon Hameister-Ries can reclaim the starting left guard position just by staying healthy, which has been his biggest challenge in the past.

Fifth Quarter blog

Not a good start

David wrote:Also caught this piece of bad news in another LU blog today:

The only surprise from the first practice, though it had been known to the Lions for about a week, was that LB Adam Leonard’s rehab from mid-season ACL surgery is still not complete, no surprise considering how long it took Jamall Lee to come back from the same thing last year. It means Anton McKenzie will have another backup for the forseeable future.

I guess the only good news in this is that by all accounts, the club brought in an abundance of really good linebacking prospects.


DH

Rammer wrote:

TheLionKing wrote:

B.C.FAN wrote:The battle for starting spots on the offensive line may have ended on the first day of camp. According to LU, last year's starting guards, Jesse Newman and Dean Valli, were both carted off the field Sunday. Newman may need arthroscopic surgery on his knee. Jon Hameister-Ries can reclaim the starting left guard position just by staying healthy, which has been his biggest challenge in the past.

Fifth Quarter blog

Not a good start

Unless you start to think that Fabien may be the recipient of a starting wage, given this unfortunate turn of events.

DanoT wrote:

Rammer wrote:

B.C.FAN wrote:The battle for starting spots on the offensive line may have ended on the first day of camp. According to LU, last year's starting guards, Jesse Newman and Dean Valli, were both carted off the field Sunday. Newman may need arthroscopic surgery on his knee. Jon Hameister-Ries can reclaim the starting left guard position just by staying healthy, which has been his biggest challenge in the past.

Fifth Quarter blog

Unless you start to think that Fabien may be the recipient of a starting wage, given this unfortunate turn of events.

Is Fabien's agent still negotiating?

B.C.FAN wrote:The battle for starting spots on the offensive line may have ended on the first day of camp. According to LU, last year's starting guards, Jesse Newman and Dean Valli, were both carted off the field Sunday. Newman may need arthroscopic surgery on his knee. Jon Hameister-Ries can reclaim the starting left guard position just by staying healthy, which has been his biggest challenge in the past.

Fifth Quarter blog

Coast Mountain Lion wrote:Worse than that - if Valli's out, who does that leave as backup at centre? Angus Reid isn't getting younger.