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INDEPTH: 2005 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
B.C. Lions
CBC Sports Online | Last updated June 21, 2005
Dave Dickenson, shown here preparing for
last year's Grey Cup, is the Lions' starting quarterback –
for now.
(CP File Photo)
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2004 RECORD: 13-5-0, first in the West.
Lost to Toronto Argonauts 27-19 in the Grey Cup.
ARRIVALS: S Barron Miles, QB Jarius Jackson, OL Sherko Haji-Rasouli
and OL Moe Elewonibi.
DEPARTURES: R Chris Brazzell, OL Steve Hardin, QB Spergon
Wynn, DB Bo Lewis, DL Cameron Legault and OL Marc Pilon.
OFFENCE: The quarterback controversy is on the backburner.
For now.
Dave Dickenson enters the year as the primary pass thrower since
Casey Printers, last season's CFL outstanding player, continues
to nurse toe and shoulder injuries.
Dickenson has recovered from last year's left
knee surgery and is ready to resume the No. 1 job he relinquished
for most of Printers's breakout campaign. Either way, the Lions
have the rare luxury of two top-shelf quarterbacks.
Whoever is at the helm will chuck passes to elite targets. Geroy
Simon, who led the CFL in touchdowns, receptions, and receiving
yards last season, is the anchor of a talented receiving corps.
He's joined by powerhouse slotback Jason Clermont
and reliable receivers Ryan Thelwell and Frank Cutolo, who is rumoured
to be on the trading block.
The Lions lost the speedy Chris Brazzell to
the Hamilton Tiger-Cats during the off-season, but the club will
try to fill the gap by giving more passes to North Vancouver native
Paris Jackson.
The Lions complement an explosive passing game with a ground attack
centred on Antonio Warren. The versatile running back, who also
logs time as a kick returner, rushed for 1,136 yards and five touchdowns
last season.
The B.C. offensive line did enough to lead the league in passing
yards last season, but the protection proved far from impenetrable.
Lions quarterbacks were sacked 54 times –
three off Ottawa's league-high 57 – although a handful of ailments
contributed to the high sack totals. Starters Kelly Bates, Bobby
Singh and Cory Mantyka each missed significant chunks of the year
due to injury. All of the big men are back, and healthy, heading
into 2005.
The offensive line was also bolstered by the signings of former
Montreal Alouette Sherko Haji-Rasouli and veteran Moe Elewonibi,
who was released by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Rookie Jamal Powell
also figures in the mix.
DEFENCE: The Lions did a stunning job stuffing the run last
season. B.C. led the CFL in several run-stopping categories, including
fewest rushing yards and touchdowns on the ground allowed. Linebackers
Otis Floyd, Barrin Simpson and Carl Kidd can take much of the credit.
But it was a different story trying to stop the pass. B.C.'s inexperienced
secondary was frequently burned and was vulnerable to big-yard gains
through the air.
The club addressed this weakness by inking free-agent
safety Barron Miles, a four-time all-star with the Alouettes.
Miles joins a Lions defence that already includes standouts like
Canadian defensive end Brent Johnson, who finished tied for third
in the league with 10 quarterback sacks.
Speedy defensive end Frank Ferrara will also
be called on to contribute after the team cut rookie Mawuko Tugbenyoh,
the Lions' nominee for rookie of the year after recording six sacks
in 2004.
The Lions also lost a trio of defensive players to the Ottawa Renegades
including defensive back Da'Shann Austin, who left via a trade,
as well as free agents Cameron Legault (tackle) and Marc Pilon (lineman).
SPECIAL TEAMS: Kicking was one of the Lions' most inconsistent
areas in 2004.
Punter/place kicker Duncan O'Mahony became
a fan target after struggling from long range and only hitting two
of his first seven field goal attempts.
The playoffs were a microcosm of O'Mahony's
roller-coaster season. He heroically nailed a pair of clutch field
goals to lead the Lions to an overtime triumph in the West final.
But he struggled in the Grey Cup game, booting seven punts for a
paltry 27.9-yard average – 13.6 yards below his season average.
He must become more consistent.
Warren and Aaron Lockett anchor a B.C. return squad that, while
not the flashiest in the league, is always a threat to bust out
for a large gain.
COACHING: The Lions have one of the most experienced and
decorated head coaches in CFL history in Wally Buono.
He's won multiple coach of the year honours,
Grey Cup titles, and sits second only to Montreal Alouettes coach
Don Matthews on the all-time wins list.
Two familiar faces are patrolling the sidelines with Buono this
year in new, high-ranking roles.
Veteran Dave Ritchie, who guided B.C. to a Grey
Cup title in 1994, returns to Vancouver as the Lions' defensive
coordinator. He takes over for from Paul
Arslanian, who left the club for personal reasons.
The offensive portfolio is handed to Jacques
Chapdelaine, who spent the last two seasons guiding an explosive
group of pass-catchers as the Lions' receivers coach. Chapdelaine
replaces former offensive coordinator Steve Buratto, who now plans
the Calgary Stampeders' attack.
GAME BREAKER: GEROY SIMON
Simon is the ace of a deep and talented B.C. receiving corps. Great
things are expected from the man who led the CFL in touchdowns,
receptions and passing yards last season.
EXPERT OPINION: "They are better than then were last year
because they have a healthy Dave Dickenson and, obviously, not-quite-heathy
but will-be-healthy Casey Printers," said CFL on CBC analyst
Greg Frers.
"The loss of Chris Brazzell I don't think is a concern, because
they brought in Simmons and Myers."
"The one player who's really stepped up in B.C. is Paris Jackson,
who is arguably the fourth-best receiver for sure. "
"Their defence was solid against the run, but they didn't get to
the quarterback. So they brought in Dave Ritchie in as defensive
co-ordinator, where his whole philosophy is pressure on every down."
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