There is optimism on the West Coast with the return of coach Wally Buono to the sidelines this season. Last year, the B.C. Lions were a sub .500 team that finished the year just 7-11 and made a quick exit in the playoffs. However, there is hope that Buono, somewhat of a CFL legend, can get more out of this team than Jeff Tedford did a year ago. Tedford, even though he is more familiar with the CFL than most Americans, just never really got the team going in the right direction. Now we’re going to find out whether it was in fact a coaching issue or whether talent was the problem.
Team Strength
Wally Buono has won five Grey Cups – three with Calgary and two with B.C.. With a resume like that, the team can have confidence heading into every game. He is the definition of a living legend.
In his general manager role, he has also built one of the better receiving corps in the league. First he was able to resign Emmanuel Arcenaux, the fourth leading receiver in the league with more than 1100 yards, and then added to the group with the signing of Nick Moore, Winnipeg’s leading receiver from a year ago. Combine those two with promising young quarterback Jonathon Jennings, who burst onto the scene last year thanks to injuries (the oft-injured Travis Lulay). Joennings finished the season 3-3 in his six starts while completing 66% of his passes for 2004 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. However, he was playing for a new contract, which he received (three-year deal). If he continues his ascent, this offense should be much better and maybe – just maybe – an offense that could be among the best in the league.
Team Weakness
The defense lost three key players in defensive Josh Johnson, linebacker Alex Hoffman-Ellis and defensive end Khreem Smith. Smith was second on the team in sacks with six and a defense that struggled to make big plays will be facing another season hoping for someone to step up. Linebacker Solomon Elimimian was among the league leaders in tackles before he went down to injury and when a guy is coming off an Achilles injury, it can take a while to get back to the level he was before. He was an all-league talent prior to the injury, so if any issues linger, that’s going to have a noticeable impact on the team.
Team X-Factor
Running back Andrew Harris was second in the CFL in rushing last season, one of just three running backs that topped 1000 yards. However, the Lions lost Harris in free agency and had to replace him. This is definitely a pass first league, but the Lions want to have a running attack they can count on. They added Jeremiah Johnson and Anthony Allen in the offseason and hope that either of them – or returning backs Chris Rainey or Chris Murray-Lawrence – emerges as a consistent threat. If they can get the same level of running production they did a year ago, the offense can be really, really good.
The Season Will Be A Success If…
Buono can work his magic, get this team over the .500 mark back into the playoffs and win. The key will be Jennings. He has to progress and regress. Last year, he was thrown into the fire in a can’t-lose type of situation. Now he’s under the pressure of the job being all his now. He is still a relatively unproven commodity.
Outlook
B.C. looks to be right in the middle of a very competitive West. They will be better than they were a year ago on offense so they will need their defense to hold up their end of the bargain as well. If they really are strong on that side of the ball they have a chance to win the division, but predicting defensive performance in the CFL is tricky. Odds are they will be good enough.
Pick: Third place in the Western Division, but with a better record than a year ago. It will probably be pretty bunchy out West.
