CFL Preview: Buono returns to sidelines to lead Lions

The BC Lions enter the 2016 season with a young quarterback they're excited about and a familiar face returning to the sidelines as head coach.

Top Storylines

Buono returns After a 26-year career patrolling CFL sidelines, Wally Buono retired to the front office in 2011. Since then the GM has watched over the unsuccessful head coaching tenures of Mike Benevides (2012-14) and Jeff Tedford (2015). So he made perhaps his best head coaching hire this off-season, himself. Buono led the Lions to a Grey Cup that last year on the sideline, but returns to a team with few holdovers from five years ago. The good news? With control of the roster as GM, the current crop of Lions should all be to his liking.

QB1 and 1A Four years removed from an MOP season, and just three removed from a West Division All-Star season, Travis Lulay could now be the best backup quarterback in the league. A combination of nagging injuries and Jonathon Jennings’ rise to stardom dropped Lulay to the subsidiary half of one of the league’s top pass throwing tandems to start the season. It’s a common refrain in league circles however, a team needs at least two quarterbacks to be successful throughout an 18-game season. There could be plenty of opportunity for both to play; how much each gets should be interesting.

Running back competition The Lions haven't had to worry about their running back position in some time, but when it appeared a split with Andrew Harris was in the cards, the position became open for competition this year. BC brought in two intriguing and experienced - albeit imperfect - options in imports Anthony Allen and Jeremiah Johnson. Allen joins the team after a solid rookie season and so-so follow-up act in Saskatchewan, while Johnson comes over after a slight breakout year in Ottawa. Whoever wins the starting job will be tasked with helping out Jennings, in his first full year as a starter, as much as possible.

Additions and Subtractions

+ S Mike Edem Widely considered the best non-offensive lineman in the‎ 2013 draft, the Lions will look to Edem to again become that promising player who earned an East Division All-Star nod as a rookie. Since then, the past two years haven't been as kind to Edem, while the Lions have been struggling to find a non-import starter at safety since Barron Miles retired six years ago.

- RB Andrew Harris The Lions starting running back for the past five seasons, Harris’ ‘sub-par’ 2015 campaign still netted 1,600 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns. He is now in Winnipeg while the Lions will go with an import at the RB position, likely turning to either Jeremiah Johnson and Anthony Allen. 

Canadian Content

For years after Buono first arrived on the West Coast, the Lions were the envy of the CFL when it came to homegrown talent. From 2004 to 2009, three different Lions – Brent Johnson, Jason Clermont, and Ricky Foley – combined to win the League’s Most Outstanding Canadian award five times. Times have changed though, as the 2016 Lions don’t possess any players of that calibre, especially with the offseason departure of Andrew Harris and retirement of Austin Collie. But the organization is working hard to restock its cupboards.

The franchise has used a number of first round picks in recent years on offensive linemen, selecting Kirby Fabien (2012), Hunter Steward (2013), and most recently Charles Vaillancourt (2016). The Lions have abandoned their hopes of playing Steward at tackle, at least for the time being, which leaves those three players in a competition for the two guard positions flanking newly anointed centre Cody Husband. They may gain some help ratio-wise later in the season should last year’s second round pick, OT Brett Boyko, fail to stick with the NFL’s San Diego Chargers.

With Collie’s retirement, Shawn Gore moves back inside to his familiar slotback position, and fellow veteran Marco Iannuzzi steps back into the starting lineup at wide receiver. In two-back sets, the Lions will replace Iannuzzi with the CFL’s best pure fullback, Rolly Lumbala.

On the other side of the ball, defensive tackle and safety will be BC’s two National positions. Former Rookie of the Year finalist Jabar Westerman starts at DT, with David Menard expected to see plenty of action at both tackle and end in the D-Line rotation.

During the free agent frenzy, the Leos grabbed former Alouette and Tiger-Cat Mike Edem to solidify the safety position, with last year’s starter Eric Fraser still available in reserve. Although the Lions will go with three International linebackers, Canadian Bo Lokombo should also see significant action there. He and fellow homegrown LBs Jason Arakgi and Adrian Clarke are also key members of BC’s special teams.

Impact Imports

No two players have been more representative of the Lions the past five years than the hulking linebacking duo of Sololmon Elimimian and Adam Bighill. Since gaining regular playing time, the two have combined to win every year-end award possible, and have five league and seven division All-Star nods together. Simply put, a healthy Elimimian and Bighill likely leaves just one other LB spot on the All-Star team for all others to fight over.

Elimimian and Bighill lock down an impressive back eight in the Lions’ defence, led primarily by imports. Three Americans worth mentioning in the secondary include Ryan Phillips, Ronnie Yell, and TJ Lee. Entering his 12th season with the Lions, Phillips remains the unit’s leader and continues to play at a high level while Yell and Lee figure to shut down the tough side of the field yet again in BC.

On offence, the line is locked down by left tackle Jovan Olafioye. He doesn’t get near the mentions of an Elimimian or Bighill, but then neither does the pass rusher lining up against him each week. Save for his rookie season, Olafioye has been named a league All-Star every year of his career.

Manny Arceneaux is the leader in the receiving corps, although the return of Nick Moore, who eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving for BC in 2013, could give the team a nice 1-2 punch outside.

And then of course there’s Jennings at quarterback. Injuries certainly played a part in Lulay’s demise, but it takes a special talent to unseat a former MOP before he reaches his best before date. The Lions think Jennings is that guy, and are excited about his future.

Who to Watch: Jonathon Jennings threw for over 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns in his six regular season starts. He excited plenty of fans with his style of play and his teammates have bought into him as the ‘real deal’. But he was just 3-3 as a starter and also threw 10 interceptions. In the off-season, he got a hefty pay raise and will begin the season as the starter. Can he show the consistency needed over an 18-game season to truly become the face of the franchise and get the Lions back to perennial contender status?

Season Outlook

A rejuvenated Wally Buono is back on the sidelines and understands the pressure is on to right the ship that he built. BC stumbled into the playoffs under Jeff Tedford a year ago, but was simply never good enough in any phase of the game to scare anyone into thinking they were a contender. Now for the first time since 2011, the Lions have quality and depth along the offensive line, a group that has struggled badly in recent seasons. Defensively, BC struggled against the run and was unable to rush the passer effectively for the first half of the season, but have made some key additions to their defensive line and secondary which should allow them to take a step forward in both areas. As it often does in the CFL, it will come down to QB play. In Jennings the Lions have a player most experts around the league believe will be a star. If he can fast-track the learning curve and live up to that title, the Lions could be the surprise of the West.