Sep
CFL Digest Exclusive: Strange days indeed in BC
Courtesy Brian Wawryshyn of BCLIONSDEN.ca
If you’re a BC Lion’s fans there are many reasons you may be left scratching your head these days. First there was last weeks 30-25 loss in Montreal, where the team played well enough to win despite 5 turnovers. However, when push came to shove the Lions offense couldn’t get a yard when they needed one.
That was followed by the blockbuster trade that saw power back Joe Smith traded for Bomber mainstay Charles Roberts. Fair enough, but wait! The Lions already have a similar back in Stefan Logan, who is also a younger, cheaper option as well.
To top off the week, Geroy Simon took his life in his own hands when he got big Tyrone Williams mad at practice. The two players had to be separated and Williams was asked to leave the field. Now, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. A little intensity and focus in practice was one of the things the club admitted was lacking, and these dust ups happen all the time, and on every team.
Charles Roberts showed up halfway through practice on Wednesday, took light reps and did a lot of watching Thursday, and will not play Saturday in Hamilton.
Oh yeah, and the lions are sitting in the West division basement at 4-5. Having fun yet?
Wally Buono has had a lot to deal with this year
The Roberts trade is a strange one. Not only because of the similarities in style to Logan, but also because Buono is now talking about the possibility of using both in the backfield at the same time, something he said wasn’t possible with Smith and Logan. Did one of these guys get their Canadian citizenship?
Buono’s reasoning is that he replaced an asset with one of equal value, without weakening his club’s depth at the position. Logan does have a bit of a tender ankle, and Roberts isn’t a bad depth guy. But let’s not kid ourselves, Roberts is not coming here to sit on the bench.
“He’s been able to put fear into defences, he’s been able to make big plays,” Buono said. “When you can add another weapon of that nature to the team, you’re hoping he’ll be improving it.”
Roberts feels he was made a scapegoat in Winnipeg, and that may well be the case. But there are rumours abound that he may not have been very popular with the majority of his teammates, and that some of them anyway are glad he’s gone, and that’s not a scenario the Lions really need to bring into the room, especially since the departing Smith was fairly popular with his teammates, despite his life away from football which starts after practice or after the final whistle of a game.
Roberts has been and still is a special player. He is eccentric and beats to his own drum as Smith did, but Roberts is the other extreme. If he comes here to play, behind B.C.’s line he could return to “Blink” status and really ignite the Lions offense. If he doesn’t, well it might be a problem.
Fear not Lions Nation, there are some positive things to report as well.
Quarterback Buck Pierce looked strong and confident last week despite two poor interceptions. Partly because Buck is a good quarterback, but also because the offensive line cranked things up as well. They kept the pressure off Pierce most of the night, allowing him to settle in and manage the game. Rob Murphy had a particularly strong game for the Lions.
With a win over Hamilton, an effective Charles Roberts, and two games against Saskatchewan this month things could be back to normal for Lions fans sooner than you can “blink.”
Nice work as always Brian!