Jul
Vancouver Province: Lions Preview
Courtesy Vancouver Province:
There is a perspective that is gained from playing 11 CFL seasons for Barron Miles. It does not, however, simply come from being old.
Any discussion with the Lions veteran safety this winter started off with the playful caveat that he will not engage in interviews if a specific point is made about his age. So you cannot mention, for example, that on a list of the oldest players in the league, 39-year-old Lions kicker Paul McCallum is at the top. Miles, two years younger, is second.
“I thought I’d have only been in the top 20,” he says incredulously. Age, of course, is just a number.
Experience may have taught Miles how to respond evasively over the years, a trait developed naturally when your job requires you to pretend not to see receivers within your vision.
But there is no attempt to dodge the facts about the Lions as they begin their season tonight against the Saskatchewan Roughriders (6 p.m., TSN, Team 1040).
Miles knows he barely avoided the same fate as eight departed starters from last season. He knows there are those who feel GM/coach Wally Buono went overboard with his off-season makeover.
The statistical losses were staggering, topped by the fact the Lions have a net loss of 49 man-years of CFL experience compared to last season.
But ask Miles, or some of the younger position group leaders on his team, why the Lions will have success and the collective response suggests a belief that unlike last season the sum will be greater than the parts.
“Everyone keeps saying it’s going to be bad this year, but what’s the difference?” asked Miles. “Jason Clermont, Cam Wake and Rob Murphy are gone. Jamall Johnson and Tyrone Williams were situational players and Otis Floyd was a big [locker]-room guy.
“This is a more complete team. You’ve got players who know their roles, whereas last year they knew Cam was going to make a Superman play, Murphy was going to do something or Clermont was going to make that tough catch. Guys are more focussed on their job.”
By reducing the number of players over 30 years old to 11 from 16 last year, the Lions also dropped a substantial portion of their production. Players who accounted for 67 per-cent of the team’s rushing yards are gone, for example, as are those who collected 49 per-cent of their sacks and 30 per-cent of their touchdowns.
Just numbers, they say.
“We’re faster. Last year there were problems going deep,” said receiver Paris Jackson. “At every single position we got veterans but we have young guys like [Ryan] Grice-Mullen and [Emmanuel] Arceneaux that have to step up.”
Some players would sooner put an end to analysis.
“I’m sick of talking. We’re ready to talk with our pads,” said linebacker Javy Glatt, who figures to play more this season partly due to scheme and the improved state of his left ankle.
“You hear people saying we’re going to finish low. Who cares? Defensively we’re going to be really fast and we’re going to cause problems.”
Others suggest the rebuilding might take a little time.
“I like us now. I like us more down the stretch,” defensive end Brent Johnson said.
As always though, the key is quarterback Buck Pierce, who hasn’t been all-star material in training camp but has been better in one area which could have a collective benefit.
“Last year there were times when we were in the huddle and he looked like he was having trouble understanding what was being asked of him,” offensive lineman Jason Jimenez said. “This year he’s quicker with the computation of the play call. I think he has a greater sense of urgency, and it rubs off on everyone.”
Buono assessed many of the team’s needs but an initial take might suggest he left the Lions short at tailback. It’s why the club has made a contract offer to free agent import runner Tyler Ebell, though talks have stalled, along with veteran JoJuan Armour, who would aid on special teams.
Neither possible addition, however, will help if the Lions don’t continue to distance themselves from the belief last season that a West Division final appearance came simply from donning a uniform.
“Sometimes when you have a group of veterans you kind of lose that drive. As players we’ve had an extreme wakeup call,” said Jimenez.
“We have to be team oriented, and I believe we’re on the way to that mindset. The new guys have bought into that idea.” Same goes for the, ahem, older ones.
