Buono hopes to finish legendary career with playoff run
This will be Wally Buono’s 25th and final year as a head coach in the Canadian Football League. Last year he missed the playoffs for the first time in his distinguished career. As a result, the B.C. Lions have undergone a major overhaul, including a dramatic front office reorganization.
Buono became head coach of the Calgary Stampeders in 1990. When Normie Kwong retired two years later, the amiable former Alouette assumed general manager duties as well. From then until this winter, he has had total control of his football team with the exception of 2001-02 when Stamp owner Michael Feterik forced Buono to make his son quarterback and then fired the coach.
Believing the 68-year-old coach could use help, owner David Braley turned to the perennially successful Edmonton Eskimos, hiring their past COO Rick LeLacheur as president and Ed Hervey as GM. He was the boss when Edmonton won the Cup in 2015. Both are winners. So is Buono who has seven Grey Cup rings.
I asked Wally if he had final say over player personnel decisions.
“No, the only thing I have the final say on is what I time I get up and what time I go to bed. The way Ed and I agreed on doing this, Ed is the general manager. He has the final say on players that are brought to the B.C. Lions. I have to commend Ed, he’s being very, very good about having my input. But at the end of the day, I leave the office and Ed makes the decision. I totally agree with that. That was the only way the transition would work. I think he’s done a great job with both free agency and our draft in improving the physicality and depth of our football team. Honestly, it’s been very refreshing having Ed here. He’s given me time to reflect and he’s done an awful lot of hard work to make us into a good football team.”
Last year the Lions started off 7-2 but then lost six of their last seven games to finish 7-11 in the basement.
“The nucleus here was good last year; we did not win a close game,” Buono said. “The difference between having a good season and a bad season, is sometimes just that in itself. When you look at what Ed’s done, he’s gone out and revamped areas but the biggest thing he’s done is revamped the line of scrimmage for us.
“We discussed being more mentally and physically tough. That will be evident this year. Football is a big man’s physical game. Every team in the West is big, physical and skilled and we will be, too.”
It all starts in the trenches. “Our line of scrimmage, offence and defence are going to be better,” Buono promised. “We’ve got better pass rushers now. You look at guys like Odell Willis and Gabriel Knapton, excellent edge pass rushers who control the quarterback as much as anybody else.” Hervey traded with Winnipeg for Canadian Julien Laurent who played at Georgia. He will join Jumior Luke and Maxx Forde in the interior.
The linebacking corps will once again be anchored by the great Solomon Elimimian, joined by former all-star Otha Foster and Bo Lokombo. Secondary positions will be hotly contested in training camp by free agent veterans like Marcell Young and AJ Jefferson.
Last year the offence broke down often in the red-zone. Jonathon Jennings was the worst-ranked starting quarterback in the CFL. The oft-injured Travis Lulay is still recovering from a knee injury. Last year the Leos had only five games with more than 100 yards rushing. The problem was with the line, which has been revamped rather than the rushers. Returning are Jeremiah Johnson and Chris Rainey. Former Alouette Brandon Rutley has been added. The fullback is veteran Rolly Lumbala.
Receivers Emmanuel Arceneaux, Bryan Burnham are outstanding slotbacks. Wideout Ricky Collins has come over from Saskatchewan. Kevin Elliott, Shaquille Johnson and Danny Vandervoort are in the mix.
Chris Rainey is the best return man in the league. He led the CFL in combined yards with 3,181. Ty Long was first in punting, second in field goals.
Graham Kelly has covered the CFL for the Medicine Hat News for 46 years. Feedback for this column can be emailed to sports@medicinehatnews.com.