B.C.’s Yell making noise
CFL: Cornerback’s veteran leadership and nose for turnovers gives Lions added bite on defence
Fully recovered from an injury that sidelined him for almost all of last year, safety Ronnie Yell is helping lead a resurgent Leos’ secondary
Ronnie Yell dropped into coverage, read the play and was stunned by what was unfolding in front of him.
With roughly 90 seconds left on the clock and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers set up at their own 32-yard line in a 42-42 tie, the B.C. Lions defensive back faked like he was going deep at the snap before camping out about 10 yards off the line of scrimmage.
Bombers quarterback Matt Nichols, who never took his eyes off the intended receiver to his left, was fooled as Yell jumped the route for a decisive interception last Friday to set up his team’s game-winning field goal.
“I just played the situation,” Yell said this week. “I couldn’t believe he threw it.”
After a broken foot suffered in warm-ups before a game abruptly ended his 2016 season last August, Yell could only watch as the club’s injury-ravaged secondary managed a CFL-low nine interceptions.
Minus the likes off Yell, T.J. Lee (Achilles tendon) and Steven Clarke (knee), B.C. gave up a middle-ofthe-pack average of 291.4 passing yards per contest, but the absence of momentum-shifting turnovers, especially late in games, gnawed at both head coach Wally Buono and defensive coordinator Mark Washington.
Fast-forward through the first five weeks of 2017 and the Lions already have 10 take-aways including four interceptions — they had just 29 last year — with Yell in a three-way tie for second in the CFL with two picks.
“He brings a lot to the table, from his experience to his playmaking ability to his talent,” said Washington, a former DB who also coaches B.C.’s secondary.
As the Lions’ boundary corner usually matched up against an opponent’s best wide receiver on the short side of the field, the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Yell is second in the league with six pass knockdowns and third on the team with 18 defensive tackles, along with a fumble recovery.
“It feels amazing,” the 26-year-old Los Angeles native said of being able to contribute again. “Whenever your season ends on a fluke injury like that, all you think about is what you could have done to help the team, how you’re going to come back.”
In his fourth full year with the Lions, the San Jose State product has been thrust into a leadership role as part of a group that’s seen a lot of change since he arrived at the tail end of 2013.
Part of that leadership was on display before his clutch interception against Winnipeg. The Lions lost both Anthony Gaitor and Keynan Parker to injuries earlier in the game, forcing a position shuffle in the secondary with just five healthy defensive backs.
The unit — and the defence as a whole — rebounded with a fourth-quarter shutout that was capped by Yell’s pick after the Bombers had scored 28 straight points to grab a 42-27 lead.
“Ronnie made a great play,” said Buono. “You can tell he’s been around. He kind of baited the quarterback.”
Notes: Gaitor (charley horse) is expected to play on Friday. Parker (dislocated shoulder) will likely be placed on the six-game injured list.