Sputtering Lions looking for a spark
Buono turns to hard-hitting rookie linebacker in bid to tighten defence and end three-game skid
Excuse Micah Awe if this comes off a little like a Facebook ad.
“You know how they do memories? One year ago today, I had a paragraph on my Facebook page about how I had been cut by Tampa Bay and they had re-signed me to their practice roster,” the B.C. Lions’ rookie linebacker said after practice Monday. “And then I’m named a starter here exactly a year later.
“If you believe in things like fate, it’s a good omen. And even if you don’t believe in fate, you have to just take it. It’s an opportunity.”
Awe (pronounced AH-way) is getting his chance as coach Wally Buono tries to turn around a sputtering Lions crew that’s dropped three straight games heading into Friday’s meeting with the Montreal Alouettes at B.C. Place Stadium.
B.C. (5-5) has slipped into last spot in the West Division and is getting into must-win territory against the Alouettes (3-7).
Awe is slated to start in place of Tony Burnett, 27, who was signed in the off-season as a free agent after two years with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Burnett has 25 tackles on the season.
“He’s been here now, he’s comfortable, he understands the league,” Buono said of Awe, a Texas Tech product who, at 23, is one of the younger players on the Lions roster.
“You notice him on (special) teams as an impact player and hopefully he gets us more production on defence.
“He’s aggressive, he’s explosive and he likes contact. Those are all things that hopefully give you more production.”
Awe has seven defensive tackles and 15 special teams tackles this season. As one might expect, he’s been studying B.C. star linebacker Solomon Elimimian through the year as he prepares for a larger role.
They have similar stories. Both were born in Nigeria and moved to the United States at an early age. They both come from families that stressed education. Awe has a degree in petroleum engineering and has his own drone company, although it’s on hold while he chases the football dream.
“He helps me without even talking to me,” Awe said of Elimimian, 30, who’s on his way to a third 100-plus tackle season. He has a league best 73 tackles going into Friday.
“I just watch him. Whenever you have a two-time CFL most outstanding defensive player of the year, it’s someone you can just look at it and learn from.
“There’s stuff that I think I’m good at. And there’s stuff that I look at him and go, ‘I need to get that.’
“On the field, he helps me all game. He’s telling me when I’m dropping back, what to look for, and how to react to get some picks and some big hits.”
The 6-foot, 220-pound Awe was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season. He was placed on their practice roster but was released after just five days.
Meanwhile, Ken Boatright of the Lions is expected to start on the defensive line Friday, with Bryant Turner likely the odd man out.