FIVE THINGS TO WATCH
THE BATTLE IN THE TRENCHES
The line of scrimmage was at the heart of many of the Lions’ issues last season, and it was where general manager Ed Hervey planted his flag and made his stand. He’s brought in new faces on both sides of the ball, but the offensive line was more of an issue last season, leading the league in sacks allowed (49) and quarterback pressures (141), and the pressure the QBs were under was a big reason the Leos also topped the charts in interceptions (28). Players to watch: Mr. Old Faithful, Joel Figueroa, on the left, and rookie Peter Godber.
SACK OF TROUBLES
Continuing the theme, the defensive line is issue 1A to watch. The Lions didn’t get much traction putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks last year, with their 28 sacks and 95 pressures the thirdand second-worst numbers across the league, respectively. A lot has been placed on the shoulders of Odell Willis, the free-agent defensive end who came to B.C. after five years with the Edmonton Eskimos, where he had eight sacks in 2017.
FAMILIAR FACE
Chris Williams is getting another chance for a fresh start — this time in Montreal. He signed as a free agent with B.C. last February, but the knee injury he suffered in 2016 meant he only saw action in nine games, catching 38 passes for 415 yards and one touchdown. The dynamic receiver, who had four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and gone over 1,200 yards three times, never meshed in B.C. and was traded to the Als for defensive end Gabe Knapton in the off-season. “You feel personally like they gave up on you a little too early, but that’s the nature of pro football. I’ve been on eight teams in nine years,” the 30-year-old told Postmedia. “It happens. There’s no ill will, but you best believe I’m going to go out there and do my job, try to kill them any way I can.”
JJ IS DYNOMITE
Issue No. 1C for the Lions has to be the performance of QB Jonathon Jennings. With a revamped offensive line, a host of offensive weapons at his disposal, and a new offensive coordinator in Jarious Jackson, all the keys are there for him to breakthrough and prove for that he can be a legit, top-flight starter in this league. His talent is there — both with his arm and his fleet feet — it’s just a question of whether he can find a comfort level with his new OC, something he didn’t have with the departed Khari Jones.
THE RUNNING GAME
Jeremiah Johnson is the
Lions starter in the backfield, but it looks like Brandon Rutley — who’s coming off four seasons spent with the Alouettes — will be next up in the depth chart. The sample size is small, a single preseason game in which he rushed for 41 yards on six games — a healthy 6.8 ypg — but the import running back looks to be a key contributor to the offence this season. Rushing wasn’t a huge concern last season, as the Lions were mid-pack in total yards and per-game average, and their 19 TDs on the ground was second only to Edmonton’s 20. Rutley’s addition should improve an already solid unit that includes big-play puncher Chris Rainey and Eskimos free agent Travon Van.