Lions look to Rainey for big returns
Speedy veteran aims to regain form
Chris Rainey is on the north side of 30 now, so he can be forgiven the occasional senior moment.
“I feel like I forgot I’m fast,” said the B.C. Lions’ kick returner and running back.
Ironically, the league hasn’t. Hamilton coach June Jones cited Rainey’s big-play speed as the reason he elected to punt rather than kick a field goal late in their meeting at B.C. Place Stadium two weeks ago — a gut call that cost them the game — and teams consistently game plan their coverage to limit Rainey’s effectiveness.
But that reputation helped him little this week, as Wally Buono singled out Rainey’s body of kickreturn work for harsh criticism on TSN radio — again — a public rebuke that the team doubled down on Wednesday by signing Hamilton Tiger-Cats returner Shakeir Ryan to the practice squad.
On first blush, the comments and transaction seem like a car owner being concerned about a leaking tire after his engine threw a rod. Other issues, particularly the offence’s dismal showing in the 4010 loss to the host Ticats last Saturday, would seem to be of higher priority.
But the Lions lack real options at quarterback, so squeezing more out of Rainey and Co. is a more achievable goal, and one that would pay immediate dividends.
By giving quarterback Jonathon Jennings a short field to work with, you relieve the pressure on a quarterback struggling to find his rhythm and confidence.
They could use a boost at B.C. Place this Saturday afternoon. The Lions (6-7), who dropped back into last place in the West Division, host the Toronto Argonauts (3-10), the CFL’s only winless road team (0-6).
Rainey is leading the league in kickoff return yards (1,579) for the third consecutive season, and the same is true of his combined yardage total (2,119). B.C. has the longest kickoff return average (24.5 yards), and is tied for third in punt returns (11.0 yards), but has just one touchdown, coming against the Edmonton Eskimos on Aug. 9.
“What we haven’t done is finish the play,” said special teams coordinator Jeff Reinebold. “I think that’s where we’re at in terms of our punt-return game. We’re leaving yards on the field.
“If we work a little harder, a little smarter, with a little more attention to detail — all 12 of us — then we’re going to make some gamechanging plays. And what we have to understand is … our football team is one that’s reliant on field position.
“When Chris can create field position for us, that’s a huge advantage, because it takes so much pressure off of the offence. You have to realize net punting is what matters.
“What we look at is how many times we can give the offence back the ball across the midfield marker. Last week against Hamilton, we did it once when we ran a punt pressure and (Lirim Hajrullahu) shanked the kick.”
The five-foot-eight, 180-pound Rainey took the latest criticism in stride.
The Florida native was benched for a Sept. 7 game against the Ottawa Redblacks — the first healthy scratch in the impending free agent’s four seasons with the Lions — and has averaged just 8.8
yards per punt return since then, and 25.6 yards per kickoff return.
Rainey has admitted to a little paralysis by analysis, over-thinking the process of the returns instead of reacting instinctively.
“You can put it all in perspective. I know where he’s coming from,” Rainey said of Buono’s comments.
“I could play way better. It’s just go out there and run — that’s it. Somebody’s coming towards me? Just out-run them. Turn on the jets. Just hit (the hole). That’s it. Don’t hesitate, don’t pause. Just hit it, like I used to do.”
And while Buono plays the bad cop, the affable Reinebold plays the good cop. He’s also been playing part-time psychologist in several sit-downs with Rainey this week, even sending him YouTube clips of big returns to watch.
“I send (the clips) to him every night, and say, ‘Before you go to bed at night, imagine yourself making these big plays,’” he said. “When you’re a return guy, and you’re going good, it’s like everything slows down.
“I remember with (former NFL star) Dante Hall, there were times when it didn’t matter. You could put 11 guys out there and not block anybody, and he was going to score because he was in the zone. When Chris is in the zone, that’s the same thing that happens.
“All he needs to do is hit a big one, and he’ll jump back into it.”