Lionbackers.com

Was hoping we could sign Alan-Michael Cash from the Alouettes. 6'2" 292lb nose tackle. Would be a good rotational depth pick-up. 2014 Eastern All-Star.

Value decreases with each passing day.


DH

Mike Beamish has written a nice feature on one of the latest defensive-line signees, Marquis Jackson. He is supposedly the identical twin of star NFL DT Malik Jackson but there's a big size discrepancy. Marquis is listed at 6-4, 255 pounds by the Lions but was listed at 280 pounds when he tried out for the NFL. Malik, who plays with Jacksonville, is somehow an inch taller at 6-5 and is listed at 290 pounds. Malik has been listed at 300 pounds in the past.

Lions’ director of U.S. Scouting Ryan Rigmaiden said Marquis Jackson has been targeted for some time by the CFL club, in the hope that similarities with his more celebrated twin hold true.

“Marquis Jackson is a neat story, because of who he is, but it has nothing to do with our evaluation of him,” Rigmaiden said. “Whether Malik is his brother or not, we still would have signed him. Marquis is versatile, quick off the edge, but big enough to play inside and be successful. We’ve been tracking him for a long, long time. I’m sure, for him, being the brother of Malik Jackson is both a blessing and a curse. He’s a heck of player in his own right.”

Last October, the Lions tried to add the 6-4, 285-pound Marquis to their expanded practice roster, but he declined. Player personnel director Neil McEvoy said the 27-year-old has been on and off the Lions’ negotiation list while he pursued NFL options.

Mike Beamish: Lions’ Marquis Jackson wants out of the shadow of his NFL superstar sibling

Marquis Jackson played two seasons with Texas Southern of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, earning first team All-SWAC honors two years in a row. In two seasons, the 6-5, 260-pound defensive end had 111 tackles, 34.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 11 pass breakups and five forced fumbles. Those are very good stats.

Texas Southern was facing NCAA sanctions for a low academic progress rate so Jackson switched colleges and went to Portland for his final college season. He's tried out for some NFL teams and played in the arena league.

The fact that Marquis has a very talented twin brother playing in the NFL is mostly irrelevant.

Maturity and commitment impacted Marquis. He is athletic and has a shot at making our Leos this training camp.

Blitz wrote:The fact that Marquis has a very talented brother playing in the NFL is mostly irrelevant. Keith and Brent Gretzky never became a star like their brother. Blood lines only go so far. Maturity and commitment impacted Marquis. He is athletic and has a shot at making our Leos this training camp.

True, but being identical twin brothers (even if Marquis is a bit shorter and lighter) puts the Jacksons more in the category of former NFL stars Ronde and Tiki Barber or present-day Canucks Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

B.C.FAN wrote:

Blitz wrote:The fact that Marquis has a very talented brother playing in the NFL is mostly irrelevant. Keith and Brent Gretzky never became a star like their brother. Blood lines only go so far. Maturity and commitment impacted Marquis. He is athletic and has a shot at making our Leos this training camp.

True, but being identical twin brothers (even if Marquis is a bit shorter and lighter) puts the Jacksons more in the category of former NFL stars Ronde and Tiki Barber or present-day Canucks Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

i thought they were fraternal twins, they would be same height if identical.

Qman wrote:

B.C.FAN wrote:

Blitz wrote:The fact that Marquis has a very talented brother playing in the NFL is mostly irrelevant. Keith and Brent Gretzky never became a star like their brother. Blood lines only go so far. Maturity and commitment impacted Marquis. He is athletic and has a shot at making our Leos this training camp.

True, but being identical twin brothers (even if Marquis is a bit shorter and lighter) puts the Jacksons more in the category of former NFL stars Ronde and Tiki Barber or present-day Canucks Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

i thought they were fraternal twins, they would be same height if identical.

They don't have to be exactly the same height to be identical twins. Twin types (identical or fraternal) is based upon zygosity (how they were formed).

Blitz wrote:

Qman wrote:True, but being identical twin brothers (even if Marquis is a bit shorter and lighter) puts the Jacksons more in the category of former NFL stars Ronde and Tiki Barber or present-day Canucks Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

i thought they were fraternal twins, they would be same height if identical.

They don't have to be exactly the same height to be identical twins. Twin types (identical or fraternal) is based upon zygosity (how they were formed).[/quote]

Identical form from 1 fertile egg that splits into 2 embryos. Fraternal form from 2 separate fertile eggs.

In my school days I went to school with 3 different versions:
- 2 identical twin brothers who we could tell apart thanks to one having a scar over his eye.
- 2 fraternal twin sisters who were easy to tell apart
- a brother/sister set of fraternal twins. That was in Grade 11 & 12. There was no mistaking which was which,

http://www.cfl.ca/2017/03/06/report-vin ... come-soon/

Riders off load a younger Durant to sign an older player who hasn't played for several years.

TheLionKing wrote:http://www.cfl.ca/2017/03/06/report-vin ... come-soon/

Riders off load a younger Durant to sign an older player who hasn't played for several years.

For what use Vince Young is going to be, they may as well have signed Steve Young. Or Jim Young. Or Neil Young.

TheLionKing wrote:http://www.cfl.ca/2017/03/06/report-vin ... come-soon/

Riders off load a younger Durant to sign an older player who hasn't played for several years.

Smacks of panic and perhaps a smidge of desperation? Needing a buzz to help make sure the new stadium sells out?

CardiacKid wrote:

TheLionKing wrote:http://www.cfl.ca/2017/03/06/report-vin ... come-soon/

Riders off load a younger Durant to sign an older player who hasn't played for several years.

Smacks of panic and perhaps a smidge of desperation? Needing a buzz to help make sure the new stadium sells out?

Pretty sure that stadium will be sold out for a while regardless. But I wonder if the Vince Young signing wasn't a stunt by Jones to put the Roughriders on the radar of every other free agent out there. Let twitter do the work of scouting?

Belize City Lion wrote:

CardiacKid wrote:

TheLionKing wrote:http://www.cfl.ca/2017/03/06/report-vin ... come-soon/

Riders off load a younger Durant to sign an older player who hasn't played for several years.

Smacks of panic and perhaps a smidge of desperation? Needing a buzz to help make sure the new stadium sells out?

Pretty sure that stadium will be sold out for a while regardless. But I wonder if the Vince Young signing wasn't a stunt by Jones to put the Roughriders on the radar of every other free agent out there. Let twitter do the work of scouting?

There are probably a lot of things that are part of the Vince Young signing. He was a major college star, a very high NFL draft choice, and an NFL starting quarterback. That pedicree not only helps to instill confidence in the player who will be playing the position but also help instill confidence in the players who will be playing beside him.

Ask yourself, if you were a football player on the Riders offence, how would you feel about Young signing? If you were a receiver, would you be excited about playing with Vince Young? If you were an offensive lineman, would you be excited about blocking for him. Or if you were a receiver or lineman, would you be more excited about playing with Kevin Glenn or Brandon Bridge. Vince Young may also help get some offensive players signed.

Vince Young is 33 years old, has not lined up in a game at quarterback for an extended time, and playing quarterback in the CFL, with its more complex defenses, is going to pose a challenge for Young. But Young did win a a national championship at Texas, went third overall in the 2006 NFL draft, made the Pro Bowl in 2006 and 2009 and he was a productive NFL quarterback who threw for 8,964 yards over parts of six seasons. He does have talent.

Vince Young was once regarded as one the NFL’s most promising young quarterbacks. As a rookie, he led the Tennessee Titans to the playoffs and won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Young was immature as an NFL player and he basically partied and threw all his money away. He has a family now and likely sees the world through different eyes. He has been humbled on the field and off the field. That humbling was likely very necessary. This signing with Saskatchewan provides Young an opportunity to end his football career on a much more positive note.

I don't think the Riders have made a mistake in signing Young. Based on the Riders quarterbacking situation, its worth giving Young a shot. They have Kevin Glenn, an experienced backup and a young talent in Brandon Bridge, should Young fail. Young wanted to play in the CFL. Jones has given him the opportunity. We'll just have to see how it turns out.

Vince Young NFL pass completion rate 58%
CFL QBs in 2016 pass completion rate 68%

Toppy Vann wrote:Vince Young NFL pass completion rate 58%
CFL QBs in 2016 pass completion rate 68%

Hey, Toppy. Good to hear from you.

Vince Young in Regina? Dunno about that ... Jones has not looked like the world beater in his time with the Riders. He looked like the next coming of Don Matthews for a while in Edmonton.

Blitz wrote: Vince Young is 33 years old, has not lined up in a game at quarterback for an extended time, and playing quarterback in the CFL, with its more complex defenses, is going to pose a challenge for Young.

And, as Blitz notes, CFL defences can be challenging for ex-NFL QBs.

Who knows? I would not mind seeing Young do well here. If he can play the game here, with his talent, he could be very scary for defences indeed.

WestCoastJoe wrote:

Toppy Vann wrote:Vince Young NFL pass completion rate 58%
CFL QBs in 2016 pass completion rate 68%

Hey, Toppy. Good to hear from you.

Vince Young in Regina? Dunno about that ... Jones has not looked like the world beater in his time with the Riders. He looked like the next coming of Don Matthews for a while in Edmonton.

Blitz wrote: Vince Young is 33 years old, has not lined up in a game at quarterback for an extended time, and playing quarterback in the CFL, with its more complex defenses, is going to pose a challenge for Young.

And, as Blitz notes, CFL defences can be challenging for ex-NFL QBs.

Who knows? I would not mind seeing Young do well here. If he can play the game here, with his talent, he could be very scary for defences indeed.

Ask Vince Ferragamo about that 12th man. BB