Last game...end of the line

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TheLionKing
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cms22 wrote:
Sat Oct 19, 2019 7:24 pm
can we bring Wally back as some sort of consultant? or, would that be too distracting to overall process?

i understand need to win.. but i think lions fans would be a bit more patient with retired lions having a larger roll in coaching and gm/personnel/etc.
The guy that sits next to me met Wally a week ago and when he brought up the state of the Lions, Wally just shook his head
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Gridiron Ernie wrote:
Sat Oct 19, 2019 7:40 pm
I'm wondering about veteran punter Josh Bartel's future, either with us or in the league.
He will be 35 next season, and just in the past couple of weeks the Lions quietly signed young Hutchins (National punter, UBC).
Bartel has maintained a very low net average on his punts, somewhere in the 30s I believe. I'd assume one of the lowest in the league.
He's been around the CFL for seven years, and I think last season wasn't even around the CFL anymore (back home in Australia?) when the Lions called on him. He's done his best and that's appreciated, but one would hope somewhere between off-season recruiting and training camp others (maybe Hutchins) would be in the conversation for replacement candidates. Can we please find another Ty Long, but ideally National.
In an ideal world I would like to see a guy that can punt and place kick. That should free up a roster spot.
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Ryan Lankford kicks, punts, and returns. A true kicking game specialist.
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Hambone
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Gridiron Ernie wrote:
Sat Oct 19, 2019 7:50 pm
Oh, I meant to mention DB Anthony Thompson as well. He's approaching age 30 (not that that's ancient) but even before going on the IR I think he'd been relegated to back-up positions in the secondary. And he'd been mostly a liability back there over the course of four or five seasons. Perhaps he'll be a late bloomer. Not sure that's realistic. Plus we have some depth there now, more so than we had when he was active.
As for any future consider that Thompson was a late addition. He wasn't even signed until around final cut-down day.
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Hambone
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Gridiron Ernie wrote:
Sat Oct 19, 2019 7:40 pm
He's been around the CFL for seven years, and I think last season wasn't even around the CFL anymore (back home in Australia?) when the Lions called on him.
Bartel was around last year. He was the Riders only punter for the past 3 seasons and was still under contract to them almost to training camp. They released him after they signed Jon Ryan the week before CFL training camps opened.

It could be interesting to see what goes on with Ryan. He only signed a one year deal. With a 50.1 average it wouldn't surprise me if an NFL team kicks the tires on him again. Just would be a matter of whether at 38 and with no need for the money that he'd just be content to keep playing at home.
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Gridiron Ernie
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Hambone wrote:
Sun Oct 20, 2019 2:40 pm
Gridiron Ernie wrote:
Sat Oct 19, 2019 7:40 pm
He's been around the CFL for seven years, and I think last season wasn't even around the CFL anymore (back home in Australia?) when the Lions called on him.
Bartel was around last year. He was the Riders only punter for the past 3 seasons and was still under contract to them almost to training camp. They released him after they signed Jon Ryan the week before CFL training camps opened.

It could be interesting to see what goes on with Ryan. He only signed a one year deal. With a 50.1 average it wouldn't surprise me if an NFL team kicks the tires on him again. Just would be a matter of whether at 38 and with no need for the money that he'd just be content to keep playing at home.
Right-o. Thanks Hambone, I stand corrected. I'd forgotten about that rather sudden turn of events with Jon Ryan, and the ramifications concerning Bartel. Note, I'd also forgotten that once upon a time (back circa 2013) Bartel was a West Division all-star for a couple years. Credit where credit is (was) due.
cms22
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what is hervey's status? is his contract expiring? or one more year?

i don't trust him with building on our reasonable momentum.......... we can't have huge changes for the 3rd year in a row. and we should be focussed on adding less high priced talent, but more talent.

how much do import starters make in the league?........ can we get more good imports by beating other teams by $40k per season? i.e. are good teams cap-constrained?

repeating myself, but we really really need a pass rush.... jeffcoat in winnipeg is classic example. 5 star prospect (rare and father was prominent nfl-er), good college career at texas, for some reason (size?) NFL didn't want him. there must be other players like him out there (3 and 4 star players who didn't make NFL for whatever reason)
cms22
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how do imports work with special teams? punter? kicker?

i realize it's 7 nationals on O and D.. and not certain the exact rule, but it seems like you designate X nationals on O, and (7-x) nationals on D (can you tell i was math major?)

but how does having a canadian punter/kicker help the team? other than probably cheaper than american... but i mean ratio
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cms22 wrote:
Mon Oct 21, 2019 11:54 am
how do imports work with special teams? punter? kicker?

i realize it's 7 nationals on O and D.. and not certain the exact rule, but it seems like you designate X nationals on O, and (7-x) nationals on D (can you tell i was math major?)

but how does having a canadian punter/kicker help the team? other than probably cheaper than american... but i mean ratio
Teams must designate 4 Americans (these players used to be called internationals or imports) on their 44-man game-day roster. These players can play special teams and/or serve as backups to other Americans on offence or defence. Teams often dress backup American defensive linemen, linebackers and sometimes defensive backs. If they use 3 designated American positions for a kick returner, punter and placekicker, that only leaves one roster spot for an American backup on offence or defence.
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Sir Purrcival
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For better or for worse, I don't want to see Wally involved any further. This year sucked and oh well but we can't go running backwards every time the sledding gets tough. It was time for him to go (probably sooner than he did). We had been wallowing under his care and we are still wallowing. I don't care if we miss the playoff by 2 games or 6. Neither situation is acceptable just a change of degree, that's all.

No, I'll give Hervey his 3rd year. If next season is an equal debacle, there can no argument that he didn't have time to make improvements and most pointedly time to make improvements without WB being around. Claybrooks too. A rookie is a rookie and he is a rookie HC. I'll give him a chance to learn and improve from this season. We make investments in these people to start with so it would be a shame to punt them out without a fair opportunity to prove themselves.
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maxlion
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Well, lots of interesting discussion in this thread, most of it not related to the thread topic, but that's okay! :good:

The topic was about which BC Lions are likely facing the end of their CFL careers once the Lions play their final game of the year.

A few of names mentioned by others were Anthony Thompson , Sukh Chung, Adam Konar, and Josh Bartel. I doubt Thompson gets signed by any teams next year. Konar might get a training camp invitation. Chung and Bartel will probably be back--if not with the Lions, with someone else, perhaps at a reduced salary-IMO.

My thought on some others:

Odell Willis - had a good career, could still provide some depth, but more likely to retire.

Shawn Lemon - showed he still has some gas in tank. Probably still playing next year.

Danny O'Brien - with teams going to only 2 qbs next year, don't see how he could find a place. Retirement.

Brandon Bridge - same as O'Brien. Showed some potential early on, but it wasn't enough. Retirement.

Duron Carter - 2 straight years of of subpar production, not to mention other issues. Doubt he gets invited to any camps. Time to focus on his music career.

Brandon Rutley - Never able to win a starting role but solid depth player. Could probably find a place with a team next year, but he may choose to move on.

Ryan Lankford - Cut by Ottawa, didn't show much here. Might be enough for a training camp invite next year.

John White - showed he can still be productive. Likely back in the league next year.
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Belize City Lion
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Can't believe I am saying this, but maybe Chung should get a chance to show what he can do in Kelly Bates' system?
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