I am going with safety:
DOZIER Branden A DB UNC Charlotte
My 2nd choice would be:
LEMON Shawn A DL Akron
Which Key Player should be Lions Top Priority to Sign Before Free Agency
Moderator: Team Captains
I also went with Dozier. I thought he was the Lions’ most valuable defensive player last year.
Aaron Grymes would be my second choice. Both performed at an all-star level.
I’d love to see the Lions re-sign Foucault but they might not be able to afford him.
Aaron Grymes would be my second choice. Both performed at an all-star level.
I’d love to see the Lions re-sign Foucault but they might not be able to afford him.
If the question is key PLAYER (singular), then I am going National, so Foucault or Steward, likely the former as he continues to improve. O-line and D-line should be Ed's priorities this off-season.
Aaron Grymes's knee injury concerns me but I thought he had a terrific season and had good chemistry with Lee. Dozier is an important signing too since we've had a hard time finding a really effective safety since Miles.
DH
Aaron Grymes's knee injury concerns me but I thought he had a terrific season and had good chemistry with Lee. Dozier is an important signing too since we've had a hard time finding a really effective safety since Miles.
DH
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Dozier and Grymes
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When it comes to OL I'd probably go Steward over Foucault for the simple reason 67 is 3 years younger than 68. Sign the one willing to agree to the longest term? In reality as the only established starting NAT OL last season both should be high priorities unless Bates etal are convinced Knevel, Boyko or Godber are all but locks to start.
As much as I like Grymes I don't think he can be a priority to re-sign. He's out with a torn ACL suffered in mid Oct. Normal recovery time for that is 10 months which means BC would probably already have 10 games in the books before he'd be available to suit up. I'd place a higher priority on extending Dozier and Peters over Grymes. The one plus for sgning Grymes now would be that he may not cost anything against the cap until Labour Day
As much as I like Grymes I don't think he can be a priority to re-sign. He's out with a torn ACL suffered in mid Oct. Normal recovery time for that is 10 months which means BC would probably already have 10 games in the books before he'd be available to suit up. I'd place a higher priority on extending Dozier and Peters over Grymes. The one plus for sgning Grymes now would be that he may not cost anything against the cap until Labour Day
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Regards priority, I'd go with the O-line, and with a National, and (like Hambone pointed out) relative youth over age, and that in my mind equals Mr. Hunter Steward (just turned 28). I'd really hate to see him playing for another team in his maturity So, if I've got only the one choice that's it.
On defence, David Menard is a personal favourite of mine, regularly rotating on the D-line, but given some of the other players listed, I can't quite make a case for him as the priority there. I'd be tempted to go with Grymes if it wasn't for the serious injury, given his years of consistently top-level play over the years in this league. But, yeah, we gotta keep Dozier. It'll be a tough job for the GM and coach to sort out that all. Good luck to all!
On defence, David Menard is a personal favourite of mine, regularly rotating on the D-line, but given some of the other players listed, I can't quite make a case for him as the priority there. I'd be tempted to go with Grymes if it wasn't for the serious injury, given his years of consistently top-level play over the years in this league. But, yeah, we gotta keep Dozier. It'll be a tough job for the GM and coach to sort out that all. Good luck to all!
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Hunter Stewart, a NAT (from Victoria), has done well as a starter at both guard and tackle so he can start at one position and backup the other. That is enough to make him a priority, imo.
Dozier played well, but I wonder if part of his success came from playing a position that is often filled by nationals, and usually not the highest paid nationals at that. Maybe it's not fair to Dozier, but almost anybody taking over JR LaRose and Anthony Thompson's position is going to look good. Also, our def line and linebackers weren't great either, which may have helped him shine a bit more than he otherwise would have. While I wouldn't mind having Dozier back, I think that Grymes played a more important position and also seemed to take on more of a leadership role.
I agree that Foucault and/or Steward as nationals should be priorities, along with Grymes.
I agree that Foucault and/or Steward as nationals should be priorities, along with Grymes.
I agree on that one maxlion.
The key to the safety position is having the roster flexibility to use an International at the spot. Dozier played well and he probably could play the cover linebacker position as well if they needed him there.
One guy who I haven't seen talked about is Sukh Chung and I am very hopeful that
he is fully recovered and returns to his previous level of play. That would help.
If I needed to pick one guy from the list I would go with Stewart although I like Foucault as well. Either way the Lions will be in trouble if the Oline regresses.
Good luck and hoping the Lions have a good year on the field and in the stands.
The key to the safety position is having the roster flexibility to use an International at the spot. Dozier played well and he probably could play the cover linebacker position as well if they needed him there.
One guy who I haven't seen talked about is Sukh Chung and I am very hopeful that
he is fully recovered and returns to his previous level of play. That would help.
If I needed to pick one guy from the list I would go with Stewart although I like Foucault as well. Either way the Lions will be in trouble if the Oline regresses.
Good luck and hoping the Lions have a good year on the field and in the stands.
Yes, Dozier can play safety, nickel (cover linebacker) and halfback. He's a fearless tackler who led the team with 77 total tackles in just 16 games while playing a position that is often farthest from the ball (although not necessarily in a Rich Stubler defence). I would bet on either Dozier or Isaiah Guzylak-Messam starting the season at nickel in place of the departed Chris Edwards, with the other at safety. Dozier started at nickelback, weakside linebacker and halfback in 2017 on his way to being named Montreal's rookie of the year. In 2018 he started at nickelback for the first four games, then backed up veteran Chip Cox at the position for four games before starting one game at halfback and the final nine games at safety on the way to being named an East Division all-star. In three seasons in the CFL, he has never finished lower than second on his team in total tackles.