Preseason: Saskatchewan at B.C. June 3, 2022

[B.C.FAN]

Fans should get a good chance to check out the 2022 Lions in Friday's final home preseason game against Saskatchewan. The Lions have released a depth chart listing all their first-teamers as starters, with the exception of Phil Norman starting at left guard in place of the injured David Knevel. On defence, Mathieu Betts is listed ahead of David Menard at one defensive end spot and, more significantly, rookie Tyneil Cooper is listed ahead of Jalon Edward-Cooper at halfback. This appears to be the team's best roster, based on training camp performances.

I hope the starters get to play about half the game. The offence, in particular, needs the challenge of live competition. The Riders are on the road and playing their second preseason game in four days. I don't know how they plan to treat this game.

Lions roster and depth chart

[B.C.FAN]

It looks like the Riders are also going mainly with their starters.

Riders depth chart and roster

[B.C.FAN]

Interestingly, the Lions depth chart posted on Twitter lists Edwards-Coooer ahead of Cooper at DB. There are no other discrepancies.

[SammyGreene]

Good to see the Riders will be going with their starters in the early going at least.
How much better will BC be in the trenches?
It’s going to go a long way to determining how this season will unfold.

[David]

5 Lions To Watch

WR Jamarius Way, #80– He provided a highlight-reel grab for the Lions’ only major in Calgary last week. What does he have in store for an encore?

WR Montay Crockett, #72– Another playmaker at receiver, Crockett’s returning ability makes him a versatile option in 2022.

DB Tyneil Cooper, #24- Previous experience in Winnipeg gave him a leg up amongst other newcomers in Kamloops. Cooper provides good cover skills.

DL Sione Teuhema, #47– Has pushed veteran Obum Gwacham at that rush end position. A little depth off the edge would be greatly beneficial this season.

RB Darius Clark, #32- He and Bruce Anderson have formed a nice trio with incumbent James Butler. Pressure will be on to establish a run game when the contests start to matter in the standings.

Didn't realize Teuhema was pushing Gwacham. Some depth at the position at the very least.


DH

[Qman]

Key Questions for tonite

- back running back: Clark vs Anderson.
- is Crockett a cfl level returner
- battle of the coopers
- does our dline get any pressure, are any of the backups worth keeping
- can rourke move the ball .. is it time to worry
- which of the backup WR do they keep Crockett, Pearson, etc..
- does breaux still have it
- is godber our center, or does he look like last year
- are the sitelines way better in 240s with bench gone … should I move down 10 rows
- is dancing lion a good mascot
- will the globals play a down this season
- betts vs menard
- can our secondary receivers produce number? Rhymes, hatcher, cottoy

[Belize City Lion]

Good opening drive. Rourke looks very comfortable.

[Lion Guy]

Hate, hate, hate 2 teams on the same sideline. Ridiculous.

[SammyGreene]

Umm that sack is not going to help Broxton’s chances at employment. Good grief

[Qman]

- both the coopers deserve to make the team
- dline was alright
- our oline still sucks
- Breaux looks good so far
- not sold on crocket, other than it’s not lucky whitehead getting hit
- meh, on backup rbs … we might be airlifting backup rbs all season

[B.C.FAN]

I thought Rourke looked nervous. He missed open receivers. He still finished 13 of 19 for 145 yards and a TD in two quarters. I thought O’Connor looked good in relief and showed his arm strength and accuracy. He finished 13 of 15 for 151 yards and a TD.

I agree with others that the Lions don’t have a proven returner or backup RB. Whitehead will get a lot of work as a returner. Either Anderson or Clark will probably get a few games to establish themselves. The first team O-line can open holes for the running game. The second and third teams, which Anderson and Clark have played with in camp and in the game, have not showed that they can open holes. Hopefully Figueroa and Knevel are back next week.

[SammyGreene]

Is there not any better options than Phillip Norman if they go 3 Americans up front? Beaten badly for a sack and fumble. Then really poor discipline when he was tossed later in the first half for throwing punches.

And they could have gone 4 Americans if they elected to re-sign Shaq Johnson as a 2nd national receiver over Hatcher or whomever starts in that spot.

[B.C.FAN]

Is there not any better options than Phillip Norman if they go 3 Americans up front? Beaten badly for a sack and fumble. Then really poor discipline when he was tossed later in the first half for throwing punches.

And they could have gone 4 Americans if they elected to re-sign Shaq Johnson as a 2nd national receiver over Hatcher or whomever starts in that spot.

To be fair, Norman has practised at guard inly a few times in place of Knevel. He has been competing for the starting centre position. Andrew Peirson seems to have solidified himself as backup guard and centre. Kohl Leveo has also taken reps at centre and finished the game at the position. He would be an American alternative as an interior lineman but I don’t expect that to happen.

The Lions need to find roster spots for American P/K Stefan Flintoft, LB/STs Micah Awe and Josh Woods, DB Tyneil Cooper and either RB/KR Bruce Anderson or Darius Clark. There are only 4 DI spots available unless the Lions start 8 Canadians. We should know more later today.

[Qman]

Is there not any better options than Phillip Norman if they go 3 Americans up front? Beaten badly for a sack and fumble. Then really poor discipline when he was tossed later in the first half for throwing punches.

And they could have gone 4 Americans if they elected to re-sign Shaq Johnson as a 2nd national receiver over Hatcher or whomever starts in that spot.

To be fair, Norman has practised at guard inly a few times in place of Knevel. He has been competing for the starting centre position. Andrew Peirson seems to have solidified himself as backup guard and centre. Kohl Leveo has also taken reps at centre and finished the game at the position. He would be an American alternative as an interior lineman but I don’t expect that to happen.

The Lions need to find roster spots for American P/K Stefan Flintoft, LB/STs Micah Awe and Josh Woods, DB Tyneil Cooper and either RB/KR Bruce Anderson or Darius Clark. There are only 4 DI spots available unless the Lions start 8 Canadians. We should know more later today.

Based on Campbell in the past the final DI spot is a DL. Sometimes final two spots. Teusema or fox at this point. When baron gets here it’s banks or bonner.
So it flintoft,awe, cooper, DL

One of rbs is going on pr. Other is cut. Mackie is the backup rb for now, until the find a rb/returner type. Once we find him, cooper is on pr, and we’re stuck with H. Johnson as a 6th db.

On pr we have 2 of way, Crockett, Pearson, one rb, probably fox, mauger, woods, moore, 3 cdns

[DanoT]

Is there not any better options than Phillip Norman if they go 3 Americans up front? Beaten badly for a sack and fumble. Then really poor discipline when he was tossed later in the first half for throwing punches.

And they could have gone 4 Americans if they elected to re-sign Shaq Johnson as a 2nd national receiver over Hatcher or whomever starts in that spot.

I think they have Rhymes playing Shaq Johnson's former wide side WR spot and Hatcher is on the low cost 2nd year of a rookie contract, so Johnson's departure could be salary related, as in he wanted more than the Lions were willing to pay and perhaps were only interested in Johnson as a backup to Cottoy.