As the Calgary Stampeders and Ottawa REDBLACKS officially kicked off the 104th Grey Cup festivities in Toronto on Wednesday, the feeling around BC Lions’ headquarters was that the offseason has officially begun. A select few players have made their way to the Big Smoke, while many others have already scattered to their offseason homes. The next few months will no doubt be busy as Wally Buono and the staff begin discussions on how to re-tool the roster and prioritize who is most important on the list of 24 pending free agents. There will be plenty of time to break down possible roster changes, so let’s look back on five takeaways from a memorable 2016 season.
The QB is a franchise player- and has the right attitude
He put up over 5,000 passing yards in his first full season of pro football and quickly established himself as one of the leagues most agile and athletic QB’s. Yet Jonathon Jennings isn’t satisfied yet. “I still wasn’t good enough,” Jennings stated. “That’s the goal every off-season to better yourself. I need to understand the game even better, I want to come back even more physically prepared and I’m excited for the challenge ahead.” We’ve seen examples of quarterbacks exploding on the scene here and then making it all about them. Jennings is not that guy. The fact he views 2016 as “not good enough” can only be comforting for the organization and fans. He is a keeper and will keep the Lions in contention for the Grey Cup as long as he is in orange.
The “Special” is back in special teams
Sure it helps when you have one of the league’s best playmakers in Chris Rainey returning kicks, but many agree with the assessment that the special teams unit was vastly improved this season. Richie Leone’s punting will earn him at least one or two NFL looks this winter and the kick coverage was more effective week in and week out and they only allowed one touchdown in 2016, a 125-yard missed field goal return by Hamilton’s Brandon Banks on August 13th. According to the CFL all-time special teams tackle leader Jason Arakgi, new coordinator Marcello Simmons no doubt had an impact. “Marcello has been great. I love him as a coach, got really close to him over the course of the year and really loved his philosophy, his standard and what he expected out of the guys. I’m really happy with out much we improved, but now that’s our standard. We’ve got to come back next year and build on top of that.”
Special teams coordinator Marcello Simmons ( right) made a huge impact on the unit this season.
Team 100: the legend continues
Solomon Elimimian is in Toronto, having just collected another CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award. His dedication and perseverance after recovering from a career-threatening Achilles injury has been talked about all year and one player who benefited a lot from Solly’s triumphant return was none other than Adam Bighill. The tandem made history by becoming the first two teammates to record over 100 defensive tackles in the same season, while Solly set the franchise single-game tackle mark by recording 14 in a victory at Toronto on August 31st. The fact these two continue to perform at such a high level, they are in their seventh and sixth CFL seasons respectively, is only good news for the franchise. Elimimian is set to become a free agent and hinted on Tuesday he may not be willing to take much of a pay cut, but the organization will view it as a priority to have him stick around.
Bighill and Elimimian were flexing their muscles starting in training camp at Hillside Stadium.
Depth, depth and more depth
Early in training camp I had a discussion with the club’s director of US Scouting Ryan Rigmaiden, who couldn’t stop smiling while evaluating the talent he and the regional staff had recruited to come to Kamloops. He went as far as to say the defensive line and secondary were probably the deepest they ever had at a single camp. He was right. Chandler Fenner and Anthony Gaitor who were both cut before camp broke and then wound up returning when the Lions’ unfortunate slew of injuries piled up in the defensive backfield. Although losing TJ Lee, Steven Clarke and Ronnie Yell were huge blows, the two youngsters improved and made big plays over the course of the second half. It’s remarkable in a way: that two guys who couldn’t crack spots on the 46-man roster out of camp wound up playing a big role in the end. All three of those injured guys are free agents and will be big priorities, but the Lions also know they have options should anybody choose to go elsewhere. Keynan Parker did an excellent job at the corner position when Gaitor was hurt and will be given a shot to start next season, while Anthony Thompson had a productive rookie year on special teams and will continue to make a push at the free safety position. Depth: it’s beautiful baby.
Anthony Gaitor went from training camp casualty to making plays in the secondary. He first turned heads at the club’s mini-camp in Surrey in late April.
Winning Culture
It’s back folks. This club simply wasn’t just happy to be a contender while coming off a disappointing 7-11 campaign under Jeff Tedford. The best example of that culture shining bright orange was the big playoff comeback two weeks ago and I found it to be evident as soon as Buono addressed the team on day one in Kamloops. After an emotional comeback win over Calgary in week one, they travelled to Hamilton for a tilt that had “letdown” written all over it. The 28-3 victory sent a message that this group was for real and the culture only grew from there. After winning just four of their previous nine road games against the East Division, they swept all four in 2016 and that was also a big telling sign of how the expectations and attitudes changed. They will be even higher in 2017. We’ll leave it with this impressive stat: Eight of the thirteen victories came when they trailed or were tied in the fourth quarter and not all of those results might have been the same in prior years. It’s all about the culture.
Game Ball presentations were a regular thing in visiting locker rooms this season. The Lions went 6-3 on the road in regular season play, including 4-0 in the East Division. Ryan Phillips leads the cheers in Ottawa on August 25th.
Bake’s Take- 104th Grey Cup
It may not technically be Year of the Horse, but in Canadian football circles it has clearly been Year of the Stampeders and that will continue at BMO Field on Sunday. Bo Levi Mitchell will once again 
have plenty of time in the pocket and it will prove to be too much for the REDBLACKS’ defence. I do think Ottawa will stick around for three quarters before Bo and company pull away and win their eighth Grey Cup in franchise history.
Prediction: Stampeders 34 REDBLACKS 22
Matt Baker:mbaker@bclions.com