Breaking Down The Linebackers
When it comes to football, Chris Tormey has seen it all and done it all. He was on the Washington Huskies staff that helped win a Rose Bowl in 1980 and turned around the Idaho Vandals program when he took over as head coach in 1995. There is plenty more that came from as well.
So naturally, when the Lions’ second-year linebackers coach was asked about the process of replacing Adam Bighill at the weakside position, he embraced it head on.
“We’ve got a number of good candidates,” stated Tormey after opening practice at main camp.
“There are guys who have been on our roster like Dyshawn Davis and Cameron Ontko. Then we have a new addition with Tony Burnett. It’s going to be a really good competition between the three of them to see who comes out on top. They’re going to get plenty of reps in camp, it’s a talented group and it may even be by committee.”
The organization was seemingly dealt a big blow when Bighill exercised an out clause in his contract and signed with the New Orleans Saints on January 4th. Now the focus has shifted to that old “next man up” mentality. Bighill was an unknown when he reported to his first CFL camp in 2011 and now the task is to potentially find the next great star.
Burnett was a priority when free agency opened in February. Davis impressed the staff enough at last year’s training camp turn on a spot on the practice roster. Ontko led the club in special teams tackles after joining the group in June. When you factor in some of the new blood in Kamloops, linebacker should be one of the most intriguing position battles over the next 17 days.
“I’ve been very impressed with the way they have moved around out here and their willingness and ability to take coaching and translate the drill stuff to the field,” said Tormey.
There were lots of great things accomplished by Tormey’s unit in 2016. Bighill and Solomon Elimimian became the first teammates to each record over 100 defensive tackles in the same season. There was the emergence of Loucheiz Puriofy at the starting nickel position. Tormey says they have to be even better once things get going for real this season.
“We want to get to the Grey Cup. The leaders of the team are going to be the ones who set the tone for everyone else. We as a group of linebackers believe it’s our responsibility to be the leaders of the defence.”
Pride of ownership is a beautiful thing.
Breaking Down The Linebackers
Returnees
Jason Aragki, Adrian Clarke, Dyshawn Davis, Solomon Elimimian, Nehemie Kankolongo, Cameron Ontko and Louchiez Purifoy.
Newcomers And Where They Came from
Micah Awe– following a productive college career with Texas Tech he spent part of last season on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice roster. Comes highly recommended by Rigmaiden.
Tony Burnett– Recorded 33 tackles and two forced fumbles as part of an opportunistic Winnipeg Blue Bombers defence in 2016. Attended Lions camp in 2014 before being beat out by Josh Johnson at the nickel position. The USC product may be the clubhouse leader to replace Bighill but it won’t be settled anytime soon.
Frederic Chagnon– One of two linebackers from the 2017 draft class. He was picked up in the third round after earning U Sports Second Team All Canadian Honours with the Montreal Carabins last season. He will be counted on to play special teams right away.
Jordan Herdman– The SFU product was picked in the seventh round and then attended NFL mini-camps with the New York Giants- along with Chagnon- and the Detroit Lions. Has looked strong in mini-camp after not testing as well as he would have liked at the March CFL Combine.
The Elder Statesman
Aragki- still going strong as he enters season number 10 and continues to re-write the record book on special teams. The 32-year old passed Wade Miller for the all-time lead in CFL special teams tackles last season and also continued to prove himself on defence, playing in certain packages ahead of Bo Lokombo in the weakside spot.
The Big Question
It’s obvious isn’t it? Bighill will go down as one of the franchise’s biggest cornerstones of this decade and all eyes will be on who lines up alongside Elimimian in the June 24th season opener against Edmonton. Honourable mention: Which Canadian will stand out when it comes to the load shouldered by Aragki and Lokombo in 2016?
It Could Happen In 2017
Elimimian is just 13 defensive tackles shy of becoming the clubs all-time leader ahead of Dante Marsh. Elimimian also needs just five more combined tackles (defence, special teams) to break Marsh’s club record of 609. Elimimian’s fifth game in 2017 will be the 100th of his career.
Quotable
“It’s different. You build a relationship with people where it extends past football and everyone knows Adam and me were like brothers. He was a great player and a great friend but all in all it’s part of business. I feel like we have a lot of good young guys who are hungry that just want opportunity. Before fans knew about myself or Adam we were just a number.”- Elimimian on opening camp without Bighill and the task of replacing him.
Be sure to check BCLions.com tomorrow when we continue our positional breakdowns with the offensive line.
Matt Baker: mbaker@bclions.com