Positional Breakdown | Special Teams

Between now and the start of training camp, bclions.com rolls out positional previews for each group that will hit the field at Hillside Stadium in Kamloops on May 20th. We begin the series with a look at our special teams unit.

He’s one of the more energetic and intense 60-year old coaches you’ll ever see. That should serve as welcome news for a group looking to build off of some solid progress from the last couple of seasons.  Special teams coordinator Jeff Reinebold is back in his football home, after originally serving as a Lions guest coach in 1988 followed by two stints in the 1990s, and already hard at work getting to know some of his new personnel. His own credentials are solid, but he’s quick to caution a lot of his unit’s success is up to the twelve men on the field at any given time.

“Great players make great coaches,” began Reinebold.

“When I was in Hamilton, we had a tremendous run with Speedy B (Brandon Banks), we had (Terrell) Sinkfield return kicks for touchdowns, and we actually had eight different guys score touchdowns on special teams. The athletes are the ones that really do it.”

And in his first season back on the west coast, Reinebold’s new stable of athletes starts with one of the league’s most dynamic returners in Chris Rainey.

“Chris has an unbelievable skill set, he has great speed and the thing I like about it is he’s trained as a running back,” explained Reinebold.

“As opposed to a guy who is trained as a wide receiver, he is used to running in traffic. Usually, those guys have a little bit better toughness and can break tackles a little bit better. Even though Chris isn’t very tall, he’s a strong kid. I think once the guys figure out that every time the ball is kicked in the air Chris Rainey has a chance to score a touchdown, you’ll see our return team really take off in work. The bottom line is eleven guys have to do their job so one guy can be in the end zone.”

One of the more surprising elements of 2017 training camp was CFL newcomer Ty Long. The Alabama-Birmingham product beat out veteran Swayze Waters, whom the club had targeted as one of its big priorities in 2017 free agency, for the kicking duties and led the league in punting average. Long also proved to be ‘Mr. Automatic’ in the field goal game, hitting 22 of his 23 attempts from inside the 40-yard line and was named both a CFL and West Division All-Star.

“It’s about points. How you get your points is not as important as that you get your points,” added Reinebold.

“A guy like Ty, who has a big leg, can extend the scoring zone for us. You look at his ability in short and intermediate field goals, he’s really really good. I’m looking forward to having the opportunity, along with (kicking) coach (Don) Sweet to work with him this year and continue to hone his craft. I think he can be one of the upper echelon guys in the league.”

Both kicker and coordinator are overly passionate about their work. It should make for a winning combination.

Ty Long kicks a Travis Lulay held ball. Winnipeg Blue Bombers at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, BC., on Friday, July 21, 2017. (Photo: Jeff Vinnick)

GAMEBREAKER

Rainey– for a second straight season, the ‘rain man’ led the CFL in combined yardage (3,181), Rainey did manage to record a career-high 1,671 yards on 72 kickoff returns. Although his punt return totals dipped slightly from 2016, the University of Florida product will continue to be a threat to flip the field position or find the end zone whenever he touches the ball. Should a situation arise where Rainey plays a bigger role in the offence, Davis can be counted on to carry some of the kick or punt return load. This proved to be a beneficial arrangement in an October 28th victory at Winnipeg last season.

BC Lions running back Chris Rainey (2) celebrates his touchdown during the first half in CFL action in Vancouver, B.C., on Saturday, October 1, 2016. (CFL PHOTO – Jimmy Jeong)

INTRIGUING NEWCOMER

Keelan Johnson– the free agent addition from Ottawa will be counted on to replace Chandler Fenner’s production on the kick coverage unit. Johnson led the entire CFL with 29 special teams tackles in 2017. Johnson brings about the perfect veteran presence to go with a younger core of special teamers that will once again include the likes of Jordan Herdman, Frederic Chagnon and add a new crop of rookies, both national and international.

The return of Bo Lokombo could also provide a spark for Reinebold’s new-look group. Lokombo recorded 25 of his 44 special teams tackles in 2015 when earned a CFL West Division All-Star nod. A lot of his production this season will hinge on the role he plays on defence.

KEY NUMBER

88.6– Long’s field goal percentage in 2017. The rookie was 39 of 44 overall and also made 18 in a row to end the season, his last miss coming on September 8th against Montreal.

QUOTABLE

“Jeff was the head coach in Winnipeg when I was a little kid. I remember going to Bomber games and seeing him ride out on a motorcycle. I knew right there how awesome he was. The way he conducts himself with such energy is going to be amazing for our special teams. He got the fans excited in Winnipeg, that’s for sure.”- long snapper Mike Benson on his new coordinator.

Stay tuned for the remainder of our positional previews. The schedule is as follows:

Friday, May 11th- Offensive Line

Monday, May 14th- Linebackers

Tuesday, May 15th- Running Backs

Wednesday, May 16th- Defensive Line

Thursday, May 17th- Receivers

Friday, May 18th- Defensive Backs

Saturday, May 19th- Quarterbacks

Matt Baker: mbaker@bclions.com