It wasn’t a pretty scene in the visitors’ locker room at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium on June 29th. The Lions had been beaten 41-22 and the mood was, to say the least, a little testy. Odell Willis opted to take the glass-half-full approach by reminding folks they got to play the Eskimos twice more, both times in our house. Thursday night is their first chance to prove that first result wasn’t what the Lions are all about.
“I’m always itching to play my old team,” said Willis on this matchup with the green and gold.
“It’s a new, day and a new opportunity that God has given us. I’m always happy to put on my uniform and play.”
It was clear from the first day of training camp in Kamloops that the 33-year old Willis still has plenty of game left.
With four sacks in his first six games, the charismatic defensive end has loved life in orange and feels the wins are coming.
“Tough times don’t last always, tough teams do,” said the two-time CFL all-star.
“We have to just keep fighting and show the character of each guy on this team.”
Along with getting the job done on the field, Willis credits the locker room chemistry as a big reason he has enjoyed his move to the west coast.
“It’s one if the older locker rooms I’ve been a part of, as far as experience goes. I finally get to hear some of the music I want to hear instead of this new 19-year-old/, 21-year old music that I have no clue about,” added Willis with a chuckle.
“I love my teammates, they’re pretty cool guys. Like I said, we have fun together and it’s been an easy transition for me.”
Odell Willis celebrates a big play during a victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on July 14th/2018. Photo: David Friederich.
Another thing that is helped his transition has been the chance to work with defensive line coach Randy Melvin, a man who has seen it all and done it all in the game of football. Melvin held the same position with the Lions for their last Grey Cup championship in 2011 and also earned a Super Bowl ring on Bill Belichick’s staff with the Patriots at the end of the 2000 NFL season.
“He breaks you down as a player from head to toe,” explained Willis of his new position coach.
“He’s not just worried about whether you’re playing the run or playing the pass, he’s worried about the overall scheme and getting the job done from your feet to your hands to your pad level. Every day I learn something from him or I get better from him. That’s one of the reasons I’m so excited to come to practice all the time because I know he’s going to teach me something that’s going to help me get better, being that I’ve already been in the league for so long. Anytime you can learn something every day to get better after being in the league ten years it’s just nothing but a plus.”
It’s always a breath of fresh air to hear a veteran talking about the willingness to learn new things in the back half of their career. His approach will definitely provide a trickle-down effect to the Lions’ new-look defensive line.
And winning will make that even better.
Another Backfield Shuffle?
The biggest development on day one of preparation for the Eskimos saw Travon Van taking a bulk of the backfield reps in place of Jeremiah Johnson. The veteran Johnson watched from the sidelines after it appeared he re-injured his ankle in Saturday’s loss to Calgary. Activated off the suspended list at the start of last week, Van handled Chris Rainey‘s return duties on Saturday and finished with 85 yards on five punt returns. Rainey was a full go at practice on Monday.
After missing the last four games due to injury, Hunter Steward was back practising at the left guard spot. That will be another situation monitoring for the next couple of days. Given the fact they have dealt with injuries at multiple spots up front, Wally Buono praised the play of his offensive line through the opening third of the regular season.
“The thing I’ve liked is that they’re big, they’re physical, we played a very good front in the Stampeders, I don’t think we gave up any sacks. We did run the ball well,” said the head coach.
“The offensive line gives you confidence, gives you the ability to, as I say, change up between the run and the pass and in this league you’re gonna have to be able to score points. If you do, you win.”
Buono went on to salute the addition of Joel Figueora and improvement of second-year Lion David Foucault as big reasons for the improved unit up front.