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Lin-J Shell’s release continues B.C. Lions’ makeover, shows this will be a very different team
There are plenty of prominent changes going on around the CFL this offseason, with a whole new team in Ottawa, new coaches in Montreal, Edmonton and Winnipeg, and new quarterbacks in Hamilton and Winnipeg. There are more subtle makeovers going on as well, though, and one of the most notable involves the B.C. Lions. While B.C. general manager Wally Buono and head coach Mike Benevides are both returning, there are substantial other changes in the Lions' coaching staff (including Mark Washington replacing Rich Stubler as defensive coordinator and Khari Jones filling Jacques Chapdelaine's old role of offensive coordinator), and the team's roster has undergone plenty of transformation as well. B.C.'s decision this weekend to release veteran defensive back and former all-star Lin-J Shell is another example of that, and as Lowell Ullrich writes, one that fits in with the team's ongoing defensive makeover:
If training camp indeed does start June 1, it will begin with a vastly different defence, one that now no longer includes one of the team’s more flexible defenders who was penciled in to replace another veteran tossed overboard earlier this season, Korey Banks.
Shell, 32, moved into Banks’ spot at hybrid linebacker on the Lions depth chart after the Jan. 31 trade of Banks to Winnipeg, with CFL sophomore Cord Parks expected to move alongside Dante Marsh in the secondary and was told he was being brought to camp.
But with new defensive coordinator Mark Washington along to assess the rookie CFL import market at various U.S. tryout sessions this spring, the club is more confident they can replace Banks. Among the conditional signings by the Lions who will contest for the opening: Tony Burnett, a 23-year-old who ran track and played several defensive positions in college at USC.
Shell, who was heavily recruited by former defensive coordinator Rich Stubler prior to the 2012 season, was also due a small roster bonus for reporting to training camp which may have factored into the decision. He joins Banks, Josh Bell and Anton McKenzie as defensive regulars who are confirmed not to be back this year.
How will those defensive changes work out for B.C.? Well, all four of those guys were pretty effective players in orange, and experience can be crucial in the CFL. It's quite possible that they weren't as good fits for the scheme Washington wants to run, though; if the Lions' defensive look is going to change from what they deployed under Stubler (typically a 4-2-6, with a player like Banks or Shell serving as a hybrid DB/LB), different types of players might well be needed. A lot depends on who B.C. is able to find as replacements; Ullrich's piece makes it quite clear they're high on some of the talent they've located through free-agent camps, so we'll see if that belief is justified.
The defensive moves aren't the Lions' only ones, either. The backup quarterback role has already seen significant change with Buck Pierce retiring, and it could see more. Steven Jyles has been signed but has elected not to report yet, which could leave openings for players like former NFLer John Beck (who's impressed so far). The offensive line is also going to look substantially different thanks to veteran left tackle Ben Archibald retiring in March and long-time centre Angus Reid hanging up his cleats in May. Contenders for Archibald's spot include former NFLer Stephon Heyer, while 2013 first-round pick Hunter Steward is in the mix for one of the guard positions and recently-resigned 2012 third-round pick Matt Norman will likely slide over to centre. Even more notable than the personnel changes is what the coordinator changes may say about this team, though, as Ed Willes explored recently:
Both the outgoing men had their critics, but whatever else they were, Stubler represents over 40 years experience in the CFL and Chapdelaine has been coaching for some 25 years. Jones will be in his sixth year of coaching. This will be Washington’s first year as a co-ordinator after six seasons as a Lions’ assistant.
“We have two young men who are very intelligent who have the opportunity to take the next step in their careers,” Leos head coach Mike Benevides said of Jones and Washington.
“But it also means I want to do things differently on my football team. What you’re going to get first and foremost is a different attitude and a different approach.”
Then Benevides added this: “The guys who are here clearly understand this is my football team.”
There are significant benefits to coaching experience, and both Stubler and Chapdelaine found great success over their decades in the CFL. Their roles won't be easy to fill. However, lots of young assistant coaches are finding success these days, and both Jones and Washington have done quite well in their recent roles; how they handle more responsibility will be interesting to watch.The Lions definitely are becoming a much different team as Benevides' time as head coach rolls on. We'll see if those changes prove to be for the better.
