To classify it as a gut punch would be an understatement.
That’s how most B.C. Lions fans would feel after the team lost the Western Final 24-21 to the Saskatchewan Roughriders this past Saturday at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.
Tommy Nield’s three-yard touchdown reception with 11 seconds remaining in the game gave the Riders a ticket to the 112th Grey Cup in Winnipeg this Sunday where they will face the Montreal Alouettes.
The Lions had made tremendous progress this season in finishing games and were on a seven-game winning streak heading into the penultimate game.
Unfortunately for the Leos, this game was eerily reminiscent of losses to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Ottawa RedBlacks earlier this season where both sides of the ball couldn’t get the job done when it mattered the most.
To put it bluntly, the Lions snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
Now comes a long off-season where some key decisions will have to be made if this club wants to get over the hump.
But first, let’s take a look at the big picture.
Rookie head coach Buck Pierce did a tremendous job of molding the offense around star quarterback Nathan Rourke. The unit led the league in several categories including points per game (31) and yardage per game (430).
The defense under coordinator Mike Benevides also improved as the season progressed but still needs to get to another level to be considered among the CFL’s elite.
Perhaps the biggest positive from this season has been the shift in culture with the team. In their last three playoff appearances, I always had the feeling that the mindset of the team was that they were hoping to win the game.
This year the mindset was that they expected to win the game. And for 57 minutes and 20 seconds, it looked like they would.
In the end, they didn’t.
Now comes the off-season and with 12 starters becoming free agents as well as kicker Sean Whyte.
Needless to say, general manager Ryan Rigmaiden and Pierce will have some tough decisions to make asthey try to improve on the 11-7 record.
On offense, running back James Butler, fullback Riley Pickett, tackles Jarell Broxton and Chris Schleuger as well as receivers Keon Hatcher and Ayden Eberhardt are set to become free agents.
On defense, tackle Jonah Tavai, linebackers Josh Woods and Ben Hladik and defensive backs Garry Peters, T.J. Lee and Ronald Kent Jr., will be seeking new deals.
Signing Hatcher — the league’s leading receiver in receptions (102) and yardage (1,688) — will be a priority. Butler, who rushed for a career-high 1,213 yards as well as adding 439 yards in receptions, was a great fit for Pierce’s offense and will be a key re-signing as well.
The Lions, however, already have big ticket items in Rourke, receiver Justin McInnis and defensive end Mathieu Betts.
Rigmaiden has to balance being fair to Hatcher and Butler while still being fiscally responsible enough to sign some of his other free agents. Broxton and Tavai both had breakout seasons and will be wanting to get paid accordingly never mind having money left over to go out and get some additional help.
By this agent’s examination, the Lions are probably an offensive lineman or two from becoming unstoppable on offense. The unit was great this season but Pierce’s play calling helped shield some weaknesses within the interior of the offensive line, weaknesses which were exposed at certain points this season.
On defense, the Lions are three or four good players away from elite status.
The defensive line could use a stout run stopper in the interior and perhaps another solid pass rusher as well while the secondary will need some reshaping if veterans like Peters and Lee are let go.
All of those answers won’t be accomplished through free agency however, where there is a tendency to overpay for value and with a salary cap restricting your ability to find solutions.
The big key in the off-season will be the organization’s ability to improve from within as well as find the next Robert Carter Jr., or Seven McGee – free agent finds who can come in and contribute at a minimal cost.
Rigmaiden made his mark as a scout and it will be that ability to identify talent that will be needed to take the next step.
Going from average to good is hard. Going from good to great is even harder.
EXTRA POINTS
* Other players eligible for free agency on offense include quarterbacks Chase Brice and Jeremiah Masoli as well as offensive linemen Dejon Allen, David Foucault and Andrew Peirson. On defense, linemen Nathan Cherry and Sione Teuhema, linebackers Adam Auclair, Adam Konar and Isaiah Guzylak-Messam, as well as defensive backs Jalon Edwards-Cooper, Joshua Hagerty and long snapper Kyle Nelson are also impending free agents.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob “the Moj” Marjanovich writes about the B.C. sporting scene for Black Press Media. This column is brought to you by:
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