2007 CFL Western Preview - British Columbia Lions

By Fred Williams Jun 27, 2007, 15:25 GMT

B.C. dominated the CFL last year, registering the league's best record (13-5) and having four players walk away with its top four awards.

Receiver Geroy Simon was the MVP, defensive end Brent Johnson captured the top defensive player and Canadian honors, Rob Murphy was named top lineman and defensive lineman Aaron Hunt claimed the top rookie award. And after the club captured the Grey Cup, head coach Wally Buono was named the league's coach of the year.

All five are back this year. Offensively, the Lions appear stacked, and nowhere is that more evident than at quarterback. Veteran Dave Dickenson is the starter, and when healthy is the CFL's best. Despite battling injuries last year, Dickenson completed over 70 percent of his passes and threw for 3,032 yards and 22 touchdowns.

But if Dickenson goes down, the Lions counter with Buck Pierce, a backup who could start on most other clubs. And No. 3 quarterback Jarious Jackson would definitely get more playing time elsewhere.

Simon was the CFL's top receiver last year with 105 catches for 1,856 yards and 15 touchdowns. But teams can't afford to give him extra attention because slot back Jason Clermont is also a dominant receiver for the Lions and fellow Canuck Paris Jackson has the potential to thrive in one-on-one coverage.

The Lions did lose Ryan Thelwell as a free agent to Calgary. B.C. led the CFL in passing last year, but lost in the offense was the effectiveness of running back Joe Smith, who ran for 887 yards on 166 carries, averaging more than five yards a carry.

Smith and Co. were helped by a solid offensive line that's anchored by Murphy. But in order to re-sign Murphy in the offseason, the Lions had to release veteran Bobby Singh.

The Lions will also have new offensive coordinators this year as Dan Dorazio and Steve Kruck share those duties after Jacques Chapdelaine went to the Edmonton Eskimos. B.C. could be still adjusting to the new schemes and gameplans as the club lost both of its exhibition games.

However, given the abundance of talent the club has offensively, many believe the Lions are more than capable of overcoming that change.

B.C.'s defense, the CFL's best last year, is led by Johnson, who made league history by becoming the first player to win the top Canadian and defensive player awards in the same year.

But Lions safety Barron Miles also had a banner season, registering a CFL-high 10 interceptions in 2006 as B.C.'s defense recorded nine touchdowns (six fumble returns, three interception returns) and forced 61 turnovers.

The architect of B.C.'s stellar defense is defensive coordinator Dave Ritchie, a former head coach with the Lions, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Montreal Alouettes. Ritchie spent seven of his 11 years as a CFL head coach with Winnipeg, leading the Bombers to a 52-44-1-1 record during his six-year tenure. But he won a Grey Cup as the Lions head coach in 1994. Ritchie made it known in the offseason that he was interested in becoming a head coach again, and his name was mentioned as a candidate for the Saskatchewan Roughriders vacant job seeing as he had worked with Riders GM Eric Tillman in B.C. But Tillman opted to hire former Saskatchewan quarterback Kent Austin for the job.

Ritchie was mentioned as a candidate for the vacancy in Hamilton, but that position went to former Montreal coach Charlie Taaffe, and in Montreal GM Jim Popp decided to also assume the head coaching job on a full-time basis.

Ritchie stands seventh all-time in CFL head coaching wins with 108. He has been nominated for the league's coach of the year award six times, winning in 2001 after he guided Winnipeg on a 12-game win streak and eventual Grey Cup appearance before losing to Calgary.

Ritchie has also served more than 10 years as a defensive coach in the CFL with Montreal, Ottawa and Winnipeg.

Sports Network predicted finish: First.

© 2007 The Sports Network