2011 Grey Cup Predictions – Team Preview – British Columbia Lions
The British Columbia Lions are the team likely to be the most improved this season and it’s a good thing as they are playing host to the Grey Cup this season.
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After an uncharacteristically inconsistent season last year, the Lions hope that stability, free agency and improved play will result in a Grey Cup berth in the strong Western Conference.
BC went into last season with Casey Printers touted as their savior – WORNG! After a quarterback carousel, the Lions were able to put a 1-7 start behind them and finish 8-10. With Printers gone and the Lions officially turning to Travis Lulay (2,602 yards, 9 td), British Columbia hopes that heart and a little more experience will take this offense to a different level. Geroy Simon (1,190 yards, 6 td) and Paris Jackson will be back although promising youngster Emanuel Arcenaux has since left for the NFL.
Jamal Robertson (953 yards, 8 td) will once again patrol the backfield for BC which is a good thing. He is a talented guy who, for some reason, didn’t put it all together last season for the Lions. Hopes are that prize Free Agent signing, offensive lineman Ben Archibald from Calgary will be able to the same for Robertson as he did for Joffrey Reynolds!
British Columbia’s offense is decent but make no mistake; the real bread and butter for this team will be the defense. A lot has been made about the lack of a BC pass rush but with a good mix of veterans (Brent Johnson and Aaron Hunt) as well as younger players (Solomon Elimimian and Anton McKenzie to name a couple); BC should be able to get to the quarterback. [ad-4437448]
Add in the secondary (Davis Sanchez, Dante Marsh and Korey Banks) and the Lions have potential to be the scariest defense in the land. If defense wins championships then BC should challenge this season.
The Lions will field the best kicker in the CFL once again this season as well. Hopes are that an improved offense will diminish some of Paul McCallum’s chances this season but it is certainly nice to be able to lean on a kicker that connected on 88.5% of his opportunities last season.
The British Columbia Lions certainly improved this offseason through free agency and the draft – another 1-7 start appears very unlikely! Although the Lions may not tally the most wins during the Regular Season, this defense may allow British Columbia to make some noise in November. Expect a 10-8 season this year (good for third place in the West), a playoff spot and potentially a win or two in the postseason.
Lions 2011 Future Odds
Odds to Win the Grey Cup: +700
Odds to Win the Western Conference: +400
BC Lions 2011 Predictions
All in all, BC should challenge this year and could, with some improved play by Travis Lulay be the team to represent the West in the Grey Cup in Vancouver. This team is built for the playoffs and may be worth a small bet at +700 to win it all.
Don’t bet on the Lions to overtake the stacked Riders and Stampeders for the Regular Season crown however.
One reply on “2011 B.C. Lions CFL Team Preview/Predictions”
it will be interesting to see how Lulay plays in his second year..J.Jackson is a good back up…could be a starter but is too inconsistant and over throws way too much…..Lions have a good Defence…how will BC’s new receivers do is a question ?…….being a Grey Cup year hosting in Vancouver I thought perhaps GM Wally Buono could have gone after Jeff Garcia to be a QB..I know he is like 40 but he is a winner and he did take the Eagles to the playoffs that one year MCnAbb was not too good and then got injured…..worth the risk to try and sign him it could have been a trip to the Grey Cup.