BC Lions’ line ‘on point’ protecting pivot heading into CFL season opener

Article content

The BC Lions’ offensive line took aim at getting a head start on their Canadian Football League season.

Article content

“I feel like we treated that as our first game,” left tackle Joel Figueroa said of Friday’s meeting with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, a 20-18 pre-season victory that was the Lions’ final dress rehearsal before CFL opening night on Saturday, when the Edmonton Elks come to town to provide the opposition at BC Place Stadium.

“I feel like guys were really aggressive and everybody mentally was on point. Guys were exactly where they needed to be and pretty much picked up everything, not making any mental errors. That’s exactly what we wanted to have.”

BC is looking to rebound from a 5-9 campaign in 2021 that left the Leos out of the playoffs. They’re looking to do with a new starting quarterback, as 24-year-old sophomore Nathan Rourke takes the controls from veteran Michael Reilly, who retired in the off-season.

Article content

Rourke was sacked twice in his two quarters of action on Friday. He was pressured another couple of times. He praised the play of the offensive line afterwards, talking up how he had time to go through his receiver progressions.

Rourke will play behind an offensive line that returns four of five starters in Figueroa, center Peter Godber, right guard Sukh Chungh and right tackle Kent Perkins. Philip Norman takes over at left guard from Hunter Steward, who jumped to the Ottawa RedBlacks as a free agent in February.

Norman got into one game last year but played in 13 with BC in 2019, so he’s in tune with offensive line coach Kelly Bates, who signed on with the Lions midway through that season.

“Another year under the same system helps,” said the 32-year-old Figueroa, a 6-foot-6, 320-pounder from Miami. “We’ve just hit the ground running and tried to eliminate any mental errors. We’ve got the guys, regardless of what position, to protect the quarterback and run this offense.

Article content

“I feel like across the board we have exactly what we need.”

NEXT GAME

saturday

Edmonton Elks vs. BC Lions

7 pm, BC Place Stadium. TV: TSN. Radio: AM 730.

He said the mindset doesn’t change with the quarterback switch, explaining: “We’re trying to protect our guy.”

“Knowing each other helps a lot,” he continued. “Even though Nate wasn’t starting he was always working out with the offensive line. It was a natural fit when he got the starting job. He’s a really smart guy. He asks questions about what we see scheme wise. It was like second nature when he came in.”

Asked about how big a change it could be for the offensive line with the change at quarterback, head coach Rick Campbell offered up: “We’ll see.”

“Nathan has been very good at getting the ball out quick,” Campbell added. “You can talk to any football team about that. If the ball is getting out quick, all of a sudden everybody looks better.”

Article content

BC was last in the CFL in rushing yardage per game (74.4) last season but was also at the bottom in rushing attempts per game (15.1). The Stampeders were next lowest in attempts (17.4) The Montreal Alouettes (25.7) led the way, and were one of three teams in the nine-team circuit with 20 or more carries per game.

The Lions have pointed to trailing early in games last season as the main reason for being heavy.

BC Brass have talked this off-season about wanting to run more, but Campbell was quick to point out that it’s not tied to the quarterback change.

“We’re not trying to protect Nathan from that standpoint,” Campbell said. “He’s comfortable running the offense and we’re going to call it as we see it.

“Obviously any running game helps any quarterback, but it won’t be anything out of the ordinary from us. We’re comfortable with Nathan and what he’s doing. I think he’s going to grow. He’s just turned 24 years old, he’s just getting started. I know there’s room for growth and experience. I like his temperament, I like his work ethic. Those things will ride him through the growing-through-experience process.”

Article content

James Butler, 27, is the lone running back currently on BC’s active roster. It’s his second season with the club. He led the team in rushing last season with 497 yards on 101 carries and scored two touchdowns. The Lions have running back Bruce Anderson, 24, who appeared in three games last season with Edmonton, on the practice roster currently. That could change before the weekend.

Running back Darius Clark, 25, who had spent some time with the National Football League’s Carolina Panthers, was among 11 cuts on Sunday.

[email protected]

twitter.com/SteveEwen

More news, fewer ads, faster load time: Get unlimited, ad-lite access to the Vancouver Sun, the Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites for just $14/month or $140/year. Subscribe now through the vancouver sun or The Province.