B.C. Lions: Vernon Adams Jr. constructing staff spirit one barbecue at a time

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It’s counterintuitive to say, maybe edging into ludicrous media hot-takes territory, however the B.C. Lions are in a greater spot now than after they began 2022 with Nathan Rourke underneath centre.

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Rourke, for all of the ascendant and mind-blowing expertise he confirmed final 12 months, was nonetheless an unknown amount earlier than the season. There have been query marks in all places, none greater than having a quarterback room of two younger, unproven Canadian pivots and a veteran whose profession single-season passing excessive barely scraped over 1,000 yards.

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However Vernon Adams Jr. is a identified amount. Dane Evans and Dominque Davis are, too. There’s stability, understanding, and the expectations that include these.

“At the moment final 12 months, we have been all speculating — all of us on this room — speculating that Nathan was going to be who he was,” Lions GM Neil McEvoy informed media Tuesday on the staff’s practise facility.

“We all know what Vernon is; he’s probably the greatest quarterbacks in three-down soccer. So we’re in a greater place immediately than a 12 months in the past due to guys like Vernon being on our staff and being extra ready, not being thrown to the wolves (after) being right here every week and hastily going into the hostile locations like Calgary and anticipating us to win, which we did.

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“He’s extra ready, Jordan (offensive co-ordinator Maksymic) is extra ready, simply because they’ve had extra time to offer Vernon all the chance to steer us in the suitable course.”

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When it grew to become obvious that Rourke was on an NFL arc, the Lions’ mid-season commerce for Adams grew to become much less of fast damage substitute for the starter a considered by the lens of a long-term transfer. Final season was his runway, however he’s already lifted off the figurative tarmac this 12 months.

He flew to Montreal to throw within the low season with Dominque Rhymes, in addition to driving as much as Vancouver to coach with Keon Hatcher and Jevon Cottoy. And in April, he flew in a rating of teammates, offensive and defensive, for a three-day mini-camp — the Lion Kings camp — in his hometown of Tacoma. He paid for the flights, resort, and meals — although proprietor Amar Doman picked up the tab on a swanky steak dinner one night time, and QB Dane Evans sprung for lunch one other day — all to work on staff chemistry and get a head begin on the season.

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Then there was the off-field actions; golf, yoga, a barbecue in his own residence, all a part of rising the staff collectively.

This isn’t a brand new factor; Adams additionally did it as a member of the Montreal Alouettes. But it surely reinforces the character the Lions cited as an enormous a part of bringing him to B.C., and that he’s not a participant who would disrupt the established character and brotherhood the staff had, however would amplify it.

“You get nearer together with your brothers, simply studying them extra, when (you’re) on that subject man, it’s a battle, and with all that comes you realizing your brother has your again,” Hatcher mentioned of the mini-camp.

“We’re all assured as a result of all of us consider in one another. The entire group. Each single one in every of us consider in one another. It’s only a camaraderie between us; it’s a brotherhood, and all of us all of us assume and consider that we deserve that Gray Cup.

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“Coming in and stepping in for Nate, he did an unbelievable job, not realizing the offence. He simply stepped in and (went) 4-2. … He understands that there’s a stage of expectation on the quarterback standpoint from the place Mike Reilly left it, from the place Nate exceeded it. And now, it’s his flip. Go get a Gray Cup. That’s the one option to exceed it.”

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Adams drove as much as Kamloops after Tuesday’s media session to prepare for the beginning of rookie coaching camp on Wednesday, even when veterans aren’t required to be there till Saturday, a day earlier than fundamental camp.

He mentioned he was feeling extra snug and pure within the offence, having spent a number of time working with Maksymic over the low season, and his fundamental purpose for enchancment is faster pre-snap reads so he can get the ball out of his palms and into these of his playmakers like Rhymes, Hatcher and Fortunate Whitehead.

Adams had no strain and no expectations filling in for the injured Rourke final 12 months, being parachuted into a brand new staff, a brand new system in mid-season. However that get-out-of-jail-free card is gone for 2023. He’s not simply conscious he has to shoulder the accountability and expectations this 12 months — he welcomes it.

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“Strain is a privilege, proper? And I’m glad to be right here, and I’m glad to tackle that strain,” he mentioned.

“I don’t essentially must show to myself, however I do really feel like I would like to point out the followers and present everybody we’re nonetheless nearly as good. We nonetheless have a number of the identical items. And as a quarterback, your job is to attain factors and win video games, and I’ve finished a reasonably good job of that all through my profession.

“How (we) began off the 12 months final 12 months, undefeated earlier than the Bombers … These are expectations however, hey, that’s the usual.

“My job is to lock in, get these guys the ball, win video games and tackle that strain head. So come on, let’s go!”

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