Free agent pick-up Michael Couture and former reserves Jarell Broxton and David Knevel within the combine to get enjoying time with Joel Figueroa and Peter Godber shifting onto different CFL groups.
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Kelly Bates is heading up the rebuild of the B.C. Lions offensive line, however he’s actually not ranging from scratch.
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The Lions offensive line coach misplaced two starters from final 12 months when left sort out Joel Figueroa and centre Peter Godber jumped to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Saskatchewan Roughriders, respectfully, in free company in February. The Lions began coaching camp this weekend in Kamloops and amongst these within the combine for main enjoying time alongside the road proper now are David Knevel, who’s been with the membership since he was picked within the 2018 CFL Draft, and Jarell Broxton, who signed on with B.C. initially in 2021.
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As nicely, there’s Michael Couture, who inked a free-agent cope with the Lions in February after six seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Couture performed his school ball at SFU, and his head coach for his remaining season there was Bates. He additionally performed with Sukh Chung, B.C.’s incumbent starter at proper guard, when each have been with Winnipeg.
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Bates says Couture is “new, however on the similar time isn’t new,” and that may match on some degree for each Knevel and Broxton.
“We’ve acquired guys who’ve been right here for a while and so they’ve helped construct that tradition throughout the room and helped domesticate it,” Bates mentioned, pointing particularly at Knevel and Broxton. “Guys are available and get to be part of it and get introduced up in it. It’s an excellent scenario for us. With that, the extent of expectation and the way they carry themselves out on the sector doesn’t change.”
Broxton, 30, began at left sort out and left guard within the playoffs final season. Knevel, 28, missed all of final season with a torn labrum, however he has performed a number of spots on the road up to now. Couture, 29, is a centre by commerce.
Left guard Phillip Norman and proper sort out Kent Perkins are the opposite incumbent starters. The offensive line took a step ahead final season, greatest evidenced by James Butler turning into the primary Lion to hurry for over 1,000 yards since Andrew Harris in 2015.
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It’ll be fascinating to see how the road morphs. Figueroa, 33, had been a Lion for 4 season. He was known as on continuously by the media and was one of many extra recognizable gamers with the group. Godber, 28, was a 2018 draft choose, and had been a starter for the higher a part of two seasons.
“Peter and Fig have been so gratifying within the room as a result of they got here to work day by day, they labored their butts off, that they had good senses of humour, and so they have been very coachable,” Bates mentioned. “They have been nice colleagues to work with.
“Peter and Fig have been very distinct personalities. They convey their very own flavour to the room. And now you may have the brand new guys and so they deliver their very own flavour to the room. It adjustments the persona by way of the way in which they (the offensive line) work together, however I don’t assume it adjustments the extent of expectation and the way they carry themselves out on the sector and the mentality they carry to it.
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“Change occurs. It’s inevitable. We’ve all handled it and now we transfer on and the blokes that come into our room deliver their nuances. It’s nice to be part of, seeing these individuals come collectively and begin pushing in the identical course.”
Broxton, who’s from Olney, Maryland and performed at Baylor, appears to be like like the most effective candidate to take over from Figueroa on the key place guarding the blind aspect of latest beginning quarterback Vernon Adams, Jr.
On his means right here, he’s spent two seasons on the apply roster of the Baltimore Ravens.
“Fig had an amazing 12 months final 12 months,” mentioned Bates. “I assumed he had his greatest 12 months as a Lion final 12 months and I used to be rattling pleased and pleased with him. And I feel having Jarell the final two years working with us and seeing that instance and seeing the expectation being set places us in a greater place to have success now that Fig has moved on.”
Bates pegged Broxton as a “very highly effective man.”
“When he’s on the sector, he strikes individuals. He’s enjoyable to observe,” he added.
Knevel, who’s from Brantford, Ont., performed collegiately at Nebraska. Couture is from Burnaby and grew up a Lions fan.
Twitter: @SteveEwen
Originally posted 2023-05-15 22:55:16.
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