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CFL Free Agency

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By David Hollinshead, Staff Writer

he day after Valentine’s Day,
[ie agency began in the CFL.

With many players losing
their jobs, it didn’t take long for
some of them to find new ones, as
teams looked to improve on their
2011 seasons. Even the defending
champions, the BC Lions, have
been one of the more active teams,
making some pretty big splashes.

The biggest prizes of this free

agent class were both on offence:
former Saskatchewan Roughriders
receiver Andy Fantuz, who missed
half of last season with the Chicago
Bears before getting cut, and
Winnipeg Blue Bombers offensive
lineman Brendon Labatte. Former
Edmonton Eskimo receiver Jason
Barnes, who was also cut a few
days before free agency started,
would be an excellent runner up for
anyone in the Fantuz mix. While
on defence, the top crop of players
came from Toronto. Defensive backs
Lin-] Shell, Byron Parker, and Willie
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Pile all hit free agency. Canadian
linebacker Jason Pottinger also hit
free agency, but quickly re-signed
with Toronto. BC Lions allowed all-
star defensive tackle Aaron Hunt
to hit the free agent waters as well,
who would be an instant upgrade
to any team that wants him.

BC Lions

After head coach Mike Benevides
signed on Rich Stubler as their
defensive coordinator, it brought
on a discussion whether or not the
BC Lions were going to run a 3-4
defence or a 4-3. The Lions started
last year with a 3-4, but due to
ineffectiveness and injuries, they
converted half way through the
season to a 4-3. Stubler ran a 3-4
in Edmonton, and according to the
Lions signings, it appears as though
they’re going to give it another

try. Before free agency started,

the Lions resigned defensive
tackle Khalif Mitchell, linebacker
Anton McKenzie, and defensive
back Korey Banks, while cutting

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defensive back Tad Kornegay. They
also resigned long time defensive
backs Dante Marsh and Ryan
Phillips, while letting Aaron Hunt
walk.

Letting Hunt walk was the
first clue that the defensive scheme
switch was a possibility. With a
3+4, you only need three defensive
linemen on the field to go along
with four linebackers. The Lions
kicked off free agency signing
Lin-] Shell, then cornerback Byron
Parker, giving the Lions five all-
star defensive backs. It’s doubted
that all of them will play their
usual positions though. In this
new 3-4 system, it’s believed that
the starting defensive line will be
composed of Khreem Smith, Khalif
Mitchell, and Keron Williams, with
Brent Johnson and Eric Taylor as
subs. The linebackers look similar
to the structure that was taken last
year.

The Lions are high on Adam
Leonard, who was forced to have
surgery early in the year, manning

the short side duties, Anton
McKenzie and James Yurichuk
manning the middle, and Lin-J
Shell, who was praised for having a
nose for the ball, having the third-
most tackles in the league last year,
to man the nickel linebacker spot,
which is a linebacker / defensive
back hybrid. The backfield will
have Marsh and Parker starting

as corners, Phillips and Banks at
halfback, and LaRose who will stay
at safety. The Lions made attempts
to resign Hunt at a pay cut, but it
was always unlikely he’d be back.
The Lions also signed running back
Stu Foord as a backup for current
young star Andrew Harris.

Calgary Stampeders

The Stamps are in the beginning of
anew era. They traded quarterback
Henry Burris, giving the starting
job to the newcomer Drew Tate, and
cut the franchise-leading rusher,
running back Joffrey Reynolds,
giving New Westminster’s own Jon
Cornish the job. The Stampeders
resigned most of their players

that were set to hit free agency

and didn’t lose any key pieces to
their puzzle. Calgary looks to see
what a year looks like with Tate
and Cornish before they decide

if or what big moves they need

to do. They’ve signed a handful

of linebackers, including former
Lion Joe Henderson, and defensive
backs, but haven’t been taking
advantage of the opportunity to
improve.

Edmonton Eskimos

The BC Lions are going through

a defensive shift, but do not

look like they are becoming any
less powerful; in Edmonton, it’s
completely flipped. After trading
quarterback Ricky Ray to Toronto,
Most Outstanding Canadian
running back Jerome Messam
signing with the Miami Dolphins,
and cutting most of their receiving
corps, Edmonton’s offence looks to
have lost a step. Quarterback Steven
Jyles has never proven himself to
be of starting calibre, but is being
handed the keys to the offence. To
help him out, Edmonton won a
bidding war for receiver Greg Carr
who had originally chose to resign
with his former team, Winnipeg,
but hours later had changed his
mind.

Carr was a valuable option in
Winnipeg’s offence, but won’t be
able to take advantage of teammate
Fred Stamps drawing double teams.
Edmonton also signed receiver
Cary Koch, who saw little time in
Saskatchewan and is unproven in
a starting role. The Eskimos may
have seen a slight improvement in

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