Change is good. As a new season dawns on the BC Lions, change is very good.
The club kicked off their Rookie Camp June 2 and head coach and general manager, Wally Buono, is determined to enforce a hard work ethics in both Lions prospects and veterans.
This season Buono knows one thing is certain: the Lions will sport a change in attitude and competitive drive.
"What we want to do is reestablish some of the things that we have maybe gotten away from as a football club," said Buono. "One of those things is hard work and being a physical football team."
Buono will stress to his players hard work and persistence. The team is committed to winning football games and that means going back to the basics of competition.
"Competition should make everyone better," said Buono. "We're not happy with an eight and ten football team."
The Lions were within a game of reaching the Grey Cup last season, advancing to the East Final against Montreal but lost in a 56-18 blow-out.
"You got to be competitive and you got to improve your football club," said Buono.
The Lions worked hard in the off-season to add talent through the CFL Draft and through free-agent signings.
Offensive lineman Danny Watkins was drafted fourth overall by the Lions in the 2010 draft. He is a strong, aggressive player, weighing in at 310 pounds and at just over six feet tall, Watkins adds muscle to the training camp mix.
The Lions also added depth to the running back position signing Jerome Messam and Mickey Dean.
Messam finished his final season with Graceland University in 2009. He rushed for 1,075 yard and 12 touchdowns on 197 carries.
Dean spent five seasons with Arkansas-Pine Bluff, rushing for 2,179 career yards and 25 touchdowns on 487 carries.
It's clear the Lions have a wealth of talent at camp and the coaches aren't reserving any spots for anyone, new or old.
"As far as, 'Is there more jobs open," that's all relative to if the guys we're bringing in are better than the guys we have," said Buono.
"We're going to keep ourselves open minded."
Buono says the team understands players change and age with time and he is ready to have new young talent step into larger roles on the Lions.
"Players age and you have to give opportunities to younger players to maybe play more," said Buono when asked if centre Angus Reid would be a definite starter.
Buono also thinks having a cache of young, ready players will make his older veterans, like Reid and Brent Johnson better players and better rested for games.
However, players are not the only ones set to accept change on the Lions. Buono says he is ready to change to become a better coach as well.
"Everyone is optimistic," said Buono. "That optimism has helped me to be rejuvenated too."
"We've put some good pieces in place and now it's time to go to work."
Watch CTV News at Six for a full HD report from CTV British Columbia's Sports Director Perry Solkowski
