It hasnB次元官网网址檛 taken Ed Hervey long to get used to his new colours.
Hervey became the B.C. Lions general manager Nov. 30, less than eight months after being fired by the Edmonton Eskimos. That ended HerveyB次元官网网址檚 18-year association with the franchise as a player, scout and GM.
B次元官网网址淥h yeah, I look good in orange,B次元官网网址� Hervey said with a chuckle during a telephone interview following the CFL president and GM meetings in Banff. B次元官网网址淚 was fortunate to be in Edmonton for as long as I was and take nothing but great memories from there and had some exciting memories (three Grey Cup wins).
B次元官网网址淏ut IB次元官网网址檓 also happy to be a part of the B.C. Lions. IB次元官网网址檓 looking forward to the days ahead and hopefully the success that comes with it.B次元官网网址�
Hervey, 44, replaces Wally Buono, whoB次元官网网址檒l remain the LionsB次元官网网址� vice-president of football operations and head coach for the 2018 season. Buono has the most head-coaching Grey Cup victories (five) and regular-season wins (266) in league history, but B.C. (7-11) finished last in the West Division last year and missed the playoffs for the first time in 21 seasons.
It was certainly a dismal season for the Lions, who were 3-6-0 at home, 4-5-0 on the road and 3-7-0 within the West Division. B.C. often shot itself in the foot, leading the CFL in turnover ratio (-19), sacks allowed (49), quarterback pressures (141) and interceptions (28).
Quarterback Jonathon Jennings also had a down year. After passing for 5,226 yards and 27 TDs in 2016, the 25-year-old threw for 3,539 yards, 16 TDs and a career-high 19 interceptions last season.
There were bright spots.
Receivers Bryan Burnham (81 catches, 1,202 yards, seven TDs) and Manny Arceneaux (100 catches, 1,137 yards, six TDs) were among the leagueB次元官网网址檚 best while running back/returner Chris Rainey led all players with 3,181 combined yards. Linebacker Solomon Elimimian had a CFL-record 144 tackles and rookie Ty Long was the top punter (47.9 yards) and made 39-of-44 field goals (88.6 per cent).
Hervey doesnB次元官网网址檛 believe he has to overhaul B.C.B次元官网网址檚 roster, but admits change is inevitable.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檒l be players who want to go to other teams because itB次元官网网址檚 closer to their homes and thereB次元官网网址檒l be players weB次元官网网址檒l want to bring in because they bring a different element to our team,B次元官网网址� Hervey said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e far from an overhaul but I think like any team weB次元官网网址檒l make changes but theyB次元官网网址檒l be to improve areas we felt we lacked in last season.B次元官网网址�
B.C. has signed Arceneaux and Canadian offensive lineman Cody Husbands to contract extensions but still has 20 players slated to hit the free-agent market Feb. 13. Hervey is hopeful he can get others signed before that time.
One pending free agent is veteran quarterback Travis Lulay. The 34-year-old was solid in place of Jennings before suffering a season-ending knee injury in September.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 progressing well,B次元官网网址� Hervey said. B次元官网网址淭ravis is a fighter and competitor and will obviously put in all the time to rehab and make sure heB次元官网网址檚 100 per cent when heB次元官网网址檚 ready to go.
B次元官网网址淚f itB次元官网网址檚 a case where heB次元官网网址檇 like to come back, weB次元官网网址檇 love to have him back. But weB次元官网网址檒l take our time to make sure a) he wants to b) heB次元官网网址檚 healthy and c) just make sure all the dominos fall into place as far as making sure we do whatB次元官网网址檚 best for our team.B次元官网网址�
ThereB次元官网网址檚 plenty riding on the Lions resuming their winning ways. Attendance at B.C. Place Stadium is lagging and the club has had a reduced presence in its market.
Owner David Braley wants to sell the franchise but doesnB次元官网网址檛 expect it to happen before the end of 2018. And after this season, Hervey will have to find BuonoB次元官网网址檚 coaching successor.
B次元官网网址淚 can only focus on the responsibilities in front of me right now,B次元官网网址� Hervey said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 trying to put the best product we can on the field to make sure weB次元官网网址檙e competitive B次元官网网址� and working hand in hand with Wally to make sure we deliver the kind of team our fans expect and our players would want to play on.
B次元官网网址淚f weB次元官网网址檙e able to do our jobs and everyoneB次元官网网址檚 on the same page, weB次元官网网址檒l have positive days and see where weB次元官网网址檙e at when the dust settles.B次元官网网址�
HerveyB次元官网网址檚 departure from Edmonton was surprising given the Eskimos were 40-32 during his tenure as GM and captured the B次元官网网址�15 Grey Cup. But president Len Rhodes cited two reasons for the move: an impasse in contract negotiations B次元官网网址� Hervey was in the final year of his deal B次元官网网址� and philosophical differences, most notably regarding team access.
Hervey was portrayed publicly as being difficult to work with and someone who had strained relationships with some Eskimos players and club officials, including Rhodes, as well as former CFL commissioner Jeffrey Orridge.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 just part of the game, things are said,B次元官网网址� Hervey said. B次元官网网址淣o one will ever know what happened, IB次元官网网址檓 not going to go down that road as far as what happened.
B次元官网网址淭hat chapter is closed. IB次元官网网址檓 just looking forward to continuing my career with the B.C. Lions.B次元官网网址�
Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press
