DeVone Claybrooks knows thereB次元官网网址檚 a big question hanging over his B.C. Lions as they enter the regular season.

With so many new pieces, can the Lions come together as a single, cohesive unit?

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For Claybrooks, whoB次元官网网址檚 in his first year as a head coach, thereB次元官网网址檚 no other option. 

B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 have time to not mesh, with the schedule that we have, with the road games and the teams that weB次元官网网址檙e facing,B次元官网网址� he said on Friday. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 important that you hit the ground running.B次元官网网址�

The LionsB次元官网网址� first test of the season will be a big one. On Saturday, B.C. will host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, a team expected by many to dominate this year.

Winnipeg has 16 players returning from the squad that dropped last yearB次元官网网址檚 West Division final to the eventual Grey Cup-winning Calgary Stampeders, including starting quarterback Matt Nichols and star linebacker Adam Bighill.

TheyB次元官网网址檝e also beefed up their back end, adding former Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive lineman Willie Jefferson in free agency.

The Bombers are solid, with a proven quarterback, strong defence and a coach who likes to play aggressively, Claybrooks said.

B次元官网网址�(TheyB次元官网网址檙e) going to present a real challenge,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址滲ut weB次元官网网址檙e going to present challenges as well for other teams. Our real question is, can we gel together to become a team? Because we know top to bottom, our 46 can rob anybodyB次元官网网址檚 46 in the league.B次元官网网址�

B.C.B次元官网网址檚 offensive line shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be underestimated, said quarterback Mike Reilly, whoB次元官网网址檚 returning to the Lions starting lineup for the first time since October 2012.

After six seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos, Reilly signed with the Lions in free agency. He started in last weekB次元官网网址檚 pre-season win over the Calgary Stampeders, but only took three drives and is looking forward to playing a full game in black and orange.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 for real now,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址漎ou try not to get too high before you come out for the game because thereB次元官网网址檚 going to be a lot of excitement. But once that ballB次元官网网址檚 kicked off, it feels like getting on a bike again. ItB次元官网网址檚 the same game that youB次元官网网址檝e always been playing and youB次元官网网址檝e just got to go out there and execute.B次元官网网址�

An offensive force like Reilly doesnB次元官网网址檛 go unnoticed, said WinnipegB次元官网网址檚 Bighill, who played university football with the quarterback.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a great leader. HeB次元官网网址檚 always going to give their team a chance to win. It doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter if thereB次元官网网址檚 30 seconds left, if thereB次元官网网址檚 10 seconds left, if theyB次元官网网址檙e down by seven or down by 10,B次元官网网址� he said.

Reilly isnB次元官网网址檛 the only new edition to the Lions roster. B.C.B次元官网网址檚 general manager Ed Hervey spent his off-season picking up talent from around the league and beyond, including receivers Duron Carter and Lemar Durant, offensive lineman Brett Boyko and linebacker Maleki Harris.

The B.C. squad may not have spent much time playing together but they have lots of experience, said Nichols.

B次元官网网址淭hey have very talented players. The fact that theyB次元官网网址檙e new together doesnB次元官网网址檛 change the fact that all of them have been successful in other places,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e fully expect (Saturday) to be a tough game.B次元官网网址�

One of the veteran talents the Lions have picked up is offensive lineman Sukh Chungh, who spent the first four years of his CFL career playing for Winnipeg.

Coming back to the West Coast was a big draw for the native of Port Coquitlam and heB次元官网网址檒l have lots of friends and family in the crowd for SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 season opener.

B次元官网网址淭oo many to count,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 excited. ItB次元官网网址檚 been a long time since IB次元官网网址檝e got to play in front of my family like this.B次元官网网址�

Still, leaving his tight-knit Bombers crew hasnB次元官网网址檛 been easy.

B次元官网网址淏eing a part of Winnipeg for four years and developing what we had, such a strong O-line there, and the culture we developed up front, it was definitely hard to leave that,B次元官网网址� Chungh said. B次元官网网址滲ecause I went through the growing process, when things werenB次元官网网址檛 so sweet and when things were sweet. ItB次元官网网址檚 definitely hard to leave my brothers there.B次元官网网址�

That wonB次元官网网址檛 stop him from laying some heavy hits, however. The six-foot-four, 315-pound starter said he fully expects to take down some of his former teammates.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just the opponent. DoesnB次元官网网址檛 make a difference to me,B次元官网网址� Chungh said. B次元官网网址淚 know what colours I represent now and theyB次元官网网址檙e the away team.B次元官网网址�

Some lesser-known Bombers players will have an opportunity to steal the limelight on Saturday. Early injuries to receiver Chris Matthews and offensive lineman Pat Neufeld have created chances for athletes like Michael Couture and Lucky Whitehead, said Bombers coach Mike OB次元官网网址橲hea.

B次元官网网址淲hen you see young guys get in there and play, it usually turns out to be a bit scrappier than normal in terms of not always looking perfect, but they find ways to battle and to try and win,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址漇o I always like that part of it.B次元官网网址�

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press

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