Ra’Jon Henley (above) will be removed from the defensive rotation in place of fellow import lineman Brandon Peguese

If it seems troubling that there is little that can be done about one of the biggest early issues concerning the Lions, which is their habitual tendency to surrender large amounts of real estate while on special teams, you weren’t at practice Wednesday.

For that matter, you wouldn’t have been there Tuesday either, as for the second straight day assistant coach Dan Dorazio, who is charge of such things, was all over another drill designed to put a number of defenders in front of an opposing kick returner.

Very bad things happened the last time something like this mattered in a game of course, unless you missed the Tristan Jackson return for a game-winning touchdown by the Saskatchewan Roughriders last week.

So the Lions have been all over a possible solution, though you wonder what any team can really accomplish in a practice setting where nobody ever goes at full speed by definition.

You also can’t make many personnel moves to fix special teams, not when offence or defence mostly have priority and roster flexibility is next to non-existent. But the Lions will make one Friday against Edmonton, sitting Ra’Jon Henley and replacing him with fellow import Brandon Peguese.

Henley was on one of the field goal units which gave up another big run to Jackson, and because the Lions have also been interested for some time to see what he can do to bolster the pass rush, will give Peguese a chance to rotate on the outside on defence with Keron Williams and Khreem Smith. It’s not a big deal but a change nonetheless. After three weeks really of special teams nightmare, at least one change is as good as a rest.

Continue to source →