Quarterback Travis Lulay and the B.C. Lions will have their conditioning put to the test this week at Hillside Stadium, where head coach Jeff Tedford continues to hold training camp in temperatures above 30 C. Allen Douglas/KTW
With a full week of training camp under their belts, the B.C. Lions are beginning to settle into the fast life under new head coach Jeff Tedford.
“We get a sense early on that we are going to practise fast, we’re going to practise very hard and we’re going to be very efficient with our time,” Lions’ quarterback Travis Lulay told KTW.
“There’s very little wasted time. We stick to a regimented schedule. Everything’s been thought about, from drill work to time spent in between meetings. Everything is organized and that’s a good thing.”
Lulay joked he hasn’t even had time to eat at Hello Toast, his favourite local breakfast spot — “Talk to coach Tedford about that.”
Tempo has been the buzzword at Hillside Stadium, which over the weekend transformed from a dreary, rainy setting to a scorching cauldron.
Temperatures are expected to remain above 30 C until Friday, giving Tedford ample opportunity to push his players, with conditioning being a necessary companion to the style of football he wants to play.
“That’s just not on offence,” veteran defensive back Ryan Phillips said. “That’s on defence, too.”
“We’re going to be very-well conditioned coming into the season. I could see it paying benefits for us in Week 10 and 11, when everyone else is getting worn down.
“He puts a lot of emphasis on attitude, as well. He thinks attitude is everything and I definitely agree. How you approach a situation is going to dictate the results.”
The new-look Leos continue to take shape — and get in shape — in Kamloops.
Tedford, who made a name for himself coaching for more than a decade at the University of California, replaced Mike Benevides, who was fired in November after B.C.’s lopsided loss to Montreal in the first round of the playoffs.
More of the old guard was jettisoned on the weekend when 45-year-old kicker Paul McCallum was released, leaving 23-year-old imports Anthony Fera and Richie Leone to compete for the job.
Derek Yachison of the Kamloops Broncos had not yet been handed his walking papers as of yesterday (June 8) and remained with the Leos at training camp, trying to work his way up the depth chart at receiver.
B.C. is scheduled to practise twice today (June 9) at Hillside — from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 3:45 p.m. to 6 p.m.
“Coach Tedford is a detailed guy and there’s no detail that gets glossed over,” Lulay said.
“All those things we do now give us the best chance to be fundamentally sound in the most critical times of the season.”
The post Lions adjusting to new sheriff Tedford appeared first on Kamloops This Week.