Lowell Ullrich
The Province

It is a list of signings that would give the B.C. Lions more than just an auxiliary basketball team. It started a fast-moving clock on their future.

The CFL club Tuesday announced contract agreements have been reached with seven of their nine picks from the May 2 Canadian college draft, which at least will give them added depth in an area which needed some support.

Unless the Lions can find ways to keep their acquired talent, however, the concept behind building for down the road will go to waste.

B.C. also had seven picks in last year's draft, but only running back Jamall Lee and reserve linebacker James Yurichuk played a regular-season game last year.

The remaining five picks were either not signed, cut just after camp or wound up with other teams, creating an open wound that was every bit as hurtful to the Lions as their 8-10 record.

Coach/GM Wally Buono petitioned the league for a means to keep draft picks with unused eligibility who need to go back to CIS schools for seasoning.

The club is hopeful provisions will be made as part of talks on a new collective bargaining agreement between the CFL and its players association.

Until then, however, clubs must make hasty evaluat ions, which heightens the value of four practice sessions the Lions will have with their first-year players in Kamloops next week.

"Either we have to be more patient, find a way to fit them [on a roster] or we don't select them," Canadian scouting director Mike Benevides of the Lions said recently of the dilemma facing CFL clubs.

Though the Lions will not gain immediate benefits from their top two picks, redshirt offensive lineman Danny Watkins and Green Bay Packers hopeful Shawn Gore, the club acknowledged its biggest needs with the remaining seven selections.

The club's third-round pick, linebacker Joash Gesse, potentially could partner with Yurichuk in the future.

Cornerbacks Hamid Mahmoudy and Cauchy Muamba could eventually replace veteran Davis Sanchez.

There are endless possibilities behind Paris Jackson and O'Neil Wilson, the Lions' only two veteran non-import receivers.

Three newcomers started down that path Tuesday, including Matt Chapdelaine, son of offensive coordinator Jacques Chapdelaine, who not only has two years of CIS eligibility remaining but could also play junior.

None of those whose deals were announced Tuesday, which also includes non-import offensive linemen Adam Baboulas and free agent Bart Archdekin, will determine whether the Lions make the playoffs this year.

They could, however, make a difference.

"The reason why Saskatchewan has been good the last two years was their 18th, 19th and 20th Canadians," said Benevides, suggesting good teams in the three-down league are formed from the bottom up.

courtesy of www.theprovince.com