June 3, 2017

Sanchez: BC Lions will have the best secondary in 2017

The Canadian Press

TORONTO — With the addition of Abdul Kanneh to their secondary – as well as the re-signing of Emanuel Davis – the chatter around the CFL has been that the Hamilton Tiger-Cats could possibly have the strongest defensive secondary this season.

However, in this week’s episode of The Waggle, Davis Sanchez makes the case that the BC Lions might give the Tabbies a run for their money in that department.

The re-signing of Anthony Gaiter earlier this week – along with the rest of the Lions’ secondary that includes T.J. Lee, Chandler Fenner, Loucheiz Puriofy and Ronnie Yell – gives Sanchez a strong argument that the Leos could have the best secondary in 2017.

“Ronnie Yell’s an All-Star player, a very, very good young boundary corner back who’s now in his fifth or sixth year,” Sanchez said. “He’s in the prime of his career. TJ Lee last year, before he got hurt, was playing better than anybody on that team and he was out for the season. So you have Ronnie Yell and TJ Lee, two integral parts of that defence, were out last year. Those guys both come back.

“Gaitor and Fenner, the two rookies, by the end of the season both were playing as two of the best defensive backs. They played extremely well. Now you bring those guys in the fold and along with Purifoy, who was a baller and played the nickel position for the BC Lions, he was a great football player.”

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Lee’s 2016 campaign ended in July when he suffered a season-ending injury. He started in four games before that injury and recorded 15 tackles, one sack and four pass knockdowns. Yell suffered a broken foot in late August ending his season after starting nine games and collecting 19 tackles and four pass knockdowns.

Gaitor started 11 games in 2016, collecting 35 defensive tackles and two interceptions while Fenner joined the Lions in July and played in eight regular season games and both playoff games collecting 29 defensive tackles and five special teams tackles.

Purifoy had the most productive season in the secondary on the Lions last season. He started all 18 games and both playoff games collecting 43 defensive tackles, five special teams tackles, one interception, four forced fumbles, five sacks and a major score on a 47-yard fumble return in Montreal in August.

“I think they all do different things and I think that’s my reason for putting them up there,” Sanchez said. “Gaitor’s a cover guy, Fenner’s physical, Purifoy’s a football player. I just think they have guys that can do a lot of different things and I just think they’re a good football team. They’re young but they have some experience and I’d put them up there with the Hamilton’s because of Kanneh and Davis and Calgary’s had a good secondary.”

For the full episode of The Waggle, click here or stream below: