Time is Now: The BC Lions’ window is wide open — but for how long?

“The Lions definitely have a very young roster. The players past their 30th year are few and far between, so it is odd to think this season could be the best chance the Lions will have at winning a title.”

In 2016, Wally Buono took back full control of the BC Lions and they came roaring back up the standings.

Their championship window is wide open with a talented young quarterback in Jonathon Jennings leading a star studded offensive lineup card.

But as quickly as that window has been kicked open, you never know how long it will stay there. The BC Lions best take advantage before the opportunity is lost.

You never know when the NFL will swoop in and take a big piece of the puzzle, like they did with Alex Bazzie and Adam Bighill this past off-season.

Will Jennings be the next to get a call?

What about the future of Buono? His contract extension ends before the 2018 season so this could be the last season we see Wally on the sideline.

Now you see how quickly windows can open and then immediately shut.

To win however, they must overcome their nemesis, Calgary Stampeders.

A loss to the Stamps in the playoffs is how the season has ended for BC in three of the last five years.

Last year, the Stampeders pummeled the Lions in the Western Final to give the Leos a pretty good indication they have to find another level in 2017.

Jennings’ rise to stardom in the CFL is a bit similar to Bo Levi Mitchell. Mitchell lifted the Grey Cup in his third season in the league.

Jonathon Jennings emerged as one of the CFL's brightest stars in 2016 yet, for Jennings, another step awaits (Photo: The Canadian Press)

The BC Lions must come into the season as a Grey Cup contender and one of the top favourites to win the title in 2017.

To do so, they’ll need Jennings to cut down on his mistakes. Jennings threw the most interceptions of any other quarterback in the league last year with 15.

It will be a sign of maturity and development for Jennings. After a breakout season, there are always questions about whether last year was a one hit wonder or if Jennings is for certain, the real deal.

I don’t see any reason to think it’s the latter and Buono went out to bolster the offense with the signing of receiver Chris Williams, who will provide a deep threat among a receiving group that already includes accomplished CFLers like Emmanuel Arceneaux, Bryan Burnham and Nick Moore.

Don’t forget about the run game. Jeremiah Johnson and Chris Rainey are a mix of power and pure speed and provide another dynamic to the offence that could be nearly impossible to defend.

However, the questions about whether the Lions can win the title have to be more so on the defensive side than the offensive side.

As mentioned, defensive end Alex Bazzie and linebacker Adam Bighill are off to the NFL.

Those are two players that will not be easy to replace, especially Bighill.

He and Solomon Elimimian became one of the best linebacking duos in CFL history. CFL veteran Tony Burnett or rookie Micah Awe won’t be as productive as Bighill. Nor should they be expected to.

While Adam Bighill has headed south, Solomon Elimimian and Loucheiz Purifoy could cause nightmares for opposing offences (Photo: Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

Any drop in production, however, could be picked up on the other side of the linebacking corps with Loucheiz Purifoy.

Purifoy burst onto the scene and will be another player that the Lions may need a big season from before the NFL comes calling again. He’s only 24 and will likely improve upon the 43 tackles, five sacks and one interception he collected in his first season in B.C.

The Lions definitely have a very young roster. The players past their 30th year are few and far between, so it is odd to think this season could be the best chance the Lions will have at winning a title.

But you have to consider the Buono factor.

Buono has always gotten the best out of his players for decades. Why? Attitude. The Lions of 2016 showed that aggressive and in your face attitude they seemed to be missing when Buono left following the 2011 Grey Cup title.

If Jennings or Purifoy or Burnham or anybody else from their foundation leave, they may be easier to replace than Wally.

So if this is Buono’s last year, they may need to win it again for Wally because his next retirement will the his final one.