Family life couldn't be happier for Wally Buono these days.
The B.C. Lions general manager and head coach welcomed two new grandchildren this off-season, and his youngest daughter got engaged last week.
But don't expect a cuddly Buono when training camp begins at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops this weekend, because the Lions boss is still fuming about an underachieving 2009 campaign and plans philosophical changes for the 2010 CFL season. Buono is an old-school football man, who values toughness, smarts and work ethic - the Lions failed on all fronts last year, finishing 8-10, last in the West Division.
A lack of fundamentals - blocking and tackling - led to some embarrassing performances trying to stop the run and protect the quarterback. A lack of roster flexibility exposed a staff that used to innovate and lazy practice habits sprung up, meaning a new tone will be set Sunday, when veterans take the field for the first session of 2010.
"I don't believe we were a blue-collar working team," Buono told Vancouver all-sports radio station the Team 1040 AM on Friday. "I think we took too much for granted."
Offensive lineman Sherko Haji-Rasouli said Buono's new tact could be "scary," because while the coach is stern at practice, he is not prone to screaming and singling out players.
"As you have success with your guys, you relax a little," Haji-Rasouli said. "Wally has to take back those responsibilities of policing."
Buono blamed himself for the country-club atmosphere at practice, and for failing to keep up with the Joneses when it came to the roster.
"We're not setting the trends any more," he harrumphed. "We're following them."
Traditionally, CFL teams have designated some positions for Canadian players and some for Americans. So, if a team planned on starting a Canadian receiver, it would typically stock the position with several non-import pass-catchers in case the starter got hurt. That would allow for a seamless ratio deployment - a Canadian backup replacing a Canadian starter - and not affect other parts of the roster.
But in 2009, Buono noticed rivals were up to different ratio tricks. In response, the coach plans a more flexible team in 2010 - one that won't be as susceptible to a key injury at a key position, and one that can use more personnel packages.
(For example, the Lions intend on starting O'Neil Wilson at receiver. But if the Toronto native goes down, the team doesn't want to be handcuffed to a second-string Canadian. So, B.C. might replace Wilson with Canadian running back Jamall Lee in the starting lineup, while using an American at receiver. Or, it might simply run a two-back offence, with Lee replacing Wilson on certain downs.)
The ratio flexibility extends to defence as well.
Canadian offensive lineman Brent Johnson is expected to be backup across the defensive front, meaning he will be subbing off Americans. That will allow B.C. to remove a Canadian linebacker or defensive back, and use an import in their stead.
But the biggest change this year may be an attitudinal one. Buono loves players with edge, but the 2009 Leos were more like kitty cats.
To wit, the coach has moved American Daren Heerspink from tackle to guard, and intends on using Haji-Rasouli at right tackle. By flipping Heerspink and Haji-Rasouli, Buono is hoping his O-line becomes nastier and more intimidating, much like the 2006 Grey Cup team, when tackles Rob Murphy and Jason Jimenez earned dirty-trick reputations and frightened opposing defences.
"It just felt like we weren't as physical as we once were," Haji-Rasouli said of 2009. "He's stressing that … stir things up and let's play more aggressively, and more physically."