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KAMLOOPS, B. Carl Lawson Youth Jersey .C. -- As backup quarterbacks go, hes not an obvious choice. Thomas DeMarco completed only nine of 13 passes for the B.C. Lions in 2012, but other than starter Travis Lulay, he has more experience with the CFL club than any other signal-caller on the roster. Exactly one season. So DeMarco, a second-year pro, has the inside track on the Lions No. 2 quarterback position -- for now. "Ive got a headstart with that," he said Sunday as training camp opened. "Anyone whos been here for a little bit should be a little bit farther ahead." DeMarco is listed as No. 2 on the depth chart, but he and coach Mike Benevides stopped short of saying the backup job is his to lose. "I would never say that," said DeMarco. "But I would say that, as a competitor, when that spot is open, the first thing youre thinking about is that I wanna be that guy." Hes vying for the backup spot with Joey Elliott, who spent three seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers until he was released. Chris Hart, a product of Florida-based Webber International who signed in April, is also vying for a job behind Lulay. Benevides says DeMarco has as an edge on Elliott as the former Blue Bomber learns the B.C. offence. "Certainly, (DeMarco) has got the inside track," said DeMarco. "Theres no doubt about it. But I am not going to commit to that -- either way -- for a long time. I need more information. I want go through the pre-season games." The No. 2 spot became vacant when former backup Mike Reilly was traded to the Edmonton Eskimos in January. Reillys departure, inevitable after Lulay signed a lucrative new contract, makes the backup QB battle the most compelling storyline at training camp. "Theres no doubt that this game, this league is about the quarterback," said Benevides. "You need strength at the backup position. Normally, they are called upon at some point in the season, and we have to find who that guy is. "Theres a lot of important decisions to make, but the quarterback position is, certainly, the one thats going to get the most attention, and is important to the quality of our depth." Reilly excelled on the field in Lulays absence, but the former Lions backup was also a strong sideline presence. He bounced ideas off the No. 1 signal-caller and gave him feedback. A loose, talkative character who was quick with a jab, Reilly had a close relationship with Lulay, both professionally and personally. Lulay believes DeMarco can fill the role, with the No. 1 quarterback noting that his understudy has become more assertive as he approaches his second season. DeMarco agreed with the assessment, adding more of his personality will be displayed as the season unfolds. "The biggest thing is, last year I didnt want to speak up or say things unless I knew (the offence)," he said. "I want to make sure Im teaching the guys the right way. Otherwise, I was very quiet ... Now that I know, Im a bolder person in general." DeMarco wants to provide the same "supporting act" as Reilly did, while still being himself. "You definitely have to balance," he said. "This is Travis team. As a quarterback, youre used to having your team, coming from college. Its a humbling experience to understand that guys have been doing this for a long time. "Firstly, I have to learn to be a backup. Its not something that Ive ever done, and its going to take a little bit of getting used to whats helpful for Travis. Im a different player from him." Benevides says that Elliott, whose obvious appeal is his CFL experience, also has a loose personality, similar to Reilly, that can suit the team well. Stressing that all of the quarterbacks are simply learning from Lulay, Elliott adds he can provide a calm presence when called upon. Based on his brief time with the organization, Hart faces long odds to stick with the team. He joined the Lions in April following former NFLer Rudy Carpenters release. Benevides says Hart likely would not be at camp if Carpenter had stayed around longer. The Lions will go with three QBs on their active roster, but Benevides is still deciding whether he will keep one more on the practice roster. B.C. also has new quarterbacks coach Jarious Jackson, a former B.C. and Toronto backup who retired after helping the Argonauts win the Grey Cup last season. "For me, I saw the relationship that Mike Reilly had with (Lulay), and that quarterback position is extremely critical and vital, and it needs constant eyes," said Benevides. "Adding (Jackson) to that is going to really help Travis Lulay do better." Note: Defensive lineman Adrian Awasom, acquired from Toronto in the Khalif Mitchell trade, was suspended on the weekend because he did not make it to camp due to a passport issue. Benevides says the move was just "paperwork" and Awasom still figures in the clubs plans. He was attempting to depart for Kamloops from the U.S. when he discovered that his Cameroonian passport jeopardized his chances gaining re-entry. As a result, he stayed south of the border for the time being. Josh Malone Youth Jersey .com) - Manchester City midfielder David Silva is expected to miss the next four weeks because of a calf problem. Joe Mixon Jersey . "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts (8-4) to a 33-27 win over the Calgary Stampeders (9-3) in front of 28,781 fans at McMahon Stadium. http://www.bengalsauthenticproshop.com/Jordan-Willis-Bengals-Jersey/ .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. The diminished role of the running back in college football was greatly exaggerated.In some respects, the position is as strong as ever.Alabamas Derrick Henry became the first running back to win the Heisman Trophy since 2009 last year and was one of five players to run for 1,800 yards as rushing averages nationwide surged to record levels. Henry has moved on to the NFL, but three 1,800-yard rushers are back this season: LSUs Leonard Fournette, Stanfords Christian McCaffrey and Oregons Royce Freeman.The surge in star power at the position flies in the face of the conventional wisdom that college football has become a quarterback-dominated game.The running game, I wouldnt say it had gotten lost necessarily, because there have been a lot of good runners, Stanford coach David Shaw said. But the emphasis has been on the spread passing attacks. But really good spread teams always have a good back. Its good to see in college football, guys turn around and hand it to a runner and be physical. I think those guys are fun to watch -- and we have a pretty special one, too.The notion that a running backs value was fading gained credence when no players at that position were drafted in the first round in either 2013 or 2014. Quarterbacks won the Heisman eight times in a nine-year stretch from 2006-14, the exception being Alabama running back Mark Ingram in 2009.People have definitely advised me to pick another position, said Tennessees Jalen Hurd, whos a bit taller than the average running back at 6-foot-4. Ive got people all the time just looking at me like, `Dude, are you sure you want be a running back? But thats my position.Hurd stayed in the backfield and enters his junior season just 891 yards shy of Travis Henrys school rushing record.The emergence of Fournette, Hurd and Georgias Nick Chubb, who is recovering from a knee injury that sidelined him for the second half of the 2015 season, has helped the Southeastern Conference maintain its elite status during a stretch when it has struggled to produce top quarterbacks.I think definitely if it didnt change last year, the running back value is going to change this year, Hurd said.This running back resurgence goes well beyond the SEC and stretches from coast to coast.The Atlantic Coast Conference returns three players who ran for more than 1,400 yards last season -- Florida States Dalvin Cook, Clemsons Wayne Gallman and North Carolinas Elijah Hood. The league also welcomes back 2014 ACC player of the year James Conner of Pittsburgh after his successful fight with cancer.On the West Coast, the Pac-12 has the Heisman Trophy runner-up in McCaffrey as well as Freeman.There are a lot of good-looking running backs out there, said Dave Warner, Michigan States co-offensive coordinator/running backs coach.In the NFL, theyrre not as premium anymore because they dont last very long, Warner added. Carl Lawson Bengals Jersey. (In) college, they last with us.Many of those running backs are competitive enough to keep tabs on one another.I watch all of those guys, Cook said. Fournette, McCaffrey. ... Chubb will come back 100 percent. Jalen. Royce. I watch all of those guys. Great backs. (I) take little lessons from their game, try to tweak my game a little bit because all of those guys have different running styles. You cant ever stop learning, no matter what.Defenses havent quite learned how to slow them down.Football Bowl Subdivision teams averaged 178.3 yards rushing per game last season, the most since 1980. Thats at least partly due to the increased number of snaps that have come from the rise in up-tempo offenses.But teams also are running more effectively than before. FBS schools averaged a record 4.5 yards per carry last seasonI think its a byproduct of spread offenses, Tennessee coach Butch Jones said. I think its the byproduct of play-action passes and all the run-pass options that offenses are doing now where a quarterback has three or four options on a run play in every single play.The soaring totals have left some running backs fighting for attention.Hoods track record would make him a legitimate Heisman candidate many other years, but McCaffrey, Fournette, Freeman and Cook are coming off even better seasons. The North Carolina standout said he didnt worry about the lack of attention and, my play speaks for itself.San Diego States Donnel Pumphrey has rushed for more than 3,500 yards over the last two seasons, yet he isnt particularly well known outside the Mountain West Conference. Gallman rushed for 1,527 yards last year while being overshadowed by Cook and Hood in the ACC and by quarterback Deshaun Watson in his own backfield.Thats an extra chip. I have to go out there and prove myself every play, Gallman said.Recent history suggests they shouldnt expect a payoff down the road.At least two running backs were drafted in the first round every year from 1985 to 2010, but the NFL doesnt hold that position nearly in the same regard anymore. A total of three running backs have been first-round selections over the last four years, including Ohio States Ezekiel Elliott with the fourth overall pick in the most recent draft.But at least in college, running backs have become increasingly vital. Its no coincidence the nations most prolific runners play on some of college footballs top teams.---AP Sports Writers Aaron Beard, Josh Dubow, Pete Iacobelli, Joe Reedy, Noah Trister and Kurt Voigt contributed to this report.---AP college website: collegefootball.ap.org Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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