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Buono, as you might guess, is as excited about unknowns as he is about second fiddles.

The challenge for defensive coordinator Mark Washington and his charges is as simple as it is daunting. It usually takes years to create the level of cohesion Buono requires. In 2017 the Lions will have to do it on the fly with as many as three new starters which means things aren’t going to be boring for the foreseeable future.

“There is an extreme amount of talent here,” said Washington. “This group is very deep, very competitive. That’s going to help our defence and it’s going to help our offence when they have to go against them every day (in practice).”

Great. So when will they be ready?

“We’re still feeling that out,” said Washington.

OK.

At the very least that feeling-out process has made for some intrigue at Lions’ camp. Heading into Kamloops, the plan was to start import Steven Clarke at safety with vets Ronnie Yell and T.J. Lee operating on the short, or boundary, side and Buddy Jackson, a free-agent signing from Saskatchewan, and Canadian kid Keynan Parker on the wide, or field, side.

That configuration would mean Clarke, Jackson and Parker were all first-year starters and it could be the Lions will line up that way when they open the regular season.

But there are other options to consider.

Buono wants to look at second-year man Chandler Fenner, another import, at safety. Canadian Anthony Thompson has had an impressive camp. Newcomer Tevin McDonald is also in the mix.