Bob Irving
CFL.ca
Like the seven other teams in the CFL, the Winnipeg Blue bombers are anxious to see what they have when they open their rookie camp on Wednesday, June 1st at the Winnipeg Indoor Soccer Complex.
General Manager and Vice president of football Operations, Joe Mack, is optimistic, but cautious about the team’s off-season recruits.
“We feel good about a lot of the new players we have signed, but it’s so difficult to predict how a player will react in his first pro camp,” says Mack.
The primary hope for Mack and head coach Paul LaPolice – who enters his sophomore season guiding the club – is that rookie camp produces some intense competition, which carries over into the main camp. Mack feels that if the team can find three or four newcomers who can make an impact, make the coaches stand up and really take notice, it will be a productive rookie session for shaping the 2011 edition of the Blue Bombers.
The Blue Bombers don’t have a lot of big holes to fill as most of the starters from last year are back. This despite a disappointing 4-14 record in 2010.
However, the Bomber brass believes it has a talented core that simply needs more time together and a handful of upgrades to turn the team into a Grey Cup contender.
The most significant off-season loss was the departure of defensive end Phillip Hunt to the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL. Hunt was a force last season and Mack realizes that it is, “unlikely we’ll find someone who can be as productive as Phil Hunt.”
That said, the Bombers believe they have signed three very legitimate defensive end prospects in Ken Mainor from Troy University, Jason Vega from Northeastern and Bryant Turner from Alabama-Birmingham.
Mainor attended training camp with the Calgary Stampeders in 2010 and recorded four tackles during the pre-season while Vega attended training camp with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last season.
Mack says, “To be consistently good defensively in the CFL, pressuring and disrupting the quarterback is critical.” Mack expects “a great battle” from those three players and particularly likes the 6-foot, 4-inch size and range that Mainor and Vega bring to the party.
Another defensive lineman who comes to Winnipeg with good credentials is Andre Caroll, a 300-pound tackle from Delaware State. As a senior, Caroll set a school record for tackles in a single season by a down lineman after recording 96 total tackles.
The Bombers would also love to find a kick returner who can add some explosiveness to that part of their game. Three speedsters are the leading candidates including 5’9″ Bobby Guillory from Central Missouri, 5’5” Perry Floyd from Wingate University and 5’11” Clarence Denmark who hails from Arkansas-Monticello.
Mack is also eager to get a good look at running backs Alex Henderson from Northern Arizona and Chris Garrett from Ohio. Garrett spent part of the 2010 season with the Bombers.
Garrett enjoyed his best game on November 5 against Calgary after Fred Reid went down with an injury. He rushed 13 times for 82 yards and had one reception for 20 yards.
And last, but certainly not least, the Bombers plan to start two Canadian receivers to meet the CFL’s ratio requirements. The club would love to see one of their new Canadian receivers make a big impression during rookie camp.
First round draft pick Jade Etienne from the University of Saskatchewan – who remained unsigned as of May 30th – David McKoy from the University of Guelph, who spent some time with the Bombers last year and potential Supplemental Draft selection Kito Poblah from Central Michigan will all be closely scrutinized during the three days during which the rookies have a chance to open the eyes of their coaches.
As of Monday morning, first overall pick, linebacker Henoc Muamba, had not signed a contract. Muamba is not considered a candidate to earn a starting spot this season, but the Bombers are counting on him making the club and play a role on special teams.
All four quarterbacks will be attending rookie camp. Justin Goltz, Alex Brink and Joey Elliott will be looking to get a leg up on the competition to be Buck Pierce’s backup when the CFL regular season begins.
