Bob Irving
CFL.ca
Most teams that go through a 4-14 season are expected to make major changes. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, however, are not most teams.
When the Bombers declared their 46-man roster in preparation for the 2011 CFL regular season, it contained 20 of the 24 players who were considered starters at the end of 2010 along with many of their backups.
“We were able to build this team through the course of last season. We tried to get the right people on the bus in 2010, which was season-long process, now we have to get them in the right seats and the bus will drive itself,” Head coach Paul LaPolice explained.
“We feel we will still be one of the youngest teams in the CFL, but we didn’t see the need to make major changes this year. We think we have a lot of talent, now we need to grow as a team.”
The return to health of quarterback Buck Pierce is a key ingredient in the Bombers’ optimistic outlook on the coming season. When healthy over the course of his six-year CFL career, Pierce has put up numbers comparable to other top quarterbacks in the league.
He has completed 65 percent of his passes, thrown 54 touchdown passes compared to just 35 interceptions, and has won the vast majority of games he has started. The 29-year old pivot has recovered completely from a dislocated right elbow, suffered during last year’s Labour Day weekend game in Regina.
He has also adopted some new training methods, and is stronger and fitter than he has ever been.
“Our organization has brought in talent to get us better, my job is to direct them, to get them the ball. I’m just excited to go out there and play,” said Pierce.
Pierce will operate behind a solid offensive line that features veteran Obby Khan at center, while24-year old East Division All-Star Brendon Labatte and nine-year veteran Steve Morley take care of the guard spots. Sophomore Andre Douglas and Glen January will operate the tackle positions.
January missed all of 2010 with a torn pectoral muscle but was good enough throughout training camp to beat out last year’s starter at right tackle, Kelly Butler.
The 2010 CFL rushing king, Fred Reid, will once again carry the load with Winnipeg’s running game, while the receiving corps also seems to be in good hands.
This year, Pierce will have a group of receivers that features veteran Terrence Edwards alongside four young rising stars.
Greg Carr joined the Bombers midway through the 2010 season and caught 31 passes for 568 yards in just 7 games.
Terrence Jeffers Harris was a candidate for Rookie of the Year honours until an injury slowed him down, and Canadian slotback Cory Watson looks like he’s ready to become a prime time player after finishing his rookie year on a high note.
The fifth receiver of the group is Canadian Kito Poblah, the Bombers’ supplemental draft pick from Western Michigan. While the jury is very much out on Poblah, early indications are that he is the real deal.
Defensively, Winnipeg’s biggest challenge was replacing CFL sack leader Philip Hunt, who jumped ship to the NFL. Jason Vega from Northeastern has won that spot for now, but his play will be monitored closely.
Otherwise 36-year old Doug Brown and sophomore Dorian Smith are back on the defensive line, with O’Dell Willis expected to wreak havoc from the rush end spot, or what the Bomber coaches have dubbed the “Jack” position.
At linebacker, Joe Lobendahn has returned from a disappointing 2010 season much lighter, quicker and determined to prove he is still a force up the middle. Hard-hitting sophomore, Clint Kent and Marcellus Bowman are expected to round out the linebackers group.
The secondary will be anchored by six-year veteran safety Ian Logan, who has become one of the best in the league. Jonathan Hefney, the 2009 CFL East rookie of the year and Alex Suber will be the halfbacks while Jovon Johnson and either Deon Beasley or Brandon Stewart will handle the cornerback spots.
The kicking is in the hands of Mike Renaud and Justin Palardy. Renaud continues to improve as a punter while Palardy’s place-kicking was a revelation last year. After being released by Hamilton, he took over from Alexis Serna and made 87 percent of his field goals.
Last season, the Blue Bombers lost nine games by four points or less, so one has to expect that those tight games will eventually go their way.
So, the outlook is one of optimism in Winnipeg. Season ticket sales have reached an all-time high of more than 21,000 and there is a feeling in the Winnipeg football community that the Bombers are on the right track.
Now it’s up to GM Joe Mack and head coach Paul Lapolice to prove it.
