Bombers' Report

James Anderson returns for some more positional analysis in this edition of the Bombers' Report.

Quarterback

You can’t help but get excited about your starting QB when he’s young (28) and improving each year he’s out on the field.

I went to go see a practice the other day, and I watched Kevin Glenn throw 20 passes against what is probably the third best secondary in the CFL. He had 18 completions, and only 2 out of 20 were incomplete. He was just throwing lasers out there to everyone. It was quite impressive. If he can stay healthy this year, I seriously see him being the eastern all star QB. Especially since he has a threat in his receiving corps outside of Milt and a good offensive line full of depth and promising young Canadians, and he actually has familiarity with his coaches and the system for the first time as a starting QB.

Back-up quarterback, what can I say about this other then how brutal it was last season? Our Team was 9-5 when Kevin Glenn was at the helm, and when he was injured 0-4.

Mike Quinn did nothing but turn the ball over, and Banks threw a zillion incompletions and picks. However, near season’s end, Brad was really improving. This season he seemed to pick up where he left off and is doing better each day. Although he hasn’t shown anything to me to say we don’t have a hole at back-up QB, he is improving. New-comer Justin Holland looks to be the number three this year, as he looks next best out at camp.

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Receivers

I am going to start this one off with Chris Brazzell. At times this guy looks like a great receiver, but others he looks like he just doesn’t want to be a football player. He was very inconsistent last year and really frustrated me. One thing I can say about him, though, is that he has a knack for the end zone and stepping up in the red zone. His height and speed should give him a big advantage in this league, as the DB’s are relatively small. But it seems as though his heart isn’t there.

Brazzell should have a great season this year, however. From what I have noticed, Chris is the kind of receiver that benefits off of others. When he’s a number one or two guy, he simply can’t get it done. But when you have guys like Milt and Derrick Armstrong taking up all the better cover guys, Chris can really benefit off the weaker coverage and make huge contributions. It looks like he can hit the thousand yard mark again for the second time in his career this season.

I don’t think I need to talk about Milt Stegall (a.k.a. Chocolate Milt), but I will anyway. He produces year in and year out. If he hadn’t missed the three games last season due to injury, I have no doubt in my mind he would have led the league in receiving yards. Over 18 games his rec. yards come out to about 1522 yards. Those numbers weren’t as good as Geroy’s, but he was leading before the injury and was projected out to be over 2000 yards. Personally I think the injury may have caused him to lose the momentum he had, and slowed him down a bit when he returned.

Derrick Armstrong has proven he can be dominant in this league, and just watching him last season you knew he was a very special talent. When Milt went down, he immediately stepped up and actually had some very Milt-like games. He attacks the ball, has huge vertical, and great hands. There is no doubt in my mind he will be classified as an elite receiver in this league along with the likes of Tucker, Bruce, Cahoon, etc.

Terrence Edwards is also looking spectacular each time he hits the field. He’s really impressing out there and has a shot at unseating Brazzell for the number 3 spot. Quenton McCord is the kind of receiver that steps up when the big guys are either covered too well our are out due to injury. He is capable of very big games. Non-Imports Arjei Franklin and O’neil Wilson are really pushing to have the team start 2 canucks in the receiving group. Both are looking spectacular, making great grabs and beating coverage. Albert Johnson III is also blowing by coverage with his insane speed, and catching balls with his exceptional hands. He looked good in limited action last season. But I doubt they will start him as a receiver, as he’s the main returner. It makes for great depth however.

I am very excited about this group since the last few seasons it’s quite possible we had the worst group in the league. Last season we had Milt and Chris, but Chris couldn’t get it done when he was in the number 2 spot and disappointed. We had two receivers in the top 25, and Chris was number 21.

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The Trenches

The defensive line has two very solid DEs in Canada and Walls. They were numbers 1 and 2 when it came to most sacks in the East. Both are around 28 years old, and are improving each season.

NI defensive tackle Doug Brown is a dominant force in this league with 3 sacks and 51 tackles last season. He usually draws the double team, leaving lots of room for star middle linebacker Barrin Simpson and newcomer Nate Davis to work their magic on defense.

Davis had trouble the last two seasons with Saskatchewan but is now in good shape, lost some weight, and has a major chip on his shoulder after what Eric Tillman said about him in an article on CFL.ca.

Competing with Davis we have Jerome Haywood. A short but very feisty DT. He gives his all every down, and came cap friendly. He’s more of a nose tackle and is good at tying up lineman, however, and he’s not going to beat out Doug Brown for that spot. But he serves as a great insurance policy if Davis were to lose his fire during camp.

The Blue Bombers also drafted Corey Mace this season, and he looks to be exactly like Doug Brown thus far. Both play the same spot, both had shots in the NFL, and I believe both were the same size when drafted. Hopefully, he will come to Winnipeg and be a great replacement for an aging Brown.

The offensive line was devastated with injuries, causing BT to find plenty depth here. Lots of great/dominant NI guards, two good NI tackles and a good back up for Obby Khan at center. Vets on the team include Khan who is an all-star caliber center. Sheridan who is a dominant run blocker, to say the least, former all-star Andrew Greene, Val St. Germaine, who is a very good lineman but will be used for depth more than likely, NI tackle Alexander Gauthier, back-up center/guard Aaron Fiacconi who are all Non Imports, and Dan Goodspeed an import tackle who is described as one of the best linemen in the league(specifically tackle). Other players include Matt O’Meara, and Jaramese Jones. All good lineman, and as you can see there’s plenty of depth.

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The Secondary

In the secondary, we have two very capable NI safeties in Jason Nugent and Ian Logan. Jason Nugent is a former second round draft pick who ranked very highly in GM Brendan Taman’s and draft coordinator Bobby Dyce’s books. In college, he was a running back converted to cornerback converted to safety. I think that speaks volumes for his versatility and his athletic ability. Ian Logan was very impressive at camp in 06, and continues to impress this season. All eyes are on Nugent, however, as he’s playing like a vet, and doing very well. His NI status also helps his cause a lot. If neither can hack it, however, Kyries can just move back to safety.

We also have a lot of dominant CFL DB’s in our secondary. Anthony Malbrough may have choked in the semis, but he was solid otherwise, a shut down cover guy. Kelly Malveaux is a playmaker, whether he’s forcing fumbles, batting down passes, or making huge tackles for losses. Robert Bean and Davin Bush are looking like they will be the other two starters. Both have great hands and great cover ability. Bush had five picks with the Roughies in 06, and Bean had 4 in a back-up role, have a very interesting battle with Edmonton’s Ed Hervy last season.

Two young guys making a serious push for play are Gabriel Fullbright and Jazzmen Williams. Both have excellent coverage skills and great speed. Williams has had a huge knack for the ball this pre-season, but at 24 he’s still learning. Fullbright was on the active roster last season…. Williams was on the practice squad. This secondary looks very promising for years to come.

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Running Back

We don’t have a proven fullback, but that doesn’t matter when you have a running back people refer to as Blink, who can literally make plays all by himself.

We probably have the most endurable running back in the CFL. He’s only missed two games over his CFL career and at 28 he is still young

For a challenge, Taman brought Fred Reid and Antoine Bagwell into camp. Both have very good speed and quickness with some great moves. Dominique Dorsey is also challenging. But between Dorsey and AJ, I believe it is Dorsey who will be cut. Fred Reid also has the inside track to be a back up for Charlie and may be the secondary return man.

Special Teams

AJ at returner is very comforting in my books, being an all star and all. I’m dying to see what he can do with the old blocking rules in place. Dorsey is the challenger and is a respectable return man, but fumbles a lot, and isn’t as good at RB as AJ is at receiver. It would be nice to keep both, but the head coach can’t see it happening.

For place kicking and field goals we have good, old Troy Westwood. Berry told him to not worry about punting and to worry only about place kicking which should increase his performance.

For punting we have Import Chris Beckman who has great hang time, and averages about 45 yards per punt. Has great placement as well, nailing a bunch inside the 20 instead of right through the end zone. The Blue also brought in former Tiger-Cat Pat Fleming, who is looking just as good only without the NFL hang time. But he is a Non-Import, and that will definitely be considered when choosing between the two.

We also have special teams demon Kyries Hebert. He missed three or four games last season and still tied for second place in # of special teams tackles. This year his goal is to break the team record for most in a single season, which would be a phenomenal 46 tackles. He also has high goals for defence, breaking his personal bests in interceptions and tackles (4 picks, and 67 tackles). Graeme Bell (if healthy) and Neil McKinlay are also a pair of beasts on special teams. Number 1 special teams units in the league isn’t too far out of reach with this group of guys

Up Next

Following the preseason games I will give a re cap on how well I expect each of these positions to rank in the season, and give a prediction on how the team will do this upcoming season