Williams steps up to bolster offensive line
With a welcoming pat on the shoulder from running back Jon Cornish during Wednesday’s practice, Garry Williams is now pumped for his first taste of CFL action.
“It’s unfortunate how I got the job, but I’m ready for it. I’ve been preparing myself since Day 1 that, if anything happened, you’re going to be up, so my mind’s right,” Williams said.
After a series of injuries in Monday night’s tilt with the Toronto Argonauts, the Calgary Stampeders’ offensive line will undergo yet another makeover in time for their game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday at McMahon Stadium.
Veteran left tackle Edwin Harrison and right tackle Dan Federkeil suffered broken legs three minutes apart in the second quarter of the game, as did receiver Simon Charbonneau- Campeau in the third. Harrison and Charbonneau-Campeau both underwent surgery on Wednesday and are likely out for the season.
Federkeil, meanwhile, won’t have to go under the knife and may be back before season’s end.
“We’re confident with the five guys we’re putting out there and the sixth guy we’ll determine that shortly,” said offensive line coach Pat DelMonaco, who, along with Williams could turn to international Andre Ramsey and nationals Paul Swiston, Derek Wiggan and possibly 2015 top draft pick Karl Lavoie, who has been sidelined with a shoulder injury.
“We have Garry and Rams there to fill the void and we’ll see how tomorrow’s practice goes,” head coach/ GM John Hufnagel said of the left tackle position. “We only really have one day of full- speed practice and we’ll make a decision.”
At Wednesday’s abbreviated workout, Williams manned left tackle, next to Shane Bergman at left guard, centre Pierre Lavertu, second- year man Brad Erdos at right guard and Spencer Wilson at right tackle.
If necessary, defensive lineman Quinn Smith is the next guy in line for O- line duty ( where he filled in admirably on Monday night), followed by Junior Turner.
“The biggest thing is the guys competed,” DelMonaco said.
“Guys had to move around, shuffle around. Spencer played three spots, Erdos played two spots. Guys had to talk, make sure they weren’t just worried about themselves. We handled it well as a group. I think we did what we needed to do.
“We work with Quinn before prepractice every day for 10 minutes. Quinn was ready. The guys that are still on the field are doing a great job communicating with him. Quinn did a great job; he did exactly what we expected him to do.”
Williams comes to the Stamps with an abundance of time in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers, appearing in 41 games and making 21 starts from 2009- 14. That, in itself, is a huge benefit.
“It’s an advantage,” the 28- yearold agreed. “It’s a different league, different rules, but I have that experience in my background that helps me out, helps me understand the game.
“I’ve been learning stuff, I understand the system. Now I just have to go out and play. Coach is getting our mind ready, we just have to get ourselves prepared go out there and play the game.”
The plethora of injuries is something Williams has witnessed before.
“I’ve seen a team lose three centres, but not both tackles,” the 6- foot- 3, 315- pounder said. “It hurt, it really hurt, but we had guys come out and step up and we got the victory.” Three centres? “I don’t know,” he chuckled, “but I’ve seen it.”
There isn’t a lot of time to prepare for the next opponent, so everything just goes into fastforward.
“Garry’s been doing really well,” said DelMonaco. “I know he’s had a little bit of a calf thing and that’s what has kept him out of some things for us. But he’s been progressing really well.”
As for the receiver position held by Charbonneau- Campeau, perhaps rookie national Lemar Durant will get into his first CFL regular- season game. Or, it could be international Kamar Jorden, who appeared in one game in 2014.