Tough decisions await Bombers
Mike O’shea was not looking forward to cut- down day for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
At the end of a highly competitive training camp, the head coach had a bundle of difficult decisions to make with regular- season rosters due on Saturday.
“This will be tough,” the coach admitted before settling in for a day of meetings and film with all of the personnel.
“We’ll bring the players in Friday afternoon and watch the film with them. Whether the guys are gonna be here or not, they deserve to be coached.”
There were intense battles for jobs in the receiving corps, the secondary, among the backup quarterbacks and on the offensive and defensive lines. Some players who had very good training camps are going to be offered practice roster spots or be outright released.
“They really went out there and worked hard for their teammates and for the staff and the team,” O’shea said after the Bombers went 2- 0 in the pre-season.
“We’ll coach them until they’re not with us and we’ll spend Friday night trying to make the best decision we can with the information we have right now.”
The Bombers got ahead of the game by making six cuts on Friday, including international defensive backs Elijah Battle and Malik Boynton, national defensive back Jacob Firlotte, international offensive linemen Delroy Baker and Israel Helms and international receiver Tim Wilson.
NICHOLS SETTLED DOWN
Matt Nichols wanted a couple of passes back, but all- in- all he was happy with his first game action since November.
Nichols played most of the first half at quarterback for the Bombers in their 35-29 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Thursday night, going 7- for-14 for 163 yards and a touchdown.
He had two other chances to throw touchdowns to wide open receivers but overthrew them — with a strong wind at his back — on both occasions.
“The one to Lucky ( Whitehead) in the end zone was straight downwind. I was throwing with some adrenalin and I felt like I flicked it out there and it sailed about 50 yards on me,” Nichols said. “After that one I just kind of settled into it. I think there was a couple that I would want back but overall, I think I made some good throws.”
Nichols came into training camp looking leaner and quicker this season and appears to be moving around much better a year after suffering a knee injury late in training camp.
“I don’t notice any difference,” O’shea said. “I think he’s good and he understands what he needs to do on every play and he’s so smart and sharp. He’s just Matt.
“I thought he did fine. It was a tough wind out there and overall we managed it pretty well.”
TOUGH DECISION ON BENNETT, MCGUIRE
One player who definitely managed the tough wind was quarterback Bryan Bennett.
The re turn ing third- stringer made an outstanding throw into the wind to find Kenny Walker for an 86-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter Thursday, his second long touchdown pass in as many pre- season games.
“I thought that ball by Bryan Bennett was an unbelievable ball into the wind,” O’shea said. “It came out of his hand like a rocket. If Kenny Walker has to dig down to go after a ball like that, you know it’s thrown well.”
O’shea was faced with a difficult decision over what to do about his third- string quarterback situation. Bennett had the job last year and was a loyal soldier, who played on kick cover teams and made a big contribution and also served as the holder for particular kicker Justin Medlock.
But Sean Mcguire also had a good camp and looked decent in the pre-season and likely has more upside than Bennett down the road. The 23-year-old Mcguire is fresh out of Western Illinois and could be developed over a couple of years to play a bigger role in the future.
No matter what decision is made, Mcguire is very grateful for the opportunity with the Bombers.
“I feel good,” Mcguire said. “I’m really grateful for the opportunity to come here to Winnipeg. I’ve loved it from Day 1. I’ve loved the guys in this locker-room and the whole organization.
“I’m in a position where you come in, you’ve got to compete and have fun and that’s what I’m doing. I came out tonight and had fun with my teammates.”
Offensive LINE HOLDS UP WELL
The revamped offensive line certainly held its own on Thursday, allowing only one quarterback sack and giving the quarterbacks ample time to throw.
The Bombers also managed to earn 77 rushing yards, many in the fourth quarter when they were trying to protect leads.
“I thought we did OK,” O’shea said. “It helps when the quarterbacks are processing on time. Then the ball gets out of their hands. I think they did a good job. Did we give up one sack, maybe? That’s a good job.”
Centre Michael Couture ( replacing the retired Matthias Goossen) and guards Geoff Gray and Cody Speller ( in mix to replace departed Sukh Chungh) showed reasonably well in the pre- season and it will be interesting to see what the final configuration is for the Bombers when they return to practice next week.
“For the first half, when I was in, I really wanted to emphasize the communication side of things, cause I’ve been working with different sets of guys almost every time we’re going out,” Couture said.
“That was key and I think we did a good job of that.”