Willy is ready to go, says Bombers GM
Keeping the pivot healthy is key to a successful season in Winnipeg
Kyle Walters has no doubts the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will have their offensive leader back when they open training camp.
The Winnipeg GM was in Florida on a recent family vacation and visited with quarterback Drew Willy, who missed most of last season with a right knee injury. Walters said he watched the Bombers’ starter workout effectively without a knee brace.
“He’s healthy and ready to take this organization to the next level,” Walters said Thursday. “Which for us is he’s going to get us into the playoffs and fight for Grey Cups.”
Winnipeg was 3-3 when Willy fractured his shin bone and partially tore the posterior cruciate ligament in a 38-8 loss to Hamilton on Aug. 9. Losing Willy was catastrophic to the Blue Bombers, who dropped 10 of their final 12 games to miss the CFL playoffs.
A silver lining to Willy’s injury was Walters’ acquisition of veteran Matt Nichols from Edmonton. Nichols went 2-5 as the Bombers’ starter, completing 61.2 per cent of his passes with 10 TDs and seven interceptions before re-signing this offseason.
Having Willy and Nichols in tow is a definite boost for the Bombers but it’s a healthy Willy who gives them their best chance for success. And time is of the essence for Walters and head coach Mike O’Shea, who are both in the final year of their contracts.
“We’re comfortable going into this year having two guys we think can win football games,” Walters said. “But Drew Willy has led us to victories and when he’s played we’ve certainly won our fair share.
“It’s important keeping him healthy and upright and playing 18 games if we want to have a chance to win.”
Winnipeg had trouble protecting the quarterback last season, allowing 59 sacks, second only to Saskatchewan (65). Walters signed veteran Canadian centre Jeff Keeping in free agency but plans to use the CFL draft (May 10) and mini-camps to find other capable offensive linemen.
“We’ll have 12, 13, 14 (offensive linemen) in training camp ... and see how it sorts itself out,” Walters said.
Two players who won’t be competing for jobs in Winnipeg are receiver Clarence Denmark and defensive lineman Bryant Turner. The five-year veterans were released Wednesday, both casualties of the CFL’s $5.1-million salary cap.
Walters was active in free agency last month signing Keeping, defensive linemen Keith Shologan and Euclid Cummings, running backs Andrew Harris and Pascal Lochard, receiver Ryan Smith and kicker/ punter Justin Medlock. Prior to the free-agent deadline, Walters added veteran receiver Weston Dressler after he was released by Saskatchewan.
In a salary-cap world, Walters said the harsh reality is when players are added, others must go to maintain financial balance.