Winnipeg Blue Bomber Thread

[jerrym]

Ed Tait looks at the Bombers OL players heading into TC:

https://www.bluebombers.com/2018/05/...ensive-line-3/

[jerrym]

The Bombers have signed their 41st overall draft choice, WR Tyrone Pierre from the University of Laval who had 13 catches for 122 yards, and International DB Tharold Simon, who played 20 games in the NFL with Seattle and Arizona over four years.

[jerrym]

This article looks at the Bomber QB situation following the retirement of Darian Durant.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2018/05/11/the-qb-crew/

[jerrym]

Jeff Hamilton takes a look at four new players (National WR Rashaun Simonise, and Internationals LB Quentin Gause, DB Zavian Bingham, and QB Chris Streveler) and one who spent most of last year on the PR (Drew Wolitarsky, who is likely to get the second National WR spot with the departure of Matt Coates) heading into TC.

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sp...482707613.html

[jerrym]

The loss of Nationals Jamaal Westerman and Jake Thomas (an unsigned free agent who had 21 DT and 4 sacks) has meant the Bomber DL will face significant changes. Ed Tait looks at what this means for the team below.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2018/05/...ensive-line-3/

[jerrym]

Here's a summary of Day 1 of Bomber Rookie Camp:

https://www.bluebombers.com/2018/05/...ie-camp-day-1/

[jerrym]

Day 2 and Day 3 of the Bombers' Rookie Camp are reviewed below:

https://www.bluebombers.com/2018/05/...ie-camp-day-2/

https://www.bluebombers.com/2018/05/...ie-camp-day-3/

[jerrym]

The Bombers have signed 2015 CFL Defensive Player of the Year and four time CFL All-Star Adam Bighill to a one year deal. He had been with the New Orlean Saints where he played in three games in 2017. He could be a game changer for the Bomber defence.

[jerrym]

National Most Outstanding Canadian Andrew Harris has signed a two year extension with the Bombers through 2020. Last year he came close to being the first 1,000/1,000 rushing/receiving player in CFL history, gaining 1,035 yards on the ground to lead the league in rushing and 857 yards in the air.

[jerrym]

Winnipeg beat out three other teams to sign LB Adam Bighill for $175,000 on a one year contract.

[jerrym]

The Bombers have signed two draft picks: 26th overall selection Daniel Petermann, who was OUA rookie of the year in 2014, led McMaster in receptions and yardage and had very good Combine numbers; and 34th overall pick kicker Felix Menard-Briere, who led USports last year with a 42.4 punting average.

They have also added, released and suspended a number of International players:

DB Chris Humes (6-00, 200, Arkansas State University, July 31, 1994 in Birmingham, AL.) played four seasons with the Arkansas State Red Wolves, recording 129 total tackles. Humes signed as an undrafted free agent with the Oakland Raiders in 2017.

OL Na'Ty Rodgers (6-5, 302, University of Houston, February 3, 1995 in Pomfret, MD.) spent two seasons with the Houston Cougars, playing in 20 games total. In 2017, Rodgers helped the Houston rushing attack score 25 rushing touchdowns and rush for 2,002 yards on the ground. Rodgers was selected to the 2018 Spiral Tropical Bowl.He is the son of former Blue Bomber Tyrone Rodgers.

The club has also released international defensive back Earl Wolff.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2018/05/...release-one-2/

OL Dillon DeBoer (6’6, 300, Florida Atlantic University, July 26, 1994 in Tarpon Springs, FL.) spent four seasons with the Florida Atlantic Owls and was a two-time USA All-Academic team selection. In 2017, DeBoer signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent.

DB Jordan Thomas (6’0, 185, Oklahoma, January 12, 1996 in Klein, TX.) played four seasons with the Oklahoma Sooners, recording 127 total tackles and 8 interceptions in 50 games played. In 2016, Thomas was a first-team All-Big 12 selection and his 17 pass breakups tied for third most in Sooner’s single-season history.

The team has also transferred receivers Chris Givens and Dominique Reed, and defensive back Eric Patterson to the suspended list, and retired defensive back Tharold Simon.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2018/05/...ers-add-two-2/

[jerrym]

Despite getting offers from several teams, National DT Jake Thomas has resigned with the Bombers after exploring free agency because he felt Winnipeg was the best fit. It's highly likely the fact that National DT Ian Marouf looks like he suffered injury that resulted in him being carted off the field in TC played a role in the signing.

[R.J]

Bombers Announce Seven Game Concert Series
https://www.manitobapost.com/winnipe...-series-114879

I'm actually happy to hear about this, and wish the Argos/MLSE would look into this. It's one thing to waste money on a "big name" artist IMO, and quite another on local artists.

[jerrym]

Bombers Announce Seven Game Concert Series
https://www.manitobapost.com/winnipe...-series-114879

I'm actually happy to hear about this, and wish the Argos/MLSE would look into this. It's one thing to waste money on a "big name" artist IMO, and quite another on local artists.

i think it's a great idea. Like you, I think the Argos could use it to draw in some non-fans to their games, some of whom might return in future games.

[jerrym]

Bighill and O'Shea have a mutual respect for each other dating back to Bighill's first CFL season when O'Shea was the Argos ST coordinator that helped in bringing Bighill to Winnipeg. Andrew Harris, who played with Bighill in BC, also played a role in recruiting him.

It was during that rookie season that he had a surprise conversation with Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea.
O’Shea was the special teams co-ordinator for Toronto at the time and his Argonauts had just played the Lions late in the season. After the game, O’Shea walked over to Bighill.
“He came up and said, ‘Hey, I really respect the way you play the game. You’re a great football player and just kind of keep doing what you’re doing,”’ Bighill recalled
“Every year we played each other, we definitely made time to talk, say hello and catch up. So that’s where that respect (for O’Shea) kind of started.” ...


Harris remembers practising against a fierce teammate.
“His first year, he came in and he was just a scrappy guy,” Harris said. “He was one of those guys that would step on your feet or poke you in the eye or give you a Charlie horse. So he was just hungry. And he still practises that way and plays that way. Honestly, it’s just a treat to have him on our team, and also a blessing that I don’t have to go against him and B.C. this year.”

http://3downnation.com/2018/05/24/lb...-with-bombers/

[jerrym]

The Bombers have resigned International QB Bryan Bennett, who played for the Oregon Ducks and Southeastern Louisiana in college, as they look for a backup after the retirement of Darian Durant. He attended Winnipeg's 2016 TC, as well as ones with the Riders and the Indianapolis Colts.

[jerrym]

With the release of Matt Coates and an injury to Drew Wolitarsky, a National by parentage who spent most of last year on the PR but got into 5 games with one catch, Rashaun Simonise is playing on the first string offence and making the most of the opportunity provided by the Bomber plan to start two Nationals. However, there have been major concerns about Simonise after he had a postive drug test at the Cincinnati Bengal TC, an academically ineligible 2016 season, and repeated questions previously about his fitness. He has also spent the last two years with the Okanagan Sun.
The fact he had attended a NFL camp two years before being drafted in the CFL, plus a 6'5" 200 lb, part of a season in the Arena League, and impressive Combine scores, made Winnipeg feel he was worth the risk. It looks that may well turn out to be the case.

http://winnipegsun.com/sports/football/cfl/winnipeg-bluebombers/simonise-catching-on-quickly-making-most-of-his-opportunity-with-bombers

If he can keep up his strong start, he’ll have a good chance to make some noise immediately when the season opens on June 14, especially if players like Demski and Wolitarksy are not fully healthy.
Either way, Simonise still has some work to do.
“It’s the little mistakes, whether it be my spacing or adjustments on routes, depending on the defences,” Simonise said. “Minimizing the thinking process, running up to the line before plays and just trying to play fast.
“If (starting) happens, it happens. If I fit in, and that’s my role on the team, that’s what it is. If not and I have to be a role player, a backup or whatever the case may be, then that’s what I’ve got to do. The time here has been amazing so far and I can imagine this season is going to be just as fun.”

[jerrym]

International DT Cory Johnson expects to build on his rookie experience last year to improve on his impressive first season.

Johnson finished his rookie year with five sacks and 17 quarterback pressures, ranking third on the team in both categories. As the year progressed, he became more and more effective as he picked up three sacks in his last two regular season games and with half of his 22 pressures coming in the final third of the year.
“I wouldn’t say there was an adjustment period last year, I would just say early on in the season I just missed a lot of sacks,” Johnson admitted. “It was just about me training better and then understanding why I had to be at certain places at certain times.”

There’s also the fitness factor. All of this isn’t to suggest Johnson wasn’t in shape in his rookie campaign, but the ability to run all day is important for any defender – especially given the smaller rosters – if he wants to stay in the lineup in the CFL.
“He looks good in camp right now,” said head coach Mike O’Shea of Johnson. “There were a few things he knew he wanted to work on and identified and they were in line with what we thought, too. It looks like he’s done that. Some guys with rosters down there (in the U.S.) play in certain situations and some guys with his size play certain downs.
“So being able to play the run and pass rush – and he’s a very good pass rusher – and put it all together and have the fitness level to stay on the field for an extended period of time, those are all things he would have worked on and thought about. He’s come back in good shape and looked good doing it.”

https://www.bluebombers.com/2018/05/...p-day-8-recap/

[jerrym]

International rookie 5'8" 180 ob WR/KR A.J. Coney is making a very favourable impression on HC Mike O'Shea.

Coney has been one of the most consistent stories during Bombers camp. The club’s scouting staff added a handful of prospects with juicy NFL credentials – all of them physically big targets, too – but Coney continues to make plays and has remained durable.
“He’s smart, he moves extremely well, he’s very, very fast and he catches the ball and seems to get open,” said Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea. “There’s a lot to like about him. We’ve got a lot of those guys. It’s going to be a good battle.”

https://www.bluebombers.com/2018/05/...p-day-9-recap/

[jerrym]

The Bombers have signed 5' 10" 190 lb International RB Jahad Thomas, who was fourth on Temple University all-time rushers list and has attended Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets TCs.