Winnipeg Blue Bomber Thread

[jerrym]

Winnipeg had seven former AAF players at their mini-camp.

One of the players who had an impressive first day at Winnipeg Blue Bombers mini-camp was receiver Drew Morgan, who is fresh off a stint with the Memphis Express of the now-defunct Alliance of American Football. Morgan was catching everything in Wednesday’s afternoon session at IMG Academy, including a diving, one-handed grab that took him crashing into the metal bleachers on the sideline.
Full of intensity, he simply got up, shouted and ran back to do more one-on-ones in a highly competitive camp where 15 receivers are competing for possibly just a handful of training camp invitations. Morgan, a 24-year-old from Arkansas, wasn’t the only player to show such intensity on a 28 C day on the Gulf coast, but his enthusiasm and energy certainly stood out. ...

Morgan is one of seven former AAF players in the Bombers camp.
The others are quarterback Kevin Anderson, linebacker Dale Warren, defensive back Malik Boynton, receivers Kenny Walker and Josh Stewart and running back Larry Rose.
Boynton never got a chance to play with the Memphis Express — he was cut in Week 2 after being inactive — but he made an impression on the Bombers scouting staff at the AAF’s pre-season training camp in San Antonio. ...

This is very clearly a passing-oriented mini-camp for the Bombers — 30 of 42 players on the roster are receivers or defensive backs and three more are quarterbacks — so it was no surprise that one-on-one passing drills were the order of the day over two sessions on Wednesday.
One receiver who really stood out was Rasheed Bailey, a 25-year-old from Delaware Valley State. He simply would not be denied and caught everything that came his way. ...

About 20 of the players here will be added to the Bombers roster for training camp, which is supposed to start May 20, depending on labour negotiations between the CFL and the CFLPA.

https://winnipegsun.com/sports/footb...et-work-in-cfl

[jerrym]

The Bombers have signed former AAF WR Josh Stewart and released 12 other players. All the cuts were internationals.

Stewart is a 6-foot-4, 205-pound receiver from Oklahoma State, who played eight games with the San Antonio Commanders of the AAF this season prior to the league folding. He shone in the free-agent camp April 24-25 in Bradenton, Fla., making several high-point catches while showing the kind of vertical the Bombers have lacked in recent seasons.

Of the 12 players who were cut on Monday, the most notable is quarterback Bryan Schor, the James Madison grad who signed with the team before the end of last season. Schor did not have a great camp, which was heavy on passing one-one-ones. It’s not clear if he was beaten out for the fourth quarterback spot at training camp by former AAF player Kevin Anderson or Sean McGuire of Western Illinois, or if the Bombers will look elsewhere for their fourth pivot.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2019/04/...se-12-players/

[jerrym]

International DBs Christian Boutte, who attended Oakland Raider and Cleveland Browns TCs, and Mike Jones, who was a New York Giant undrafted free agent after four years at Temple University, have signed with the Bombers after the team's free agent camp last week.

[jerrym]

The Bombers have signed Internationals WR Matt Hazel and DE Ja'Von Rolland-Jones.

Hazel (6’3, 190, Coastal Carolina University, January 23, 1992 in North Augusta, SC.) attended the team’s mini-camp last week in Florida. He played three seasons for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, totalling 183 receptions for 2,553 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns. Hazel finished his college career as the leader in all-time receptions and second all-time in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns at CCU. In 2014, Hazel was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He has since spent time with the Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins, Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns.

Rolland-Jones (6’2, 245, Arkansas State, November 3, 1994 in Mesquite, TX.) played four seasons for the Arkansas State Red Wolves, totalling 179 total tackles, 42 sacks and ten forced fumbles in 48 games played. In 2016, Rolland-Jones was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year. In 2018, Rolland-Jones was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent. He also spent time with the Los Angeles Rams and Baltimore Brigade of the AFL.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2019/04/...rolland-jones/

[jerrym]

The url below takes a look at the Bomber draft picks.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2019/05/...l-draft-recap/

[jerrym]

Winnipeg has resigned International LB Nick Temple who spent last season on the PR but did play in one game. He played with San Antonio in the AAF where he had 20 DTs and one forced fumble in seven games until the league shut down.

[jerrym]

The Bombers have signed 2012 CFL Rookie of the Year Chris Mathews to a three year contract. He then went to star in 2014 Super Bowl where he gained 109 yards for Seattle, followed by three more years in Baltimore. Last fall he returned to the CFL with Calgary, gaining 252 yards in four regular season games in addition to 98 more in the playoffs. His 6'5", 228 lb body and talent are a major addition to the Bomber receiving corps.

[AngeloV]

The Bombers have signed 2012 CFL Rookie of the Year Chris Mathews to a three year contract. He then went to star in 2014 Super Bowl where he gained 109 yards for Seattle, followed by three more years in Baltimore. Last fall he returned to the CFL with Calgary, gaining 252 yards in four regular season games in addition to 98 more in the playoffs. His 6'5", 228 lb body and talent are a major addition to the Bomber receiving corps.

That’s a big get for the Bombers.

[jerrym]

The Bombers' depth charts including Chris Mathews are below:








https://www.cfl.ca/2019/05/10/off-se...-blue-bombers/

[jerrym]

Winnipeg has signed four of its draft picks: 2nd round RB Brady Oliveira; 3rd round DL Connor Griffiths; 4th round OL Asotui Eli; and 6th round DB Kerfalla Eumé.

[AngeloV]

If the Bombers can replace the losses on their O-line, they look to have a really strong group on Offence. I'm calling them to finish first in the west.

[jerrym]

Below is a look at some of the players heading to rookie camp for the Bombers.

Rookie camp will open with newcomer Kevin Anderson, who spent time with the Orlando Apollos of the Alliance of American Football and attended mini-camp in Florida last month, pitching to receivers.

Also in attendance will be University of Ottawa pivot Sawyner Buettner as part of the CFL’s QB apprentice program. Buettner, who hails from Moose Jaw, threw for 1,470 yards with 14 TDs and five interceptions last year for the Gee-Gees in eight games.

Veteran QBs like Matt Nichols, Chris Streveler and Bryan Bennett are able to throw at rookie camp if they so choose, but Walters said he wasn’t sure if any of that group would step on the field on Wednesday. ...

The new wrinkle to rookie camp this year will be the presence of the four ‘global’ players the Bombers drafted this off-season.
That list includes German linebacker Thiadric Hansen as well as Mexican defensive backs Sergio Perez and Eduardo Reyes, and kicker Gabriel Ortiz. ...

The Bombers announced the signing of four more players from their 2019 draft class in running back Brady Oliveira, defensive lineman Connor Griffths, centre Asotui Eli and defensive back Kerfalla Exumé. They join defensive back Nick Hallet and defensive tackle Tariq LaChance as having signed and leaves first rounders Drew Desjarlais (OL) and Jonathan Kongbo (DL) and receiver Malik Richards (5th round) as unsigned.
“That’s normal,” said Walters. “The first-round guys take a little bit longer and with the time between the draft and training camp less this year it put a little bit of pressure on things. We’ll see. We’re in talks. I’m sure things will get sorted out, we just don’t know when.”

https://www.cfl.ca/2019/05/14/bomber...-get-feet-wet/

[AngeloV]

Looks like the Bombers are the early draft winners. Jonathon Kongbo has signed a reported 3 year deal. I’ve said it before, but to me the Bombers are the team to beat this year.

[jerrym]

Below is a look at the first day of Bomber TC:

https://www.bluebombers.com/2019/05/...p-day-1-recap/

[jerrym]

Here is a look at the second and third day of Bomber TC:

https://www.bluebombers.com/2019/05/...p-day-2-recap/

https://www.bluebombers.com/2019/05/...p-day-3-recap/

[jerrym]

HC Mike O'Shea discusses his four Global players in TC in the video below:

https://www.cfl.ca/2019/05/28/oshea-...ayers-in-camp/

[jerrym]

The Bombers have released National WR Rashaun Simonise, their top 2018 draft pick at #12 overall and went 4/124, while keeping #26 overall Daniel Petermann, who went 10/154. Winnipeg has an abundance of National WR talent with Nic Demski and Drew Wolitarsky, and have also added International Chris Mathews, who was 2012 CFL Rookie of the Year and a NFL veteran.

[jerrym]

Among the other Bomber cuts was #3 QB last year, Bryan Bennett, who was beat out by former Western Illinois QB Sean McGuire.

[jerrym]

Among the other Bomber cuts was #3 QB last year, Bryan Bennett, who was beat out by former Western Illinois QB Sean McGuire, who went 6/9 for 77 yards against the Riders.

[jerrym]

Adam Bighill will miss the game against Ottawa due to an undisclosed injury.