Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Bunch of Hogwash
No truth to ugly rumours offensive line a mere speed bump
The Blue Bomber offensive linemen work out in the rain Monday at Canad Inns Stadium. Veteran Obby Khan says the group will be just fine, thanks. (PHIL.HOSSACK@FREEPRESS.MB.CA)
So this is how Obby Khan's first few turns at centre have gone over the last couple of days...
He looks to his left and sees guard Brendon LaBatte, a player he believes might just be the best offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League. And to his right is veteran Kelly Bates, a 2007 CFL all-star with the B.C. Lions and one of the most durable hogs in the whole league.
Over there on the far left is Glenn January, who has 28 starts at tackle over the last two years with Toronto and Saskatchewan and at right tackle is Luke Fritz, who had 53 career starts with the Montreal Alouettes over seven seasons.
There is Steve Morley, the first overall draft pick in 2003 who, if he can find his game again, could be dominant. There is Jean-Francois Morin-Roberge, whom Khan says looks and plays like an ultimate fighter and Matt O'Meara, who filled in admirably at tackle and guard last year for the Bombers.
Khan's question to Bomber nation, then, is this:
Why is everybody panicking about the offensive line again? Why are so many convinced the men up front will be nothing more than speed bumps?
"Not a word of a lie, I think we're going to be pretty damn good," began Khan after the latest in a series of soggy practices at training camp. "Here's why: No. 1, we've got a great group of veteran guys in there. And, No. 2, we all get along amazing. We've only been around for two days, I know, but we all get along like we've known each other for years. People don't understand, but that helps a lot. You go to war with these guys, you eat with these guys... everything. If you get along, it makes the bond that much stronger.
"I know people were upset this winter when we lost some guys. But if we brought in an American guy who had never played in the CFL and had a CIS guy beside us and a real (jerk) on the other side of us... then there would be a lot of tension and I would completely understand the fans' concern. But our top seven are great guys who all get along well and have all played in the CFL."
Just to be clear here, although Khan had been in the camp's first dust-up with linebacker Pierre-Luc Labbe, there was no evidence he had been knocked silly prior to our little chat. And so, just to confirm this idea that an O-line which lost Alex Gauthier, Dominic Picard and Kyle Koch to free agency and traded Dan Goodspeed may actually still be decent, we went to Bates, a good ol' prairie boy who has seen everything imaginable in the trenches, for his take.
"Two things are going to make this work: we've got guys that are skilled and, on top of that, we've got good guys who all want to play with each other. And that's important in bringing a unit together," said Bates who, for reasons that remain a mystery, is referred to as 'BBB' by his hogmates. "I understand some people are worried about this, but I say people are more panicked about the fact that it's a group of new guys. That's understandable from an outsider's point of view. But from an insider's point of view based on the guys we have here, we've gelled very well over the first few days.
"A lot of material is being thrown at us. But we've got a veteran-laden group who have all been around for five-six-seven years and when you get to that point you don't even have to say anything to each other, you know what you're doing and how everyone is going to react to it. That's what's so good about this group of guys -- we've all been playing together for awhile and we know how to be professional.
"I gotta tell ya," added Bates with a size-large grin, "I'm having a great time already. Football is fun for me right now and I couldn't ask for anything more than that. You just watch us."
Today's Bomber Report B10
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 9, 2009 B7
-
WFP Hockey
Download our new hockey app for the iPhone for Winnipeg Jets updates
-
Editor's Bulletin
Sign up for daily bulletins from editor Margo Goodhand
-
Winnipeg Jets
All things NHL on our Jets landing page
-
Twitter
Follow our reporters and our news feeds on Twitter
-
News Cafe
Check out the menu, read our blog posts or get info on coming events
-
Facebook Fanpage
Follow our Facebook Fanpage for story links, contests and special events
Ads by Google
- Back to Top
- Return to Sports
Poll
Most Popular
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Two Mounties shot and wounded in rural area southeast of Edmonton
- Province rules out reports of cougar in Transcona
- Slain woman appears before jury on video
- Search is on for man seen leaving the scene where two Alberta Mounties were shot
- Should the federal government be spending $7.5 million on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee?
- Jets defeat Leafs 2-1
- LeAnn Rimes in pain following 'minor surgery'
- City family donates $1 million for endowed research chair in cardiology
- Census 2011 : Immigrant influx boosts Manitoban population
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Three winning tickets sold for Friday's $50 million Lotto Max jackpot
- Woman sexually assaulted during noon-hour in Exchange District
- Woman's car stolen at gunpoint at St. Vital mall, police say
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Stobbe said slaying during shopping trip 'strange': sister-in-law
- Eleven people killed after truck hits van in southwestern Ontario
- Tactical squad storms St. Vital house
- Restaurant Dubrovnik may be closed for good
- Do you smoke marijuana?
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- George Clooney's prank could end Pitt's career
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Tina Maze strips down to her sports bra to send out underwear message: 'Not your business'
- Group's speed-limit sign removed from Pembina Highway
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Two children, two women die in fire
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- Province rules out reports of cougar in Transcona
- Census 2011 : Immigrant influx boosts Manitoban population
- Trapped bear commits vehicular mauling, also manages to open garage door
- Power outage over
- Two Mounties shot and wounded in rural area southeast of Edmonton
- Winnipeg software company ranked top employer
- Stobbe said slaying during shopping trip 'strange': sister-in-law
- RIM up against 'bring your own device' trend in workplace where it dominated
- Insidious disease killing city trees
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Northern fishing lodge destroyed by fire
- Police target drivers talking on cellphones, texting
- Obama torn by conflicting allies
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Time, it appears, is on Assad's side
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- Woman's car stolen at gunpoint at St. Vital mall, police say
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Paddler Starkell was modern-day voyageur
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Local shooting spoofed on SNL
- Winnipeg mother watches as car stolen with child inside
- Canadian woman 'badly injured' in Mexico, local media report apparent beating
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- 4 dead in northern Ontario plane crash
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.