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Winnipeg Blue Bomber Report Record: 7–11–0

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Swaggerville's so sweet

Blue defensive secondary is a nice home, but a punishing place to visit

By: Gary Lawless

29/10/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 16

Defensive back Jonathan Hefney's love of the game is one of his key competitive attributes, says Bombers secondary coach Rick Campbell.

JOE.BRYKSA@FREEPRESS.MB.CA Enlarge Image

Defensive back Jonathan Hefney's love of the game is one of his key competitive attributes, says Bombers secondary coach Rick Campbell.

They call it Swaggerville, this cocky but accomplished defensive secondary of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and it's become a dangerous place for quarterbacks looking to plunder and pillage for some passing loot.

They've already collected 29 interceptions, the highest total by a CFL team since B.C. led the league with 36 picks in 2006 and the most by a Bomber bunch since the '94 group finished with 32.

"Swaggerville is an unlimited, infinite, incredible amount of confidence. That's what it is. I feel like everybody in the secondary, we're the tone-setters," explains defensive back Lenny Walls. "For the defence, the team and everything, that's what we do. One thing about this secondary is we all have confidence. That's why I started calling it Swaggerville. We believe in each other and making plays. We all make plays and we compete. If you have guys in your secondary that compete and fight, it's Swaggerville."

 

Walls coined the term and says it's from his youth.

"We used to call it Swaggerville when I was growing up in the inner city," Walls reflects. "I came here and looked around at these guys and thought, 'This is the perfect group to be called Swaggerville.' "

Early in the season they found themselves stranded on the field by an incompetent offence and they lead the league in passing attempts against at 609, and that's hurt them in a couple of departments. They've allowed a league-worst 369 completed passes and their average passing yards against per game of 266.2 is seventh in the CFL.

All that aside, they've come on strong down the stretch and added consistency to their ball-hawking abilities.

Bombers coach Mike Kelly says this group has charged hard in the second half of the season.

"I think they're pretty indicative of the entire football club in that there's been this melding , if you will, of that group and they've fed off each other. They take great pride in what they do every single day," offered Kelly.

The boss says he enjoys watching his secondary play.

"They've got a little swag to them and I don't have a problem with that because they've been backing up their swagger," said Kelly. "They're not fools about their swagger. When they make a good play, they certainly celebrate but they celebrate together. They're not individualistic in how they celebrate just to bring attention to themselves. I like the way they embrace one another when one of them makes a good play."

 

We went to Bombers secondary coach Rick Campbell for a description of his players' abilities:

 

"ö Keyou Craver, CB (37 tackles, two interceptions)

"A hard worker and enthusiastic."

 

"ö Jovon Johnson, CB (67 tackles, six interceptions)

"Special skills. He has an excellent work ethic and if he keeps working he'll be one of the better guys in this league."

 

"ö Lenny Walls, DB (41 tackles, five interceptions)

"A solid football player who is enthusiastic. A big body and a physical presence."

 

"ö Jonathan Hefney, DB (61 tackles, four interceptions)

"He plays his butt off. A good football player and he loves playing the game."

 

"ö Ian Logan, S (39 tackles, four interceptions)

"Understands the game and is sneaky-athletic."

 

"ö Siddeeq Shabazz, LB (62 tackles, four interceptions)

"He's a true hybrid. We think of him as a DB that can play in the box. Smart football player."

 

"ö Ike Charlton, LB (56 tackles, one interception)

"Ike is a defensive back, we just ask him to play a little in the box against running backs. Physical enough to play in the box and a smart football player."

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

Sure can pick 'em

 

Here's a look at the Bombers' secondary since 2001:

 

Year Rank Yards against Ints.

2001 5 258.2 24

2002 2 224.2 18

2003 8 283.7 22

2004 8 306.1 18

2005 9 351.9 18

2006 2 235.3 13

2007 2 254.7 10

2008 6 304.1 15

2009 7 266.2 29

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 29, 2009 C3

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16 Commentscomment icon

anything you'd like to add BomberfanofCal?

It's called being confident people, their not being cocky at all. At no point did they say we are the greatest, or that they are better then everyone. Maybe you would all prefer if they renamed themselves "Humbleville"?. The secondary has a league leading 29 ints right now, and they are having fun, so what's wrong with that? You need to play with confidence in pro sports

One last point. Montreal needs to know that any cheap shots will be punishable by our guys if they think they can roll on peoples legs after the whistle or hit people away from the play(eMrY on our Edwards). A team has to stick up for its own. Montreal has a history of playing cheap shot with Pop as the GM. I know Trestman would not do it or order it. Pop is another story altogether. Win at any cost any way possible. I would even check for electronic listening devices near or on our players equipment. Remember that Don Mathews and Pop were caught with lip reading people before as well. This would just be another form of the same thing. Any one who thinks that this is dumb needs to investigate Screw Gate. EE cheated their way into a Grey Cup win over our beloved Bombers and the CFL did nothing about it. Can you say Gizmo??? I knew you could. It is a sad fact that some people try to cheat to win. On top of that it is just to crazy to think Montreal guessed right on every one of Reids runs last time out in Montreal. Go Blue Stay True

Positive comments only please guys. Negative is for losers.

If WBB fans want a cup here in Winnipeg so badly, it would be a great idea to relate 1 important thing. Support your team. The team and management made a whole pile of mistakes to begin the season. Lafores was the worst over Glenn. Hind sight is 20-20 big deal. We now have a 3 phase team. The OC and DC realize what the players are capable of and have come up with less predictable plays and patterns as a result. The mix between passive aggressive and assertive is excellent. Everyone including Mike Kelly is doing an excellent job. It would be hard to say anything is wrong on this team at all now. Just when it looks like we have a product that could win against any other team, some of the fans are turning on the team. Well i for one have had enough. I am stuck here in Fort McMurray now for 9 years. I do not get the luxury of being able to go to the stadium that sends shivers up my spine. The crowd, the noise, the offence, specialty teams and defense is so exhilarating. No other sport compares to this CFL product. Refs seem better and fairer now, than in past years. The thrill and excitement is like no other. I will myself pay for 2 tickets to give to the Ross House to be given to less fortunate kids just like Cal Murphy use to do back in the day. Winnipeg use to mean 1 for all and all for 1. Prosperity had often lent its hand to generosity and can again. I call out on other fans across Canada who cannot make it back to Winnipeg to do the same.

Go Blue stay true
Time to make up for Gizmos srews in his shoes
Montreal wants to stand in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers way
Time in the sunshine in Mtl this Sunday to make some hay
So many players on this WBBs team giviing it their all
Not surprisingly at all they will answer that call
Going for the win with everything they can as a team
The receivers breaking containment will find a seam
The Defensive Coordinator will be getting to AC all day
The Offensive Coordinator will make Montreals press coverage pay
As a fan of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers you just have to beleive
Each and every player wears a blue and gold heart on his sleave

Bishop and the OC are working on the changes that Montreal have already stated they will try to keep Winnipeg from protecting the QB. My guess is the plan is to send more pressure to keep Bishop from getting back in his groove. We only have to send our FB on a roll out with Reid blocking in his place. Once he moves into an area vacated by the receiver patterns we can dump it over the first wave and in to his hands for yac yards. Bernard should be used alot more in this game. Let them focus on Reid and burn them hard and fast with punishing blows to the DBs triing to stop Bernard. It is not rocket science. It is called Cal Murphy football. Do what they least expect. Note to Bishop, make sure the ball is lobbed over the hands of the first wave. The Receivers need to block(hard) then and you will see that we can do to Montreal what they have been doing to others all year. Between Colbourne and Cahoon I am sick of the dump offs to these players going for too many yards. Simpson should be spiing both these players and lay on monstrous hits to separate the ball looking for turnovers all the while. We are not playing to lose no more. It is winner take all and we need to play to win. Everything on the line. WE do not need other peoples approval. Just see yourselves as winners and go out and win. OC and DC need to give our players the same respect as last week. Not 10 minutes in either. If they want to focus in on a run-pass+vice versa.

They better not get too cocky. The whole team was getting too cocky when they had their little winning streak going and then lost to a 3rd string QB against BC. All they did was beat a team that only uses their QB in short yardage situations. This Sunday will be the real test. If they beat Montreal with Cavillo in for the entire game then that will be something to be cocky about.

GO BLUE!!!

I agree with Ballin. Let's dial it back a notch and remember this team is a below .500 team. Get cocky when you have something to be cocky about.But for now lets try humble and just happy to be heading in the right direction.

Thank you BfoCM!! Lots of support there! Gee, I wonder why people who are further away support this team more than those who live next door!! Maybe they can see our team in a better light.
I just so want to see Mtl get another come-uppance from us! Victory...it is so close, I can almost taste it.

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