17°c Light rain showers
13°c Variable cloudiness
Blue Bomber Report Record: 6–12–0
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Watson, Hall done for season
Tackle Turner, receiver Kohlert out for Friday's game in Toronto
THE line of walking wounded limping through the door to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers infirmary just got longer.
Bomber head coach Tim Burke confirmed Monday afternoon that defensive end Alex Hall (knee) and receiver Cory Watson (leg) will both miss the rest of the season. As well, defensive tackle Bryant Turner and receiver Rory Kohlert are both out for this week's game in Toronto while receiver Kito Poblah is day-to-day.
Related Items
"I think that's just about got it," said Burke after rattling off the hurts list. "Obviously, losing both Alex Hall and Bryant Turner is really tough on us defensively because they are our two best pass rushers.
"And losing Cory Watson is tough, too. He's probably our most physical receiver and our best blocking receiver so you lose that element of the game when you don't have him."
Hall leads the Bombers in sacks with nine -- second-best in the CFL to Keron Williams of B.C. -- while Watson, who was hurt in the Thanksgiving Day win over Montreal and has appeared in 10 games this year, is fifth on the team with 344 receiving yards.
The Bombers' nine-game injured list, those gone for the season, already includes eight players: RBs Chris Garrett and Anthony Woodson, S Brady Browne, LB Rene Stephan, OL Tyson Pencer, Andre Douglas and Jordan Taormina and DT Brandon Collier.
"Every team's going through injuries right now. We're never going to use that as an excuse," Burke said.
SILVER LINING: Here's Burke when asked what hope fans should cling to going forward:
"As you can see from the last few weeks, we have been very competitive in our games and have won some games. I think our offence is in a pretty good place right now as far as the scheme and I think Gary (Crowton, offensive co-ordinator) has really adapted to the CFL game. We've got guys wide open now, where before we didn't. Chad is running the ball really well and I think our offensive line has really gotten better throughout the year.
"Defensively, we're very inconsistent but for the most part in most games we're playing pretty well.
"I do think we have definitely improved as a team. We're much more mature, we're much closer as a team. There's a bright future ahead."
BLUE NOTES: Burke said Johnny Sears and Jovon Johnson would handle the punt-return chores this week... Jovon Johnson is expected to remain at outside linebacker, but the Bombers may consider testing out Demond Washington there or moving Brandon Stewart back to that position from corner... Burke revealed to TSN on Saturday that his mother is battling cancer. He added this on Monday as an update: "She's in a battle. She's taking chemotherapy and having doctor's appointments every other week. Right now she's fairly stable."
Ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPEdTait
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 16, 2012 C3
More Bomber Report
- Back to Top
- Return to Bomber Report
More Bomber Report
(1 of 10 articles for this week)
New Blue stadium lives up to the hype; now it's up to you
05/17/2013 8:27 AM
0
Poll
Most Popular Bomber Report
- New Blue stadium lives up to the hype; now it's up to you
- Argos release ex-Bomber Brink
- Bombers training camp opens June 2
- Blue sign draft picks Fitzgerald, Pavlopoulos
- CFL gains when draft picks go south
- Bombers handing off opening-day ball to fans
- Buck's No. 1, aims to prove durability
- Bombers sign three defensive players
- Bombers load camp roster with two DBs, LB, receiver
- Man with no plan tries again
- New Blue stadium lives up to the hype; now it's up to you
- Argos release ex-Bomber Brink
- Bombers training camp opens June 2
- Bombers sign three defensive players
- Game ball to tour communities before grand opening of new Bomber stadium
- Bombers load camp roster with two DBs, LB, receiver
- Bombers pick Fitzgerald, Pavlopoulos
- CFL gains when draft picks go south
- Blue's Burke emphasizes work ethic
- Blue sign draft picks Fitzgerald, Pavlopoulos
- Bombers detail parking plan for new stadium
- Bomber boozers will change or they 'won't be here': GM Mack
- Hall turning heads at Bomber mini-camp
- Bombers are watching you
- CFL draft pick Mulumba would be proud to be a Bomber
- Bomber security to wave wands this season
- Bomber GM silent on Tebow's CFL prospects
- Bombers boast record season-ticket sales
- Blue in the red: Bombers to report a loss of almost $800,000
- Packers prospect a risky pick
- Game ball to tour communities before grand opening of new Bomber stadium
- Bombers handing off opening-day ball to fans
- New Blue stadium lives up to the hype; now it's up to you
- CFL gains when draft picks go south
- Argos release ex-Bomber Brink
- Bombers detail parking plan for new stadium
- Bombers tackle parking issue
- Game ball to tour communities before grand opening of new Bomber stadium
- Blue in the red: Bombers to report a loss of almost $800,000
- Hall, Clement go to school
- Blue Bombers board of directors accepting nominations
- Bomber security to wave wands this season
- Bombers handing off opening-day ball to fans
- If it was up to me, I would have kept Brink and Elliott
- Going all-in on Buck a risky gamble for Bombers
Ads by Google
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.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
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.