Lobendahn out for year; Bombers looking at options

Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Wednesday, Sep. 14, 2011

NOW that Joe Lobendahn has officially been lost for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee, where do the Blue Bombers go from here?

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NOW that Joe Lobendahn has officially been lost for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee, where do the Blue Bombers go from here?

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/09/2011 (5469 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NOW that Joe Lobendahn has officially been lost for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee, where do the Blue Bombers go from here?

Let’s start with what they have: Backing up Lobendahn on the depth chart are non-imports Pierre-Luc Labbe and Henoc Muamba. Labbe has seen spot duty in place of Lobendahn during games so asking him to start would be a tall order. Muamba is a rookie. He’s not ready.

If going with what they have is the plan, the smart money is on moving weak-side linebacker Marcellus Bowman into the middle and replacing his spot with either Merrill Johnson or Dustin Doe. Bowman has filled in for Lobendahn before and is athletic enough to handle the role.

Clint Kent stays in his spot on the other side.

Winnipeg could bring in an outside veteran but that would be a change in philosophy by GM Joe Mack. History has shown he values talent over experience, choosing to bring in new faces and groom them, rather than recycling CFL discards.

One interesting name to consider: Aaron Maybin, the 11th overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft (Buffalo). Winnipeg owns the neg-list rights to the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Maybin, who is currently looking for work after getting released by the Bills (and the New York Jets) before the season.

Regardless, losing Lobendahn is a huge blow for the defence.