Labatte will be Bombers’ starting centre

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This article was published 21/10/2011 (5157 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers released their 46-man roster Friday morning and it includes one major change.

Six-year veteran Bombers centre Obby Khan, an almost permanent fixture on the Bombers offensive line, has been dropped down to second at that position on the Bombers depth chart heading into Saturday’s first place showdown against the Montreal Alouettes at Canad Inns Stadium.

Reflecting what they have done during practice this week, the Bombers depth chart lists Brendan Labatte as the starting centre this weekend, while backup lineman Chris Greaves gets his first start of the season at LaBatte’s old left guard position.

The change comes one week after Bombers quarterback Buck Pierce was sacked five times in a 24-10 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos.

As they’d previously announced, the Bombers have also listed Jamie Boreham as their punter for the Montreal game, taking over for Mike Renaud, who struggled again last week.

“Jamie Boreham has been with us now for a couple of weeks. Mike’s average was about 10 yards worse than the punter we faced. We lost 10 yards on every kick. And then a kick out of bounds – it puts you in a terrible position defensively,” said Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice.

The only other change on the roster this week was expected as defensive end Kenny Mainor, who missed last week’s game attending his grandmother’s funeral, comes back on while backup rookie lineman Quentin Davie goes off.