Looking difficult for No. 1

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/08/2012 (5172 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

He’s too humble to ask, but Kito Poblah needs some attention.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers non-import receiver has been stuck in neutral through the first two months of this, his second official season in the CFL. The 24-year-old has just 16 catches and 183 yards in seven games — numbers that rank him last among the starting receivers in the Bombers offence and 36th overall in the CFL.

Even Cory Watson, who’s played just three games after coming off a hamstring injury, already has more catches (19), yards (187), and touchdowns (1) than Poblah.

Poblah didn’t have a catch against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last week, and saw only two throws come his way. The game before that (Montreal, Aug. 3), he caught two passes for 30 yards and the game before that, one catch for 37 yards — with most of that distance acquired after a short reception.

What’s going on here? Is no one looking out for No. 1?

“It’s very tough, I won’t lie,” a discouraged Poblah said after practice Tuesday. “It’s out of my normal place on the football field not catching a lot of balls. I just don’t want to be that guy who will make a distraction for the team; my main goal is to win. I don’t want to be that guy that brings us down.

“Nobody wants to be the decoy, either. Hopefully this week, we can see more balls come my way and I can make some plays.”

Expectations have been high for Poblah since the Bombers selected him with the top pick in the supplemental draft prior to last season. Physically gifted (6-foot-3, 213-pounds) and pencilled in as a starter right away, his rookie year was a writeoff with injures shelving him for all but three games.

This season, the forecast for him was bright. The coaches tried to temper talk of thousand-yard seasons and double-digit touchdown projections through mention of his youth and inexperience, but it wasn’t quieting the expectation.

You don’t start a young player at wide receiver if you don’t think he can pull down some quality numbers — and the Bombers think he can produce. Problem is, he hasn’t yet.

Maybe the lack of attention is a product of the Bombers offence. The Central Michigan-product typically lines up on the wide side of the field, not a prime spot for the Winnipeg attack.

“We certainly want him to get more touches, and we actually talked about him as a staff, how to get him involved and do some things,” head coach Paul LaPolice said, noting the club has tried to slot Poblah in at different spots on the field. “You also have to get Joey (Elliott) in a position… you have a new quarterback, trying to get him in a relationship with all these guys. Hopefully, that will improve.

“There’s only one ball, but we have to get him a touch or two.”

Poblah is trying to stay patient.

“What can I say? I just want to win, plain and simple,” he said. “I want to be on a winning team. I come from a winning organization in college, so I understand what it’s like to sacrifice some catches for the win. As long as we win, I’m happy. I’m happy this week. On the other side, if we’re losing, then maybe issues are brought up.”

Until then, everyone will continue to wait.

MATTHEWS HOBBLED: Wide receiver Chris Matthews left practice with an ankle issue after landing awkwardly trying to make a catch. His status for Friday’s game will be updated today.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @wazoowazny

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