Brohm preps for Blue debut

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This article was published 22/09/2014 (4089 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Bombers aren’t yet ready to say Drew Willy is officially out this week, but through practice on Sunday, he didn’t look particularly “in” either.

Sure, Willy threw a few balls, a rehabilitative effort on his sprained right shoulder. But mostly, he hung to the side of the University of Manitoba’s practice field without a helmet, watching the action unfold. The Bombers will be patient this week, in case there’s any chance he could go against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday — but as it stands, coach Mike O’Shea nodded, they’re practising as if he won’t be.

Instead, backup Brian Brohm took the lion’s share of reps. Brohm didn’t exactly dazzle against the B.C. Lions before the bye week, connecting on six of 13 passes for 33 yards after Willy went down. But O’Shea reaffirmed he likes what he sees.

If Brohm does get the start, the head coach said, the offence won’t change.

“I’m very confident in his ability,” O’Shea said. “From the get-go… he struck me as a real professional. He takes command of the huddle, he understands the offence. He has the arm strength to throw wherever he needs to throw, he’ll pull it down and run with it when he needs to.”

Brohm hasn’t started a game since 2010 when he was with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. He started the final game that season, a 38-7 loss to the New York Jets. And he’s been quietly hungering for another chance.

“I’ve been looking forward to this opportunity for quite awhile,” Brohm said. “Everybody wants to be out there for the first play. You want to be out there for the first play of the game, it’s a good feeling.”

Maybe it’s not such a bad thing, if Brohm goes against the Tiger-Cats on Saturday. He spent 2013 on Hamilton’s roster, though he was injured, so he knows their tendencies. “Hopefully, that will pay dividends for me, knowing what they normally run,” he said, taking note of the Ticats’ flexible defence. “Week to week with the Ticats, you really gotta study what they’re bringing in that week, what personnel’s in there, and really prepare for them.”

NEW GUY IN TOWN: At this point, coaches haven’t told Thaddeus Gibson where he might fit in the Bombers’ defensive plans, or where his opportunity might be.

But after a disappointing stint in Toronto and a trade to Winnipeg earlier this month, the 26-year-old defensive end is just glad to be in the mix.

“I’m just thankful I’ve got a helmet, to be honest,” Gibson said on Sunday, after his first practice with his new team. “I can fix everything from there myself.”

Maybe it was time for a fresh start. Gibson was a promising prospect when he arrived in the CFL this year, after spending four seasons bouncing around the NFL. He didn’t catch fire with the Argonauts though, putting up six tackles, a sack and an interception in five games, before going down with an injury.

When he found out he was getting swapped to Winnipeg in exchange for defensive back Alex Suber, “it was shocking, but I was excited for the opportunity,” he said. “I can honestly say it didn’t go the way I planned it on going (in Toronto), but you know, that’s the way life is.”

So Gibson is in Winnipeg, where former Dallas Cowboys teammate Jason Vega reached out to help him make the transition. He’ll wear jersey No. 54 for the Bombers, and his first practice on Sunday left quite an impression. For that, the Bombers can thank the famously animated efforts of defensive-line coach Mike Scheper, who has been known to run howling through entire drills alongside the players.

“On one-on-one pass rush drills, he got out there and got a little physical with us,” Gibson said. “And he had no gear on. Anytime you can see something like that with your position coach, it’s a great sign, great vibe.”

INJURY REPORT: Though the bye gave the Bombers a chance to heal some bumps and bruises, some players need more time before they’re cleared to play. Receiver Nick Moore (ankle), DE Jason Vega (knee) and OL Patrick Neufeld won’t play this week, as they nurse their injuries.

Defensive back Bruce Johnson took a heel contusion in the last game against B.C. and stayed out of practice on Sunday, though he could be ready before the end of the week. Linebacker and long-snapper Ian Wild is “working very hard to get back,” O’Shea said, and it’s possible he could be recovered from his shoulder injury in time to play on Saturday.

melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca