Blue Bombers Notebook

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This article was published 17/10/2014 (4065 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

New guy Daniels fitting right in

IT’S a long-held belief in football that cohesiveness — along with size, skill and a healthy mean streak — are key to making an offensive line work.

And so there was Jace Daniels on Thursday, pausing for a second while rattling off the names he would be lining up beside when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers face the Calgary Stampeders Saturday night.

For the record Daniels — who arrived 10 days ago and will start at left tackle with Glenn January still on the mend — successfully named O-line mates Chris Greaves, Steve Morley, Matthias Goossen and Devin Tyler as his cohorts.

“I had to think there a little bit,” said Daniels with a grin. “I’ve only been here a week and a half, so…”

The Bombers will use Daniels to protect either Drew Willy’s or Brian Brohm’s blind side against the Stamps. Daniels started 42 games at Northern Michigan before spending the last year and a bit on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad.

His last start? Two years ago in college.

“I didn’t know until right before practice (that he was going to start), but I was ready for it,” said Daniels. “That’s what I came up here to do, to try and get a spot. So, this will let my film talk to show off for here and any other team if that happens.

“I’ve got Glenn (January) behind me in the film room and he’s always talking and helping me out. It’s been, I don’t want to say ‘easy’ turnaround, but I’ve got it down.”

Daniels said he knew little of the CFL’s rules, but was a quick learner.

He also knows doors only swing open so often for a player to make an impression.

“You don’t get a lot of chances and when you do get that opportunity, you’ve got to step up and take it,” said Daniels. “Now that I know it’s here, there’s no blaming this or blaming that. It’s all on me if I want to continue on and have a career in football.

“Now it’s time to go and get it, to put in all the hard work I’ve been working for my whole life. It’s time to go out there and show I can do it.”

And just how ready can he be after barely being with the Bombers long enough to unpack, Daniels shrugged and added:

“I guess we’ll find out Saturday. I’m not just going out there in the dark. I’ve got some good guys who are helping me out in there.”

BLUE NOTES: The Bombers are not interested in QB Troy Smith, the former Heisman Trophy winner, who was released by the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday… DE Greg Peach did not practise on Thursday, but head coach Mike O’Shea said he is still hopeful he’ll have the veteran in the lineup. Said O’Shea: “Straight from (Peach’s) mouth: ‘I am not missing this game.’ I would put him in the same category as Drew Willy. He’s going to play. Until stuff falls off, those guys seem to play.”… LB Teague Sherman did not practise Thursday and the Bombers had Johnny Sears Jr. and Bruce Johnson both working in their starting defence.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPEdTait