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Posted: 3:00 AM CDT Friday, Jun. 19, 2015

A FIRST LOOK Blue Bombers fans will get their first peek at the 2015 edition, including several new faces who did not make the trip last week to Toronto. Among them, two Canadians who could play important roles this year in defensive end Jamaal Westerman and receiver Addison Richards.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/06/2015 (3762 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A FIRST LOOK

Blue Bombers fans will get their first peek at the 2015 edition, including several new faces who did not make the trip last week to Toronto. Among them, two Canadians who could play important roles this year in defensive end Jamaal Westerman and receiver Addison Richards.

Westerman, who has 58 NFL games under his belt, has drawn rave reviews for his work in camp and for his humility in the dressing room.

“He’s a great guy,” said teammate Bryant Turner Jr. “This is a guy that has been in the NFL for six years, I believe. You come here and he’s so humble you would never know he played football before. He’s such a humble player. He’s quiet at times, but very funny. I’m lucky to have him as a teammate. I’m lucky to have my locker right next to him because he’s such a funny guy. Everything you want on your team, Jamal Westerman brings.”

Richards, meanwhile, is just ecstatic to be back on the field again. Drafted in the second round (11th overall) by the Bombers this spring, Richards was outstanding in the rookie camp before missing a good chunk of main camp with an injury.

Tonight will be his pro debut.

“I’m super excited to get out there for my first game,” said Richards. “The few amount of practices I did have I felt confident out there. I’m just ready to get out there and fly around.”

Asked how a rookie can make an impression during a pre-season game, Richards said: “Be in the right place, whatever play is called. Special teams… carry out my job and make sure I do everything I can to get my guy blocked, make a tackle or whatever the case my way. And then whenever the ball comes my way, make a play on it and do what I do.”

KEEP AN EYE ON…

All CFL teams must reduce their rosters by 9 p.m. Saturday and among the starting jobs still up for grabs are:

Right guard and right tackle: First-round draft pick Sukh Chungh and last year’s first-rounder, Matthias Goossen, are battling for the guard spot with Patrick Neufeld injured, while Jace Daniels is putting a stranglehold on the right tackle job with Marc Dile on the shelf.
Defensive end: Westerman, the Canadian, is a lock on one side but veteran Greg Peach is being pushed on the other by Thaddeus Gibson, Derrell Jonson and Kashawn Fraser.
Wide recevier: Darvin Adams has been solid, but is looking over his shoulder at Jhomo Gordon and Toney Clemons.
Linebacker: Chris Randle is taking turns at the SAM (outside) linebacker spot, but the weak-side job is also a question mark. Only Sam Hurl, the Canadian, is a lock to start in the middle.
The secondary: There is a ton of talent here across the board and the Bombers have been rotating players in and out of positions in the air defence. Shaq Richardson, Malachi Freeman, Johnny Adams and Vernon Kearney are among the newcomers who have had their moments in camp.

THE LESS YOU KNOW…

Bryant Turner is a two-time divisional all-star and was a CFL all-star in 2012. And if you think he figures he’s got it made heading into the Bomber finale, think again.

“Nobody’s set in stone with this roster,” he said. “It’s funny, as you get older you actually get more anxious. I remember in my rookie year I came out for the second pre-season game and said, ‘OK, I’m going to come out here and play the best I can play and not worry about anything.’ I actually played much better because of that. You almost don’t know any better and if you make mistakes you hope they just notice you are playing hard. But when you get older you don’t want to make any mistakes.”

HIGH PRAISE

Dominic Picard doesn’t like being described as “nasty.” His preference is “playing on the edge.” And maybe, just maybe, he sees a little of himself in first-round pick Sukh Chung, who will line up beside him along the offensive line against the Ticats.

“He’s a real good kid,” said Picard. “I like working with the kid. He’s good. He wants to learn. He’s got that attitude that he wants to get better and he wants to be physical up front. He really fits our group. We’ve got high standards up front and he wants to be part of that, so that’s really exciting.”

— Tait