Trial by fire for new Bombers lineman

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This article was published 23/10/2015 (3952 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The first live CFL game Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive lineman Leon Mackey will see will be the first CFL game he plays in.

It’s a bit of a peculiar situation for the 6-5, 260-pound Texas Tech alum, who chuckled when reminded of his CFL debut today against the Ottawa Redblacks.

He enters his first professional game north of the border a little uncomfortable, he admits. Lining up a yard off the ball has taken some time to adjust to.

He’s only been in Winnipeg for 21/2 weeks and enters a playoff race on a 5-11 team that has a realistic shot at the post-season.

The usual suspects comprised part of the vernacular of a guy heading into his first game, too.

He wants to help the team win. He wants to do what the coaches tell him and make an impact on the game — disruption, as he put it. But he’s also being realistic about his first foray into the Canadian game.

“It’s not going to be perfect, my first game in the CFL,” he said. “But I’m willing to go out there and play, and I’m excited because it’s playoff football. If you’re not up for that, I feel like, what are you doing?

“I’ve been working from a physical aspect, even when I was on the practice squad, I was working like, ‘who knows when my number will be called?’ I’ve always had that in me, regardless of where I was at. I’m OK where I am at, but I’m uncomfortable, if that makes sense.

“At the end of the day, it’s just football. You just got to play. I’m comfortable making plays and I’m pissed off when I’m not.”

Mackey slots in for fellow DL Zach Anderson, who takes a back seat this week. The Bombers could claim a playoff spot with a win today combines with some favourable results this week and next during their final bye week of the season.

“I count it all as adversity,” he said.

“It could be the same as you being undefeated and you lost a game, something like that can knock a team off their swagger. I feel like, in a situation like this, you got to go with the day that is given. The record doesn’t mean anything.”

The Bombers have yet to beat a team this season that owns a winning record. The Redblacks are 9-6.

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @scottbilleck

Scott Billeck
Reporter

Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade’s worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024.  Read more about Scott.

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