Lots of questions, only a few answers

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This article was published 06/06/2016 (3652 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

They have more than a week of training camp under their belts.

With Monday’s session behind them, they’ve had their final full practice before they get their first real test under live fire in Wednesday’s pre-season opener against the Montreal Alouettes at Investors Group Field.

So what have we learned so far about these radically remade 2016 Winnipeg Blue Bombers? And, just as importantly, what do we still need to learn?

Here’s a rundown of some questions answered and questions still to be answered:

What have we learned?

— They’re fast. Very, very fast.

You knew the addition of speed demons in free agent receivers Weston Dressler and Ryan Smith was going to make the team instantly faster. But everyone else seems faster this season too — the defensive line, the linebackers, the secondary, even the offensive line seems more fleet of foot.

Add to that a new offence under coordinator Paul LaPolice that is going to place a premium on getting the ball away quickly and you’d better not blink this season, because you’re going to miss something good.

— That defensive line is going to be very, very good..

The off-season addition of non-import tackle Keith Shologan got the bigger headlines but it’s import incoming defensive tackle Euclid Cummings who’s been drawing the ravest reviews at camp so far. The man is big and fast and havoc seems to trail in his wake.

Add to that pair returning veteran defensive end in Jamaal Westerman — who had 17 sacks last season playing, basically, by himself on a terrible front-four — and you’ve got the makings of something special this year.

— Justin Medlock, as advertised.

You know you have a good kicker when nobody’s talking about him and Medlock has all but disappeared since camp started.

He’s been all business. And he’s been automatic from inside the 50.

That quiet efficiency will be a welcome relief to Bombers fans who grew tired last season reading every day about the tribulations of former kicker, Lirim Hajrullahu.

What’s still to be learned?

— Who’s the other defensive end?

The scouting department dug deep and hard to bring in a talented group of ends for the coaches to audition at the spot opposite Westerman.

But the best laid plans have fallen victim to a litany of training camp injuries that have laid waste to all that talent. At this point, newcomer Shayon Green has been getting the bulk of the reps by default.

These guys need to get healthy so their coaches can get a look.

— The middle linebacker lottery

Khalil Bass — who led the team in tackles last year — is going to be the starting weak-side linebacker this season. And Maurice Leggett is going to be the starting strong-side linebacker.

Who’s the starting middle linebacker? Well, at the moment veteran import Ian Wild is the only contender actually healthy.

Non-import Sam Hurl has missed the last couple of practices and the Bombers are being coy about his condition, except to say he won’t play in the pre-season game Wednesday.

And former NFLer Kyle Knox, who some in the organization were predicting just a week ago would be starting this season in the middle, missed the opening week of camp with an injury and then lasted all of a practice-and-a-half before he got hurt again Monday.

The Bombers aren’t saying what’s wrong with Knox, but his reaction — slamming his helmet into the ground and pounding his fist on a bench — suggests whatever injury setback he had was at the least very frustrating.

— The game-day transportation story.

The Bombers announced Monday they’ve trimmed the number of park and ride routes from nine to seven — in part to save the team money. And the club now seems to be actively encouraging more fans to drive to the games, pointing out there’s lots of available parking on the University of Manitoba campus.

Hmmmm. That’s basically the opposite of the message the team sent out the last few years when it encouraged fans to use public transit to help avoid a repeat of the nightmarish traffic bottlenecks that frustrated fans during the inaugural season of IGF.

So what’s changed?

Maybe nothing, except the Bombers are tired of subsidizing your bus rides and would rather you paid them for a parking spot. We’ll find out soon.

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @PaulWiecek