Rookie defensive end starts to hit his big-game stride

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This article was published 11/07/2016 (3369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After having the weekend to reflect on his game-winning series of events — a sack resulting in a forced fumble and subsequent recovery of that fumble — Adrian Hubbard still fell victim to goose bumps Sunday as he recounted the play that sent the Winnipeg Blue Bombers bench into pandemonium.

“They were blocking it a little bit differently and I just saw a little kink in the armour and was able to penetrate and get a sack,” Hubbard said, still grinning about the July 7 play in Hamilton that sealed the first victory of the CFL season for the Bombers.

It’s been a tough slog for Hubbard since his days at the University of Alabama. He’s said in the past he feels he can play and contribute to this — and any — football team.

He has, at times, come across as a guy with a large chip on his shoulder — and perhaps it’s understandable after going undrafted and relatively unnoticed in the National Football League following a standout U.S. college career in which the 6-6, 250-pound defensive end won two BCS national championships with the Crimson Tide as a starter.

His successes have been followed by some negative adjectives that have plagued the Lawrenceville, Ga., product and, according to the man himself, some unfair criticism — including being listed as one of the most controversial potential selections in the 2014 NFL Draft and headlines such as, “What ever happened to Adrian Hubbard?”

Motivated to earn back the respect he feels he deserves, Hubbard is approaching the game as he always has.

“I’m a sergeant’s son. I was brought up hard-nosed,” he said. “That’s how I’ve always approached competition. I’ve been able to get better week after week. That’s the goal of a football player. You never want to take a step back.”

Hubbard called last week’s preparation by the Bombers simply “the best.”

“The camaraderie that we’ve had from Day 1 up until the game, we knew we were going to put up a good fight with those guys (the Hamilton Tiger-Cats),” he said. “I believe in coach (Mike) O’Shea. He’s good at what he does. Obviously, he’s strict. He demands a lot from us as players and we demand a lot out of him as a coach. It’s a mutual agreement and we don’t want to let either side down.”

Hubbard’s improvements since landing a practice roster spot out of training camp haven’t been lost on the man he praised Sunday.

“He earned his time, that’s for sure,” O’Shea said from his pulpit in the media room. “He’s freakishly athletic and that was a tremendous play. Not only did he move the offensive lineman quite well, he got the sack, he stripped the ball, and he recovered it. That’s just as perfect a play as you’re going to get. And it’s the game-winner.”

O’Shea has tasked Hubbard with getting into better game shape. His reps will come with that and continued consistency.

“Each game is different,” O’Shea said. “There’s a nice rotation there. It certainly helps keep Shayon (Green) and West (Jamaal Westerman) fresh, having three guys to roll through.”

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @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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