Blue can snooze, won’t lose

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/05/2009 (6245 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

JUST FYI, the CFL’s Canadian Draft begins this morning at 10. And that means, as per usual, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers football brain trust could hit the snooze button 100 times and roll into the office around 10:30 or so before even cracking open their scouting handbooks.

After dealing their first two selections in the 2009 draft the Bombers won’t pick until the third round in the proceedings, 19th overall. That means for the 11th time in the last 13 drafts the Bombers will play spectators as the top talent is gobbled up by their rivals.

But here’s where things get juicy: because two teams essentially control the first round — the Hamilton Tiger-Cats hold the first and third picks while the B.C. Lions are scheduled to select in the fourth, fifth and sixth spots — there has been much more pre­draft chatter than usual about teams attempting to trade to move into the first eight selections.

And that chatter includes the Bombers, who insist they’re talking with every team.

"If it’s something that makes sense we’re willing to listen to just about any type of scen­ario as long as it has value to the club in the long run," said head coach Mike Kelly. "If some­thing was offered to us that was significant — meaning a first-round pick — we’ll listen.

"We’re trying to be prepared and organized so that we don’t find ourselves in a panic mode if someone does call with an offer we didn’t see coming. That’s what this whole week has been about: tossing those types of scenarios around with (director of player personnel) John (Mur­phy) and all the coaches."

That said, Kelly said the club is also content to sit at No. 19 and wait if a trade can’t be com­pleted. This year’s draft has its usual top talent — Alberta O-lineman Simeon Rottier is rated first overall, followed by Bishop’s running back Jamall Lee (who signed this week with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers) and Laval D-lineman Etienne Legare — but the pool isn’t considered packed with star power.

"That’s what you have to weigh when considering a trade," said Kelly. "The way this draft pick looks, after picks four or five is the kid that gets selected at seven or eight that drastically different than the 19th or 20th pick? I’m not sure that’s the case this year. That’s why you never know with this pro­cess: Somebody we may have ranked 26th may go sixth. That always happens."

The Bombers also believe the recent Dan Goodspeed trade helps offset the decisions to trade their first-rounder (to the Ticats for Zeke Moreno) and second-rounder (to Edmonton for Stefan LeFors). That deal netted Winnipeg two young Canadians: massive offensive lineman Jean-Francois Morin-Roberge (who spent last year on Saskatchewan’s practice roster) and former Uni­versity of Manitoba defensive back Brady Browne (who was with B.C. and was rated by the Bombers among the top three players at his position a year ago).

"In some regards we think we’ve already had our first- and second-round draft picks with some of these young Canadians we’ve picked up," said Kelly.

"I talked to Brady yesterday.

He’s excited about being home.

He’s got a year under his belt of being in a pro atmosphere…

to me, that’s our first- or second­round draft pick there because when he comes in he’s not all wide­eyed.

"You’re always thinking offensive linemen when you head into our draft. I just don’t think you can stockpile enough good Canadian of­fensive linemen. That’s on our mind, but if there is a superior athlete who can come in immedi­ately and help us on special teams sooner than an offensive lineman can, then you have to lean toward taking the athlete."

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca