It all begins and ends with the offensive line

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This article was published 02/07/2010 (5914 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

IT promises to be an exciting alternative to last season’s snore-fest, a system of motion and slight of hand aimed to dazzle the senses and play tricks with opposing defences.

The curtain goes up on the new-look Blue Bomber offence at Canad Inns Stadium tonight (7 p.m., CJOB), when Winnipeg kicks off the 2010 season against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and among the items on the marquee is the new up-tempo attack spawned from the minds of head coach Paul LaPolice and offensive co-ordinator Jamie Barresi.

Before the bells and whistles, before all the expected touchdown celebrations and cannon fire, though, a dose of reality needs to be checked. The rebuilt offence will only be as good as the offensive line — and there’s an element of mystery heading into the game.

"It’s live bullets now," hulking import right tackle Kelly Butler said following the team walk-though Thursday.

Butler is one of two American starters on the Bombers’ O-line, a unit that has seen some significant change since the beginning of June. Those moves, coming as a result of Glenn January’s torn pectoral muscle, the repositioning of Steve Morley to the inside, and the emergence of rookie import LT Andre Douglas, will dictate how well QB Buck Pierce can conduct the offence.

Douglas, slotted in to protect Pierce’s blindside against the likes of explosive Ticat rush ends Justin Hickman and Khari Long (17 sacks between them in 2009), feels the O-line is starting to draw in the same direction and isn’t sensing any pressure heading into tonight’s opener.

"It’s a team, right? Five guys on the line all working together to give Buck a chance to make a play," the 25-year-old Temple product said, unfazed by his first CFL assignment. "One guy messes up and misses an assignment, we all mess up. We’re meshing well these days, but I feel like we can still come together a little bit more."

Two imports on the O-line suggests the coaching staff is looking to provide the best protection they have for Pierce, but the Bombers face a stiff test against a Hamilton front-seven flurry orchestrated by defensive co-ordinator Greg Marshall, who fell short in his bid to become the Bombers head man over the off-season. If you’re thinking Marshall wouldn’t like to turn up the heat on the Bombers offence now more than ever, you’re not alone.

Hickman, Long, as well as the linebacking trio of Markeith Knowlton, Otis Floyd, and Jamall Johnson — those are the guys Butler is concerning himself with tonight. The former NFL lineman, said the final pre-season game in Steeltown was a huge learning exercise for the new Blue trench brigade.

"They have a tremendous defensive front. They’re going to blitz a lot, so it’s going to be a great test for us."

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca