Blue tackle gaps in old guard

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/02/2009 (6273 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

His voice was calm, the tone reserved. There were no sudden bursts of anger or curses.

And so if new Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike Kelly is feeling at all jumpy about Canadian Football League free agency — and the prospect of losing at least two homegrown starters — he’s hiding it well as the market opens for business in the next few hours.

The Bombers have a specific strategy for free agency and, not surprisingly, it includes a contingency plan or two if they take the initial hit, expected with the rumoured departures of left tackle Alexandre Gauthier and centre Dominic Picard.

"I’ve said all along I don’t want to make major changes to this team," Kelly said. "But things could change drastically by Monday morning (free agency begins at 11:01 tonight) — and not by our choice, but by the reality of the business. There are two or three players we have earmarked that we think are important for us to go after — and that’s separate from whatever our own free agents decide to do. The others we are interested in are based solely on what happens with our free agents.

"We’re in the starting blocks and if the gun goes off, we’re going to be able to run," Kelly added. "I’d hate to be standing there not even in the blocks and then the gun goes off and we go, ‘Oh, crap.’"

The Bombers have indicated they met the asking price both Gauthier and Picard requested. But if they vamoose — Gauthier has reportedly already signed with either Hamilton or Toronto — then don’t be surprised if the club moves Canadian linemen Steve Morley (Saskatchewan) and Joe McGrath (Edmonton) to the top of its wish list.

Both Kelly and O-line coach Ronnie Vinklarek know all about McGrath’s skill set from last season with the Eskimos, and Morley, the first overall pick in 2003, hasn’t been the same rising-star type of talent since heading south to the NFL, but is still just 27.

"I think where free agency is most important in the Canadian Football League is with Canadians," Kelly said. "And the Canadian player understands their value, but it also may be a bit exaggerated, especially with a frozen cap (the figure will remain at $4.2 million in 2009).

"I don’t begrudge anyone anywhere the opportunity to investigate improving their lot in life. But there’s also been something to be said that if the employer you have has met your salary request and then they say, ‘Ah, never mind…’ Well, we have to run a business also. Let’s not ever lose sight of that.

"We have plans to move on if those guys (Gauthier and Picard) so choose to move on, or come back to us and see the offer isn’t what they want."

It’s also possible the Bombers may chase B.C. Lions free agent Rob Murphy, also a tackle, although he is an import.

The other area the Bombers would like to upgrade is the secondary (Winnipeg surrendered 304.1 yards through the air last year, just sixth overall). They like Montreal Alouettes cornerback Mark Estelle, an East Division all-star, the best of the free-agent lot.

That said, don’t expect Kelly & Co. to spend exorbitantly on imports.

"We’d like to get to the point where we’re developing our own talent, where we’re finding it rather than using American talent from other clubs," he said. "We can find those guys, to be quite honest, who will be younger and cheaper. And they’re out there, particularly now with only 40 professional football teams in North America (after the Arena League shut down for ’09). The pool of talent has increased exponentially.

"My directive is to find the best player we can, get ourselves younger, and be prudent with the salary-management system. And if we can do those three things, then in the long run we’ll be successful."

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

 

THE FREE-AGENT TOP 10

Free Press football writer Ed Tait ranks the top-10 CFL free agents — by the Bombers’ needs, not overall.

1. Alexandre Gauthier, offensive tackle, Winnipeg: Big, durable and consistent. His exit leaves a gaping hole.

 

2. Rob Murphy*, offensive tackle, B.C. (above): Forget that he’s an import, he’s good enough that teams change the ratio to get him into their starting 12. Also a nasty S.O.B. who changes the complexion of an O-line.

3. Dominic Picard, centre, Winnipeg: He’s not the biggest hog, but one of those hate-to-lose scrappers who brings some grit to the trenches.

4. Steve Morley, tackle, Saskatchewan: Not the same player who left the CFL to chase fame and fortune in the NFL, but young enough to get his game back.

5. Joe McGrath, guard, Edmonton: See a trend here? You can’t lose two O-linemen, especially Canadians, and not make every effort to grab the others available on the open market.

6. Mark Estelle*, cornerback, Montreal: Whispers are Stanford Samuels will be re-signed, but Estelle would make the Bombers’ air defence stronger and deeper.

7. Luke Fritz, tackle, Montreal: He’s 30, but could walk into the starting lineup here at tackle.

8. Willie Pile*, linebacker, Toronto: Pile, Simpson, Moreno and Lobendahn… that’d make up a helluva linebacking corps.

9. Graeme Bell, fullback, Winnipeg: Just one of those guys who does a lot, but goes unnoticed. Was the Bombers’ top special-teams player in 2008.

10. Burke Dales, punter, Calgary: He’s Canadian and he punts… why wouldn’t the Bombers be interested?

Other free agents

 

Other notable CFL free agents not likely to draw interest from the Bombers:

 

"ö RB Jesse Lumsden, Hamilton (above): Probably headed to Edmonton. If he could just stay healthy…

"ö WR Brian Bratton*, Montreal: Pulled in 54 passes for seven TDs last year.

"ö LB Maurice Lloyd*, Saskatchewan: An absolute stud of a player; likely following new Esks coach Richie Hall to Edmonton.

"ö LB Anton McKenzie*, Saskatchewan: Likely returning to Regina or headed to B.C., but he is a difference-maker.

"ö DBs Dwaine Carpenter*, Julian Battle*, Calvin Bannister*, Calgary: If new Bomber personnel guy John Murphy likes ’em, they may soon be en route.

"ö OL Glen January*, Saskatchewan: He’s no Rob Murphy, but he’s decent.

"ö WR D.J. Flick*, Saskatchewan: All he’s done is post three 1,000-yard seasons.

"ö DT Matt Kirk, B.C.: Wasting away on the bench behind one of the greatest D-lines in CFL history.

"ö DE Brandon Guillory*, Edmonton: Finished with six sacks last year, tied for tops on the Esks.

"ö DT Eddie Freeman*, Calgary: A 6-foot-5, 305-pound monster.

"ö WR/SB Dave Stala, receiver, Montreal: He’s caught just two passes in the last two years and has been horribly injury-prone. But worth a sniff — he did catch 83 passes for 1,037 yards in 2005 and doesn’t turn 30 until October.

 

* — Denotes import