Nobody’s job safe: LaPolice

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This article was published 04/06/2012 (4887 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Chris Garrett remains comfortable with his position inside the Blue Bombers offence — despite the uncertainty regarding his status on the depth chart.

The 25-year-old raised some eyebrows with his impressive showing at the end of last season when he rushed for 576 yards and four touchdowns in six games to close out the 2011 regular season. In the East Final, he cut through the Hamilton defence for 190 yards on 26 carries, before falling back to Earth with a disappointing eight-carry, 26-yard effort in the Grey Cup loss to B.C.

With Fred Reid no longer around, he’s the closest thing to an incumbent the Bombers have at running back. Building off that thought, Garrett told reporters the job is his to lose following the first day of training camp Sunday.

“Well, I’m pencilled in as the starter and that’s what I’m going to go with,” Garrett said. “I’m going to do my best to keep it.”

Though the third-year back from Ohio is listed at the top of the chart, there remains some doubt as to whether he enjoys the same job security at his position as say a Terrence Edwards or Kito Poblah would at receiver. Does Garrett enjoy the spoils of a starter or is he trying to win a spot again?

A little bit of both, says the man in charge.

“I want to say all these guys are returnees who are trying to win their job,” Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice said when pressed for some clarification on the Garrett picture. “Just because they start last year doesn’t mean they start this year. The coaches have carte blanche to say, ‘This is the change we have to make; we have to put this guy at this spot to figure it out.’ And that message has been told to the players. Nobody’s job is safe.

“The best players will play. There’s no entitlement here. Just because you played last year doesn’t mean you get to play this year.”

But it’s not as cut and dried as that. Until outside issues like age and money enter the equation, experience holds some benefit of the doubt at this time of year — even if it turns in a quiet camp. For example, if Jonathan Hefney struggles in the early going and rookie Darrell Pasco looks terrific, it’s hard to imagine Pasco winning Hefney’s starting defensive back spot. Often, starters or prominent players who aren’t welcome back will be moved along before the team gathers in preparation for the season, to limit the potential for distraction in the locker-room when the bad news breaks.

Garrett is no Hefney, of course (not yet, anyway), and LaPolice’s reluctance to gift him “starter’s status” isn’t really a surprise for a pair of reasons: One, the club has determined that a third of a season may not be enough of a resumé; and two, there is some significant competition for the tailback gig at camp.

“Competition is tough every year,” Garrett said. “Right now I’m the starter. It’s a good feeling, but nothing is ever etched in stone.”

Challenging Garrett for the running back spot are former NFLer Chad Simpson, practice roster holdover Bloi-Dei Dorzon, Canadian rookie Anthony Woodson and Carl Volny, who is still working back from a knee injury.

Garrett, Simpson and Dorzon received their fair share of work inside the offence Sunday, with the latter two players getting extra face time in front of LaPolice as kick returners at the end of practice. When asked if this versatility can be used to his advantage as the running back evaluation moves along this month, Simpson offered an interesting take.

It’s not what the Bombers think he can do. It’s what he will do.

“My advantage is going to be the plays that I make,” Simpson said without hesitation or a trace of self-doubt.

Training camp continues at Canad Inns Stadium this morning at 8:30 a.m.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @wazoowazny