Agents of change: How the Bombers’ dive into free-agency is paying off

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This article was published 23/07/2015 (3702 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

They threw around the dollars aggressively and freely, not just dipping their toes into the Canadian Football League free-agent market, but cannon-balling into the thing with a splash that left many of their rivals dripping wet.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, as everyone who has been paying attention over the last few years knew full well, entered 2015 with some mammoth holes to fill on their roster. And while hoarding draft picks and grooming Canadians while unearthing the next Charles Roberts and Milt Stegall is the winner’s blueprint, GM Kyle Walters & Co. also wanted to augment that strategy by adding some proven pieces in free agency.

There’s still a ton of football left to be played — heck, it’s still only July — but now is as good a time as any to check in on the club’s off-season investment. Consider this, then, our Bomber free-agent progress report…

Stanley Bryant

Position: Left tackle

Why they signed him: There were 71 good reasons, really, as in the 71 times Bomber quarterbacks were drilled to the turf last season in setting a new club record for futility in the trenches.

Bryant, a 29-year-old vet of the last five seasons with Calgary — the last two as a member of the CFL all-star team — was the most-dominant O-lineman on the market. Period.

What he’s brought: Stability, first and foremost. Repeating an oft-spoken football theory, the left tackle is critical in protecting the blind side of a right-handed QB — like Drew Willy — but he’s also going to be matched up against lightning-quick ends or outside linebackers blitzing. Bryant has effectively plugged one of the leaks along the line and given QBs those critical extra steamboats to find open receivers.

TBD (To Be Determined): The Bombers have surrendered six sacks in four games — far less than the four-per game yielded in 2014 — but the real payoff for signing a guy like Bryant, aside from what he brings each week, won’t be determined until late October and early November and the hope this team is in a playoff position.

Dominic Picard

Position: Centre

Why they signed him: Picard fell into the Bombers’ lap, frankly. Cut by Saskatchewan in early January in what was called a ‘cap-related’ move, the gritty centre was back in Winnipeg colours not long after. And for a team that was looking to upgrade its talent up front, landing a veteran such as Picard a month in advance of the opening of the free-agent market was akin to getting a bonus Christmas gift in early December.

What he’s brought: Picard is a tone-setter in the trenches by pushing the boundaries of what is legal in there. But he has already been critical in the O-line’s preparation during the week leading up to kickoff by leading the hogs to the film room regularly

TBD: Picard turned 33 in June and has been exceptionally durable during his CFL career. His signing allowed the Bombers to further develop Matthias Goossen, drafted second overall in 2014 as a centre. What will be interesting is the impact Picard may have on the protege down the road.

Darvin Adams

Position: Wide receiver

Why they signed him: Clarence Denmark was one of three thousand-yard receivers in the CFL last season; Nick Moore struggled through injuries and in Rory Kohlert and Julian Feoli-Gudino, the Bombers had some reliable pass catchers Drew Willy could rely on in clutch situations. But the Bombers’ deep threat last year was 35-year-old Romby Bryant and/or Aaron Kelly — both cast-offs from other organizations and both not invited back for 2015.

Adams hardly had glowing CFL credentials prior to this year — 21 catches for 261 yards and two TDs in 11 games over two seasons with Toronto — but the Bomber brass who had seen him in the Big Smoke, like head coach Mike O’Shea and assistant GM Ted Goveia — felt the former Auburn star was worth taking a stab at in free agency.

What he’s brought: The evidence was all over the highlights from last week’s loss to Calgary in Adams’ bust-out effort that saw him pull in five catches for 121 yards, including a 78-yard TD. That score was, unofficially, the longest by the Bombers since July 28, 2011 and a 82-yard TD from Denmark on a pass from Buck Pierce.

TBD: If Adams can continue to take plays vertical — and his TD play was a quick strike over the middle he converted into a 78-yarder — then it only figures to free up more room for Denmark and Moore, the two slotbacks working inside, and make the Bomber attack that much more multi-dimensional.

Sam Hurl

Position: Linebacker

Why they signed him: The Bombers desperately needed to upgrade their Canadian content and saw enough in Hurl to figure he could give them more homegrown depth and ratio flexibility if he could start. With Hurl on board, a healthy Craig Newman and the further development of Jesse Briggs — and then adding Justin Warden and Garrett Waggoner in the main and supplemental drafts — Bomber brass crossed their fingers they would have enough bodies to start one Canuck in their linebacking corps.

What he’s brought: He’s not a big thumper like Solomon Elimimian, nor has he had Bomber fans having Greg Battle flashbacks for his work in the middle. His 13 tackles are fifth-best on the Bombers, behind Bruce Johnson and Khalil Bass (19), Matt Bucknor (16) and Chris Randle (15).

TBD: A middle linebacker’s job isn’t just to knock the snot out of receivers/running backs, but be the defence’s quarterback. The Bombers had some assignment busts through the first couple of games — and the fingers of blame hardly get pointed at Hurl — but a dominant ‘D’ always features a dominant middle linebacker. In this case, then, the jury is still in session.

Marc Dile

Position: Right tackle

Why they signed him: See Stanley Bryant (above). The Bombers wanted to make over their O-line and Dile, while injury-prone, was a veteran tackle from Hamilton who was a worth-the-risk option in free agency.

What he’s brought: Nada. A complete bust here. Was injured in training camp and essentially beaten out by holdover import tackles Devin Tyler and Jace Daniels before being released.

TBD: Nothing, at least from a Bombers’ perspective. Daniels is now in the Arena Football League with the Orlando Predators.

Jamaal Westerman

Position: Defensive end

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Why they signed him: His football resumé positively glows, with 58 NFL games under his belt. But the real bonus came when it was determined he would be classified as a Canadian under terms of the new CBA. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Westerman — who went to high school in Brampton, Ont. — gave the Bombers that much more ratio room to play with in piecing together the roster.

What he’s brought: First things first, Westerman DIDN’T bring an NFL attitude with him and has fit in well along a D-line with lunch-pail guys such as Bryant Turner, Zach Anderson, Jake Thomas and Greg Peach. But he also brings a been-there/done-that veteran calmness to a crew that has been beaten down and beaten up over the last couple of seasons.

TBD: Westerman is tied for the club lead for sacks with two and there’s a sense the 30-year-old is just now getting comfy again with the three-down game. If he can reach double-digits in sacks, the Bombers defensive bosses will be high-fiving each other.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPEdTait