Bombers CEO and coach draw for Wild

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This article was published 22/09/2015 (3842 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As the seasons turn, so does the roster of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The Blue and Gold made a number of moves Tuesday morning, including the expected addition of import linebacker Ian Wild who was cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers in training camp. Wild signed a contract that will see him don Blue and Gold through 2017.

It’s the second stint with the Bombers for Wild, who started all 18 games with the Bombers last season – playing mostly middle linebacker – and led the team in tackles with 73.

“It starts with (Bombers CEO) Wade (Miller) and coach (Mike) O’Shea,” Wild told reporters Tuesday at Investors Group Field as to why he chose to re-sign with Winnipeg despite having other offers from the CFL on the table.

“I like playing for him, (and) just being in this city that I know now. I don’t have to start over and get to know a new city. I know a lot of people here now so it’s kind of a second home for me.”

In 29 games with the Bombers, spanned over the past two seasons, Wild started in 23 of them, recording 142 defensive tackles, 27 special teams tackles, five forced fumbles and one fumble recovery which he returned for a touchdown.

Wild said he’s been watching the Bombers all season and understands their struggles this year with a 4-8 record and a playoff berth very much in question. But even with all that, he still knew Winnipeg was the place for him and looks forward to being part of the solution moving forward.

“I know things haven’t been going so well obviously but Rome wasn’t built in a day,” said Wild. “I think it takes time and I think that there’s a lot of good guys here, I know there are a lot of good guys here.

“I know that the talent across the CFL or NFL isn’t much different from team to team. A lot of it is just chemistry and putting it together at the right time. I think that’s something that can be done with time so that’s why I came back.”

O’Shea wouldn’t exactly say where he planned to fit Wild in the roster long term, but added he’d like to see him dress for Friday’s game against the Calgary Stampeders. Last season Wild was in the middle linebacker position and given his body type – he comes in at six feet, 205 pounds – he’s best suited for there, where Sam Hurl now is, or on the weak side, a position currently occupied by standout rookie Khalil Bass.

“He’s obviously a real good football player, he led our team in tackles last year, he contributed 13 or 14 special teams tackles also,” said O’Shea. “He can (long) snap and that’s just the football side of it.

“Off the field he’s an extremely hard worker; he’s making sure guys are getting together to watch more tape. He’s always talking or thinking football. He’s a model professional so when you got a chance to add a guy like that to your organization you have to take that opportunity.”

Wild will play a role on special teams against the Stamps, a unit in much need of an improvement after a season that’s seen the group give up a number of game-deciding plays including two returns by Montreal’s Stefan Logan – a 78-yard punt return for a TD and a 95-yard kick return to start the second half that also led to a score – in a 35-14 loss to the Alouettes Sunday.

It’s also important to note that last season the Bombers employed a defensive scheme that didn’t use a play book, meaning there will be some time before Wild can get up to speed with defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall’s game plan.

“It’s probably pretty different,” said Wild. “I’ve watched some games, I mean I don’t know all the intricacies of it yet, I haven’t really looked at the playbook yet. It’s probably a little bit different but defence is defence. It’s Canadian football. I’ve been playing it for two years so I kind of should be able to pick it up.”

To make room for Wild, the Bombers released linebacker Jasper Simmons. Simmons signed with the Bombers after a rather public war of words between the Stamps and his agent. The move had nothing to do with his performance on the field or in the locker-room, but rather a game of numbers and somebody had to go.

“Jasper has been a starter before and Ian has been a starter and I just see that that’s more of the role,” said O’Shea. “I don’t know that it wold be ultimately fair to put Jasper back on the practice roster when we’ve got other practice roster guys that we’re trying to get on too and see what they can do. That to me, that to us was the logical conclusion.”

The Bombers also signed import receiver Kevin Cone (6-2, 215, Georgia Tech). The 27-year-old has spent the last three seasons in the NFL, with most of that time with the Atlanta Falcons where he saw action in 28 games.

Jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

twitter: @jeffkhamilton

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University’s journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff.

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