Bombers offensive line draft strategy paying dividends

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This article was published 03/06/2016 (3391 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The hiring of general manager Kyle Walters prior to the 2014 season represented a schism of sorts for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Gone was the idea of Canadian offensive linemen not being a priority in the draft. Taking a top hog wasn’t a hogwash idea any longer, and Walters spent his first two opening-round picks in 2014 and 2015 bringing home the bacon.

Matthias Goossen, the initial jewel of the renaissance, spent the last two years taking instruction and wisdom from Steve Morley and Dominic Picard, both longtime CFL vets. This year, the Goose is poised to start as the team’s centre, taking over for the departed men who took him under their wings.

Sukh Chungh, meanwhile, is a prime example of how drafting an offensive lineman can pay off immediately. Chungh started all 18 games at right guard last season — trial by fire, according to Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea, but one Chungh was well equipped to handle.

Goossen and Chungh are budding stars at a position that craves Canadians. Former GM Joe Mack drafted four offensive lineman during his four-year reign and other than Chris Greaves, who was drafted as a defensive lineman and converted to the other side of the ball, the memories of Tyson Pencer, Brendan Dunn and Paul Swiston are fleeting.

For O’Shea, having renewed Canadian depth on the offensive line — the team is likely to start three Canadians again this year in the front five — is relieving.

“It’s nice to be able to have the hogs now that you can slow down the pace and develop them a little more slowly,” O’Shea said, referring to his two recent additions, 2016 second-round pick Michael Couture and fifth-rounder Zachary Intzandt. “Sukh jumped right in, there was good development throughout the season for him. Matthias just took another year. We’ll see with Couture and Intzandt. It’s not that rushed now to throw them right in there.”

While being a part of the shift, Goossen has had a front-row seat watching it. The draft-and-develop model, along with sprinkling in a couple talented Americans, is lending itself to fluidity at the position.

“It’s important at his position to have continuity together,” he said. “Any good team in the CFL has a consistent base of Canadian talent. When you draft guys, the idea is to have them for a lot of years. The best teams have guys who’ve been there for six, seven, eight years, especially at the O-line position.”

Chungh is entering his second season eight pounds heavier than he was a year ago. Already a behemoth, Chungh wanted to put on some “good mass” and test the waters with it on game day. He’ll have a chance to do so in a few days time.

“I feel good, it’s going well,” he said. “I’ve gotten used to it, I started in January around 305, 308 and have stayed at it. If I didn’t feel comfortable, I would have lost some weight. I felt comfortable coming into camp.”

Comfort is Chungh’s theme in 2015. Sandwiched between Goossen and Patrick Neufeld, Chungh feels right at home.

“Working with the chemistry… I feel good, better than my rookie year, obviously,” he said.

Goossen, meanwhile, said he’s ready to take over the centre spot.

“I think the biggest thing as a centre is the game has to slow down for you,” he said. “You have to do your job, but you also have to call out what other guys are doing. As a rookie, it’s tough to do that at times. Knowing tendencies is the biggest thing, and you only get experience when you see it in front of you.”

O’Shea said the maturity of both men is well beyond their years.

“Those two guys seem like veterans,” he said. “Now, they’re not grizzled, old veterans with all the wily experience that you want, but they’re veteran guys now.”

NOTES

❚ Who stood out: Justin Veltung, not because of anything he did particularly, but because of the neon green leggings he wore under his shorts. Who needs the sun?

Defensive back hopeful Don Celiscar lowered the boom on receiver Thomas Mayo in what turned out to be a physical 12-on-12 scrimmage early on in the day’s first session. Receiver and kick return specialist Quincy McDuffie almost lost his head on a slant route over the middle and newcomer defensive lineman Trent Corney put Stanley Bryant on his posterior on a rush play. The most impressive part about that particular exchange was Corney didn’t touch Bryant, he just confused the big man with his speed and jukes.

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❚ Blunder(s) of the day: Andrew Harris had another ball stripped out of his hands, the second time in as many days. Ian Wild was on point, punching the ball loose and then recovering it before taking it to the house. Drew Willy continued to cough the ball up, too. This time Macho Harris was the beneficiary, taking the offering to the opposite end zone.

❚ Injury update: OL Patrick Neufeld returned to practice Friday, but Johnny Adams did not. O’Shea is still hopeful Adams can suit up in next Wednesday’s game. DE Justin Cole didn’t practise after pulling up lame Thursday and standout receiver Jace Davis picked up a knock in the day’s first session.

❚ Saturday’s slate: The Bombers will continue the two-a-day trend today beginning at 8:30 a.m. Second session begins roughly around 10:30 a.m.

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @scottbilleck

Scott Billeck
Reporter

Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade’s worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024.  Read more about Scott.

Every piece of reporting Scott produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.