Holm follows up breakout season by ‘trying to get better’

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This article was published 16/05/2024 (482 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Evan Holm says there wasn’t necessarily a singular moment when the light bulb really went on for him during his breakout season in the secondary.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive back suited up in all 18 regular-season CFL games in 2023, finishing with 64 defensive tackles, four more on special teams, two sacks and two interceptions

“In training camp last year, I (realized) I know this stuff,” said Holm. “I don’t have to learn the playbook as hard. I’m not cramming, I’m not stressed. Having that piece really helped me focus on the other aspects of the game. There was never really a moment where I was like ‘OK, I can do this.’”

What is Holm planning to do for an encore?

“Just trying to get better,” said Holm. “It was a good year, but obviously we didn’t get the result that we wanted, so that’s No. 1 on my agenda.

“Just trying to reflect on what I didn’t do well last season and that’s what I’m trying to work on here at camp and throughout the season.”

If it seems curious a guy coming off a great season is thinking more about things he didn’t do well enough instead of things he did well, that just speaks to his passion to improve.

“You can always get better, you never want to get complacent because you had one good year,” said Holm, who played his college football at the University of North Dakota. “I’m just trying to get better.”

In which areas is Holm looking to improve?

“It was a good year, but obviously we didn’t get the result that we wanted, so that’s No. 1 on my agenda.”–Evan Holm

“Just my man coverage and seeing the game a little slower,” said Holm. “Later in the year, I got some certain things down, like reading the quarterback better and seeing the action of the play. I’m just getting better with some of that stuff because I know a lot of the concepts now, it’s comfortable. I’m trying to take more calculated risks. There’s a lot to work on.”

After heartbreaking losses in consecutive Grey Cups, Holm senses a hunger throughout the group.

“It’s just one or two plays here or there,” he said. “We’ve got to find a way to get those small little details. We were so close, but we’ve got to fine-tune some stuff.”

The Blue Bombers defence will have a slightly different look this season, with Jordan Younger sliding into the defensive co-ordinator role and Richie Hall moving into a defensive assistant position in what will be his ninth season on the staff.

Bringing up Holm’s name during a question-and-answer period immediately brought a smile to the face of Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea.

“Everybody loves that guy and what he brings.”–Head coach Mike O’Shea

“He’s a beauty,” said O’Shea. “I just think that anytime a ball went up in the air and he was going to compete for it, everybody on our side knew that he was going to have a good chance of winning (the battle)… and he won a ton of those contested balls.

“He’s way more than that. He’s fast and he’s a very gifted athlete. Him as a teammate is pretty exceptional. Everybody loves that guy and what he brings. He’s a quiet guy, it’s not like he’s running around and doing crazy things and everybody thinks he’s great. He fits and he eases his way through all of the groups, which is awesome.”

Thomas keeps rolling

Winnipeg defensive tackle Jake Thomas hasn’t missed a single game (regular season or playoffs) since 2016, a sign of his dedication and durability.

“He’s extremely strong and powerful and he works extremely hard at it,” said O’Shea. “He doesn’t take that for granted. He’s in the weight room religiously and his work ethic is as good as anybody’s. Genetically, he has this strength and you couple that with (him being) East Coast tough, so he’s good to go.”

Thomas recently became the vice-president of the CFLPA, so his concern for the well-being of his teammates and fellow players is evident, on and off the field.

“They don’t have to look too deep to see how professional he is,” said O’Shea. “He’s been around our team. He’s the longest serving member for a reason. He comes prepared every single year to play hard. It’s not our choice for him, he chooses to give everything that he’s got for his teammates every chance that he has.

“He’s super smart. He cares about his guys and what they do. So, yeah, everybody, not just rookies, can look to him and see what (a) professional really is.”

Schoen takes a seat

A day after the Blue Bombers placed three players on the six-game injured list, star receiver Dalton Schoen took what is believed to be a maintenance day. That provided an opportunity for Ronnie Blackmon to work with the first-team offence.

Speaking of injuries, O’Shea mentioned the injury defensive back Jamal Parker sustained during training camp would sideline him for a while, likely stretching beyond the opening week of the regular season.

Tribute to Dutchy

As he opened his daily media session on Thursday, O’Shea shared some thoughts about TSN anchor Darren Dutchyshen, a longtime CFL fan who passed away at the age of 57.

'A larger-than-life personality': TSN broadcaster Darren Dutchyshen dead at 57

“A sad day to hear the news about Dutchy,” said O’Shea. “Obviously, if you’re any type of Canadian sports fan at all, he was a big part of your living room every night. Tough to hear that news, for sure. Being a Saskatchewan guy, he was a good CFL fan.”

Tributes for Dutchyshen poured in from around the sporting world on Thursday, with many folks praising him for both his enthusiasm and zest for life.

“That was evident when you watched him,” said O’Shea.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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Ken Wiebe
Reporter

Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, Sportsnet.ca and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken.

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