Ambitious plan for Blue

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This article was published 07/01/2015 (4127 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Kyle WALTERS received a present from the Saskatchewan Roughriders and now he needs to steal a prized possession from one of his neighbours.

Dominic Picard was a gift. Taking non-import offensive tackle Ben Heenan from the Riders or Canadian offensive lineman Tyler Holmes from the Toronto Argos with a big- ticket free agent offer would be theft. But that’s exactly what Walters is planning on doing.

Word around the CFL is Heenan and Holmes are going to go to market and see what teams other than their own are willing to pay.

Walters should smack one or both between the eyes with an enormous offer and take his Canadian content along the offensive line from a weakness to a strength.

The Riders cut veteran offensive lineman Picard Tuesday and Walters quickly snatched him up.

“I feel like I’m coming home,” said Picard, who was drafted by the Bombers and broke in with the club in 2006 before moving on for stops with the Toronto Argonauts and Riders.

“I loved working with (Bombers offensive line coach) Bob Wylie the first time I was with the Bombers and it was a major reason why I came here. Winnipeg’s always been special to me. It’s where I started. I did my first steps there in the CFL. The fan base, as well, is just amazing there. I played with Drew Willy and I’ve known Drew for a while.”

Too soft and too low on Canadian talent were among the largest criticisms aimed at the Bombers last season. When the Riders elected to cut Picard rather than pay him a hefty bonus, the return of the man known to teammates as the Angry Frenchman was a natural.

“Nothing surprises you and that’s why you read the waiver wire every day. As soon as we saw Dom’s name out there we all got together on a conference call and said, “Let’s rewind to December, and say if this name was on the free agent list, where would we have it and would we make a run at him?’ and the answer unanimously was yes,” said Walters.

Bombers defensive lineman Zach Anderson had this to say about Picard last summer.

“I want to say cheap. I want to say dirty. Quote me on dirty,” said Anderson.

Anderson isn’t necessarily wrong and what the nasty Picard will bring to the Bombers line is an immediate upgrade.

“Well everybody knows that I’ve been playing on the edge,” said Picard, named the Riders’ top offensive lineman in 2014 and 2012.

“I mean that’s me, I wouldn’t say dirty. I play on the edge. I play with passion and I think some guys are not used to playing against players like me. I’ve always played that way and I’m a player who loves the game, I’m aggressive and everybody knows that by now for sure. I play the way I think the game should be played and I don’t plan on changing.”

The Bombers also announced they have re-signed import defensive back Demond Washington.

Washington started 17 games last season, collecting 70 defensive tackles, four special teams tackles, and one fumble recovery. Washington was strong on special teams, returning nine kickoffs for 396 yards, including a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Ottawa.

In three seasons with the Bombers, Washington has started 41 games making 179 defensive tackles, 10 special teams tackles, four sacks, three interceptions, and three fumble recoveries. On special teams, Washington has returned 78 kickoffs for 1,762 yards and one touchdown and returned 78 punts for 781 yards and three touchdowns.

Walters says he’s not done trying to retool his offensive line adding he’s got the money to try and make another bold move in free agency.

“I’ve stood up here since day one and said Canadian offensive lineman is where we need to build and that’s what we want to do from an organizational standpoint,” said Walters.

“We want to draft them and we want to develop them. We want to draft two every year, send them back to school, keep them in the hopper. We want to make a splash in free agency if we can.

“Of all the positions in the organization, we’re gonna be extremely aggressive every opportunity we get to improve in the area of Canadian offensive lineman.”

Picard fell out of the sky and got the job started. Now it’s up to Walters to take it even further. If Heenan and Holmes have the stones to wait it out and see what offers come their way, Walters needs to make it near impossible not to make Winnipeg their next destination.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @garylawless