League’s top defender on the mend: Siddeeq will likely sit

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This article was published 06/08/2009 (5913 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

One guy has spent the week standing on the sidelines wearing a therapeutic boot on his injured ankle while the other has been flying around practice like a frat boy at his first spring break. It isn’t difficult to determine who is going to play this weekend.

Expect the Blue Bombers to take linebacker Siddeeq Shabazz off the roster this week and insert second-year man Joe Lobendahn in his place.

Bombers coach Mike Kelly all but confirmed on Wednesday that Lobendahn would play, but was hedging a tad on Shabazz, saying he’d give him another day or two before a decision is made.

Shabazz, named the CFL’s Defensive Player of the Month for July on Wednesday, has not taken part in any drills this week and Kelly called him "probable" for this Saturday’s game against the Calgary Stampeders in Alberta. In this case, that’s coach-speak for not very likely.

As for Lobendahn, who injured his shoulder in Week 1 against the Edmonton Eskimos, Kelly says he’s ready.

"Yeah, he looked pretty good out there," Kelly said, when asked if Lobendahn was likely to play on Saturday. "Even in some coverages where he has to be down the field he looked good. So I think he’s feeling very comfortable as to what we’re doing."

Shabazz has been excellent for the Blue Bombers since coming over in the off-season from the Edmonton Eskimos, but Kelly insisted the other day that taking off one linebacker and adding Lobendahn would not result in a drop in production.

"It’s Joe. He’s an impact player and when he’s ready, we’ll find a way to get him on. He’ll make us better," Kelly said.

Shabazz has 23 tackles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries through the first five games of the season. The first-year Bomber has returned two of his interceptions for touchdowns.

Lobendahn burst onto the scene with the Bombers last season, taking over the middle linebacker role when veteran Barrin Simpson was felled with a torn pectoral muscle.

In eight games, the native of Honolulu had 39 tackles and two sacks and became a fan favourite with his big-hitting style.

"Siddeeq has been playing good, but it’s the coach’s decision, and if they give me the opportunity to play, I’m going to do my thing and go out and make tackles and make plays and hit people," said Lobendahn, listed at 5-foot-11 and 233 pounds. "It’s the coach’s call, but I’m ready, of course I’m ready. Siddeeq has been making plays and causing turnovers and I’m glad he’s on my team. I’ve been ready for awhile. I’m always ready."

Lobendahn played his college football for the University of Washington Huskies. Though Shabazz is more of a ball hawk and has the edge in coverage downfield, Lobendahn provides more of a presence near the line of scrimmage.

"I’m a hitter. That’s what I do and that’s what people can expect from me," Lobendahn said. "I can’t wait to get back in there. We’ll see how it shakes out, but I can’t wait."

Kelly says Lobendahn exemplifies the type of player he likes best.

"When I took over here, in our first meeting with the players, I said if there was anyone in the room that didn’t like to hit, they might as well leave right now," Kelly said. "So that’s all we have left here — people that like to hit and play football."

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

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