Mr. Everything Oosterhuis turns into fullback

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/02/2009 (6385 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

EVERY football team has them. Every team needs them.

They are versatile, do-whatever­they’re- asked players who can fill in at a number of positions, get along with their compadres in the locker-room and, essentially, help serve as the glue that keeps a squad together.

Jon Oosterhuis is one of those guys and he’ll be back wearing Winnipeg Blue Bombers colours in 2009, although nothing is official yet, after signing a new deal two weeks into the CFL’s free­agency period. Oh, and get this: The likable 31-year­old defensive lineman, backup O-line­man, occasional tight end, reserve long-snapper and solid special-teams contributor will be re-creating himself this season as a fullback.

Yes, a fullback.

“Now don’t go starting with this ‘New Jon’ stuff, OK?” Oosterhuis said Wed­nesday. “I’ve heard players come out and say that before, and… that ain’t hap­pening here. But I am really looking for­ward to it. It’s a good opportunity for me and it could be a lot of fun. We had been talking on and off for the last month or so (about the switch), and it just seemed like my best fit this year — losing some weight and coming in as a fullback.

“The more you can do helps you. And the more willing you are to do and try dif­ferent things, the more it can help you.”

Oosterhuis has been suiting up with a playing weight of around 275 pounds in the past seven years as a Bomber and bulked up to 280 a year ago as the club’s seventh O-lineman. His plan now is to report to training camp in the 250 range with the help of therapist Al Cou­ture, and then volunteer for more spe­cial- teams assignments.

“I enjoy playing all the special teams and I did play linebacker in college at a lighter weight,” said Oosterhuis, who lives in Winnipeg year-round and works snow removal at the airport in the off­season. “So… 30 pounds, you can def­initely feel it in your legs. I’ve always struggled to keep my weight on, which is the opposite problem of most people.”

Worth noting here as Oosterhuis makes the switch from defence to of­fence: He’s no Milt Stegall, but he does have two career touchdowns while lining up as an end in goal-line situa­tions. His next transformation, perhaps: from defence to fullback to wideout?

“I’ve played a lot of tight end here, but I don’t think anybody wants to see me at the wide receiver position,” Oosterhuis said with a chuckle. “Although the de­fensive backs would probably be happy to see me out there.”

❚ QB GONZO: And it’s not the guy — Kevin Glenn — many would have pre­dicted. The Bombers cut Timmy Chang on Wednesday, but Glenn’s status re­mains unchanged, meaning he’ll likely remain on the roster through the week­end — and pick up a hefty roster bonus of $50,000 due on Sunday — while ef­forts continue to trade the quarterback continue in advance of the opening of training camp in June.

❚ BYE-BYE RONNIE: The Bombers have apparently lost the services of their new offensive-line coach, Ronnie Vinklarek, who has taken a job with the Rice University Owls. Vinklarek spent nine years as a high school coach in Texas and also worked with SMU and Houston. He was to replace Bob Wylie, who left the Bombers to join the staff of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca