Blue can snooze, won’t lose

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/05/2009 (6333 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Just FYI, the CFL’s Canadian Draft begins this morning at 10. And that means, as per usual, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers football brain trust could hit the snooze button 100 times and roll into the office around 10:30 or so before even cracking open their scouting handbooks.

After dealing their first two selections in the 2009 draft the Bombers won’t pick until the third round in the proceedings, 19th overall. That means for the 11th time in the last 13 drafts the Bombers will play spectators as the top talent is gobbled up by their rivals.

But here’s where things get juicy: because two teams essentially control the first round — the Hamilton Tiger-Cats hold the first and third picks while the B.C. Lions are scheduled to select in the fourth, fifth and sixth spots — there has been much more pre-draft chatter than usual about teams attempting to trade to move into the first eight selections.

And that chatter includes the Bombers, who insist they’re talking with every team.

“If it’s something that makes sense we’re willing to listen to just about any type of scenario as long as it has value to the club in the long run,” said head coach Mike Kelly. “If something was offered to us that was significant — meaning a first-round pick — we’ll listen.

“We’re trying to be prepared and organized so that we don’t find ourselves in a panic mode if someone does call with an offer we didn’t see coming. That’s what this whole week has been about: tossing those types of scenarios around with (director of player personnel) John (Murphy) and all the coaches.”

That said, Kelly said the club is also content to sit at No. 19 and wait if a trade can’t be completed. This year’s draft has its usual top talent — Alberta O-lineman Simeon Rottier is rated first overall, followed by Bishop’s running back Jamall Lee (who signed this week with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers) and Laval D-lineman Etienne Legare — but the pool isn’t considered packed with star power.

“That’s what you have to weigh when considering a trade,” said Kelly. “The way this draft pick looks, after picks four or five is the kid that gets selected at seven or eight that drastically different than the 19th or 20th pick? I’m not sure that’s the case this year. That’s why you never know with this process: Somebody we may have ranked 26th may go sixth. That always happens.”

The Bombers also believe the recent Dan Goodspeed trade helps offset the decisions to trade their first-rounder (to the Ticats for Zeke Moreno) and second-rounder (to Edmonton for Stefan LeFors). That deal netted Winnipeg two young Canadians: massive offensive lineman Jean-Francois Morin-Roberge (who spent last year on Saskatchewan’s practice roster) and former University of Manitoba defensive back Brady Browne (who was with B.C. and was rated by the Bombers among the top three players at his position a year ago).

“In some regards we think we’ve already had our first- and second-round draft picks with some of these young Canadians we’ve picked up,” said Kelly. “I talked to Brady yesterday. He’s excited about being home. He’s got a year under his belt of being in a pro atmosphere… to me, that’s our first- or second-round draft pick there because when he comes in he’s not all wide-eyed.

“You’re always thinking offensive linemen when you head into our draft. I just don’t think you can stockpile enough good Canadian offensive linemen. That’s on our mind, but if there is a superior athlete who can come in immediately and help us on special teams sooner than an offensive lineman can, then you have to lean toward taking the athlete.”

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

I am Canadian

A look at Winnipeg’s current Canadian talent and the top college prospects at each position heading into the Canadian Draft, courtesy Bombers’ draft co-ordinator Bob Dyce:

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

Bomber O-linemen: Brendon LaBatte, Obby Khan, Matt O’Meara, Steve Morley, Luke Fritz, Jean-Francois Morin-Roberge, Bobby Singh, Ryan Donnelly, Kyle Sleightholm.

Top prospects: Simeon Rottier (Alberta), ranked No. 1 overall by the CFL scouting bureau; Matt Morencie (Windsor); Steve Myddleton (St. Francis-Xavier).

Outlook: The Bombers already have prospect-types in Morin-Roberge and Sleightholm, but Canadian O-line depth is a must.

RECEIVERS

Bomber receivers: Arjei Franklin, Aaron Hargreaves, Brock Ralph.

Top prospects: Spencer Armstrong (Air Force), Matt Carter (Acadia), Scott McHenry (Saskatchewan).

Outlook: The Bombers are set with Franklin and Ralph pushing to start and are still very high on Hargreaves.

RUNNING BACKS/FULLBACKS

Bomber running backs: Daryl Stephenson, Jon Oosterhuis (converted from D-line).

Top prospects: Jamal Lee (Bishop’s; signed with NFL’s Carolina Panthers this week); Eric Lee (Weber State); Benoit Boulanger (Sherbrooke).

Outlook: Winnipeg isn’t deep here, especially with Oosterhuis being converted from defence and Stephenson a tailback.

QUARTERBACKS

Bomber vets: none

Top prospects: Caleb Clark (Western Michigan).

Outlook: The Bombers won’t draft a Canadian QB.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Bomber D-linemen: Doug Brown, Riall Johnson, Shawn Mayne, Don Oramasionwu

Top prospects: Etienne Legare (Laval), Jonathan Pierre-Etienne (Montreal), Dee Sterling (Queen’s).

Outlook: Brown (34) and Johnson (31) still have some football left, but the Bombers may want another prospect to go along with Mayne and Oramasionwu.

LINEBACKERS

Bomber LBs: Neil McKinlay, Pierre-Luc Labbe, Anthony Maggiacomo.

Top prospects: Tang Bacheyie (Kansas), Tristan Black (Wayne State); Thaine Carter (Queen’s).

Outlook: Labbe was a steal last year as the second-last player drafted. The Bombers won’t start a Canadian at linebacker, so they’re looking for athletic types who can be productive on the kick coverage/return units.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Bomber DBs: Ian Logan, Shawn Gallant, Marc Beswick, Brady Browne, Steven Holness, Nick Kordic.

Top prospects: Eric Fraser (Central Michigan), Ryan Hinds (New Hampshire), Tamon George (Regina).

Outlook: The Bombers are young here with Logan, Beswick, Browne, Holness and Kordic, but may go after more depth.

KICKERS/SPECIALISTS

Bomber vets: Long-snapper Chris Cvetkovic.

Top prospects: Perri Scarcelli (Regina), Aaron Ifield (Calgary).

Outlook: The Bombers still like Alexis Serna as a placekicker, but will continue to try and unearth a Canadian, possibly veteran Dan Giancola. Scarcelli hit 60.9 per cent of his field goals and had a 35-yard punting average for the Rams last year; Ifield was 65 and 38.4.

— Ed Tait