Today’s Bomber Report: Call him: Siddeeq Vicious

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/07/2009 (5932 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Meet Siddeeq Shabazz — the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ very own Demolition Man and one of the defence’s newest wrecking balls.

He introduced himself to Edmonton Eskimos running back Jesse Lumsden in Week 1, dropping him with a hit so hard it sent the Canadian tailback to the nine-game injured list. And in Friday night’s victory over the Calgary Stampeders he gave receiver Ken-Yon Rambo a migraine with a brutal hit early and quarterback Henry Burris a headache with a game-sealing fourth-quarter interception return for a touchdown.

Yes, football may be a violent sport, but Shabazz brings a level of viciousness to his game that causes receivers to tiptoe through the secondary and quarterbacks to get happy feet in the pocket.

"Coming out of New Mexico, he kinda strikes you like a rattlesnake," said head coach Mike Kelly when asked to describe Shabazz. "He just comes right here (holds his hand and arm up like a snake about to strike) and then BAM! he closes just like that. It’s a paralyzing thing. If you look at the tape from when he hit Jesse Lumsden, Jesse’s legs just stopped as soon as he got hit. I call those types of hits paralyzing hits and that’s what Siddeeq has the ability to do.

"He’s a good football player and he allows us to do a lot of things with our defence. We can move him around. He is a very explosive player. He gets from Point A to Point B in a hurry. And he has ‘FBI’ — football intelligence and he really understands what’s going on out there and never plays in a panic mode, always under control."

Acquired in February from the Eskimos in the trade that sent Kai Ellis west, the 28-year-old Shabazz does bring a variety of skills to the Bombers’ defence. He can play both outside linebacker positions — and can bring the wood like a middle linebacker — but is also quick enough that he is often asked to drop back and play safety.

Most of all, he looks to be the kind of multi-dimensional defender that fits well in the schemes Mark Nelson, Rick Campbell and Richard Harris have put together.

"I look at what we have on defence and I can tell you they picked the right pieces to this puzzle," said Shabazz after Friday’s win while his son Siddeeq, Jr. ran around the locker-room. "They knew what they were doing when they brought in all these guys. I really think we’re going to work well together.

"We’re going to fly to the ball, arrive there with an attitude and expect to win. We’ve got all the tools out there to put things together. You can ask us to do anything… play zone, play man-to-man, blitz and we can do it well. It helps us keep an offence on their toes because normally we’re sitting back waiting for them. With what we’re doing they never know who is going to come at them."

Shabazz already has 10 defensive tackles, two special teams tackles, a forced fumble and Friday’s interception return for the TD in his two games as a Bomber. And get this: He insists that because this defence is just starting to get acquainted, it’s only going to get better.

"We’re still the mystery team," said Shabazz with a mischievous grin. "Yes, we played well for the most part, but there were some inconsistent things (where) we’ll try to get better as the season goes on. Overall, I’m proud of the way we played. We just got to keep coming to work every week and put it together. And it will get better."

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca