Today’s Bomber Report / Daniel Falloon

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This article was published 15/07/2009 (5930 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Daniel Falloon

Thinks You Should Know…

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have implemented a more aggressive defensive system under head coach Mike Kelly, and it’s already paying off for linebacker Siddeeq Shabazz.

Shabazz was named the CFL’s defensive player of the week for Week 2, when the Bombers knocked off the defending Grey Cup champion Calgary Stampeders 42-30 on Friday night.

Shabazz picked off Stampeders quarterback Henry Burris for a 36-yard touchdown, which put Winnipeg ahead 35-18. He also recorded six tackles.

Shabazz is in his first year with Winnipeg after being acquired from Edmonton for Kai Ellis. He had one career interception and 164 career tackles during his two years with the Eskimos.

LEARNING CANADIAN

New wide receivers Lorne Sam and Craphonso Thorpe are trying to pick up the Canadian game in their first days of practice, said Bomber coach Mike Kelly.

“They’re on an extremely steep learning curve right now,” Kelly said. “They’ve never seen anything quite like this.

“They’re asking a lot of good questions and we’ll see how they progress.”

Though Sam has some knowledge of the CFL from his brother, former Toronto Argonaut P.K. Sam, knowing and understanding are two different things.

“Knowing the rules and going out there and having it happen in front of you is a little bit different feel,” Kelly said.

FEWER AT PRACTICE:

The Bombers will have fewer bodies at practice today. The team announced Tuesday that it has trimmed its practice roster by three players.

Offensive lineman Thaddeus Coleman, wide receiver Kyle Smith and linebacker Neil Ternovatsky were all released Tuesday.

Coleman had spent last season on the Eskimos’ practice roster after joining the team last Sept. 16. The Bombers acquired him for defensive back Willie Amos on June 15. Amos is on the Eskimos’ nine-game injured list with a shoulder injury.

Smith, who was hampered by a sore hamstring during training camp, appeared in one regular-season game with Calgary in 2007.

Ternovatsky, 24, a Winnipeg native, was acquired from Calgary on May 13. He made one defensive tackle with the Stampeders in 2008.

He doesn’t play the numbers game

Bomber coach Mike Kelly doesn’t like to look at numbers unless they’re on the scoreboard or in the standings. “I’ve got some stats that are associated with me probably forever, but when it comes to stats, the only stat I know is 1-1,” said Kelly. “Those kind of things are great for baseball players.” Kelly took the one-game-at-a-time approach when asked about the Bombers’ offence, which is ranked last in several major categories, particularly in the passing department.

Too hurt to practise

The Bombers’ practice Tuesday was again missing a couple of key cogs. Running back Fred Reid did not practice because he’s recovering from a sore ankle. Wide receiver Terrence Edwards was on the mend from some bumps and bruises suffered against Calgary. He was off the bench yesterday, watching drills on the field. Kelly said that both players were being given time to recover and are probable for Saturday’s game.