Feel the draft?

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/05/2010 (5946 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

GATHER round the newspaper, Winnipeg Blue Bomber fans, because we begin today with a juicy debate that will lead to a discussion about the franchise’s handiwork in the Canadian draft.

First, play along for a moment. If we were to ask you to rattle off the top five Canadian players in Bomber history, who would make your list?

For the purpose of this little exercise, my fab five would include, in no particular order: Chris Walby, Joe Poplawski, Doug Brown, Bob Cameron and Gerry James, all of whom have one thing in common — they weren’t actually drafted by the Bombers.

James came aboard before the draft was officially implemented in 1956. Cameron and Joe Pop were originally Edmonton property. Walby was chosen by Montreal and Brown by Calgary before they became famous in Bomber colours. Four of them are already in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Brown, still rag-dolling opposition offensive linemen in the trenches, is a slam dunk for the shrine as well.

Goofy, huh?

We bring this up today because another four Bomber prospects will be added today during the CFL Canadian draft. Although the Joe Mack-Paul LaPolice regime has vowed to adhere to the old CFL adage that "Canadians are gold, Americans silver," the Bombers’ iffy draft history reveals that this is an area in which the organization, by and large, has failed miserably over the years.

Fact is, it’s been more crapshoot than exact science.

 

AN INGLORIOUS HISTORY

As the Bombers prepare to pick in today’s affair (first two rounds are on TSN, beginning at 11 a.m.), we thought we’d throw out some other fodder. Please, debate among yourselves…

FIRST-ROUND PICKS = SUCCESS? THINK AGAIN

A LOOK AT THE LAST 10 BOMBER FIRST-ROUND DRAFT PICKS:

 

"Ø 2008 (6th overall): Brendon LaBatte, OL: Current and future anchor of the O-line.

 

"Ø 2000 (2nd): Daaron McField, DL (2000-01): Bust. Traded in his second season and never started.

 

"Ø 1996 (4th): Andrew Henry, DB (1996-97): Bit player.

 

"Ø 1995 (6th): Sean Graham, SB (1995-97): Gifted, but battled injuries.

 

"Ø 1994 (4th): Ryan Carey, DB (1994-95): Solid special teams player.

 

"Ø 1993 (5th): Alan Wetmore, LB (1993-95): Ditto.

 

"Ø 1989 (8th): John O’Brien, LB: Did not play a game for the Bombers.

 

"Ø 1988 (3rd): Dan Wicklum, LB: Played one season with Bombers before being scooped up by Calgary.

"Ø 1987 (6th): Andrew McConnell, DL: DNP

 

"Ø 1986 (7th): Brian Bellway, DL: DNP

 

BLUE’S BEST FIRST-ROUNDERS

(Not including the territorial exemptions)

 

"Ø BRENDON LABATTE: (see left).

 

"Ø BOB MOLLE, 9TH OVERALL, 1985: Silver-medal wrestling Olympian in 1984, then became a fixture on Bomber O-lines from 1986-92.

 

"Ø BOB LAROSE, 7TH OVERALL, 1970: Led the Bombers in receiving in 1973 and 1975; Bombers’ top Canadian and CFL all-star in ’71.

 

"Ø BERNIE RUOFF, 8TH OVERALL, 1975: Was the Bombers all-time leading scorer when he was traded to Hamilton.

 

"Ø RICK HOUSE, 5TH OVERALL, 1979: As gritty a receiver as they come; fourth all-time in club receiving.

 

GOLD IN THE LATER ROUNDS

THE BEST LATE-ROUND (FOURTH ROUND OR LATER)

BOMBER DRAFT PICKS:

 

"Ø TROY WESTWOOD, K, SIXTH ROUND,

48TH OVERALL, IN 1991: The team’s all-time leading scorer; twice voted the Bombers’ top Canadian.

 

"Ø MATT SHERIDAN, OL, SIXTH ROUND,

40TH OVERALL, IN 2000:

Twice named the Bombers’ top O-lineman.

 

"Ø WADE MILLER, LB, FOURTH ROUND,

37TH OVERALL, IN 1995:

Bombers’ all-time leader in special-teams tackles; team’s top Canadian in 1999.

 

"Ø MARKUS HOWELL, WR, FOURTH ROUND,

25TH OVERALL, IN 2000:

Solid, 10-year vet with Winnipeg, Ottawa and Calgary.

 

BLUE’S BEST DRAFT CLASSES

 

"Ø 1971: Peter Ribbins, Bob Kraemer, Clay McEvoy and Walt McKee all played for the team; 13 picks (including territorial exemptions that year).

 

"Ø 1982: First three picks — exemptions Milson Jones and Stan Mikawos and second-rounder Derek Faggiani — all played. Mikawos is in theclub’s hall of fame.

 

"Ø 1991: Success came after Guy Battaglini in the first round, as Steve Grant, Brendan Rogers, Troy Westwood and Jayson Dzikowicz all made an impact.

 

"Ø 1994: Only two players from this draft did not play for the Bombers — Mitch Berger, who punted for eight different NFL teams, and Scott Mitchell, now president of the Tiger-Cats. The Bombers’ haul: Ryan Carey, Ken Browne, Ed Kucky and Kevin Robson.

 

"Ø 2004: With then-assistant coach Bob Dyce leading trolling for talent, the Bombers landed Jon Ryan, Neil McKinlay, Ryan Folk and John Sullivan — all of whom played — in the third round or later.

 

"Ø 2008: All six of the team’s picks are in the CFL, five with the Bombers — LaBatte, Aaron Hargreaves, Daryl Stephenson, Don Oramasionwu and Pierre-Luc Labbe. Marc Beswick is with the Tabbies.