Running back makes Marc in workouts

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This article was published 05/06/2010 (5662 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

RUNNING BACK Emmanuel Marc feels he has staying power. How he communicates this to the watchful eyes of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers coaching staff remains to be seen.

Rookie camp has come and gone, and with its departure, a new challenge of sustainability is front and centre for the young hopefuls trying to stick with the CFL club. Veterans report for medicals this morning and come Sunday, the rookies who have earned an extended look line up beside (and against) the Bomber incumbents in various spots around the field.

No one makes the team out of rookie camp, so Marc is anxious to get going.

"Don’t make a play yesterday, don’t make one tomorrow — make it right now," he said after Friday’s workout at Canad Inns Stadium. "And keep making a play every chance you get. That’s how you’ll stay here."

Marc, who attended the B.C. Lions training camp in 2009, comes looking for work in Winnipeg at an interesting time.

A new coaching regime with different ideas of what they want levels the playing field for the rookies to a certain extent, giving them their best chance to crack the Bombers roster. But even with loyalties to past talent no longer in effect, Marc, 27, knows it will still take an extraordinary effort to unseat either Fred Reid or Yvenson Bernard at the feature running back spot.

He’s not looking to make his mark that way, though.

On Thursday night, head coach Paul LaPolice told the rookies to basically ignore the depth chart at their specific position and throw out their import (or non-import) status. The message: The best players make the team, and the Canadian ratio will sort itself out in other areas of the roster.

"I’m aware who’s already here," said Marc, listed at 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds. "So I know what’s going on. But I look at it this way: I don’t want to hurt the core of this team — I want to help build this. When we start working with the vets, I don’t want to be a weak link."

There’s precedent to adding, not replacing, members of the Bombers backfield. Back in 2001, Winnipeg opened training camp with two solid import rushers — Troy Mills and Eric Blount. A smallish, little known guy named Charles Roberts was looking for work and impressed the coaches so much with his quickness, the club had no other option but to keep him and head into the season with three import backs.

"The players dictated the ratio by their play," recalled LaPolice.

Getting a true read on the running backs through rookie camp is tricky (there was no line play or pursuit of the ball in the workouts), but it was easy to detect Marc’s speed and his ability to separate himself from linebackers. His high-energy play was consistent, a trait he believes only helps his chances to stay in Winnipeg for another week — and the week after that.

"This is a terrific opportunity for me," the grinning New York native added. "Hopefully, my first impression has forced the coaches to take another look. A long look."

BLUE NOTES: The club released wide receiver D.J. Hall prior to Friday’s workout and brought in two new imports: Kick returner Willie Foster and defensive lineman Moton Hopkins have been added to the training camp roster… LaPolice figures to make four or five cuts before main camp hits the field Sunday morning.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca

bomber training camp preview D4