FYI

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/06/2010 (5640 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

— SECONDARY CONCERNS: One of the bigger question marks for the Blue Bombers comes in the secondary. Outside of starters DB Jovon Johnson and S Ian Logan, the entire group is brand new to the Blue and Gold this season. Players like Brandon Stewart, Clint Kent, LaVar Glover, and Keyuo Craver carry various CFL experience into the season, but no one seems willing to give the group a pass when it comes to how they’ll fare when the games start for real Friday. Defensive co-ordinator Kavis Reed has heard the doubt about his secondary, too. His message to start the season: Patience.

“These are young guys who understand football,” he said. “And they are guys who are going to make some mistakes. The thing about it is that we have to be patient with them as a staff and make sure they learn from their mistakes. We’re not going to expect them to be perfect early on but we are going to expect them to get progressively get better as the season progresses. One advantage those young guys have is that they don’t know names, so they’re going out there and just playing football. Sometimes having a veteran group actually hurts you than having a younger group; they know names and start respecting the player.”

Reed figures his defence will make a positive impact this way: The defensive line, which he calls “arguably the best in the league” will create a big push, forcing opposition quarterbacks into bad decisions and hurried throws. That should cut-down on the amount of cover-time downfield, taking pressure off the group as a whole.

— GOOD HABITS: Try as he might not to do this, but Paul LaPolice is finding that he’ll have to lean on DB Jovon Johnson just as much as the previous regime. The head coach already confirmed that Johnson will be returning punts for the Blue and Gold, and barring a real stand-out performance from another player it’s a good bet the 26-year-old will be back there for kickoffs, too. One more thing added to Johnson’s plate is a leadership role. “When things breakdown in the back-end, I’m going to look to you. I’m going to say ‘Jovon, what’s going on back there? Get those guys in line, get them straightened out.’ He’s taken on that role very well,” LaPolice told media members Monday.

— TICAT WATCH: Drew Edwards of the Hamilton Spectator is reporting that receiver Maurice Mann did not practice Monday and is listed as day-to-day with a wonky ankle. Tiger-Cats head coach Marcel Bellefeuille on Mann’s status for Friday: “I haven’t made a decision yet. He practised most of training camp and played in the first preseason game so he’s done enough to warrant being able to play. We’ll just have to see how he progresses.

— Adam Wazny

Back healthy

DB Brandon Stewart (groin), FB Daryl Stephenson (hamstring), WR David Ball (undisclosed), and OL Ryan Donnelly (knee) all returned to the practice field Monday. Getting Stewart back is big news for the defensive secondary. He figures to start Friday.

Lookin’ good

SB Terrence Edwards had a nice day catching the ball. Same for WR Cory Watson. On the defence, DB Alex Suber and S Ian Logan continue to be involved in meaningful ways.

Countdown

Three more sleeps before the 2010 regular season gets underway for the Blue and Gold. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the club who ended Winnipeg playoff hopes in 2009, visit Canad Inns Stadium Friday night (7 p.m., CJOB).