Logan layoff happily over

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/07/2010 (5548 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ian Logan was back on the Canad Inns Stadium turf Tuesday, looking every bit like the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ starting safety again.

The 27-year-old non-import, a solid anchor in the Blue and Gold secondary the past few years, took all of the starting defensive reps at practice and should be in the lineup when the Bombers take on the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium Saturday.

"I’m happy to be 100 per cent coming back and… uh, things are good right now," Logan said.

The hesitation in his voice probably has to do with the delay his 2010 season has seen to this point. The Waterloo native has had a miserable start to his personal football calendar, first arriving at training camp with a neck injury (from a pre-camp workout) and having to wait through that. After seeing action in the season opener, the 5-9, 196-pound Logan went down early in the Week 2 game against Toronto with a hamstring problem.

As Logan quickly points out, though, this sluggish personal start is a bit of a new experience for him. Despite his reputation as a guy who likes to stick his beak in the middle of the action, he’s only missed a handful of games in four previous years with the Bombers — including just two in the past two campaigns.

"It’s part of the game," Logan conceded. "Injuries are going to happen. I think I’ve been very fortunate over my career to not have been hurt too often. I’ve only missed two games last year; I didn’t miss any before that. This is a bit of anomaly, I feel, but it’s nothing I can’t overcome.

"The training staff is not going to put out a player who isn’t capable of playing," he added. "You don’t want to mess with a hamstring."

While Logan has the luxury of knowing his starting spot will fall back to him, defensive back Alex Suber finds himself in a different situation.

Clint Kent has filled his halfback spot admirably the last few games, and while it is expected Suber will claim his position back against the Stamps, a sense of urgency is starting to creep into his Bomber existence.

CFL teams aren’t usually interested in nursing guys back to health only to watch them go on the injured list again, so the Bombers would like to see Suber stay off the field for a prolonged spell here. That pressure to stay healthy is starting to churn for the 23-year-old.

"You want to prove to the fans and the coaches that you can play, and that you’re not just going to be an injury bug," said Suber, who hurt his hamstring in the second quarter of the first game against Hamilton.

"The coach is going to put the people in who they think is going to make the plays and do the best."

In any event, the injuries to Logan and Suber have provided a crash course for those on the roster in backup roles. Not only has Kent has been solid, the same can be said for backup safety Brady Browne (who replaced Logan). Suddenly, an area of real concern for the Bombers heading into the season has turned into a wealth of options for the coaching staff.

Get injured, and you may not have a chance to claim your spot in the secondary back.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Thursdays

Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.

Sign up for Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

"It’s a good thing we’ve had a couple guys get opportunities to play," head coach Paul LaPolice said. "We have had a lot of injuries to start the season, but that’s part of the game. That’s what our players have to understand: Doesn’t matter (where you are on the depth chart), if you’re here you’re probably going to play sooner or later. We have to fight through those things.

"The guys who have played have done a very good job."

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca