A first-year pro’s time to shine

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/06/2011 (5557 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Rookie camp.

For a few players, it’s the dawn of a wonderful professional football career in Canada and should things work out here, maybe that path heads down to the NFL. For countless others, though, rookie camp represents the chance — in many cases the only chance — to make an impression that keeps the dream alive.

Being a first-year pro out of college is hard enough; being a guy who is brought into camp as a “maybe” or a “we’ll see” or even worse — the dreaded “camp fodder” is a tag no one wants — is sometimes a tough perception to overcome.

Some will move past that label this week. Some won’t.

Officially, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers open the 2011 training camp Saturday when the veterans roll in for physicals. Before then, we have rookie camp: An opportunity for young players to get a head start on the systems and get comfortable in a new environment.

And yes, in case you’re wondering, it is possible for an unheralded rookie to jump off the page during these workouts.

“Rob Bagg is a prime example of that in Saskatchewan,” Bombers coach Paul LaPolice said. “He was the best player at our rookie camp there — and he was an undrafted Canadian. He was better than the American guys we brought in.

“We’re looking for guys who listen and who have staying power. You can’t be great in rookie camp and then get hurt in main camp. You have to show up every day and make plays. When you do that, then you have an opportunity to open the coaches’ eyes.”

On that note, here’s what to look for when things get underway at the Winnipeg Indoor Soccer Complex at the University of Manitoba this afternoon:

1. Catching Canadians

Led by supplemental draft selection Kito Poblah (6-foot-2, 213 pounds, Central Michigan), fourth-overall pick Jade Etienne (6-foot-3, 180, Saskatchewan) and Liam Mahoney (6-foot-1, 207, Concordia), not many can remember the last time the Bombers have had this kind of young non-import talent assembled in the pass catching department. Should be a popular topic of conversation once they all get on the field.

2. Mr. Muamba

There hasn’t been this level of excitement regarding a non-import addition since DT Doug Brown arrived to town 11 seasons ago, and the spotlight is squarely on the dynamic 6-foot, 230-pound linebacker from St. Francis-Xavier now that he’s under contract. The Bombers are expected to shuffle linebackers in and out of the various 3-4/4-3 hybrid defensive scheme they plan to implement, so expect the first overall pick in the 2011 CFL Draft to see plenty of playing time.

3. The darkhorse

It never fails — a player arrives in Winnipeg with little fanfare and surprises the coaches. Last year it was SB Terence Jeffers-Harris. Who will it be this year? Import WR Damian Sherman (6-foot-4, 213, Southern Illinois) certainly fits the physical template of what GM Joe Mack likes in a receiver, but will he be able to take away one of the positions already assumed to be a non-import option?

4. Leading man

All four Bomber quarterbacks will be throwing this week. That includes some guy named Buck Pierce, who is coming off a lengthy rehab following the dislocated elbow in his throwing arm. Whispers are that the oft-injured pivot is in tip-top shape and throwing bullets. That’s fine, as everyone expects an air show in camp. Pierce’s evaluation won’t come until July. Joey Elliott, Alex Brink, and Justin Goltz round out the pivot group.

5. Blue school

Most of the rookies have already had a head start on the Bombers playbook, thanks to an idea from Mack. The team orchestrated an online walk-through for the rookies last week, setting up a chat-room environment that allowed players a chance to see the systems on their computers and ask the coaches questions. “These guys have already had a little head start,” LaPolice said.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca

Frosh week: rookie camp primer

Schedule: Today, 4 p.m.-5:10 p.m. (University of Manitoba); Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. (Canad Inns Stadium); Friday, 10:30 a.m.-noon (Canad Inns Stadium)

Enrolment: According to LaPolice, 41 players are expected to be on the field for rookie camp.

Tardy slips: Etienne and Poblah are the last two draft picks to be signed, but the club was optimistic about negotiations Tuesday. Bank on Etienne being at camp today and give Poblah an extra day or two.

Special credit: Besides the four Bomber QBs, veteran centre Obby Khan and long snapper Chris Cvetkovic are expected to be a part of the workouts.