Still lots of talent at camp; indicates strong depth factor

By: Adam Wazny Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Tuesday, Jun. 21, 2011

IN case you've lost count, the Bombers still have 71 players on the training camp roster.

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IN case you've lost count, the Bombers still have 71 players on the training camp roster.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/06/2011 (5534 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

IN case you’ve lost count, the Bombers still have 71 players on the training camp roster.

That includes the non-counters; those non-imports drafted and signed this year. In a related story, CFL clubs are required to cut down their active rosters to 46 players by 2 p.m. Saturday.

There are still a lot of bodies in camp these days, suggesting the talent the club has brought in to challenge the incumbents is showing quite well — which in turn has made the decision to trim the roster that much more difficult.

TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Archives
Bomber veteran Terrence Edwards knows there are guys angling for his job at camp. — TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Archives Bomber veteran Terrence Edwards knows there are guys angling for his job at camp.

The deep depth chart has not been lost on some of the veterans, either.

“I think it’s a really deep camp — (GM) Joe Mack and coach LaPolice have brought in a lot of guys to compete at every position,” SB Terrence Edwards said after practice Monday. “There’s a competition at my position. (Rookie) Perry Floyd plays behind me and he went out and had a great game in Montreal.

“That’s the way you make a better team — add more talent to the mix. The coaches are going to have to make some tough decisions.”

Edwards, whose job security is high given the 1,372 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns he turned in a year ago, says this camp is a lot different than the first go-around under the Mack/LaPolice watch.

“Just in a sense that everyone here is a year older and we’re a lot more familiar with the systems,” he said. “Some of those close games we lost last year — we now know what to expect from coach Lapo, we now know what to expect from some players — so we should win some of those this season.

“It’s about maturity. We have a year under our belt and we should take a step forward because of it.”

BIG BOATMAN: The Toronto Argonauts should have import DT Claude Wroten in the lineup when they visit Canad Inns Stadium Thursday evening.

Wroten, a third-round draft pick by St. Louis in the 2006 NFL draft, has seen numerous suspensions and legal run-ins since suiting up for the Rams in the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

The 6-foot-2, 295-pound lineman played 26 games with St. Louis. He joined the Argos camp Saturday.

Toronto has an open spot on their defensive line, thanks to the departures of Adriano Belli (retirement) and Eric Taylor (free agency).

BOMBER NOTES: Defensive back Jonathan Hefney had the crunch of the day when he laid out WR Alex Watson with a big open-field hit. Watson got right back up, but the smack had the defence buzzing… Injured WR/KR Tim Brown was watching camp from the sidelines Monday. The club said the speedy returner had ‘retired’ earlier this month. His appearance suggests he’s still in Winnipeg’s plans… Head coach Paul LaPolice said QB Buck Pierce gets the start Thursday. Bank on Pierce playing into the second quarter before calling it a night.

— Wazny