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By: Adam Wazny Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Friday, Sep. 30, 2011

HE'S THE NEW GUY Chris Garrett: Calm and confident.

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HE'S THE NEW GUY Chris Garrett: Calm and confident.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/09/2011 (5098 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HE’S THE NEW GUY

Chris Garrett: Calm and confident.

That’s the first impression Winnipeg’s new starting running back gives off. Nothing seems to bother him, no concern with external forces or anything resembling a possible problem.

Even with the biggest moment of his pro career in front of him — tonight’s contest against the Montreal Alouettes is a chance to make a lasting impression on the coaching staff and an opportunity to claim the starting job for the rest of the year — his response is distinctively cool.

“The whole starting thing; it’s nothing too big, it’s nothing too small,” he said Thursday. “I’m playing, that’s it. At the end of the day, all that outside pressure doesn’t matter. I just have to play like I can.”

The 24-year-old replaces Fred Reid and Carl Volny in the Winnipeg backfield, as both tailbacks went down with ACL injuries in a loss against Toronto last weekend. Garrett is the only true running back the Bombers will have on the roster; fullback James Green will get work if Garrett has to come out.

Winnipeg is hoping to transition Garrett into the attack without issue, but the offensive line is an obvious area where adjustments will be required. Reid knew exactly what each member of the line could provide in terms of a block as he searched for an opening, and he was able to maximize his yardage based on that prior knowledge.

Garrett doesn’t have that understanding yet, and though he’s watched a lot of film this week to get up to speed in this regard, video study is no substitute for game speed.

“That’s something Garrett has to learn as the game goes,” Bombers centre Obby Khan said. “That just means that we have to make the holes bigger for Garrett. (He’s) a real north-south runner, so he’s going to hit those holes hard. Whether he makes the right read or the wrong read, I anticipate plus yards on every play.”

ROSTER WATCH

For the Bombers: QB Buck Pierce (ribs); DT Doug Brown (shoulder); RB Fred Reid (knee); RB Carl Volny (knee); DT Rodney Fritz (hamstring); LB Dustin Doe (undisclosed); and DB Johnny Sears (undisclosed) are off the 46-man roster. KR Tim Brown; SB Ricky Clarke; RB Chris Garrett; DT Deji Oduwole; QB Brandon Summers; DT Bryant Turner; and DT Jason Vega have been added. On the Alouettes side, DB Dwight Anderson and S Marc-Olivier Brouillette are the notables not expected to play.

BISHOP IN TOWN

Winnipeg added QB Michael Bishop to the practice roster Thursday. Where he’ll fit in is yet to be determined, though. Right now, the club has six healthy (or somewhat healthy, in the case of Pierce) pivots in the system.

STARTING NUMBERS

Montreal QB Anthony Calvillo has thrown for 71,402 more yards than Winnipeg starter Alex Brink (387). Calvillo needs 592 yards to pass Damon Allen as the CFL’s all-time passing yardage leader.

EXTRA POINTS

Bombers RB Fred Reid’s starting streak (49 games) comes to an end tonight… Winnipeg has only scored 30-plus points three times this season… Going back to 2007, the Bombers are 3-3 against the Alouettes at Canad Inns Stadium.

— Wazny