Here’s half-a-dozen doozies

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This article was published 02/06/2012 (5188 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Six things to watch for as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers prepare to open their main training camp on Sunday:

The evolution of the offensive line

With Brendon LaBatte and Obby Khan gone, Bombers management is betting that a stable of talented youngsters — like Chris Greaves, Chris Kowalczuk, Brendan Dunn, Paul Swiston — can make up for the 11 years of CFL experience lost with their departures. On top of that, there’s the matter of filling the centre position. Kowalczuk and Steve Morley will slug it out there. Competition for spots — starting and backups — should be fierce.

Who’s catching on?

There is a lot of hype about newcomers Chris Matthews and Doug Pierce in rookie camp, buzz based on their size and how it reminds everyone of Greg Carr. Both are talents, no question, but let’s wait and see what the pair can do when the big boys take the field. Other rookies have shown flashes, too. Another interesting battle is for the Canadian backup spot. Former first-round draft pick Jade Etienne has the inside track, one supposes. He needs to take a big step this year.

Linebacker: the undercard

The main event has sophomore Henoc Muamba against veteran Pierre-Luc Labbe for the middle linebacker spot. The weak-side, though, holds some interest with Dustin Doe’s star rising in the eyes of the Bombers. It says here third-year incumbent Marcellus Bowman’s standing remains solid, but having a good camp wouldn’t hurt his position. On the other side, Clint Kent looks to be secure.

Backfield in motion?

Chris Garrett comes in as the starting running back, with Chad Simpson and Bloi-Dei Dorzon challenging for his position. Simpson is an interesting case — a former NFLer with tremendous pop at the line. If the club wanted to put pressure on Garrett before the season, Simpson will do just that. An interesting darkhorse story emerging is non-import Anthony Woodson. The coaches love the complete game he brings and will find a spot for him on the roster.

Alive and kicking

After losing his job last season, Canadian punter Mike Renaud’s second chance starts Sunday. He’ll compete for the punting duties with import Eric Wilbur, who found time with Hamilton before signing in Winnipeg. The Bombers already have ratio issues coming into camp so one suspects Wilbur, who can bomb it with his leg, will have to drastically out-boot Renaud to stick around. Justin Palardy remains the placekicker.

Return of the returner question

Forecasting the Big Blue’s latest answer to the kick/punt returner position is an annual event of Bombers camp. This year, the list of hopefuls includes Simpson, receivers Jeremy Blount and Issac Anderson and defensive back Demond Washington. Can anyone supplant Jovon Johnson and Clarence Denmark? Correction: Can anyone rise up and claim those jobs long term — and not just for a couple games? Call this the Perry Floyd watch.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca

 

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS 2012 TRAINING CAMP ROSTER

 

Quarterbacks (5)

4 Buck Pierce Import 6.01 210 1981-11-15 New Mexico St

7Alex Brink Import 6.03 216 1985-06-02 Washington St

14 Joey Elliott Import 6.03 216 1986-08-02 Purdue

16 K Williams Non-Imp6.01 215 1987-1-1 Manitoba

18 Justin Goltz Import 6.05 215 1987-08-23 Occidental

 

Running backs (5)

5 Chad Simpson Import 5.09 216 1985-08-22 Morgan State

19 Chris Garrett Import 5.08 185 1987-02-11 Ohio

24 Carl Volny Non-Imp 5.10 195 1987-12-25 Central Michigan

26 Bloi-Dei Dorzon Import 5.09 205 1984-11-23 Jackson State

29 A Woodson Non-Imp 6.00 210 1988-01-07 Calgary

 

Fullbacks (2)

39 M-P Pontbriand Non-Imp6.02 227 1983-03-04 Laval

44 Jordan Matechuk Non-Imp 5.10 254 1985-09-22 Victoria Rebels

 

Receivers (14)

1 Kito Poblah Non-Imp 6.02 213 1987-09-18 Cent. Michigan

12 Kurt Adams Import 6.04 197 1987-07-10 Harding

13 Chris Matthews Import 6.05 218 1989-10-06 Kentucky

70 Isaac Anderson Import 5.10 176 1988-11-26 Wisconsin

71 Victor JamesImport 6.01 204 1987-05-23 New Mexico

80 Cassidy Doneff Non-Imp6.00 183 1986-07-14 Washburn

81 Cory Watson Non-Imp 6.02 208 1984-03-27 Concordia

82 Terrence EdwardsImport 6.01 179 1979-04-20 Georgia

83 Doug Pierce Import 6.05 190 1987-06-14 Friends

84 Paul Hubbard Import6.02 215 1985-06-12 Wisconsin

86 Jeremy Blount Import5.09 157 1988-11-12 South Dakota

87 Rory Kohlert Non-Imp 6.02 182 1988-01-07 Saskatchewan

88 Jade Etienne Non-Imp 6.03 184 1989-10-11 Saskatchewan

89 Clarence Denmark Import 5.11 187 1985-09-29 Arkansas

-Monticello

 

Offensive line (12)

53 Samuel Nemis Non-Imp 6.03 310 1983-01-10 Manitoba

55 Paul Swiston Non-Imp 6.09 342 1989-05-26 Calgary

58 Tyson Pencer Non-Imp 6.08 330 1989-02-10 Washington St

59 Andre Douglas Import 6.04 318 1986-09-14 Temple

61 Brendan Dunn Non-Imp 6.07 280 1988-08-21 Western Ontario

62 Steve Morley Non-Imp 6.07 306 1981-08-18 Saint Mary’s

64 Chris Greaves Non-Imp 6.06 297 1987-01-08 Western

65 J-S Laberge Non-Imp 6.04 295 1987-05-09 Sherbrooke

66 Jordan TaorminaImport 6.07 330 1988-09-11 Oklahoma State

67 Chris Kowalczuk Non-Imp 6.06 298 1985-01-17 Toronto

68 Justin Sorensen Non-Imp6.07 316 1986-06-08 South Carolina

69 Glenn January Import 6.06 2971983-05-25Texas Tech

 

Defensive line (13)

40 Brandon Akpunku Import 6.01 240 1990-03-20 North Texas

45 Rodney Fritz Import 6.01 260 1987-05-08 Tennessee St

54 Kenny Mainor Import 6.04 240 1985-10-30 Troy

56 Fernand Kashama Non-Imp 6.03 221 1985-02-26 W. Michigan

90 Dorian SmithImport 6.03 267 1985-08-19 Oregon St

91 Brandon Collier Import 6.01 285 1985-09-27 Massachusetts

92 Bryant Turner Import 6.02 260 1987-11-25 Alabama

at Birmingham

93 Rob Jubenville Non-Imp 6.02 255 1989-11-30 Saint-Mary’s

94 Ryan Lucas Non-Imp 6.05 290 1984-10-23 W. Washington

95 Jake ThomasNon-Imp 6.02 270 1990-12-16 Acadia

96 Alex Hall Import 6.05 250 1985-08-17 St. Augustine’s

98 Jason Vega Import 6.03 255 1987-05-30 Northeastern

99 Andre Caroll Import 6.02 300 1988-09-06 Delaware State

 

Linebackers (8)

3Dustin Doe Import 6.00 228 1987-09-10 Florida

10Henoc Muamba Non-Imp 6.00 230 1989-02-23 St. Francis

Xavier

27Terrell Parker Import 5.11 220 1987-10-22 Glenville St

38M. Bowman Import 6.03 231 1986-10-12 Boston College

41Clint Kent Import 5.10 192 1983-10-14 James Madison

42Rene Stephan Non-Imp 6.01 225 1988-05-07 Harding

47Pierre-Luc Labbé Non-Imp 6.02 224 1984-05-14 Sherbrooke

51 Javon McKinnon Import 6.00 223 1988-02-22 Arkansas State

 

Defensive backs (14)

0 Johnny Sears Import 6.00 184 1987-03-16 Eastern Michigan

2 Jovon Johnson Import 5.09 182 1983-11-02 Iowa

8 Brandon Stewart Import 6.01193 1986-05-16 Eastern

Arizona J.C.

15 David Pender Import 6.00 172 1987-12-04 Purdue

20 Deon Beasley Import 5.10 180 1987-09-19 Texas

21Alex Suber Import 5.07 174 1986-12-01 Middle Tenn. St

22 Darrell Pasco Import 6.00 170 1987-05-15 Georgia

Southern

23 Jonathan Hefney Import 5.09 190 1985-02-27 Tennessee

25 Brady Browne Non-Imp 5.10 207 1983-04-24 Manitoba

30 Johnny Aprile Non-Imp 6.02 208 1989-06-12 Queen’s

31Ian Logan Non-Imp 5.09 196 1982-08-19 Wilfrid Laurier

33 Dan West Non-Imp 6.01 195 1986-09-03 Bishop’s

34Jeremy McGee Import 5.10 185 1988-07-23 Ole Miss

37D. Washington Import 5.09 182 1987-09-30 Auburn

 

Kickers (3)

9 Mike Renaud Non-Imp 6.02 217 1983-05-25 Concordia

17 Justin Palardy Non-Imp 5.11 200 1988-05-24 Saint Mary’s

35 Eric Wilbur Import 6.02 200 1984-12-12 Florida

 

Long snapper (1)

50 Chris Cvetkovic Non-Imp 6.01 230 1977-06-28 Concordia