Big Blue bolster offensive line

Bring in American Boatman

By: Adam Wazny Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Monday, Jun. 18, 2012

It's not as bad as the multiplying mosquito population in the rain-soaked Southern Manitoba region, but the injury bug is starting to draw similar concern around the Blue Bombers.

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It's not as bad as the multiplying mosquito population in the rain-soaked Southern Manitoba region, but the injury bug is starting to draw similar concern around the Blue Bombers.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/06/2012 (5190 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s not as bad as the multiplying mosquito population in the rain-soaked Southern Manitoba region, but the injury bug is starting to draw similar concern around the Blue Bombers.

Quietly, the offensive line has been hardest hit.

Undisclosed injuries to starting import tackles Glenn January and Andre Douglas last week hardly registers as an infestation, but the Bombers have been forced to make some alternate arrangements at the spot.

Shannon Boatman lines up at practice Sunday.

Shannon Boatman, who started five games with the Toronto Argonauts in 2010, was introduced to the Winnipeg media Sunday, the lone addition to the roster on a day that saw the club trim the Bomber enrollment by four players.

“It (gives) us the opportunity to evaluate another American tackle,” head coach Paul LaPolice said after practice at Canad Inns Stadium. “We knew he had some experience so we brought him in (Thursday). We’ll give him a look and see how he can perform with a short week.”

Winnipeg remains set on playing two imports on the O-line and has been searching for an experienced tackle this month. The team lost out on the Chris Patrick raffle last week, watching the Saskatchewan Roughriders strike a deal with the Argos to acquire the lineman for a conditional pick in the 2014 draft.

So the Bombers were looking for another import lineman. Does that speak to the organization’s lack of confidence in the depth behind January or Douglas, or simply the uncertain timetables regarding their respective injuries?

No one around the club would directly address either query Sunday, but LaPolice did offer a couple of thoughts on the matter: Both January and Douglas won’t play in the pre-season game against Hamilton Wednesday, he said, and he wasn’t willing to confirm their statuses for the season opener in Vancouver June 29.

“Hopefully Glenn will be back,” LaPolice said. “Douglas is doing well but whether he’s back for the first game we’re not sure.”

In any event, the Bombers have Boatman docked and ready to go. The 27-year-old out of Florida State joins rookie Jordan Taormina as the only two healthy import tackles in camp, and he’s raring to go. Waiting by the phone between substitute teaching gigs at Amelia Elementary School in Beaumont, Texas. (Grade 4 and 5), Boatman said there were times in front of the class that helped keep the football dream alive.

“I was ready. Those kids tested me a little bit, made me want to put on the pads, but I’m just glad I’m out here (now),” he said. “I like my situation (here).”

Boatman, who stands at 6-foot-6, says he weighs 320 pounds, but judging by the shadow he was casting Sunday, estimates closer to 340 pounds were common among onlookers (he’s listed at 342-pounds).

“The heaviest I’ve ever been was 360, and that was in high school,” he said. “Oh man, I was eating honey buns and anything I could think of. I kind of got away from that diet.”

Anytime a new player arrives at training camp with less than a week to go, it suggests the team isn’t quite happy with what they have at the position. Consider the tackles the club had in the starting lineup against the Alouettes Thursday: Taormina, along with rookie non-import Paul Swiston. They drew the bulk of the work in Montreal and while they managed the responsibility with passing grades, the Bombers were obviously looking for a little more comfort in those areas.

That’s why Boatman likes his situation here. He’s fully aware of the Bombers’ plan to start two Americans at the ends of the offensive line this summer, and feels he can grab a roster spot in this tiny training camp window. After Sunday and today’s workout, all that’s left to impress coaches is the pre-season game against the Tiger-Cats.

“This could be my one and only chance to do what I need to do,” he said.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @wazoowazny