QB Hall discovers three less than four

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This article was published 16/06/2013 (4587 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

UPON further review — man, three downs ain’t much.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers QB Max Hall said Saturday while he knew the CFL was just three downs when he came up here, he didn’t really appreciate what a dramatically different game that creates until he played in his first one last Wednesday, a pre-season tilt against the Toronto Argonauts at Investors Group Field.

“My first action out there, I learned a lot from it. I learned three downs is very different than four downs. You can be off the field really quick, so you have to be very, very good on first down to put yourself in a position to convert,” said Hall, who had a standout college career and some starts in the NFL in 2010, but is making his CFL debut this year.

“That’s probably the biggest thing I took away from it. There’s a few throws I’d like to have back, but for the most part I was real happy with my performance and I think I’m getting better.”

Hall and fellow newcomer Chase Clement are expected to share the second half of the Bombers final pre-season game, next Thursday in Guelph versus the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Veteran Bombers backup Justin Goltz will get the entire first half to make his case to be the backup to Buck Pierce this year.

Hall says his goal for next week is to accomplish something he failed to do against Toronto.

“I want to get in the end zone so bad,” said Hall.

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Bombers defensive back Demond Washington and running back Chris Garrett both left the field during practice on Saturday and did not return.

Bombers head coach Tim Burke said Washington has an eye infection and the club was hopeful he’d see a doctor later on Saturday.

Burke said Garrett, who is continuing to recover from an achilles injury that cost him all of last season, tweaked his ankle.

Burke said neither injury is considered serious.

— — —

Burke was asked if there’s a way that he will be able to keep all three running backs — Chad Simpson, Will Ford and Chris Garrett — on his regular-season roster.

“Well, we’re sure going to try. There’s ways to do it,” said Burke. “We’ll probably add two running backs on the 42-man roster and then you could put the other one on the 46-man, so he’s getting full pay even though he’s not in the game.

“Or, if one of them was willing to be on the practice roster, which, who knows? They probably wouldn’t be.”

Got beer?

“You know how they have those water tables along the side? As long as they have a beer there for him.”

— Bombers head coach Tim Burke on what it would likely take to get his media relations director Darren Cameron to run in today’s Manitoba Marathon

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca