Bombers add new O-lineman to roster

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This article was published 06/09/2013 (4464 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FORMER NFLer Aaron Rouse wasn’t the only fresh face at Bombers practice on Thursday.

The Blue Bombers introduced new offensive lineman Colt Schulte, too. Only 23, Schulte returned home to work in his family’s property management business after graduating from Missouri Western earlier this year, but always hoped to get a shot at pro football.

So when Bombers brass called him “out of the blue” a couple of weeks ago, Schulte jumped at the chance. “I’m just trying to soak it all in and do the best I can,” the 6-6, 296-pound tackle said, adding that his first reps in Blue and Gold went well.

“I’m just knocking some of the rust off, and some of the nerves, and I got pretty comfortable towards the end of practice.”

— — —

After last week’s tilt, Bombers head coach Tim Burke didn’t detect any glaring Achilles heel in Saskatchewan’s big green juggernaut.

The Riders are the most “solid” team in the league, he said, along with Calgary; pivot Darian Durant and a “superior” offensive line help.

“Defensively, they’re pretty good all across the board,” he added. “They’re a team that I don’t know if you’d say ‘they’ve got this great player.’ They’re just all good CFL football players.”

— — —

So, if Burke had to name an MVP right now, who would he pick? “Hmmm,” Burke pondered. “That’s a hard one.”

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Well, it would be when a team is 1-8, but there are a few members on the squad the coach thinks have been earning their keep.

Slotback Cory Watson has played well, Burke said. So have defensive end Alex Hall and nickelback Desia Dunn.

— — —

Don’t expect many personnel changes for Sunday’s game. One offensive line tweak: Coaches have been working Paul Swiston at tackle and Shannon Boatman at guard, and like what they see. Other than that, expect business as usual on the depth chart.

melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca

Melissa Martin
Reporter-at-large

Melissa Martin reports and opines for the Winnipeg Free Press.

Every piece of reporting Melissa produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.