Rookie Chungh improving steadily in starter’s role

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This article was published 06/08/2015 (4041 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A third of the way into the CFL season and perhaps the most pleasant surprise for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers has come on their offensive line.

Among the listed names of seasoned stalwarts such as Stanley Bryant and Dominic Picard– both Grey Cup champs — reads Sukh Chungh, the second-overall pick in the 2015 CFL Draft and a staple in the starting lineup of hogs come game day.

A year ago, Chungh would’ve just been getting back into the swing of things at the University of Calgary. This week he’s preparing for his seventh professional game and another chance to learn some tricks of the trade and work on perfecting his craft.

“Every game is eye-opening, something new happens all of the time,” Chungh said. “There’s always a learning process. If something new happens and I don’t pick it up right, I got to go back to the film room and make it right. The competition is there every game.

“It helps a ton when you have guys in the locker- room like Dom, Patrick (Neufeld), Chris Greaves, Stanley Bryant and Jace Daniels. They’re all approachable any time I have a question. The support staff here is great and they’ve told me to never be afraid to ask questions.”

And questions he has had.

“It’s never an individual thing,” he said.

“Every week I see something exotic and new and there might be a rule-breaker or something that goes against what we usually see and I asked the guys how to key up on that, how they see it. They see it from experience and I’m just trying to pick their brains, they have all the knowledge.”

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea says neither he nor his coaching staff attached a short leash to Chungh when they named him a starter before the season opener.

It reflects the team’s willingness to watch him grow and succeed and his football skill set.

“Sukh has done a good job of improving steadily each week,” O’Shea said. “We like what we saw. He’s rewarded us and rewarded himself by that steady improvement.

“We got more guys competing for the two spots (on the O-line) and we are just going evaluate it on the go and figure out the best lineup on a weekly basis to see how we win this next game.”

Still, that doesn’t mean Chungh hasn’t been afraid for his starting slot up front.

“They’ve let me make mistakes and learn from them and I know I’ve made mistakes where I thought I might not be playing right guard tomorrow,” Chungh said.

‘Every game is eye-opening, something new happens all of the time. There’s always a learning process. If something new happens and I don’t pick it up right I got to go back to the film room and make it right. The competition is there every game’

— Winnipeg O-lineman Sukh Chungh

“I’m learning from them and I continue to grow from them and I think (offensive line coach Bob Wylie) and O’Shea know that. I do beat myself up on mistakes but I’m going to put it back and go out and make the next play.”

— — —

Receiver Justin Veltung, who performed admirably in place of Nick Moore, has made his case to see more playing time.

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His only issue is his nationality at this point — the Bombers have preferred to start eight Canadians, one more than the required seven.

“He’s a good piece to the puzzle, he brings something a little different,” O’Shea said. “He left a very good impression on us from training camp through his return game work. He’s going to get opportunities throughout the season, it just depends on the numbers, there are only so many guys you can play.”

Despite Veltung’s impressive play returning kicks, O’Shea is sticking with Troy Stoudermire, who returned from injury a few weeks ago.

“We’d like to get the ball in Troy’s hands a little more often,” O’Shea said.

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca

Scott Billeck
Reporter

Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade’s worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024.  Read more about Scott.

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