Defensive back Alexander looking to ‘go get’ his spot

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This article was published 26/04/2018 (2750 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive back Brandon Alexander knows one good season in the CFL doesn’t necessarily promise him another.

“I feel like what you did last year is just that — what you did last year,” said Alexander, who was one of 47 players running drills this week at Investors Group Field for Bombers mini-camp, which wrapped up Thursday. “That’s over with, and now you’ve got to come back in and do the same thing, if not better, all over again because each and every year, you’ve got better competition coming in, people that are more athletic and faster than you.

“I’m coming in to take somebody’s spot. That spot is open right now, in my opinion, and I want to go get it.”

Alexander, the Bombers’ nominee for most outstanding rookie in 2017, had a productive but whirlwind first year with the Blue and Gold. One of the clear standouts early in camp, it wasn’t long before he earned a starting spot in the team’s secondary, lining up at field-side corner for the season-opener against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

He eventually moved to halfback, where he remained for much of the second half of the season, including the playoffs, where the Bombers fell to the Edmonton Eskimos at home in the West Division semifinal. Alexander played 15 games over the regular season, recording 52 tackles, one interception, one touchdown and two forced fumbles.

When it was time to have his exit meeting with the coaches, one of the questions Alexander remembered being asked was what his thoughts were on the year.

“It was tough that we had lost because we all really wanted to win that game. But I also told them I was excited and the reason I was excited was because last year, I had only about three weeks to get ready for the season and this year, I’d have six months to prepare,” Alexander said.

“My body is different, my mind is different and it shows out here. The tempo of things have slowed down.”

Despite being more familiar with the Bombers and the CFL game, Alexander realizes a lot has changed from last year to this season. Though the Bombers finished in second place in the West in 2017 with a 12-6 record — only the Calgary Stampeders posted a better mark — the team’s defence, and particularly the secondary, often struggled.

The Bombers gave up the most yards against per game, and surrendered the second-most passing yards. To improve on those numbers, Winnipeg has brought in a number of experienced defensive backs, including three players — Chandler Fenner, Anthony Gaitor and Steven Clarke — with years of service in the CFL. All three played together the past two years with the B.C. Lions.

“It’s something I believe in, that experience is really hard to replace,” Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said. “Steven Clarke and Anthony Gaitor understand what CFL offences are trying to do to them. As the young guys are standing on the sideline watching, they can learn right there.

“But Chandler Fenner had one play (Wednesday) where he had to handle two pieces of communication… and you highlight that in the meeting, and you basically run that one play, talk about the two things he said and you could end the meeting and you’re going to be way better the next day. Of course, you watch the rest of the plays, too, but just having that kind of communication out there, as only a vet can really do, that one rep made it important that he was here.”

For Alexander, he said he viewed the signings of veteran players the same way he views anyone at camp: as competition. But he’s also excited to share a room with experienced players such as Fenner, Gaitor and Clarke. After all, he can remember lining up last season with two other rookies, all on the same side, and it doesn’t always end well.

“When you bring them into the mix, it’s going to be better in terms of communication, better in terms of being in the right spot, because they’ve been there before,” he said. “The fact they brought these guys in, it gets us excited because they’ve been in CFL systems and they understand the game, so if we can put all that together, this could be amazing.”

For now, Alexander prefers to worry about himself. He knows he’s coming off a good season, but that expectations on him are only getting higher. No longer can he use the excuse of being new.

“Now that I have that year under my belt, the coaches expect me to know certain things and know more than the guys that are coming in for their first camp,” he said.

“So, for me, I need to step into a new role, whether that means being a leader or making sure that I don’t make the same mistakes as last year.”

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @jeffkhamilton