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May 23, 2016

Positional Preview: Defensive Backs

Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive back Maurice Leggett (31) during the game between the Toronto Argonauts and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Friday, November 6, 2015. (PHOTO: JOHANY JUTRAS)

May 23, 2016

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers cannonballed into the free agent pool in February with a size-large splash that absolutely soaked the rest of the Canadian Football League.

And while the signing of Andrew Harris and Keith Shologan significantly upgraded the overall Canadian talent, their additions have also caused a tidal wave across the roster that could dramatically impact what the Bombers do with their secondary.

Consider this as we focus today on the defensive backs with the second installment of our position-by-position look at the Bomber roster leading into the opening of training camp: It’s possible one of the strongest units of the blue and gold last year may be entirely red, white and blue this season.

Chris Randle

Yes, the ratio flexibility the signings of Harris and Shologan will provide – plus the return to health of Chris Randle ‑ means the Bombers could choose to go all-American across the five-man secondary.

All this despite the fact the collection of Canadians in the secondary ‑ Matt Bucknor, Brendan Morgan, Derek Jones and 2016 draft pick Taylor Loffler – is the most athletic crew they’ve had there in eons.

Sept12_GamePlay_058Landing Harris and Shologan means the Bombers will switch from import to Canadian at the tailback and defensive tackle positions. As a result, there is no coincidence the imports added this offseason – to go along with Randle, Johnny Adams and Julian Posey (who made his first start in the regular season finale and finished with eight tackles) – is loaded with potential. Included among that new talent is Jonte Green, who appeared in 24 games for the Detroit Lions in 2012-13 and former New Orleans Saints draft pick Johnny Patrick, who has 34 NFL games on his resume with the Saints and San Diego Chargers.

The Bombers will also have the option of moving Randle back to corner from the strong-side linebacker position, not only because it his natural spot, but because he is coming off a knee injury that ended his season last September. Bucknor has held down that spot for two seasons, providing a variety of options with the defensive secondary this season. As well, Maurice Leggett was solid in moving from safety to linebacker after the Randle injury.

And to further bolster the unit with Leggett moving up, the Bombers scooped up former Saskatchewan Roughrider Macho Harris, who made 41 starts over the last four years in Regina, but – the club believes – was miscast at linebacker and will offer a veteran presence at safety.

Now, while there is enough talent for the Bombers to consider using a Canadian at safety ‑ especially with the drafting of Loffler to provide depth ‑ the recent trend that has offences focussing on quick-strike/timing routes while attacking vertically outside of the hashmarks means the middle is far less vulnerable than it was even 15 years ago.

In any case, all of this means the secondary is as deep a unit as any on the Bomber roster.

In fact, the only uncertainty for the group as camp opens is who will be leading it. Greg Knox, who was to coach the defensive backs this season, left earlier this month for the head-coaching position at McMaster University.

The club is considering assistant-coaching options, but is also more than comfortable in handing the gig over to defensive coordinator Richie Hall who not only has a long and extensive history working with men in the secondary, but played the position for nine years in the CFL.

Hall & Co. will have some tough decisions in camp. But if the talent matches the credentials, those calls will be made from positions of strength and not out of desperation.

Defensive Backs graphic

 


TRAINING CAMP CENTRAL

THIS IS THE SECOND IN A POSITION-BY-POSITION TRAINING CAMP PREVIEW SERIES BY BLUEBOMBERS.COM


 

The rest of our camp previews are scheduled as follows:

Special teams

Linebackers: May 24

Defensive line: May 25

Offensive line: May 26

Running backs: May 27

Receivers: May 28

Quarterbacks: May 29