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May 25, 2016

Rookie Camp Day 1 Recap

May 25, 2016

As far as second chances go, Carlos Anderson was positively killing it. Around about this time a year ago, the diminutive running back was this close to locking up a job with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers when fate intervened.

Fresh from returning a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown in an exhibition game against the Toronto Argonauts, Anderson – who had been passed over by the Bombers two years earlier and hadn’t heard the phone ring with any other opportunities – was doing his thing again against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats when his knee snapped, crackled and popped.

A torn ACL and meniscus ended his shot with the Bombers and, it seemed at the time, the door on a career in professional football.

But, just as he has done for most of his football days, Anderson persevered. And there he was back on the field for the first day of Bomber rookie camp on Wednesday absolutely killing it again on his now third chance.

Anderson day 1 pic“Long offseason, long rehab, but it feels great,” Anderson told a group of reporters after practice. “It feels great to be back with the team and just moving around.”

Anderson’s return ability had him in the discussion for a roster spot a year ago as a specialist who could offer a change-of-pace look out of the backfield.

And then…

“I went to try and make a cut and the ACL and meniscus tore. Things happen,” Anderson said with a shrug. “God works in mysterious ways. I’m forever indebted to Coach O’Shea for giving me another shot because he didn’t have to. But he called me back up and I came back and I’ll try and give it my all again.”

As good as his comeback story is, his challenge is just that much more daunting this year. The Bombers, in case you missed it, signed hometown product Andrew Harris to be their main ball carrier out of the backfield. And the change in the ratio means an import back is going to stick as either a return man or someone willing to hang around on the practice roster.

But Anderson has long battled long odds.

“Being hungry is what got me to where I was at last year,” he said. “You’ve always got to feel like you’re the sixth man on the depth chart, that you’re always trying to earn a spot.

“(The injury last year) was pretty disappointing. But I had to stay prayed up and strong in my faith and trust God’s plan and His plan wasn’t for me to be here last year. Hopefully it’s His will for me to be here this year.”

 

ROOKIE CAMP: Day 1

 

PLAYERS IN CAMP: 47

ANOTHER RB ON BOARD: The Bombers added another import ball carrier on Wednesday, announcing the signing of Tim Flanders.

Flanders (5-9, 210, Sam Houston State) played three seasons with the Bearkats, rushing for over 4,200 yards and scoring 55 touchdowns. He left college holding 34 school records, including most touchdowns in a season (24), most touchdowns in a game (five), and most career all-purpose yards (4,800). Flanders spent the last part of the 2015 season with the B.C. Lions dressing for one game.

 

STANDING OUT:

Making positive first impressions were:

  • DE Trent Corney: the club’s first pick in the 2016 CFL Draft got to the ball quickly and was dominant in the first one-on-one drills with the O-line. Yes, it’s early, but…
  • RB Tim Flanders: the late addition flashed some speed during the session. Question is, how might the club find room for him or any import back with Andrew Harris expected to start?
  • QB Brian Bennett: the veteran pivots stepped aside to let Bennett and Dominique Davis take most of the reps. Bennett showcased a strong arm.
  • WR Jace Davis: Polished route runner with good wheels.

 

RIFLES REPRESENTING:

Two members of the Winnipeg Rifles were on the field Wednesday, slotback Xander Tachinski and running back Michael Ritchott, who was officially added to the camp roster earlier in the day.

Ritchott is a 5-10, 175-pound running back who finished his third season with the Rifles last year, rushing 105 times for 801 yards and seven touchdowns in eight games.

 

CAMP MISSION:

Bombers Coach Mike O’Shea on what the club hopes to get done during the three days of rookie camp:

“There’s lots of things you can accomplish. They’re going to learn our expectations. They’re going to learn the playbook… we’re not going to try and kill them, by any means. We’re going to give them enough information to allow them to play fast and not confuse them. We want to give them a taste of the size of the field, the amount of running around and the tempo of the game to get their bodies aware of that, but we also want to keep them fresh enough to compete.”