May 30, 2016
Matt Bucknor has been around too long and had too many doors slammed in his face to take anything for granted in this game.
It’s that foundation – a combination of denial-meets-hard-work-meets-experience – that has driven him every single day in his football career.
And it’s what is fuelling him again in the early days of Winnipeg Blue Bombers camp as he attempts to hang on to a starting job in the secondary that has been his for each of the 36 games over the last two seasons.
“There’s never a given. I know my mentality and a lot of the veterans’ mentality coming into camp is to make the team. That’s what we’re going to compete to do every day.”
MATT BUCKNOR
“I humble myself. There’s always something to learn and when I get into the meeting room and out on the field it’s just an opportunity to make the team, so that’s my approach.”
A solid player during his days at the University of Windsor, Bucknor wasn’t on the CFL draft radar in 2010 and never earned an invite to the evaluation camp before the draft that spring. He attended Bomber mini camp in 2011, but didn’t receive a ticket to main training camp.
But he persevered, and in 2012, parlayed an invitation to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats training camp into 18 games as a rookie, followed by nine more in 2013 before establishing himself as a regular in the Bomber defence over the past two years.
“I’ve been in the position where I was watching training camps in 2010 and 2011 and not getting invited,” said Bucknor. “So being out here is an honour, it’s a privilege, and so you take advantage of every single rep and when you’re in the meeting room and locker room because you never know when it could be taken away.
“In this business, this game, there’s always competition. There’s always guys coming to take your job. Everybody that’s here can contribute to this team so you have to understand that and come out and make plays every chance you get.”
Bucknor has been noticeable through the first two days of main training camp as he is pushed by a young collection of defensive backs trying to claim a starting job. As well, the change to the ratio at both running back and at defensive tackle means the club now has the option of using Americans exclusively in the secondary.
All that doesn’t frighten Bucknor. Instead, it fuels him.
He also knows he’s not alone in having that fire in his belly.
“A lot of guys here have very similar stories,” said Bucknor. “I’m not the only one that wasn’t invited to a combine or was cut from a training camp. Guys are out here grinding and working really hard and it’s good.
“It’s only going to make everybody better.”
BOMBER CAMP REPORT – DAY 2
ABSENT:
RB Andrew Harris was not at Monday’s practice, but is expected on the field Tuesday. Bombers coach Mike O’Shea on Harris’ absence.
“A personal situation came up today that he had to deal with it. I expect him back tomorrow.”
NEW BLUE BLOOD:
The Bombers added another receiver on Monday, bringing in import Lestar Jean.
Jean (6-3, 210, Florida Atlantic) is a veteran of 27 NFL games with the Houston Texans, pulling in 10 receptions for 186 yards and one touchdown during that time. He later signed with the Minnesota Vikings but was released.
At the same time, the Bombers also moved DL Cameron Henderson to the retired list.
MORE HIGH PRAISE:
Both Weston Dressler and Ryan Smith continue to make the kind of circus catches that have fans roaring with applause. But it’s not just their work on the field that has been impressive, it’s also their influence in the meeting room and clubhouse.
“It’s the same thing we talked about when we signed them, and it was verified in one rep in the offensive mini camp,” said O’Shea. “They practice like they’re going to play the game. They are extremely professional in their profession. At the offensive mini camp… I forget what time it was, but I was leaving the office and I looked into the main meeting room and there was Weston watching film by himself. They’re going to lead that way. They’re going to make sure guys are doing the right thing. There’s all these intangibles besides the fact they are both extremely fast, very smart football players, highly competitive guys. I don’t know any other word to sum it up other than they are football players in the entire sense of what you want from guys.”
“I’m going to work hard, I’m going to play fast and play relentless,” said Smith. “That’s what I’ve been taught my whole life and that’s what I’m going to keep on trying to do. That’s just the way I was taught, when I was in college and high school. It can only get better when you try harder.”
THE RETURN MAN IS…?
With Troy Stoudermire now out of the picture, the Bombers are looking for someone to step up and stake the claim as the primary punt and kickoff returner. It’s a big gig, considering that Stoudermire had 114 touches as a returner last year (47 kickoffs, 67 punts).
Justin Veltung also returned kicks last year – 17 in total – but the team has also been looking at Smith and Dressler as well as Quincy McDuffie.
O’Shea said Monday this decision might be one of the latest they make during training camp.
“It’s tough to answer the question, based on how the roster is going to look,” said O’Shea. “We need a returner and there are a bunch of guys on the roster who are quite capable. That will be one of those decisions… we’ll probably leave that one right to the end unless someone pops out in the two exhibition games that makes it very easy to make that decision.
“I think it’s going to be a tough decision. I do believe we have some very capable guys.”
BIG MAN, BIG PICK:
DT Nate Collins picked off a Bryan Bennett pass after the quarterback’s hand was hit and the big 300 pounder took the interception the distance for a score. That brought the sidelines to life and shouts of ‘Water! Water!’ as teammates rallied around Collins.
WALKING WOUNDED:
Not participating on Monday were LB John Rush, LB Kyle Knox and Rec Gerrard Sheppard, while Thomas Mayo did not finish the session after it looked like he suffered a leg injury.
