June 2, 2016
There’s nothing really subtle or simple about the transition.
One day Michael Couture is a college player. And the next, from the moment he stepped onto the field as a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, he officially became a professional.
And that move – from college guy trying to manage a course load and wondering about his future to professional guy trying to manage the playbook and wondering about his future – can be both completely overwhelming and thrilling at the same time.
“It’s been a great learning experience,” began Couture, the Bombers’ second selection, 10th overall, in last month’s Canadian Football League Draft. “The whole process is quite something. It was kind of slow when it was just the rookies, but once the veterans got here the speed doubled and the playbook tripled.
“You’ve really got to put the time in when you’re outside the facility just to try and keep up. I’m a rookie, all these guys have been here before and I’m just trying to match their intensity and what they put into the game and learn from that. I’m just trying to learn everything.
“But,” added Couture with a smile, “when I was in college I wished I could have devoted all my time to football. This was the goal for me: to put all my time and energy into the sport that I love. I’m just so thankful to have this opportunity.”
The Bombers have eight draft picks in camp: Couture, Trent Corney, Taylor Loffler, Shayne Gauthier, Zach Intzandt, Rupert Butcher, Alex Vitt and Frank Renaud.
Every single one of them was a star during their college days, knowing they not only had a roster spot, but a starting gig. Now they are just trying to land a roster spot and get paid. And that leap – trying to make this a career while staring up at a lot of names on the depth chart – is enormous.
“It’s a huge step,” said Loffler. “You go from playing and having classes to getting paid to play football. This becomes your job and so you have to treat it like a job.
“The other thing is, and I haven’t really seen it too much yet, is that you’re fighting for a spot with other guys. Some of these guys are in their 30’s and have families and then there are a bunch of younger guys fighting for their livelihood.
“But this has been my dream, probably back to when I started playing football in the fifth grade. To finally be here and have the chance to play pro is a dream come true.”
BOMBER CAMP REPORT – DAY 5
TWO NEW GUYS:
Michael Couture and Taylor Loffler on some of the aspects of transitioning from college to pro…
Best Advice
Michael Couture:
“Coach Wylie has really helped me with the one-on-one aspect. One of the first things he told us was you can’t be afraid to fail in practice. You practice to get better and he preaches just finding one aspect of your game to get better at every day.”
When to be seen AND heard
Taylor Loffler:
“There’s a great team environment here and so whoever has good input is encouraged to share it. It’s all positive. I came into rookie camp and learned stuff faster because a lot of these guys are American and I played CFL rules last year. I understood a lot of the concepts and tried to help them out.”
On the camp life away from the field
Couture:
“It’s definitely been interesting. There are guys in the room that I’ve known from before like Matthias (Goossen) and Derek Jones. Talking with them has eased my transition to it. And having Zach Intzandt as my roommate helps, too. We review everything at night and walk to the facility together in the morning. It’s good to have somebody in the same position going through the same stuff.”
On the upcoming preseason game
Loffler:
“I’m excited about it. It’ll be good to get out there and actually play and show them what I can do in a real game. Practice situations don’t come close to games.”
THE COACH SAYS:
Bombers coach Mike O’Shea offers an update on each of the club’s draft picks:
- Trent Corney, DE, 9th overall:
“He gets off the ball well, he’s very athletic. He can win the one-on-one battle. He’s got tremendous speed. He’s what we thought he was.”
- Michael Couture, OL, 10th overall:
“He has got good solid technique. We’ve put him at three different positions already. At school he played multiple positions so that kind of versatility is what we’re counting on.”
- Taylor Loffler, SB, 19th overall:
“In the meeting room he seems to pick up everything very quickly. He’s not afraid to communicate. There was one meeting I sat in there and it was very apparent he had no issues communicating with the veteran guys, guys that he had just met, and letting them know how the defence was supposed to be run there. He had no problem jumping in and helping guys out and no problem, either, listening to other guys talk. He’s certainly got a more veteran presence for a first-year CFL guy.”
- Shayne Gauthier, LB, 28th overall:
“A hard-nosed, tough football player. He plays linebacker the way it’s supposed to be played. He is a good, good football player and I really like the way he plays the game.”
- Zach Intzandt, OL, 37th overall:
“He’s picked up the techniques that Bob (Wylie) and Marty (Costello, the O-line coaches) have given him. He’s improved markedly since he’s been here. He’s a big, physical specimen. He doesn’t look like he’s over 300 pounds, but he’s a 300 pounder.”
Rupert Butcher, DL, 46th overall:
“There’s a guy who’s improved. Every single rep that guy’s gotten better. From the first time seeing him at rookie camp until now I think he’s shown the most amount of improvement amongst anyone.”
- Alex Vitt, Rec, 55th overall:
“He’s a tough guy. He’s going to have to carve out his niche on special teams to start. He’s in with a good group of receivers, but certainly hasn’t looked out of place. Where he’s going to have an opportunity to shine is when we get him on the field for special teams. We want to see, and it’s hard in training camp because we’re not tackling and putting guys on the ground, is what we saw on film from the U of M: him knocking guys down and playing a real physical game.”
- Frank Renaud, LB, 63rd overall:
“He’s coming off a knee injury and is doing very well. You just see if he wasn’t wearing a knee brace, if he was further along that guy could be in the CFL for a number of years, too. He’s a hard-nosed guy. I’d like to see him in a game situation because I think he’s a hitter.”
