Menu
June 6, 2016

Keeping faith

June 6, 2016

He is in the fight of his life, trying to secure a spot with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and earn a living playing the game he loves.

On the good days, defensive back Kevin Fogg must feel like he can reach the stars. And on the bad… well, as the old saying goes about life in pro football: great game, horrible business.

Fogg is one of many Bomber newcomers who is trying to force his way onto the roster and in the starting lineup. That makes Wednesday’s game against the Montreal Alouettes at Investors Group Field absolutely mammoth for the 25-year-old product of Kannapolis, NC.

Kevin Fogg

“I’m definitely excited for it,” began Fogg. “The last time I was on the field was the last preseason game for the (Pittsburgh) Steelers, so it’s been a long time coming. I’m just ready to compete against somebody else and hit somebody that’s not my teammate.”

Fogg is trying to land the starting gig in the Bomber secondary left vacant by the departure of Demond Washington. Both Fogg and Julian Posey, who spent most of last year on the practice roster before dressing for the regular season finale, have taken turns moving to the front of the depth chart and working with the No. 1 defence.

But if Fogg has learned anything after bouncing from the Miami Dolphins to the Steelers and now to Winnipeg, it’s to stay grounded and focus only on what he can control. The rest is just noise.

Kevin Fogg“I’ve been through it before so many times, where there are so many position battles created, but at the same time the more you buy into that stuff, the more you’re taken off what you are really here for. I just try to get out here and be a team player. I’m just trying to do my job and have fun.

“I’ve learned to hone in on what exactly I have to do and not worry about the things that are out of my control. It’s been a great mindset for me because this type of environment can take you away from what you are really here for and take you into a head space where you are going against a guy that is still your teammate.

“That’s one of the things I learned through my faith: the more you worry about the other man, the more you are missing your own blessing.”

Fogg leans heavily on his religious foundation, which he says only grew while attending Liberty University, a Christian school in Virginia. He has a tattoo on his right arm featuring a cross and the word ‘Faith.’ It’s helped give him perspective too, in a game that can be cutthroat on and off the field.

“Just to have this opportunity, I never take it for granted. I never know when it’s going to be my last or when my time is up,” said Fogg. “Each and every day I have to enjoy it. There’s so much negativity that goes into your ears. It can get you caught up in everything, but once you know who you are and what you are all about you feel blessed.

“It’s about what you have for a foundation. Is your foundation built on sand or is it built on rocks? Sand is something that can be destroyed at any moment. But if it’s rocks it can stand strong. It’s not going to go anywhere.”

 

BOMBER CAMP REPORT – DAY 9

 

WALKING WOUNDED:

Tough moment for Bomber LB Kyle Knox at practice on Monday. The former NFL’er, who has had stints with Seattle, Jacksonville, New Orleans and Dallas and was impressive in rookie camp, had just returned to the field on Sunday after missing most of last week with an injury when he pulled up lame.

Limping off the field to the sideline, the 27-year-old native of Los Angeles ripped off his helmet and slammed his fist down in anger. An official diagnosis won’t be available until later, but it did not look good.

WR Kris Adams, who had been released on May 28th but was still in town, was added to the roster on Monday but also exited practice on the limp.

Not participating were receivers Weston Dressler and Sam Hurl; Dressler is a game-time decision, Hurl is doubtful.

QB WATCH:

QuarterbacksBombers Head Coach Mike O’Shea said Monday the club hadn’t yet decided on its quarterback rotation for Wednesday’s preseason game against the Montreal Alouettes, but that all four pivots would take snaps.

“Part of the consideration,” began O’Shea, “is we have two exhibition games in a very short time frame and we don’t have to make any cuts until then (June 14th is the first cut down to 65 players). So there’s still a lot of evaluation and hopefully guys who have been nicked up will be coming back for that second exhibition game.

“I believe all quarterbacks will play and we’ll certainly have to evaluate that battle for the third spot.”

WINNING VS. EVALUATION:

The Bombers have a number of players they want to study under game conditions, but also understand the value in winning – even if it’s ‘just’ a preseason game.Jamaal Westerman

“We want to win the games, I don’t know a team that doesn’t approach it that way,” said O’Shea. “Certainly you want to evaluate and determine how you are going to put together the roster and what the team is going to look like for Week 1. So, evaluation is a major part of it. But the idea of winning and gaining some confidence is also extremely important.

“You go in with the idea that there is competition across the board. But there are positions where you know who is going to be playing there. Jamaal Westerman… he’s going to be starting at defensive end for us. One of the things you think about is, what do you believe Jamaal Westerman needs to be ready for Week 1 and what does Jamaal Westerman believes he needs to be ready for Week 1. How do those two thoughts marry together? And then there’s the idea of keeping him healthy.”


 

Bomber site Bottom banner Game 2