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June 16, 2016

Veteran presence

Victor ‘Macho’ Harris has been around the game of pro football – ‘survived it’ might be a better term – long enough to know how this all works.

Even so, when a 29-year-old gets a text from a new GM saying his team is pressing on without him, well, it can drop a guy like a two-by-four across the forehead.

And it can make him wonder about his future in the game.

Before we get to the present and the favourable impression he’s made on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the coaching staff, we have to rewind a tad, back to last December 15th. That was the day Harris was caught in the purge of the new regime in Saskatchewan, as 19 players were cut adrift by new Roughriders GM and head coach, Chris Jones.

“It was out of the blue,” began Harris after Bomber practice on Thursday. “I got a text message from the GM saying, ‘We’re going to release you today.’ That was it. I don’t like the business sometimes. It sucks. The way they handled it… it was iffy, but at the same time, it’s business. That’s how it works.

“It is what it is and I’m happy where I’m at.”

Macho Harris

Harris put up respectable numbers with the Riders last year, finishing with 58 tackles, four sacks and three interceptions. But football teams are forever trying to go younger and cheaper with their talent, particularly if it is a new management crew.

The Bombers, it’s clear, had a different viewpoint on Harris. Looking to add a veteran piece to their secondary, they didn’t waste any time adding the Virginia Tech product to play safety or the dime (extra defensive back) position.

“He’s very versatile, that’s a big part of what he brings,” said Bombers coach Mike O’Shea. “But very quickly, very early on, you see that he understands leadership. He steps into a new situation, he’s not going to force himself on anybody. But when he recognizes an opportunity he takes it and says what he needs to say.

Macho Harris Rory Kohlert“He generally loves football. You watch him out there and he loves to play football. He’s a good addition. I like the way he handles himself.”

Harris hasn’t been here long, but likes what he sees in Richie Hall’s defensive scheme and the pieces around him on defence. Of course, the real test won’t come until next week’s season opener against the Montreal Alouettes on June 24th and how they react in good times and in bad after that.

“Walking in, I see a bunch of very talented guys. I feel like we’ve got all the talent in the world,” said Harris. “We’ve just got to get our minds right. We’ve got to be mentally tougher. Everything is there, but it’s doing the little things right. And it’s about being ready mentally for any situation, whether we’re losing by 21 or up by 21. I feel that’s coming.”

Harris was primarily a dime back in his four years with the Riders, but has experience playing safety during his days with the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins. It’s that ability to bop around the back end of the defence, plus his experience, that had the Bombers courting him not long after his release.

“I’m comfortable at both positions,” said Harris. “Playing safety gives me the opportunity to read the quarterback from depth and allows you to see routes develop. At dime, you’re more of a linebacker-slash-defensive back. Wherever the team needs me, I’m there. I understand my role here.”

 

BOMBER REPORT – June 16

DRESSLER WATCH:

Weston DresslerBomber receiver Weston Dressler was on the field but not practicing again on Thursday, though Mike O’Shea has no concerns about his availability for the season opener.

Or his ability to fit right back into the attack, even with the time away.

“I don’t foresee any issue with that, I really don’t,” said O’Shea. “He’s a pro. He knows his stuff. We had an offensive mini camp and Drew knows him. I don’t think it’s going to be an issue. He’s a fantastic football player and a great professional. The best thing is he’s going to be rested. He’s not going to have camp legs coming out.”

D-DAY LOOMS:

The Bombers have just one more day of practice left before they will slice down to the 46-man/10-player practice roster on Saturday. And by the time they return to work on Monday, it will all be about prepping for the Alouettes.

“I’ve really enjoyed training camp,” said O’Shea. “It’s served its purpose. We’re right where we want to be. We leave camp in pretty good shape. We still have enough time to get fresh, which we do because we have so much time between our last exhibition and first regular season game.”

BAND OF LINEBACKING BROTHERS:

Tony BurnettThe Bombers will have some tough decisions to make at the linebacker position before the weekend. Tony Burnett drew rave reviews from O’Shea on Thursday and figures to get a lot of work in a rotation of talent.

“We’re doing good things out there. We communicate,” said Burnett. “We know we’re competing with each other, but at the end of the day we’re out there pushing each other making sure we’re making each other better. That’s what’s so good about our linebacking corps… we mesh well, we push each other, we correct each other and there’s no sense of, ‘I don’t like this guy or I don’t like that guy.’

“That cohesiveness is not only going to make us a good linebacking corps, but a good defence.”

NEXT: The Bombers will hold their final training camp practice on Friday, June 17th, from 9:35 a.m.-11:40 a.m.

 

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