Adarius Bowman of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the official TSN session for CFL at the Axworthy Health & RecPlex Centre in Winnipeg MB, Friday, March 23, 2017 (Photo: Johany Jutras)
It is entirely and completely by design, of course. And yes, as the latest in a series of new Winnipeg Blue Bombers names rolled across the transaction wire this week, it was impossible not to notice the trend.
GM Kyle Walters and the team’s football brain trust have developed a serious crush on receivers and defensive backs this winter. To wit: of the 29 new players inked since December 29th – and not including the re-signing of Bombers prospective free agents or draft picks – 11 are pass defenders and another nine are pass catchers. Rounding out that 29 are four defensive linemen, three quarterbacks and two running backs.
Now, at first glance this might seem a bit odd, even given a team’s need to always be looking for talent at any position. After all, the Bombers secondary featured three Canadian Football League All-Stars in 2017 in safety Taylor Loffler, cornerback Chris Randle and halfback T.J. Heath, who has since departed for the Toronto Argonauts. There are some proven parts in the receiving corps, too, in Darvin Adams, also a CFL All-Star in 2017, and future hall of famer Weston Dressler.
But you know all that.
What has been both expected and fascinating in the offseason work of the scouting department has been this seeming fixation on adding more receivers and defensive backs. Three new receivers and a defensive back were added this week, and in fact, the last nine signings dating back to the start of free agency in February have been dominated by those two positions.
Let’s examine the why and the who behind it all…
Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Taylor Loffler (16) runs after he makes an interception against the BC Lions during the second half of CFL action in Winnipeg Saturday, October 28, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
THE AIR DEFENCE CONUNDRUM
Some numbers to mull over as they relate to the Bombers defence…
Over the last two years, the Bombers have intercepted 55 passes (30 in 2016, 25 last season) – 22 more than the next highest defence (Hamilton, with 33). The Bombers have also forced a league-best 101 turnovers in 2016-17, 11 more than Calgary and almost twice as many as B.C. (52) over the last two years.
And often overlooked is this: only the Stamps, at 718, have allowed fewer points than the Bombers, 946, over the last two years.
And yet…
No defence has surrendered more yards – 14,074 – than the Bombers over the last two years. Just to put that in perspective, that’s 2,302 yards more than the Stamps over that same span.
The Bombers have also yielded the second most offensive touchdowns against (93) over the last two years and have been burned on the dreaded ‘explosion’ plays. The CFL tracks big plays – explosion plays, as the Bombers refer to them – as rushes over 20 yards and passes over 30. Winnipeg has given up 103 of those plays over the last two years, more than any other CFL team.
It’s just flat-out wrong to heap all the blame or offer all the praise from the numbers above on the men in the secondary. In their 2017 post mortem, both Walters and head coach Mike O’Shea indicated changes would be coming to the defence. Those include O’Shea vowing to become more involved in the day-to-day workings of that unit, with Glenn Young taking over now as the front-seven coach – previously he was the linebackers coach – and with Jordan Younger and James Stanley joining the staff.
All that said, there might not be a more transient position in the CFL than defensive back. The Bombers are fortunate to have stars like Randle and Loffler – Heath, too, before he left in free agency – but the rest of the secondary has been a revolving door. Over the last two seasons, Winnipeg has started 18 different players in the five positions in the secondary and dressed 21 defensive backs overall. That represents a whole lot of change and more could be coming.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Chris Randle (8) celebrates his touchdown against the Ottawa Redblacks with teammates during first half of a CFL football game in Ottawa on Friday, Aug. 4, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Here’s a peek at the 11 DBs signed this offseason
Malik Foreman (5-10, 180, Tennessee) – Appeared in 44 games over four years with the Volunteers, starting seven games as a senior. Had a stint with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent.
Tevin Homer (6-2, 191, Florida Atlantic) – Started his collegiate career at Arkansas Baptist before transferring. Appeared in 13 games in his two years at FAU, before a stint with the Washington Redskins.
Chandler Fenner (6-1, 190, Holy Cross) – Spent the last two years with the B.C. Lions and his abilities to play the SAM linebacker spot and halfback, coupled with his contributions on special teams, made him one of the club’s biggest offseason acquisitions.
Anthony Gaitor (5-10, 185, Florida International) – Appeared in 23 games over the last two years with the Lions; has had time with Tampa, Miami and Arizona in the NFL.
Steven Clarke (5-10, 195, Vanderbilt) – Another ex-Lion who suited up for 25 games over the last four years while struggling with injuries.
Zavian Bingham (5-10, 195, Jackson State) – Spent some time with Saskatchewan last year before being added to the Bombers practice roster and then later released.
Eric Patterson (5-10, 193 Ball State) – Bounced around the NFL with New England, St. Louis, Indianapolis and Cleveland after starring at Ball State.
Travis Howard (6-1, 200, Ohio State) – Started 23 of 43 games during his days with the Buckeyes and then had NFL looks from Houston, the New York Giants and Atlanta.
Sam Brown (6-1, 175, Missouri Western) – The Minnesota Vikings had a look at Brown before waiving him last September. Also had a tryout with Baltimore after making 22 starts in college.
Cody Prewitt (6-2, 210, Mississippi) – A former First-Team All-American at Ole Miss who led the SEC in interceptions in 2013 and had a tryout with the Tennessee Titans.
Kevin Short (6-2, 1985, Fort Scott Community College) – Signed with Kansas City as an undrafted free agent after college in 2015 and has since been in camps or on practice squads with Seattle, NY Jets and Los Angeles Rams.
THE SEARCH FOR THE NEXT MILT STEGALL
The Bombers have added a proven piece in veteran Adarius Bowman this offseason and in Nic Demski, they have brought aboard a homegrown talent many in the CFL still believe can morph into a star if he can stay healthy.
And while there are some returning receivers who flashed promise in their first year like L’Damian Washington and Chris Givens and the team is intrigued by Myles White, who spent time on the practice roster last season, the search continues for the next prospect who can find a place among this franchise’s icons at the position like Milt Stegall or James Murphy.
Consider this: the projected starting receiving lineup for the Bombers this year—Bowman, Weston Dressler, Demski, Matt Coates and Darvin Adams – features five receivers all signed or drafted by other CFL teams; Bowman, Dressler and Demski by Saskatchewan, Coates by Hamilton and Adams by Toronto.
There’s also this nugget: dating back to 2008, the Bombers have had ten 1,000-yard seasons posted by seven different receivers (Terrence Edwards – 4; Romby Bryant -1, Derick Armstrong – 1; Chris Matthews – 1; Dressler – 1; Adams –1 and Clarence Denmark -1). Of that crew, only Denmark, Bryant and Matthews began their CFL careers with the Bombers.
Another factor to consider in this quest for some fresh-faced receiving talent: Dressler and Bowman are both 32, while there may be concern about the durability of Adams after he has missed 11 games over the past two seasons.
So, this is both about succession planning as it is a search for new talent.
Former Edmonton Eskimos SB, now Bomber, Adarius Bowman celebrates his TD during fourth quarter CFL West Division semifinal playoff action in Winnipeg on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. (CFL PHOTO – Jason Halstead)
Here’s a peek at the nine receivers signed this offseason
Tony Stevens (6-4, 215, Auburn) – Appeared in 39 games, making seven starts, for the Tigers before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent before his release last year.
Jerome Lane (6-3, 225, Akron) – Intriguing athlete who spent his first year at Akron at linebacker before switching to receiver. Made 23 starts, including all 12 as a senior in which he pulled in 62 catches for 1,062 yards and six TDs.
Dominique Reed (6-3, 180, Arkansas) – Big, but slight product of the Razorbacks who wasn’t drafted last season. Spent two years at Arkansas and also returned kicks.
A.J. Coney (5-8, 180, Akron) – Began his collegiate career at Weber State before transferring to Akron. Was the Zips offensive MVP in his senior season.
Mitchell Baines (6-2, 215, Ottawa) – Led the nation with 65 receptions and 984 yards as a senior. An undrafted Canadian, he has had shots with Saskatchewan and Hamilton and has three career games, all with the Ticats last season, to his credit.
Nic Demski (6-0, 208, Manitoba) – One of the best players in Bisons history, Demski had a solid rookie season with the Roughriders and had 14 catches for 169 yards in the first two games last year. He played in nine games, starting six, before a broken foot cut short his season.
Adarius Bowman (6-3, 217, Oklahoma State) – His credentials speak for themselves: three-time CFL All-Star who ranks fourth on the Edmonton Eskimos all-time receptions list. Looking for a bounce-back 2018 after managing 534 yards on 45 catches in 12 games last season.
Garry Brown (6-0, 204, California University of Pennsylvania) – A Division II star with the Vulcans who had 222 career receptions for 3,741 yards and 43 TDs. Was a consensus All-American and spent time with the Oakland Raiders.
Corey Washington (6-4, 214, Newberry College) – Another potential big target for Bomber QBs, Washington has been liked enough by NFL scouts to bounce around between eight teams from 2014-17 – Arizona, NY Giants, Washington, Detroit, Atlanta, Buffalo, Kansas City and Dallas.
