Suck Chungh (69) & Cody Speller (67)
There was a time not too long ago when the arrival of the Canadian Football League’s annual draft day had Winnipeg Blue Bombers faithful cringing at just how management was going to positively mangle the proceedings.
Consider, as evidence, the 2012 and 2013 Bomber draft classes that yielded just one regular – defensive tackle Jake Thomas, the club’s last pick in 2012 – and spit out names like Tyson Pencer and Andy Mulumba, two first-rounders who never played a game for the team.
Fast forward to the present, and thanks to four solid draft classes from 2014-17, the Bombers are no longer desperate to find plug-and-play Canadian starters. In fact, the team’s draft day haul over the last four seasons means Thursday’s 2018 CFL Draft will likely be mostly about adding depth to push the prospects already in-house. That not only speaks of the improvement in the homegrown talent, but is a huge part of why this franchise is 23-13 over the last two regular seasons.
More numbers, for your perusal:
- The 28 Bombers draft picks over the past four years have yielded three starters in offensive linemen Matthias Goossen and Sukh Chungh, and safety Taylor Loffler, but also nine other players who dressed for games last year – Jesse Briggs, Derek Jones, Shayne Gauthier, the aforementioned Thomas (currently a free agent), Chris Normand (now with Edmonton), Trent Corney, Michael Couture, Abu Conteh, Faith Ekakitie, Frank Renaud, Derek Jones. Five other picks will be attending camp this year in Brendan Morgan (who played in 2015-16 and is returning), Qadr Spooner, Tylor Henry, Brendan Thera-Plamondon and Ian Marouf; three others played in games for the Bombers but have since moved on in Garrett Waggoner, Addison Richards and Justin Warden, while two others are considered futures prospects as Geoff Gray is with the Cleveland Browns and Félix Ménard-Brière returned to the Université de Montréal last year.
All of this is to say the draft no longer seems like a hope and a prayer for the Bombers and their fans. The Canadian cupboard isn’t barren like it once was, and there is always room to stockpile more talent even with the departures of starters like defensive linemen Thomas and Jamaal Westerman (Montreal Alouettes), receiver Julian Feoli-Gudino (Ottawa REDBLACKS) and linebacker Sam Hurl (Saskatchewan Roughriders).
With all that in mind and with the Bombers currently holding eight selections – 7th, 16th, 26th, 33rd, 41st, 49th 58th and 67th – in Thursday’s draft, bluebombers.com looks at the current crop of Canadians and how they were acquired…
THE BLUE BOMBER CANADIANS
THE STARTERS
Acquired: Signed as a free agent on Feb. 9, 2016 after six years (102 games) with B.C. Lions.
411 on Harris: He’s 31 now, but showing no signs of wear on his treads. In fact, the Winnipegger is coming off a simply sensational season in which he won the CFL’s rushing title, took a legit shot at becoming the first player to hit the 1K-1K mark in rushing and receiving – 1,035 along the ground; 857 through the air on a record 105 receptions by a running back – en route to being named a CFL All-Star and the league’s Most Outstanding Canadian. To sum up: he’s a future hall of famer who has been a workhorse in his two years in Bomber colours.
C Matthias Goossen
Acquired: 2014 Draft; 1st round (2nd overall)
411 on Goossen: Continues to morph into one of the best O-linemen in the entire league. Voted the starting centre on the CFL Players Association All-Star Team in 2017 and is a respected leader in the room and in the community. Started all 18 games again last year and has run his consecutive games streak to 60. Oh, and at just 25 he could be piling up the accolades for another decade.
G Sukh Chungh
Acquired: 2015 Draft; 1st round (2nd overall)
411 on Chungh: Brings all the superlatives you want in an O-lineman: a tough, nasty brawler who has been a starter since being drafted three years ago. He’s missed just two games in three years, and like Goossen, is young enough at age 26 to think he’s still got years in the Bombers trenches ahead of him.
Acquired: Trade with Saskatchewan on Oct. 10, 2013 along with a 4th round pick in 2015 CFL Draft (FB Chris Normand) for DE Alex Hall and a 2nd round pick in the 2014 CFL Draft (DL Dylan Ainsworth). Re-signed November 16, 2017.
411 on Neufeld: There have never been any concerns whatsoever about Neufeld’s skill set, as he lines up at guard and can move outside to tackle. The questions have arisen, however, about his durability as he has missed 42 games over the past five years because of injury. That said, he did suit up for all 18 last year and his play in the final two regular season games and the West Semi-Final was so solid it led to the club opting to not re-sign Travis Bond and return to starting three Canadians up front.
SB Nic Demski
Acquired: Signed as a free agent, Feb. 13, 2018 after three seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
411 on Demski: The Bombers signing Demski in free agency wasn’t just about bringing home an Oak Park/Manitoba product. It was about adding a Canadian receiver/punt return candidate who many in this league still believe has a huge upside. Demski missed half of last season with a broken foot, and in 40 games over three years with the Riders, managed 69 receptions for 725 yards and three TDs (with another score in the return game).
WR Matt Coates
Acquired: Signed as a free agent on Feb. 17, 2017 after three years (34 games) with Hamilton.
411 on Coates: Started two games and the playoff tilt against Edmonton – his best game of the season with eight receptions for 100 yards – essentially stealing the gig away from veteran Julian Feoli-Gudino. He’s not a burner, but has reliable hands and brings a level of toughness to the position. Not a lock here, though, with Drew Wolitarsky expected to push for starter’s reps.
S Taylor Loffler
Acquired: 2016 Draft; 3rd round (19th overall)
411 on Loffler: His ascension has been both rapid and impressive. Loffler’s draft stock fell as his injury history at Boise State and UBC was a red flag for many CFL teams, leading the Bombers to land him with the 19th overall pick. But he has been simply sensational in his two years here – he assumed the starting safety job in the sixth game of the 2016 season and has been twice named a CFL All-Star. A physically intimidating force in the middle of the Bombers secondary.
RESERVES
WR Drew Wolitarsky
Acquired: Selected by the Bombers on June 27, 2017 in one of the CFL’s Supplemental Drafts (the club forfeited a third-round pick in this year’s draft).
411 on Wolitarsky: A big-time producer during his days at the University of Minnesota, Wolitarsky is coming off a solid mini-camp last week in which there were noticeable improvements in his speed and quickness. He had a crash course on the CFL game last season after missing training camp and is likely closer to pushing for starting work than many might think.
RB Kienan LaFrance
Acquired: Signed as a free agent on February 13th, 2018 after three years in the CFL, the first two with Ottawa and last season with Saskatchewan.
411 on LaFrance: Another former Bison and Sturgeon Heights star who returns home and fills a need for the Bombers as a reserve running back behind Andrew Harris and with the skills to also get a look at slotback. Had 82 touches last year in Saskatchewan – 68 carries and 14 receptions.
DE Trent Corney
Acquired: 2016 Draft; 2nd round (9th overall)
411 on Corney: His athleticism and strength are becoming the stuff of legend in the Bombers clubhouse and his defensive snaps figure to grow in a D-line rotation with the departures of Westerman and Thomas. He’s played in 34 games over his first two years, recording two sacks each season.
OL Michael Couture
Acquired: 2016 Draft; 2nd round (10th overall)
411 on Couture: Many in the Bombers organization believe Couture is ready for prime time and his development factored into the decision to return to starting three Canadians along the offensive line. He played tackle, centre and guard in college and has been on the roster for every game since turning pro.
DT Faith Ekakitie
Acquired: 2017 Draft; 1st round (1st overall)
411 on Ekakitie: Still seen as a bit of a project player, as he didn’t start at Iowa until his senior season. He’s spent the winter in Winnipeg working out to improve his strength and fitness, and could get more snaps in a defensive line rotation.
FB Mike Miller
Acquired: Signed as a free agent on March 3, 2017 after six seasons (104 games) with the Edmonton Eskimos.
411 on Miller: He came exactly as advertised last season: he is an absolute force on special teams, leading the Bombers with 22 tackles, the fourth-highest total in the CFL last year. He did the exact same thing for the Eskimos for all those years.
LB Thomas Miles
Acquired: Signed as a free agent on March 4, 2017 after three years (40 games) with the Toronto Argonauts
411 on Miles: A Winnipeg product – Churchill High School/University of Manitoba – Miles has been an excellent fit since joining the Bombers organization. He’s intelligent, solid on special teams and did make spot starts at middle linebacker for the Argos, all of which make him valuable here in Winnipeg.
LB Jesse Briggs
Acquired: 2014 Draft; 2nd round (17th overall)
411 on Briggs: Has only missed three games in four seasons with the Bombers and set a career high last year with 14 special teams tackles. Knows his role and excels at it.
LB Shayne Gauthier
Acquired: 2016 Draft; 4th round (28th overall)
411 on Gauthier: Nothing complicated with what the Bombers get from Gauthier: he’s another steady special teams performer
DB Derek Jones
Acquired: 2014 Draft; 3rd round (29th overall)
411 on Jones: Athletic and quick enough that the Bombers believe he could start at safety or field corner and one of the team’s best contributors on special teams.
LS Chad Rempel
Acquired: Signed as a free agent on May 30, 2015 after being originally selected by Edmonton in 2004 and playing 10 years in the CFL with Winnipeg (9 games in 2005), Toronto (99 games), Hamilton (11 games) and Saskatchewan (6 games).
411 on Rempel: What we wrote about Rempel last year in our draft preview still holds true today, so it bears repeating – Came into the CFL as a legit receiving prospect. Turned himself into a long-snapper and is the best in the league. Period.
FB John Rush
Acquired: Released in training camp last year; re-signed as a free agent on December 16th, 2017
411 on Rush: The former Presidents’ Trophy winner as the top defensive player in Canadian college football has switched from linebacker to fullback and makes his contributions on special teams.
Acquired: Signed as an undrafted free agent on August 30th, 2017.
411 on Branning: A Canada West All-Star in 2016 while at the University of Regina, Branning wasn’t drafted but did attend a Detroit Lions mini-camp in 2017 before joining the Bombers. Coming off a very impressive showing at last week’s Bombers mini-camp.
LB Frank Renaud
Acquired: 2016 Draft; 8th round (63rd overall)
411 on Renaud: Dressed for nine CFL games last year – seven with Winnipeg and two with Hamilton. Released by the Bombers in September and rejoined the club in October after his stint with the Ticats. Another in the team’s collection of special teams linebackers.
OL Qadr Spooner
Acquired: 2017 Draft; 2nd round (15th overall)
411 on Spooner: He spent last season grooming on the practice roster. Good size at 6-4, 309 and impressed the Bombers during his days at McGill.
DB Brendan Morgan
Acquired: 2015 Draft; 2nd round (15th overall); re-signed January 24, 2018
411 on Morgan: Was cut last year, but re-signed this winter. He dressed for all 18 games as a rookie in 2015, but appeared in only 11 in 2016 due to injury.
DB Abu Conteh
Acquired: 2017 Draft, 3rd round (23rd overall).à
411 on Conteh: Injuries stalled his development last season, but the Bombers still love the raw abilities of the former Grambling starter.
Acquired: Signed on Tuesday following his release by Saskatchewan.
411 on Blaszko: A third-round draft pick of the B.C. Lions in 2016, Blaszko was grabbed by the Bombers following his release last summer, then shipped to the Riders for a conditional draft choice. Was signed again this week after being cut by Saskatchewan.
PROSPECTS
OL Cody Speller
Acquired: Signed by the Bombers on December 11, 2017
411 on Speller: Appeared in 22 games over four years with McMaster. Was not drafted last year, but really impressed at last year’s Bomber training camp before heading back to school.
DT Ian Marouf
Acquired: 2017 Draft, 6th round (50th overall)
411 on Marouf: Project player who spent a chunk of last year on practice roster. Good size at 6-1, 295.
WR Brendon Thera-Plamondon
Acquired: 2017 Draft, 7th round (59th overall)
411 on Thera-Plamondon: Registered 25 catches in seven games last year for the Calgary Dinos and doubles as a long-snapper.
WR Tylor Henry
Acquired: 2017 Draft, 8th round (68th overall)
411 on Henry: Was in camp last year before returning to Alberta. Had six TDs and 550 yards receiving in seven games for the Bears and had his moments popping off the page at last week’s mini-camp.
FUTURES
OL Geoff Gray
Acquired: 2017 Draft, 1st round (8th overall)
411 on Gray: The Manitoba Bison behemoth signed as an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers last year and then spent time with the New York Jets before finishing the year with the Cleveland Browns. The Browns did use a second-round choice last week to draft tackle Austin Corbett, projected to be a guard as a pro.
K Félix Ménard-Brière
Acquired: 2017 Draft, 4th round (34th overall)
411 on Menard-Briere: Attended camp last year before returning to the Montreal Carabins where he was named to the U Sports Second All-Canadian Team as a punter, averaging 45 yards per kick. Did not attempt a field goal last year for the Carabins. Remains on the Bombers negotiation list.
