Desmond Lawrence following his interception in the Western Final
It’s an astonishing number, even in the ever-changing and violent, collision sport business that is the Canadian Football League.
Get this: the Winnipeg Blue Bombers started 15 different players in their secondary last season, all part of eight different personnel combinations in that unit and with none of those combos working together for more than four games in a row.
Yet, even with all that turnover – most of it prompted by injury, some performance related – here’s an even more astonishing number, or series of them:
1. The Blue Bombers defence finished first in the CFL last year in points allowed, at 20.6
2. The Blue Bombers surrendered 253.6 yards passing per game last year, tied with B.C. for the fewest.
3. The Blue Bombers allowed just 19 passing touchdowns last year – once again, fewest in the league.
And so, as we trot out the second in our Positional Preview series leading up to the opening of main training camp next week, a question: just how good could this group be without being so ravaged by injuries and being able to enjoy even a modicum of stability with the lineup?
The unit should open the season ahead of last year with safety Brandon Alexander available right from the get-go. In 2022, the club used both Malcolm Thompson and Nick Hallett in his place, and both were more than capable, before Alexander returned in September.
Veteran Winston Rose is back at one corner, with Desmond Lawrence, grabbed last fall after his release from Hamilton and Demerio Houston – who was playing well before a season-ending injury – also back in 2023.
Two-time CFL All-Star Deatrick Nichols, a man many in Bomberland insist isn’t just the best defensive back in the league, but the best defender – period – will lock down one halfback spot with Jamal Parker and Evan Holm, both of whom flashed in their rookie seasons, ready to take another step in Year 2.
Alden Darby, Jr., twice traded for by the club – including last year – is a comfortable fit at the Dime spot, but could get pushed by Canadian Redha Kramdi, who blossomed when given reps there in 2022.
There’s also this acknowledgement in any discussion about the Blue Bombers defensive backs: the team’s personnel and scouting staff led by Ted Goveia, Danny McManus and Cyril Penn have consistently unearthed talent to hand over to defensive coordinator Richie Hall and Jordan Younger for grooming including Nichols and DeAundre Alford, now with the Atlanta Falcons, while drafting a Canadian talent like Tyrell Ford, who is heading to camp with the Green Bay Packers. Any number of the collection of the newcomers coming into camp could be the next Nichols, Alford or Alexander.
The team also beefed up its Canadian content in the secondary in the draft, adding Jake Kelly of Bishop’s and Windsor’s Bret MacDougall.
All of this explains, in part, why the organization doesn’t sweat change in their air defence. That said, some continuity would be welcome, too.
TRAINING CAMP 2023 PREVIEW
A LOOK AT THE DEFENSIVE BACKS
The Returnees:
Safeties: Brandon Alexander, Nick Hallett*, Souleymane Karamoko (G)
Halfbacks: Deatrick Nichols, Jamal Parker, Evan Holm
Cornerbacks: Winston Rose, Desmond Lawrence, Demerio Houston
Dime: Alden Darby, Jr., Redha Kramdi*, Cedrick Lavigne*
Injured: Noah Hallett*
Newcomers: Charles-Antoine Beaulieu*, Jordan Brown, Matt Cole, Abu Daramy-Swaray, Karon Delince, Tyrique McGhee, Jordan Veltri*, Deuce Wallace
Departed: Tyrell Ford* (signed with Green Bay Packers; rights remain with Wpg if he returns to the CFL), Donald Rutledge, Jr., Nick Taylor, Malcolm Thompson*, Patrice Rene*, Tyquwan Glass
CFL 2023 Draft picks: Jake Kelly (second round, 15th overall); Bret MacDougall (sixth round, 53rd overall)
*Indicates Canadian; (G) – Global player
Keep an eye on: CB Desmond Lawrence
He arrived last October after being dumped by Hamilton, but found a home on the CFL’s stingiest defence, starting three games – his debut coming October 15th in Vancouver, followed by starts in both the Western Final and Grey Cup.
He’s got good size at 6-1 and 215 and somehow fell out of favour with the Ticats last season, less than a year after being named the club’s Most Outstanding Rookie. Having the benefit of a full training camp and more help from coaches like Hall and Younger could be massive for Lawrence in Winnipeg.
Did you know?
Rod Hill (1988-92) holds the club record for career interceptions with 47, followed by Norm Rauhaus (1956-67) with 34 and Gord Rowland (1954-63) with 31. All three are members of the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame.
Notable Number: 48
The Blue Bombers defence of 1990 set a CFL record that still stands with 48 interceptions as a team that year. The highest total last year was 29, by Toronto.
The Blue Bombers open rookie camp on May 10th with main training camp following on May 14th. This is the second installment of our annual positional-preview series leading up to the first day.
