THE OL WATCH:
The Bombers O-line, which has been the picture of stability and continuity over the last few years, will feature two new faces this year after the retirement of Matthias Goossen and Sukh Chungh’s exit to B.C.
On that front, Michael Couture and Cody Speller continue to take turns splitting the duties at centre while Geoff Gray has been working with the No. ones at right guard. Patrick Neufeld, who is a lock at left guard, has yet to participate in practice while right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick has been dinged the last few days. That means only Stanley Bryant, the reigning two-time CFL Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman, has been a fixture through the first week at his left tackle spot.
All of this has given opportunity for some of the newer hogs in camp – including first-round pick Drew Desjarlais – to get lots of reps. Desjarlais, for example, worked with the ones at left guard on Sunday. Tui Eli, a 2019 draft pick, missed a couple of days of camp on a personal matter and could morph into an option once he knocks the rust off after missing all of last year with a knee injury.
That said, the Bombers have also added four import OL over the last three days – part of that is related to attrition with Hardrick and Neufeld on the shelf and Manase Foketi on the veteran-exempt list. Some of it is linked to players the club were interested in signing just springing free from the NFL.
But it also means nothing here is carved in stone yet, including the possibility of still starting three imports up front.
No way we go 3 import OL...
As for our 4 new import OL... does that mean Foketi is long-term or Hardrick is more nicked up than we're letting on... interesting!!