Bombers draft & FA camp prep

[gbill2004]

Interesting article from today's free press:

The image on the big screen in Kyle Walters' office is paused momentarily, frozen on one of the receiving prospects the Winnipeg Blue Bombers general manager is evaluating for this spring's Canadian Draft.

And the brown uniforms and gold helmets eliminate any doubt as to who is under the microscope at the moment: University of Manitoba Bisons slotback Nic Demski.

"He's a stud," said Walters. "A stud, stud, stud. There's three receivers from the draft -- Demski, Lemar Durant from Simon Fraser and Addison Richards from Regina -- who could come in here and wouldn't be out of place competing for a starting spot, in my opinion."

It's here the debate is unfolding in the Bomber football offices, a discussion that will only be further fuelled when assistant GM/director of player personnel Ted Goveia, assistant GM/director of U.S. scouting Danny McManus and national scout Drew Morris arrive in Winnipeg on Monday to begin fine-tuning the team's preparations for the draft, in advance of the three regional player combines and the main evaluation camp later this month.

The draft is scheduled for May 12.

And the meat of the discussion goes something like this:

Should the Bombers grab an offensive lineman with the second overall pick they own, or go against the grain and nab a receiver, then hope that a draft deep in O-linemen will still serve up a solid prospect when they pick again at Nos. 11 and 15? Or even move down in the first round via trade and hope to land another later pick in a deep draft?

"The conventional wisdom is always O-line, O-line, O-line," said Walters. "The guard we would draft at No. 2 would be picked just because this is what you do: draft and develop offensive linemen. So you draft the O-lineman at No. 2... he's going to be good and you let him compete this year and you add some depth. Maybe in a year or two he's playing.

"But then because it's such a good draft, you could also bite the bullet this year and say, 'We got (Dominic) Picard in free agency. We feel comfortable with Picard, (Chris) Greaves, (Patrick) Neufeld and Matthias (Goossen). Three of them are going to be playing.

"So what if we went with the best football player with our first pick?"

Now, as much as the tried-and-true blueprint is to always draft O-linemen early, there could be some merit for the Bombers to go against the grain with the second pick. They plan to start two Canadians in their receiving corps -- Rory Kohlert and Julian Feoli-Gudino -- and traded Cory Watson and the 26th pick to Saskatchewan for homegrown prospect Kris Bastien, the rights to a neg-list player and the 15th selection. Kurt Goodrich and Ezra Millington, two other Canadian receivers, will also be in camp.

Granted, there isn't a Gerald Wilcox among that crew -- he was the last Canadian Bomber receiver to finish with more than 1,000 yards, way back in 1995 -- but landing another Canadian who could possibly start much more quickly than an offensive lineman would give the Bombers considerably more roster flexibility.

As it stands, the club's seven Canadian starters would come along the O-line (3), at receiver (2), linebacker (1) and cornerback (1).

"It's such a great draft and we're going to get a good one at No. 2 if we pick an O-lineman," said Walters.

"But none of them are going to come in and have you saying, 'Slam dunk, this kid is going to be better than Greaves, Picard, or Neufeld or Matthias.' There are a bunch of them that are going to be like Matthias -- good solid prospects that will be good pros. But they need some development.

"(Receiver) is a position where we could keep loading up. Since Cory (selected ninth in 2010), we really haven't spent any draft picks on receivers. All of this has sparked a ton of debate."

BLUE 'TO-DO' LIST

The Bombers still have some big-time holes on their depth chart and hope to find some plugs at next month's free-agent camp in Florida. Some of the numbers:

14 receivers are coming to the mini-c six would likely be invited to main camp.

Eight linebackers will be in Florida; five will advance to main camp.

12 defensive backs, seven to main camp.

The Bombers are also looking for a specific type of receiver.

"Big guys," said Walters. "We're looking for that 'X' receiver (wideout), that guy who is big, physical and a precise route-runner. That's one of the issues we had last year: Denny (Clarence Denmark) and Nick (Moore) are more or less the same type of guy, a slotback who handles the underneath stuff. But we need that big-play explosive receiver that can win one-on-one battles. That's what we need to find and we're trying to find as many as possible. They either have to be big Chris Matthews types who can just win with their size, or precise route runners."

[ALuCsRED]

"(Receiver) is a position where we could keep loading up. Since Cory (selected ninth in 2010), we really haven't spent any draft picks on receivers. All of this has sparked a ton of debate."

 

 

Hmmm....

 

2013

Round

3     Fitzgerald, Carl     WR   Saint Mary's

4     DiCroce, Michael  WR   McMaster

6     Alli, Stephen         WR   Florida

 

2012

Round

3     Aprile, Johnny    WR    Queen's

 

2011

Round

1      Etienne, Jade    WR   Saskatchewan

6      Mahoney, Liam  WR  Concordia

[Mark F]

How many drafted after first round end up making a team?

[SPuDS]

How many drafted after first round end up making a team?

I believe that is the implication as well... Receivers that are capable of being starters or game changers...

[DR. CFL]

I like the Montreal formula of o line o line o line....it continues to allow them to start 5 national o linemen and playing longevity favours o linemen. The end result is both depth and longevity.

[Mike]

I'm totally not opposed to picking Lemar Durant at number 2 if available.

[gbill2004]

I'm totally not opposed to picking Lemar Durant at number 2 if available.

My only two concerns with Durant are:

1. He ends up in the NFL

2. He turns into another Kito Poblah

[IC Khari]

I also wouldn't mind taking a chance on Demski, I think the O-lineman we have now will only get better as they develop ... and I still think we can get another good one at 11 if needed ...

[sweep the leg]

I like the Montreal formula of o line o line o line....it continues to allow them to start 5 national o linemen and playing longevity favours o linemen. The end result is both depth and longevity.

Montreal has only taken an OL with their first pick once in the last four years.

[sweep the leg]

I'm fully on board with a receiver at #2. The three top end guys will almost certainly be gone before our 2nd pick, but there will still be good OL there.

[gbill2004]

I'm fully on board with a receiver at #2. The three top end guys will almost certainly be gone before our 2nd pick, but there will still be good OL there.

With all these Canadian OLs getting NFL interest, you don't know that. I'd still go OL at 2 overall.

[gbill2004]

@BomberJetsTalk: Walters reveals 2 things in excerpt from @WFPEdTait: Morley not in the plans, top OL prospects won't play tackle.

[Mr Dee]

I don't envy the decision to choose at #2, but we worked so hard to get it, I don't want them to be too hasty in their choice.

I'm leery about taking a receiver at #2, what with our past choices. Recently, we've been getting better production from non-drafted Nat. receivers than our own hot picks. But, if we go receiver, I'd prefer Durant. I like Demski, but I'm not sure about him at #2 - our 1st pick. Super important to make that 1st pick count. And it certainly would help the cause if we make the best use of our first 3 picks.

The boys are doing their homework, and I'm praying the dog doesn't end up eating it.

[sweep the leg]

I'm leery about taking a receiver at #2, what with our past choices.

We have recent history of a terrible high pick on an OL too. Take who you think is the best and don't let past mistakes made by other people shape your decision.

[iso_55]

I'm totally not opposed to picking Lemar Durant at number 2 if available.

He's a good one.

[rebusrankin]

I'm surprised that none of the OL project to being able to play tackle. I thought Groulx and Ruby did?

 

If Demski or Durant can play right away, I wouldn't be opposed to selecting them at #2, OL at #11 and #15.

[Dirty30]

Why Durant over Demski? If Varga is available at 11 or 15 do you take him?

[Goalie]

Varga will be in the NFL for a while if not for his career, I'd pass on Varga. Demski or Durant at 2, I'm thinking Ottawa might take a receiver tho..

 

I'd go Demski at 2, OL at 11 and later and a positonal player like DL or LB at 15. 

 

Don't need to get 2 OL's at 11 and 15, Could get a project OL later in the draft, like a quinn everett type. 

[braddman19]

I get the dilemma going OL or other at #2.  My preference - whomever can actively contribute to the success of the team this year.

 

Is there a consensus player to go #1 overall this year?  I can't recall there being a can't miss prospect that people can agree on at #1.

[Tracker]

From Walters' reported comments, it sounds like he is leaning towards a wide receiver.

[Dirty30]

Or is Walters playing mind games with the other GMs? May be bluffing to make a trade

[Noeller]

Or is Walters playing mind games with the other GMs? May be bluffing to make a trade

I have a hard time believing Walters is going to show his cards to everyone in the FP...

[Goalie]

He has the 2nd pick tho. He will get a player he wants regardless of what Ottawa does.

[gbill2004]

He has the 2nd pick tho. He will get a player he wants regardless of what Ottawa does.

Maybe a team drafting after us wants Demski like Toronto for example. Walters might be able to trade our first for their first and second, for example, if they really want Demski.

[IC Khari]

Is Ottawa going O-line with the number one pick? I still think we need a good Canuck D-lineman somewhere.