Saturday received’t be an off day for a lot of the veteran gamers on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in any case.
Often groups relaxation lots of their skilled gamers for his or her first pre-season take a look at, so it’s just a little little bit of a shock the Bombers are taking a veteran-laden squad to Edmonton for Saturday’s exhibition opener in opposition to the Elks.
The Bombers are set to decorate 64 gamers. How lengthy the vets will play is the true query, most likely not for greater than 1 / 4.
Receiver Dalton Schoen and defensive sort out Jake Thomas have been each left behind. Linebacker Adam Bighill, defensive finish Jackson Jeffcoat, operating again Brady Oliveira, and defensive backs Winston Rose and Desmond Lawrence are all nicked up and also will sit out after lacking time in coaching camp.
Zach Collaros, Nic Demski, Kenny Lawler, Willie Jefferson, and Stanley Bryant are simply a number of the veterans who’re on the roster.
The Bombers 5 returning starters on the offensive line are making the journey to Alberta. All 4 of their quarterbacks will even costume, however Collaros is unlikely to see a lot enjoying time, if any.
Saturday’s recreation will even be the primary likelihood to see latest first spherical draft decide Anthony Bennett. The defensive lineman will make his blue and gold debut after being chosen eighth total.
Head coach Mike O’Shea is trying ahead to seeing the latest addition in a recreation state of affairs after practically two weeks of practices.
“You’d prefer to see him, as soon as once more, in opposition to individuals he doesn’t actually know,” stated O’Shea. “He’s been working towards in opposition to the identical guys.
“He’s extra of a pure go rusher, proper. I watched him extra intently the opposite day, and his hand placements, and his understanding of the place the offensive linemen are going to place their fingers and the way he’s already on prime of that. Together with his fingers, it’s fairly neat to see.”
The membership will even get an excellent take a look at how their kicking competitors is shaking down as they’re sitting their two skilled kickers in each Sergio Castillo and Marc Liegghio.
As an alternative, they’ll costume their three rookie kickers in Chandler Staton, Jamieson Sheahan, and Karl Schmitz.
You would possibly see the pinnacle coach make just a few uncommon in recreation choices on particular groups to see just a few extra kicks and punts.
“We bought some competitors in that space,” O’Shea stated. “So, now what are you doing on third and brief? We’d like to stay with the routine and go for it. Or are you kicking trigger you wish to see your kickers? I don’t know the way it’s going to unfold, however we definitely must see our guys in a recreation state of affairs with the opposite workforce dashing onerous at us.”
The Elks have already performed their first exhibition recreation, getting beat by the Calgary Stampeders 29-24 on Monday.
Kickoff on Saturday is scheduled for 3:00 pm Manitoba time.
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