The Blue Bombers made a slew of roster moves on Saturday that included the release of ten players, the formation of a ten-man practice roster, and eight additions to injured reserve. Here they are listed below along with some analysis and a projected depth chart for week one’s tilt against the ‘Riders.
Released
INT REC Ja-Mes Logan
INT T Marc Dile
INT DB Dominique Franks
INT K/P Anthony Santella
INT DB Shaquille Richardson
INT RB Carlos Anderson
INT REC Mike Willie
NAT QB Jordan Yantz
NAT REC Jordan Reaves
NAT DB Justin Warden
Practice Roster
INT RB Da’Rel Scott
NAT FB Chris Normand
INT REC Toney Clemons
INT REC Jhomo Gordon
INT T Corey Lewis
NAT G Thomas Griffiths
INT DB Vernon Kearney
INT DB Malachi Freeman
INT DL Deantre Harlan
NAT DL/FB Ettore Lattanzio
One-Game Injured List
INT S Moe Leggett
INT QB Josh Portis
INT DL Kashawn Fraser
NAT DE Ivan Brown
NAT REC Addison Richards
Six-Game Injured List
INT DL Nate Collins
NAT G Patrick Neufeld
INT DB Troy Stoudermire
Projected Week One Depth Chart
(note: national players identified by italicized text)
QB Drew Willy / Brian Brohm / Robert Marve
RB Paris Cotton / Cameron Marshall
FB Michel-Pierre Pontbriand / Tim Cronk
WR (w) Darvin Adams
SB (x) Nick Moore / Justin Veltung
SB (y) Julian Feoli-Gudino / Kris Bastien
SB (r) Clarence Denmark
WR (z) Rory Kohlert
LT Stanley Bryant / Devin Tyler
LG Chris Greaves
C Dominic Picard / Matthias Goossen
RG Sukh Chungh
RT Jace Daniels
DE Greg Peach / Derrell Johnson / Thaddeus Gibson
DT (3) Bryant Turner / Jake Thomas
DT (NT) Zach Anderson
DE Jamaal Westerman
WLB Khalil Bass / Graig Newman / Garrett Waggoner
MLB Sam Hurl / Jesse Briggs
SLB Chris Randle / Tony Burnett
WCB Johnny Adams / Don Unamba
WHB Demond Washington
S Demetrius Wright / Teague Sherman
SHB Bruce Johnson
SCB Matt Bucknor / Derek Jones / Brendan Morgan
K Lirim Hajrullahu
P Lirim Hajrullahu
RET Justin Veltung
LS Chad Rempel
Thoughts
I was surprised and disappointed to see Yantz and Reaves released outright. Neither player was ever likely to make the Bombers’ active roster but I expected one or both to earn a spot on the practice roster. Would have been nice story to see two kids with local ties stick around, but that’s football.
Good for Thomas Griffiths for earning a practice roster spot. Griffiths, who went unselected in the CFL draft a year ago, has now broken into the league in such a way that many 2014 draftees were unable to do. It shows he’s put a lot of hard work into his own development as a young offensive lineman — hopefully he keeps it up on the PR.
It sucks that Marc Dile never got a chance to showcase his skills due to an injury, but you can’t blame the club for cutting him loose. The book on Dile when he was in Hamilton was that he was great when healthy, but almost never healthy. His performance in Blue Bomber camp this year did nothing to change that perception.
The injuries to Ivan Brown and Louie Richardson mean the Bombers will enter the 2015 regular season without a national back-up for Jamaal Westerman. Fortunately, the club will start eight nationals this season, allowing for an international to step in if Westerman gets hurt.
There’s no way Carlos Anderson doesn’t make this team if he stays healthy. Anderson’s injury likely saved Cameron Marshall his job.
The club will need to scratch two players from the above 46-man roster on game days. As it stands, I’d scratch one of Thaddeus Gibson and Derrell Johnson and one of Tony Burnett and Don Unamba. This would allow the club to keep two international running backs on the roster, something that could be a major asset in the backfield this season.
Just like last year, the Bombers will open the season starting two rookies in the secondary: Johnny Adams at weak-side cornerback and Demetrius Wright at safety. Fortunately, Moe Leggett will be back soon to reclaim his starting safety spot.
I figured Tim Cronk was toast when the Bombers signed long snapper Chad Rempel. Instead, Cronk competed for a fullback spot against newcomers Chris Normand and Ettore Lattanzio and won. Good for him.
People will always complain about injuries, but the Bombers actually got off pretty clean this year. Losing Moe Leggett and Addison Richards for the season opener hurts, but it’s a far cry from last season when Graig Newman and Ryan Lucas were lost for the year before the end of training camp. Increased roster depth also means that there’s no reason for the club to rush back Patrick Neufeld or Troy Stoudermire from the six-game injured list.
John Hodge, Blue Bomber Talk
Twitter: @BlueBomberTalk
Email: [email protected]
Check back to Blue Bomber Talk this week for more Blue Bomber and CFL coverage ahead of the 2015 season.
