Milt Stegall has more career TD receptions
than anyone in CFL history and, at age 36, he shows no signs
of slowing down.
(Canadian Press file photo)
2005 RECORD: 5-13, fifth in
the West. Missed playoffs
ARRIVALS: QB Brad Banks, WR Albert Johnson III,
OL Ibrahim Khan, OL Val St. Germain, LB Barrin Simpson, S Donnavan
Carter, DB Kelly Malveaux
DEPARTURES: WR Keith Stokes, DT Joe Fleming, DB
Brad Franklin, DB Boyd Barrett, P Jon Ryan
OFFENCE: Former Montreal offensive co-ordinator
Doug Berry takes over from fired coach Jim Daley and inherits an
offence that finished third in the West in scoring with 474 points.
His first task is settling on a starting quarterback. Incumbent
Kevin Glenn, coming off a season in which he set career highs in
completions (231), attempts (403), yards (3,571) and touchdowns
(27), appears to have the inside track. Former Ottawa Renegade Brad
Banks and Mike Quinn follow on the depth chart.
Fortunately, Glenn should be backed by a strong running game, with
defending CFL rushing champion Charles Roberts returning as the
Bombers’ featured back.
Glenn should also get better protection this season from a beefed-up
offensive line, highlighted by the additions of Ibrahim Khan and
Val St. Germain.
DEFENCE: This unit was nothing short of awful
in 2005 as the opposition piled up a league-high 558 points. Winnipeg
also set CFL records for yards (8,249) and passing yards (6,335)
allowed.
Stalwart defensive tackle Joe Fleming retired before training camp,
while defensive back Brad Franklin, who started 13 games last season,
was released.
Safety Donnavan Carter and veteran defensive back Kelly Malveaux
arrive via trades and should help shore up the Bombers’ weak
pass coverage.
Winnipeg will again be looking for strong seasons from ends Tom
Canada and Gavin Walls, who had 12 sacks as a rookie in 2005.
SPECIAL TEAMS: It was a tumultuous off-season
for Winnipeg’s kicking game, which lost punter Jon Ryan to
the NFL. Then, kicker-punter Duncan O’Mahony, a free-agent
signee, went AWOL at the start of camp before being released, while
explosive return man Keith Stokes signed a free-agent contract with
Toronto.
Veteran kicker Troy Westwood, the Bombers’ all-time leading
scorer, should provide some stability as he returns for his 16th
CFL season.
COACHING: With Daley and most of his crew gone,
Berry will look to ramp up the Bombers’ offence a year after
overseeing the CFL’s highest-scoring attack in Montreal.
He’ll be helped by holdover offensive co-ordinator Mike Gibson.
Defensive guru Greg Marshall arrives from Ottawa, which finished
third in the league in takeaways a year ago.
GAME BREAKER: MILT STEGALL The 36-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down, having posted
a CFL-high 17 touchdown catches in 2005 en route to setting the
league record for career touchdown receptions.
EXPERT OPINION: "The quarterback position
is their Achilles heel. [Projected starter] Kevin Glenn hasn't been
among the upper echelon quarterbacks in the league," said CFL
on CBC analyst Sean Millington. "He's the best of the lot (Brad
Banks and Mike Quinn are the others) and that doesn't say much.
They need someone who can take them the distance.
"It'll be interesting to see how [one-time B.C. linebacker]
Barrin Simpson fits into the Winnipeg defence. There are always
challenges with a new scheme and people will be looking for results,
so that's a little added pressure he hasn't seen before.
"[Rookie head coach and former Montreal offensive co-ordinator]
Doug Berry has been working under one of the best in Don Matthews.
He's adopted the same philosophies and mindset and brought in the
[Alouettes] game plan to the Blue Bombers.
"He has a reasonable chance for success. If they finish 9-9,
he's done a good job. They'll be touch and go to make the playoffs."
