Bombers hope continuity on offensive line leads to better QB protection

Success in the CFL starts with the quarterback, but you can't forget the group that lays the foundation.

Blue Bombers quarterback Drew Willy needs to stay upright this year after suffering a season-ending knee injury last August, and his offensive line is motivated to make that happen.

"We've got to protect that guy," left tackle Stanley Bryant said Wednesday after the Bombers wrapped up their three-day mini-camp for offensive players.

"If we're not protecting him, then he can't do his job. If he's not doing his job, he's not going to make us look good and we're not going to make him look good."

The offensive line at the mini-camp featured familiar faces from last year, with four starters on the field: Bryant, centre Matthias Goossen, right guard Sukh Chungh and right tackle Patrick Neufeld. Left guard Jace Daniels didn't participate because he's still recovering from ankle surgery.

Critics would say keeping that unit intact might not be a good idea, considering last year's 5-13 squad gave up the second-most sacks in the league (59). The offence was also fifth for rushing yards and seventh in passing, which got worse after Willy's injury and his inconsistent replacements.

Head coach Mike O'Shea said he wasn't pinning that high sack total on the offensive line, claiming the entire offence played a role.

"To me, continuity on the O-line is extremely important," he said. "So the question, why are they going to be better? Because they're going to have another year with (offensive line coach) Bob (Wylie) and they're going to be possibly put in a different situation a lot of times."

Bryant was one of Winnipeg's big free-agent signings prior to last season.

"We did some good things last year, we also did some bad things," said Bryant, who's going into his seventh season.

But he noted last year was their first together and all of them should be better, especially having the camp that let them learn new offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice's playbook.

"I can't really pinpoint what it was that I was not as good as I was before, but I think this year will be a totally different year," Bryant predicted.

"I'll be way better. I think the group will be way better because now we're getting a head start on other teams, coming in with the new offence. We're getting a jump start."

Chungh was a starter in his rookie season last year and said players can learn from what happened.

"And grow from that," he said. "Our goal is definitely to do our job and get better as a unit. To get better as a unit, we've got to spend a little bit more time together and get familiar with each other."

Willy described the camp as "great" even though it was only for the offence.

"Coach LaPolice, he put a lot of stuff in where it was kind of just the basics, but we were doing it at a fast tempo, fast speed." Willy said.

"I thought our O-line did a good job, just kind of moving around, different run plays that we had. And then having Andrew Harris in the backfield, just kind of working with him, getting a sense of what he likes."

O'Shea said cuts may be made before rookies open CFL training camps open May 25.

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