With the loss of Justin Sorensen yesterday, Kirk Penton of the Winnipeg Sun is reporting that the Bombers are looking at moving Steve Morley to centre this season.  Thoughts on whether he would be an upgrade over Sorensen? 

 

If this were to occur, and assuming we draft Lavertu, I'd see Lavertu starting mid-season, or at the latest in 2015. 

I like this idea. What we need to do is put him exclusively at that spot so he can really concentrate on it. That should help his snaps, b/c they were brutal each of the last two TCs when they tried him there.

 

IMO if we could turn Sorensen into a centre we can do it with Morley.

Morley could probably extend his career by a couple years if he learns how to play Centre.  But can he do it, I don't know...

Depends on the OL coach. A good OL coach could help him transition. Delmonaco sure didn't do a very good job of it.

Is Wylie still available to be the o line coach?

imo, they should transition Greaves to C instead of Morley. Greaves is younger and might stay longer in Blue&Gold.

slide Morley to the LG beside his buddy January.

imo, they should transition Greaves to C instead of Morley. Greaves is younger and might stay longer in Blue&Gold.

slide Morley to the LG beside his buddy January.

 

Makes no sense. The left side of our line is about the only part of it that isn't broken.

Morley has already proven himself to be a poor guard.  Why would we put him beside "his buddy" January?  Is that going to magically make him a serviceable player?

 

This is just contingency planning in the event Ottawa takes Lavertu.  If Lavertu is drafted and earns the spot, Morley's a pretty easy transition to 6th or 7th OL, given his experience everywhere on the line.

Morley could probably extend his career by a couple years if he learns how to play Centre.  But can he do it, I don't know...

He's been really durable which would be great for consistency but the question remains can he do it.

I'm wondering where Pencer fits in going forward. Or was he another wasted pick?

I'm wondering where Pencer fits in going forward. Or was he another wasted pick?

 

If they move Morley to centre, Pencer might just end up starting at right guard.

Yep, I assume RT will be a battle between Pencer and Neufeld.

Our O-Line has been crappy enough starting two imports, can we really afford to sit someone like Jarvis Jones in favor of Pencer or Neufeld? 

There is no part of our OL that is exactly dominant... including the left side.  I like moving Greaves to Centre, lots of upside to that.

People on this board wanted to run Morley out of town all last season. Now he is projected as the starting centre? Someone explain that as being an upgrade?

People on this board wanted to run Morley out of town all last season. Now he is projected as the starting centre? Someone explain that as being an upgrade?

 

Could be an upgrade on starting Kowalczuk.  Nobody said it would be an upgrade over Sorensen.

Didn't Morley practice at center last year and he was awful at it?  He couldn't get the long snaps down in shotgun.

Kowalczuk has been around for 3 years ? And barely seen the field. He is a perpetual rookie on this team, with the rest of the all rookie team of Swiston and Pencer. Potential ? Yikes.

After the success of Jones, I think we are betting on the second pick - Lavertu? - to step in and actually play Centre.

 

I could see our line shaping up like:

 

January - Greaves - Lavertu - Pencer - Neufeld

 

Jones on 46, Morely as 6th OL

 

Pretty rookie line but I think they gamble with new blood...  at least I hope that they do

Our O-Line has been crappy enough starting two imports, can we really afford to sit someone like Jarvis Jones in favor of Pencer or Neufeld? 

 

No.  Neufeld is a major question mark with his health anyways, and not very good, if we're starting him at tackle just for the ratio, we're in real bad shape.  When Pencer played last year he looked like he belonged physically but very raw against pass rush moves when he did get engaged, IMO in that Edmonton game he looked more comfortable when he played RT after whoever left due to injury.  I think if he plays more and gets to see where he needs to improve and has a decent coach, he'll be a decent player.  I think they'll keep developing him at guard.

 

Neufeld is a classic just try to get in the way for as long you can type of OL at this level IMO.  Not a fan.  One of the big improvements the Riders made from 2012 to 2013 was getting him off the field.

 

I can't see them starting with less than 2 imports.

Morley as our starting centre ???

Our O-line just can never seem to get better. The fact that Kowalczuk and Morley are both still here just shows how badly we need offensive lineman.

Didn't Morley practice at center last year and he was awful at it? He couldn't get the long snaps down in shotgun.

You're thinking of Kowalczuk in 2012.

Which position is 'easier' to play as an OL, centre or guard? By easier, I mean getting by at the position with a sub-par o-lineman.

Which position is 'easier' to play as an OL, centre or guard? By easier, I mean getting by at the position with a sub-par o-lineman.

Guard. Less to think about. Basically a barroom brawler who just has to physically beat up the guy across. C has so much more to do on the field, incl calling formation and such.

Barring a major development, the effectiveness of the O-line looks like it will all hang on Neufeld and Pencer. Not the news I was hoping for.