Posted June 20, 201411 yr comment_58416 From Penton tonight: The offensive line is finally starting to take shape, and it looks like they’re going with an all-Canadian interior. For the last few days Chris Greaves has been at left guard, Steve Morley at centre and Paddy Neufeld at right guard. It also looks like Dan Knapp could start at right tackle over Jarvis Jones.
June 20, 201411 yr Author comment_58421 I'm a little surprised Knapp gets the start over Jones. Also surprised they have Neufeld at guard and not tackle. Will be interesting if Howard or Jones is the backup import OL...maybe both are kept.
June 20, 201411 yr comment_58425 Well Whos to say newfy and Knapp don't switch if they don't like the push or blocking..
June 20, 201411 yr comment_58428 Surprised that Knapp is getting the nod - Jones played well last season and neither him or Knapp really grabbed the job in pre-season... hope we keep Jones around, I didn't like what I saw from Knapp at RT last year.
June 20, 201411 yr Author comment_58431 After watching Knapp closely at practice I'm comfortable with him starting anywhere on the line. Guy is a beast and a physical freak.
June 20, 201411 yr comment_58433 Flip Knapp and Neufeld if it were up to me. Knapp will be exposed outside.
June 20, 201411 yr Author comment_58439 On Dan Knapp: SPORTS Knapp sacked touchdown envy in favour of tackle transition Ken Wiebe Sunday, June 15, 2014, 5:52 PM Dan Knapp converted from tight end to tackle at Arizona State and is now among those who will try to keep Bombers quarterbacks upright this year. Most offensive linemen don’t spend much time thinking about when their next touchdown might come. But Dan Knapp is no ordinary offensive lineman and while he enjoys his new position, he admits there are times when he’d like to get open and find the end zone. “I enjoy what I do out here, it’s a lot of fun. But of course, I (miss playing tight end) and I miss scoring touchdowns,” said Knapp, a converted tight end who is now a tackle and guard with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Knapp was the top-ranked tight end in Nevada when he was recruited to play for the Arizona State Sun Devils. But after two seasons in which he had five receptions for 40 yards and a touchdown, the coaching staff asked Knapp to bulk up and become a tackle. “Our offensive co-ordinator (at ASU) got fired and we went to a spread offence, so we basically eliminated the tight end,” said Knapp. “I didn’t have much of a choice. I could transfer (to another school), lose a year or just bite the bullet, gain 20 pounds and play offensive tackle and that’s exactly what I did. Here I am now. No regrets.” It turns out that Knapp was a quick learner, starting six games at tackle during his junior year, then starting all 13 games as a senior with the Sun Devils. How did Knapp make such a smooth transition? “I had good coaching,” he said. “I just wanted to be on the field. That’s all I cared about, so I did what was necessary and what was asked of me and it was successful. There was a lot of everything. A lot of weight-room work, getting stronger. A lot of film work, a lot of one-on-one time with the coaches. “I was an athlete and I just picked it up.” Knapp’s ability to shift positions caught the attention of NFL scouts and he was signed as a free agent by the Oakland Raiders, appearing in four pre-season games in 2012 before he was released. Knapp then spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals before ending up with the Blue Bombers last September, moving quickly into the starting lineup. “The game is becoming slower and I’m starting to get a better understanding (of the CFL game),” said Knapp. “Where I lack technique-wise, where I still need to learn, I can make up with my athleticism — not that I’m not going to work on the technical side.” Knapp’s athletic ability is evident almost every day at Bomber practice, when he blows away the field while running sprints. There was a day after one workout when Blue Bombers starting quarterback Drew Willy figured he would run with the hogs and he needed to run all out in order to stay slightly ahead of Knapp. Knapp has started at both tackle and guard during the Blue Bombers’ pre-season games and figures to find a spot at one of those positions once the regular season starts on June 26. “He’s tough,” said Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea. “He brings the same thing that E.J. Kuale brings to the defence, he’s a battler.” Provided Knapp does a good job protecting the quarterback and creating some holes for the running game this season, O’Shea just might reward the lineman with a special play in one of the goal-line packages. “Coach (O’Shea) asked me the other day if I can still catch the ball,” said Knapp. “I said coach, of course I can. I’ve still got it. Hopefully, they might throw something in there for me. That would be awesome and I would love to score one more touchdown before my career ends.”
June 20, 201411 yr comment_58452 I didn't like what I saw from Knapp at RT last year. Presumably he'll be better now with more than just a few days to prepare.
June 20, 201411 yr comment_58455 I have complete confidence in whatever line up we come up with on the OL. so awesome having Wylie here!
June 20, 201411 yr comment_58474 January-Greaves-Morley-Goossen-Neufield, would be even better, but I don't think we're there just yet. IMO Jones didn't look too good during TC and I thought Knapp look decent/solid at times. Neufield IMO looked really good at RT at times, you can clearly see the potential with him there, I wonder if O'Shea & Co. are going with this line-up only until Goossen is ready.
June 20, 201411 yr comment_58484 For the first time in a long long long time, thinking about our Oline doesn't fill me with feelings of dread and remorse. Confidence? No, not quite there yet. But, maybe, someday, someday soon perhaps. We can be average. Blessed blessed average.
June 20, 201411 yr comment_58490 Neufield IMO looked really good at RT at times, you can clearly see the potential with him there, I wonder if O'Shea & Co. are going with this line-up only until Goossen is ready. I suspect that it'll be an injury that brings Goossen into the starting lineup. We're not deep enough to just let him stew until he's ready; at some point he'll just be tossed in and we'll see if he sinks or swims.
June 20, 201411 yr comment_58504 Id like to see Knapp at Fullback and Turner at Tailback in a Goal Line Power I Formation. That would be sweet.
June 20, 201411 yr comment_58510 I suspect we may see International-Greaves-Gossen-Morley-Neufeld by mid season.
June 20, 201411 yr Author comment_58511 The thing with starting 4 nationals on the OL is that you need a couple good national OL's who can step in as backups, in case of injury. Right now I don't think we have that type of depth. If Swiston was reliable, maybe. But the guy is always injured. Stevenson and Everett aren't ready to step in yet either.
June 20, 201411 yr comment_58611 I wonder if Swiston still fits into the team's plans at all He has too, unless they make a trade. The next guy up was a DL last season...
June 20, 201411 yr comment_58633 I wonder if Swiston still fits into the team's plans at all Unless Everett is really really good already I can't see switching out Swiston before 2015.
June 20, 201411 yr comment_58634 I wonder if Swiston still fits into the team's plans at all Walters did speak highly of his abilities in the offseason, only asterisk he put next to him was how often he was hurt.
June 20, 201411 yr comment_58664 Swiston has looked pretty good when playing I'd keep him around as our 6th
June 20, 201411 yr comment_58666 The thing with starting 4 nationals on the OL is that you need a couple good national OL's who can step in as backups, in case of injury. Right now I don't think we have that type of depth. If Swiston was reliable, maybe. But the guy is always injured. Stevenson and Everett aren't ready to step in yet either. You only need 1 Nat'l backup OL on gameday roster. If an injury happens, just go back to 2-3 Int'l/Nat'l OL the next game.
June 20, 201411 yr Author comment_58669 The thing with starting 4 nationals on the OL is that you need a couple good national OL's who can step in as backups, in case of injury. Right now I don't think we have that type of depth. If Swiston was reliable, maybe. But the guy is always injured. Stevenson and Everett aren't ready to step in yet either. You only need 1 Nat'l backup OL on gameday roster. If an injury happens, just go back to 2-3 Int'l/Nat'l OL the next game. I know. What I'm saying is that we don't even have one legit national backup right now if you start Greaves, Morley, Goossen and Neufeld.
June 20, 201411 yr comment_58670 Obviously this coaching staff, specifically Wylie and his protege (forget the guy's name), see something in Swiston that they didn't see in Pencer and Kowalczuk.... there's still hope Swiston could turn out to be a serviceable player...
June 20, 201411 yr Author comment_58672 Obviously this coaching staff, specifically Wylie and his protege (forget the guy's name), see something in Swiston that they didn't see in Pencer and Kowalczuk.... there's still hope Swiston could turn out to be a serviceable player... True but right now he's injured. And has a history of injuries.
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