By Mitchell Blair
For Riderville.com
It’s no secret that the number one thing on the Saskatchewan Roughriders wish list for the past couple of seasons has been a dominant rush end. They hope they now have one.
The football team has sent their 2nd and 4th round picks in the upcoming Canadian college draft to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for arguably the best rush end in the CFL—Odell Willis.
It’s a move that puts a smile on Head Coach Corey Chamblin’s face.
“I like the way that he’s progressed in his play since I first worked with him in Calgary in 2009,” Chamblin said. “He brings a winning attitude here and he’s been able to walk the walk and talk the talk with a winning organization everywhere he has been, and more importantly it keeps him off of Darian (Durant).”
Willis (6’2-255 lbs) had a monster year in 2011 in helping the Bombers get to the Grey Cup. He had 13 sacks, which tied him for the league lead with Hamilton’s Justin Hickman, and has 34 career sacks since coming into the CFL with the Stampeders at the start of the 2009 season.
To get Willis, the team had to give up a lot as they surrender two coveted Canadian picks in the upcoming draft. Assistant general manager Jeremy O’Day realizes the move is a gamble especially considering the fact Willis is going into his option year.
“Losing the Canadian picks is tough, but when you have someone that is a premier pass rusher like Odell, you have to give up something.” O’Day said. “We measured the risk and reward when it comes to his contract status and we thought that in the end it is definitely worth it.”
Willis, who helped give the Bombers the name of Swaggerville last year and elected himself as mayor, is considered by some to be a loose cannon. O’Day said he is well aware of the personality the 27-year-old has and he is confident that he can mix in well with his fellow teammates.
“Any time you bring a new guy in, you have concerns about how he will fit into the locker room,” O’Day said. “I know we have a good locker room and I know he will fit in. We realize he has quite a presence, but we have done our homework on him and I don’t think that will be a problem.”
As for Chamblin, he knows Willis may run to a different beat and he’s OK with that. He’s also OK if Willis wants to elect himself the mayor of Riderville as long as one thing happens.
“If Odell comes in here and get 13 plus sacks and get us close to or winning a Grey Cup, he can do whatever he wants,” Chamblin said with a chuckle. “As long as we are doing the right things and he is professional, I don’t mind if he’s having a little fun.”
Chamblin also took time out during the media gathering to applaud the work of GM Brendan Taman and O’Day for giving him the talent he feels he needs to get the football team back to the playoffs after missing out last year.
“Those two have really set me up well,” Chamblin said. “When I came in, they asked what I wanted and I said I want competition and I want depth. They have given me that at all the positions and I can’t wait to see these guys come out and compete, and compete at a high level.”
That wait will be a while yet though as we are still two and a half months from training camp, but there is no doubt that with the move to acquire Willis that the team has improved itself greatly on the defensive side of the ball.
