Punting position up in the air

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This article was published 30/05/2023 (330 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are still struggling to solve their punting situation after 18 days of training camp and a pre-season game.

If anything, things are more complicated than ever as Global punters Jamieson Sheahan and Karl Schmitz both impressed in last Saturday’s exhibition game at Commonwealth Stadium against the Edmonton Elks.

The pair had four punts each, with Sheahan’s going for an average of 48.3 yards per kick and Schmitz’s travelling 49.5 yards.

Canadian Marc Liegghio, the team’s punter the past two seasons, sat out the Edmonton game but will get a chance to show his stuff on Friday at IG Field against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the preseason finale.

Head coach Mike O’Shea admitted Wednesday this has been one of the most challenging position battles to judge in quite some time.

He was asked what the deciding factor is going to be.

“I don’t know yet. At some point I’ll know what that factor even is, but I don’t know yet,” said O’Shea, who also added they’re still trying to figure out how they’re going to split the reps between the specialists on Friday.

“They’re all good, they’re all great guys, they all fit. There’s the numbers, style, and gut (feeling). It’ll just come down to that, probably.”

At 36 years old, the Bermuda-born Schmitz is the best story of the group. Saturday was his first game action since Aug. 24, 2015, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gave him a look in a preseason contest against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Schmitz struck his third punt in Edmonton almost perfectly as it hit an opponent’s foot at the two-yard line before taking a strange bounce into the end zone and out of bounds for a single.

“As much as you prepare and practise, there’s nothing like that game experience. Fortunately for me, it was just like riding a bike again,” said Schmitz, who was chosen in the second round of the 2023 CFL Global Draft. Sheahan, who hails from Australia, was chosen in the first.

“There’s really nothing too complicated about punting. You just make sure you’re limber and you keep it as simple as possible and you let the hours and hours of training take its course and then you just live with the result.”

O’Shea has been adamant throughout camp that age will not play a factor into the decision.

“He can pound the ball. It just comes off his leg so well. He is obviously in impeccable shape. He takes care of his body and practises his craft, it’s pretty neat,” said O’Shea.

“I don’t put a lot of stock into age, especially at that position, because we’ve all witnessed Lui Passaglia, Bob Cameron, Troy (Westwood), Trevor (Kennerd), like all these guys kicked for a long time.”

While he won’t admit it, there’s more pressure on Liegghio now than ever before. With Sheahan and Schmitz proving they can get the job done, Liegghio needs a strong showing Friday or else it could be his final game in blue and gold.

“You feel it’s your job and that’s what I’m thinking going into this game. I’m just going to continue doing what I’m doing,” said Liegghio.

“I feel comfortable. This is my third year here now and I’ve got the lay of the land and everything. I’m just going to go out there, do my thing, and not really think about anything else.”

This is Liegghio’s first training camp where he’s had to scratch and claw to make the roster. His Canadian passport, and the fact he can also kick field goals if something were to happen to Sergio Castillo or Chandler Staton, could end up giving the 26-year-old the edge over the Global legs.

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“He came out on the first day and had to make a couple adjustments, but he’s been spot on since,” said O’Shea when asked what he’s seen from Liegghio.

While most veterans dread training camp, Schmitz has been all smiles. After years of training and attending kicking camps to no avail, the 6-4 Schmitz couldn’t be happier just to be in the mix for his dream job.

“It’s really out of my hands, so as long as I just do my job and let the rest play out as it does then I’m happy with the result,” he said.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31

Taylor Allen
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Eighteen years old and still in high school, Taylor got his start with the Free Press on June 1, 2011. Well, sort of...

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