MontrealAlouettes.com
MONTREAL – Offensive lineman Ryan Bomben’s hidden talent in the receiving department isn’t so secret anymore.
Standing at 6-foot-5 and tipping the scales at over 300 pounds, Bomben is a sizeable target who is becoming an important part of the Alouettes offensive arsenal.
Just ask the Edmonton Eskimos who made the mistake of (somehow) losing sight of Bomben who burned the Esks’ defence with a 5-yard touchdown catch from Anthony Calvillo on Oct. 28 at Percival Molson Stadium. That touchdown was the first of his career and his eighth career reception since Marc Trestman began his Bomben red zone experiment last season.
“Ryan grabbed our attention as soon as he joined this team,” admitted Calvillo. “We all saw him at practice enjoying himself catching balls after field goals and punts and you could tell how mobile he was and how well he could catch the ball.”
Seeing such unique qualities in the young o-lineman is what led to his responsibilities growing at strategic points in a game.
“Ryan would also look good catching balls in the pre-game warm-ups,” concurred offensive coordinator Marcus Brady. “So he became a new ripple in our game plan.”
The Alouettes newest secret weapon isn’t about to forget his first CFL major against the Eskimos.
“It was really surreal,” recalled Bomben who still can’t help but smile whenever the memorable play is brought up. “I knew I was a possible target for Anthony on that play but I still felt pretty lucky that he looked my way.”
The man at the other end of that play also has fond memories of Bomben’s big moment.
“It’s always exciting to see an offensive lineman surprise people and do something special like that,” said Calvillo. “But it almost means even more to his fellow linemen because of how tight those guys are and how strong the bond is between them. It was a really amazing moment.”
After spending four years with the University of Guelph Gryphons before being drafted in the fourth round of the CFL Canadian Draft by the Alouettes in 2010, Bomben always had his fingers crossed that he would one day crack a CFL roster.
“I was in my sophomore year at Guelph when I starting believing I could end up having a pro career,” admitted the 25-year-old Burlington, Ontario native.
It now looks like Bomben is starting to believe in himself as a receiver. While he caught three passes in 2011 and five more this season, it’s worth noting that his first-ever catch came against the Argos.
Bomben will be looking to add to that total on Sunday (TICKETS).
