Lethal Weapon

19/02/2009 05:52

Bruiser with plenty of outside speed brings new dynamic to offence

Jesse Lumsden will be wearing the same Green and Gold jersey that his father, Neil, wore back in the Edmonton Eskimos' glory days.

Only with a different number.

The younger Lumsden on Tuesday signed a one-year deal plus an option with the Eskimos. Financial terms are said to be a $75,000 base salary, with a number of unknown incentive-laden bonuses.

What is known, is he makes the Eskimos -- a team that lacked a stable running game -- that much better.

"Wow, to get a person of his calibre. He makes our offence even more lethal than it currently is," said Eskimos head coach Richie Hall. "He's one of the quality running backs in this league. I'm just so excited to have that type of a weapon."

Unlike his dad, who wore No. 32, Jesse will don the No. 28, left behind by Siddeeq Shabazz, who was dealt to the

Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sunday. And CFL defenders are likely to see that number blow by them, if he can stay healthy.

Lumsden, a 26-year-old bruiser of a running back with plenty of outside speed, has had productive seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, averaging 6.7 yards per carry over the last two CFL campaigns. But he has been hampered by shoulder problems. Two surgeries have limited his play to just 19 games the past two seasons.

"The shoulder is great. I'm to a point where I'm going to be pushing more weight around," Lumsden said of therapy. "That's all in the past. I know I can play a full season. When I get to Edmonton I don't want to talk about injuries anymore. People have to remember that this is a high-collision sport. There is nothing I could have done any differently."

Lumsden's father, Neil, was a similar bruising fullback with the Eskimos from 1980-85 and won three Grey Cups.

The difference is, Jesse's speed gives him the ability to bust it outside.

"I always joked with Neil that Jesse got his mom's long legs, heart and ability," joked Eskimos linebackers coach Dan Kepley, a former teammate of Neil's. "And coach (Hugh) Campbell used to joke with me saying, 'If guys coming up the hole would ever beat the (crap) out of you, we'll trade for him.' Neil was one of those guys."

"Jesse is the same type of bruiser who can drop his shoulder and run right through you. The difference is Jesse can get outside," chuckled Kepley.

More from the Edmonton Journal.

SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:

This is the most excited SWIVEL HIPS has been entering an Eskimo training camp in many, many years. With the acquisitions of Lumsden and Mo Lloyd, I think the Esks have a real legitimate shot at being on the field in Calgary in November contesting the Grey Cup game.