The Winnipeg Blue Bombers decided after last season they wanted to use a two tailback system in 2015.

Call it lightning and thunder, if you will. And if that’s the case then Cameron Marshall would love to bring the thunder.

The reason for going with a two tailback system is to keep opposing defences on their toes. The lightning (Paris Cotton or Carlos Anderson) will be the fast, scat back type, while the thunder (Marshall or Da’Rel Scott) will plow through defenders if it’s required.

Marshall can do that thanks to his 5-foot-11, 215-pound frame, but his goal is to be as well rounded as possible. He plans to show that on Friday night when the Bombers host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in their pre-season finale at Investors Group Field.

“Our coach hasn’t sat down with us and said, ‘Hey, this is what we’re going to do. You’re going to be thunder, and you’re going to be lightning.’ Our coach hasn’t sat us down and made that declarative statement,” Marshall said. “So me, just like every other running back, is just trying to be the best running back period. And whoever gets reps, that’ll be based on who plays the best in the games and who practises the most consistently out here.

“I don’t think that if because I’m bigger or Da’Rel’s bigger than Carlos or Paris then automatically we’ll get hand offs. We gotta earn our reps just like they gotta earn their reps, and the best running backs will play.”

Marshall isn’t flashy, but he is dependable. He hasn’t appeared to have missed any reps during camp, and he holds on to the ball. None of the other tailback hopefuls can say that. Cotton, the incumbent, has been healthy, but he fumbled in last week’s pre-season win over Toronto. Scott has missed the last few days due to injury, while Anderson pulled up lame on Wednesday while returning a kick.

Marshall, who had a touchdown against the Argos last week, might be able to seal a roster spot on Friday night against the Tabbies.

“Friday night is definitely a great opportunity to show everything that we’ve done so far, and it’s a great ending point to camp and to put some more good things on film,” Marshall said. “I don’t think all the decisions will be made on who makes the roster and who doesn’t based off of Friday night. They’re going to consider the whole body of work that we’ve put together in camp from the first game and from all these practices and being consistent.

“I do think Friday’s important. It’s always important when you’re going against another team.”

LATE HITS

Defensive tackles Bryant Turner, Jake Thomas and Zach Anderson, and centre Dominic Picard returned to the practice field on Wednesday after sitting out Tuesday due to minor injuries ... Defensive end Thaddeus Gibson, who was away from the team for a week due to personal reasons, was back on the field Wednesday as well ... Head coach Mike O’Shea said it’s important his team plays well on Friday so it can go into the regular season on a positive note. “Leave the game with the coaching staff and the players feeling that we’re sharp and we’re ready to go into week one,” he said ... Everyone still on the Bombers roster who is healthy will play against the Ticats. “It’s tough to go on the road on the first exhibition game because you limit some guys’ opportunities,” O’Shea said. “So this is an opportunity for a lot of guys to show what they can do on film.”

SANTELLA COULD STICK AROUND TO PUNT

Maybe Anthony Santella isn’t headed out of town after all.

Considering how well Lirim Hajrullahu played last season and the fact he’s Canadian, the thinking was Santella, an import, was invited to Bombers training camp only to keep Hajrullahu company.

On Wednesday, Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said it’s possible the Bombers could keep Santella to do the punting this season.

“That’s another spot that we’re going to evaluate and put up on the board and move the roster around and see how that all works out,” O’Shea said.

Santella has better hang time than Hajrullahu, who came into the CFL last year as primarily a placekicker but quickly learned the punting job and took over from Mike Renaud in Week 4.

The CFL changed its punting rules in the off-season, however, and they would appear to favour teams with punters who can hoof the ball high in the air. Since the five down linemen on the punt team can’t advance down field until the ball is kicked, returners should have more room to roam. Greater hang time, though, will allow the cover guys to get down the field and surround the returner before he has a chance to bolt.

Santella, who was strictly a punter at the University of Illinois, can certainly lift the ball high into the sky.

“He’s good,” O’Shea said. “I wouldn’t say that it’s the best hang time that I’ve been around since I’ve been in the CFL, because there’s been some pretty good punters with very good hang time. So to say he’s got good hang time, that’s a good endorsement.”