The Winnipeg Blue Bombers open rookie camp on May 16^th. This is the seventh in our annual positional-preview series leading up to the first day players hit the field…

RECEIVERS

 It’s an interesting collection, this group of receivers the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have put together for the opening of training camp this week.

There are returning vets like Darvin Adams, Weston Dressler, Ryan Lankford, Matt Coates and Drew Wolitarsky.

There are two prized free agent additions from the winter in Adarius Bowman, who returns home to the club he spent two seasons with in 2009-10, and Nic Demski, who returns to his hometown after beginning his pro career in Saskatchewan.

There is the collection of draft picks from the last two springs in Rashaun Simonise, Daniel Petermann and Tyrone Pierre from 2018, and Tylor Henry and Brendon Thera-Plamondon from a year ago.

There are some intriguing new faces like Myles White, who spent a chunk of last year on the practice roster, along with A.J. Coney, Dominique Reed, Tony Stevens and Corey Washington, all of whom flashed during the recent mini-camp.

And of course, there are also some notable absences, including the decision to move on from Julian Feoli-Gudino, who signed in Ottawa, and Clarence Denmark – ranked 8^th on the team’s all-time receiving yardage list – who has not landed a gig with a new club after becoming a free agent.

So, as we turn our attention to the receiving corps in our positional preview series, it’s intriguing to see how much change there has been for an offence that ranked second in scoring a year ago. No position group, outside of the defensive backfield, was targeted this winter as in need of an upgrade more than those who make their livings catching passes.

Winnipeg finished eighth in average passing yardage last season (271.9 yards per game) and the decision was made to surround quarterback Matt Nichols with more weapons and to give a corps that had its injury challenges last year more depth.

The group is led by Adams, a 2018 CFL All-Star who posted career-best numbers with 76 catches for 1,120 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games before a shoulder injury sideline him in October and for the playoffs. Dressler, meanwhile, continues to be productive even while fighting through injuries – he had 51 catches for 691 yards and three touchdowns last year while being limited to 11 games.

Bowman is a solid addition, even if his numbers – 45 receptions for 534 yards and five TDs in 12 games – were down last year. He’s a big target at 6-3, 217 and is just one year removed from a sensational 2016 campaign in which he had 120 receptions for 1,761 yards and nine scores.

Landing Demski in free agency means the Bombers will move to starting two Canadian receivers this year. A University of Manitoba product, Demski offers the Bombers a running back/receiver-type skillset and could be moved all over Paul LaPolice’s offence. The other Canadian will line up at the wide-side receiver spot. Coates, who had his best game as a pro in last November’s West Semi-Final loss to Edmonton, injured his leg in offseason training, seemingly opening the door for Wolitarsky or one of the draft picks to step up and grab a starting gig in camp.

Stirring Bowman and Demski, along with the Canadian draft picks and some promising newcomers, into the concoction that will be the Bombers receiving corps makes it arguably the position group to study the most during camp.

There are some to-be-determined questions with this bunch as camp nears. But there is also less mystery than in years past with Adams and Dressler now joined by Bowman and Demski.

What the Bombers are hoping for is one of the new prospects, either Canadian or American and preferably both, to emerge as the next Chris Matthews or Milt Stegall, Gerald Wilcox or Joe Poplawski.

TRAINING CAMP 2018 PREVIEW | A LOOK AT THE RECEIVERS

The Returnees: Darvin Adams, Weston Dressler, Drew Wolitarsky*, Matt Coates*, Ryan Lankford, Chris Givens, Myles White (practice roster)
Free agent additions: Adarius Bowman (EDM), Nic Demski (SSK), Brett Blaszko* (SSK)
CFL newcomers: A.J Coney, Donteea Dye, Tylor Henry* (2017 CFL Draft pick), Dominique Reed, Tony Stevens, Brendon Thera-Plamondon * (2017 CFL Draft pick), Corey Washington
2018 CFL Draft picks: Rashaun Simonise*, Daniel Petermann*, Tyrone Pierre*
Depatures: Clarence Denmark (unsigned), Julian Feoli-Gudino (Ott.), L’Damian Washington (released)

*Indicates Canadian

IMPACT NEWCOMER

Adarius Bowman

Bowman turns 33 in August, but already seems energized and refreshed in returning to Winnipeg after his exit from Edmonton. He’s a more mature and dedicated athlete than in his first stint with the Bombers eight-nine years ago, and will not only give Matt Nichols another big target downfield, but will serve as an excellent mentor to some of the new talent that walks into the locker room this year.

X FACTOR

Nic Demski

Demski appeared in 40 games during his time in Saskatchewan, catching 69 passes for 725 yards and three touchdowns. The Bombers are of the belief the on-the-job training he received in Regina means he is on the cusp of something here in Winnipeg. Those west of here were frustrated by his inconsistency. But at just 24, the Bombers are convinced Demski can return to the multi-dimensional threat he was during his days in Bisons colours, when he was a four-time All-Canadian.

STANDOUT NUMBER: 3

The Bombers had two receivers crack the 1,000-yard mark in 2012 – Chris Matthews and Terrence Edwards – but have had only three 1K receivers since: Clarence Denmark in 2014, Weston Dressler in 2016 and Darvin Adams in 2017. Just to put that into perspective, both Saskatchewan and Hamilton had three receivers each eclipse 1K last year alone.