Myles White won’t allow himself to look too much beyond the next day of Winnipeg Blue Bombers training camp. That’s just how a guy thinks when he’s in his sixth professional camp.
All that said, if he could dream a little bit – and, heck, who doesn’t – he would circle June 22nd and September 21st on his calendar. That’s when the Bombers face the Montreal Alouettes, and if the master plan was to unfold just as he hoped, White would be lining up against his older brother Mitchell.
Mitchell, FYI, is his twin. He’s a minute older, officially, and a defensive back with the Als.
“I’m looking forward to hopefully playing him this upcoming season,” said the amiable White with a grin.
“We go against each other every day. When I was in the NFL, I’d try to help him by using the ‘Waggle’ – or trying to, not really knowing what to do. Now this offseason we worked together and it was like bloodshed, man. I can’t let him get the best of me. Now I want to score as much touchdowns on him as I can.
“Of course. I want to get the last laugh.”
White joined the Bombers practice roster last October after his second stint with the New York Jets. Both he and his brother headed to Michigan State for college, before Myles completed his final two years at Louisiana Tech. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Green Bay Packers in 2013 and has also been with the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He was one of the standouts at both the mini and rookie camp and has had a solid first two days of main Bombers camp. Clearly, that introduction to the CFL game last fall has already served him well this month.
“It helped tremendously,” said White. “I mean, the ‘Waggle’ is not an easy thing for an American to pick up, especially not growing up playing the (Canadian) game. So, as much experience as I can get doing that and learning the plays… it’s always going to help you. And then learning from guys like AB (Adarius Bowman), Darv (Darvin Adams) and Dress (Weston Dressler) makes it a lot easier.”
“It’s just the timing. Instead of running a 10-yard out, you’re running a 20-yard out. The footwork is different, the intricate parts of route running are different. But it’s such a thing of beauty once you start understanding the benefits of it. That’s why learning from guys and seeing it done by the older vets has been tremendous for me because I can say, ‘Oh, this is how you use it.’
“You can have a good tool, but if you don’t know how to use it then it doesn’t mean anything.”
Being in six different training camp has given White a certain perspective. The analogy he has used in the past and still leans on is this: being in camp is like a carpenter building something. A guy starts with a foundation and then adds to it every day.
“You just want to put brick on brick, take it one day at a time, one play at a time,” he said. “A lot of young guys, I try to tell them it’s about staying the course and being consistent. Everyone can have a flash-in-the-pan play or a flash-in-the-pan day. You just want to keep stacking days and then it carries over to the season and you start stacking games.”
White and the other Bombers receiving prospects are pushing for work at an interesting time. The club seems locked in with starting two Canadians along with Weston Dressler, Adarius Bowman and Darvin Adams. But Dressler and Bowman are also 32 while Adams is 28.
Count White among those respectful enough of the vets to listen and learn, but hungry enough to want to push for a spot, too.
“I’ve always watched (the CFL) since (his brother) has been up here and I always knew I was going to be here at one point in my career,” he said. “I got a good break with the Green Bay Packers and was there for three years and then I was with the Giants and started to see that bounce and got that intuition I should go ahead and try another league.
“And this is a good place to land.”
