A snapshot from Day 5 of Winnipeg Blue Bombers camp…
The Bombers are practising their ‘inside-run’ period and running back Brady Oliveira – capitalizing on the extra workload with Andrew Harris in the role of spectator for the next few weeks – crashes into a wall of humanity. Keeping his feet churning and the ball covered up, the Winnipeg product bursts through into open daylight.
Harris, watching from a few feet away, immediately bellows out ‘Atta boy, Brady! Keep grinding!’
Opportunity can present itself at different times for players in sports. It can swing open a door permanently for a long career or it can be slammed shut after a moment. And for Oliveira – also an Oak Park High School product like Harris who then later starred at the University of North Dakota – the door is now open to make an impression and prove some things both to himself and to the franchise that selected him in the second round, 14th overall, of the 2019 CFL Draft.
It’s not just that Harris is taking the next chunk of training camp off, it’s that Oliveira missed a great deal of 2019 after fracturing his ankle in the home opener that year before returning to the practice field in the fall. We told the story in June of how he used 2020 to find a peace with himself, and what is unfolding now in training camp with the extra work provides him the chance to work on the physical part of his game.
“I need it. It’s good,” he said. “I’m still a new guy here, a young guy, and practice is what makes you great. By getting all these practice reps, seeing all these different looks, being able to run with the ones (starting offence) and talk to the O-linemen and then taking me under their wing and explaining the full concept… for me, this is perfect. This is exactly what I need right now to get me prepared for whenever my name is called during the season so I can go in there and give it my all.”
Oliveira and Harris have a long-standing friendship that dates back to the days when they would find themselves working out at the same gym. Oliveira – 10 years younger than the future hall of famer – recalls Harris, then with B.C., telling him that one day he would come along and fill his shoes.
“So, for me being young in my career there’s no better place for me than me being in Winnipeg and having such a great running back to learn from,” Oliveira said. “When I came here after being drafted by the club it was awesome already knowing familiar faces. But Andrew… people always make jokes in the locker room that we’re cousins, or ‘Little Drew’ they call me.
“It’s great to have him. I know Coach Pete (Costanza) has been an amazing running back coach, but also having Andrew and having such a talented running back… one thing I’ll say about Andrew is I’ve never come across a guy that is so knowledgeable IQ-wise in football. It is crazy and just being able to pick his brain and ask him ‘Why are we doing this?’, he just has been such a great help to me. That’s truly going to elevate my football game and my football IQ.”
The Bombers have three running backs getting regular work in camp with Harris and his 2019 understudy, Johnny Augustine, both on the mend. In addition to Oliveira there is 2021 draft pick Kyle Borsa and new import Devonte Williams. Head coach Mike O’Shea said the extra work will benefit Oliveira, but they are also studying how he handles the aspects of the position other than lugging the ball, like pass protection.
“I’m sure he expects to play and start in the CFL,” O’Shea said. “He expects himself to be a pro football player. He’s in his second year… I know he didn’t see a lot of action in 2019 due to injury, but he’s still involved and he understands the playbook. So, his second year with the playbook and the time to digest it in his second camp, things probably go a lot more smoothly for him. I know he’s feeling very, very well physically. It should be fun to watch.
“We liked him. We drafted him. We expect him to be able to play.”
And slotback Nic Demski – another Winnipegger and another Oak Park product – trained with Oliveira in the offseason and said his hunger is ‘through the roof.’
“I’m itching, man,” Oliveira said when told of Demski’s comments. “I’m itching to get back on the field. I want to just go out there and I want to run through someone. I want to do my job and execute and make big plays and celebrate with my teammates.”
