Blue Bombers Training Camp | Week 1 Status Report

Nobody calls them the ‘Dog Days’ — at least not publicly — because it would be disrespectful of the whole purpose of a Canadian Football League training camp.

Plus, there’s this: those that embrace the grind are often those that survive and thrive.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers reached the one-week mark of main training camp with Sunday morning’s practice and with a pile of long sessions now completed, even more including rookie camp, we’ve hit the point where legs get tired and brains get fried.

It’s also now when the separation between prospects can begin and where starting jobs and roster spots are secured. So, while the grind might make if feel like the ‘Dog Days’, it’s also over the next little while where careers can be made or crushed.

“It’s when guys string four or five days together that you catch yourself noticing them over and over and over again,” said Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea. “That’s how guys separate. I think we’ve got a good group again and each one of those is taking turns making plays at some point — everybody’s been noticeable at some point. Now, can they string four or five days together even through the grind of camp. Can they just manage to figure out a way to get their mind and their body working together.

“It’s long and we put them through the paces. If they can keep making plays as camp goes on it’s good for them, obviously.”

The Blue Bombers will host the Saskatchewan Roughriders in their first dress rehearsal on Saturday, May 24th at 3 p.m. and the days ahead will be massive as the roster-shaping hits a new layer. Asked how players can take that proverbial next step, O’Shea offered this:

“Take care of their body. Make sure they’re available. Make sure they’re getting every rep they possibly can and maximizing their effort on those reps. Staying healthy is a big one and they’ve got to get that figured out because it’s going to drag a little bit. It’s taxing on their body. And then, keep making plays.”

With one week of main camp in the books and the three-day rookie minicamp before that, we thought we’d offer up a status report, in no particular order, on what we’ve seen so far from our perch…

Marquise Bridges

• The ‘second-year bump’ theory is real. Coaches often talk about how players grow from their first year in the system to the second. It’s a topic receiver Myron Mitchell spoke about extensively in this piece and he’s just one of many examples of it being put into practice in front of our very eyes.

Mitchell, who dressed for four of the first six games last season before spending the rest of the year on the practice roster, has been outstanding in camp. Ditto for receiver Kody Case, defensive back Marquise Bridges and defensive tackles Jamal Woods and Devin Adams.

• Some of the vacant starting positions on both sides of the ball are coming into focus. Bridges has been getting a ton of work at the cornerback spot once held by Tyrell Ford, now in Edmonton. The left guard spot owned by Liam Dobson last season has seen Tui Eli get a lot of snaps, along with Gabe Wallace and with Eric Lofton missing the last few days of practice Kendall Randolph has settled into regular reps at right tackle.
• The receivers working most with Zach Collaros and the presumptive starters have been Nic Demski, Kevens Clercius, Myron Mitchell, Jerreth Sterns and Reggie White, Jr. Dalton Schoen has yet to practice and when he does, he’ll instantly boost that group.

Dillon Mitchell, one of the prized offseason additions, is off to a bit of a slower start. Here’s O’Shea on the former Edmonton Elk:

“He’s got experience, he knows the CFL game, he understands CFL defences. With anybody new to our team, whether it be a rookie or even a veteran guy coming in, learning a new playbook, learning new language, learning a new system — we’ve got new coaches in the building — it all takes time.

“When you bring a guy in who has done it before you’ll see them start to rise on certain occasions and rise on certain plays.”

• Another key free agent signing — running back returner Peyton Logan — was injured early in camp and has been place on the one-game injured list, meaning he’ll miss the season opener against the B.C. Lions. That’s critical because the former Calgary Stampeder was seen as a quick fix for the kick return game.

With Logan shelved, the punt return reps in camp are being taken by both Mitchells — Myron and Dillon — along with Case, Gavin Cobb, Keilahn Harris and David Wallis, all receivers, and defensive back Trey Vaval.

• A snap hasn’t been taken in anger yet, but the club could get significant returns from its 2025 draft class both in the present and down the road. Linebackers Connor Shay, Jaylen Smith and Lane Novak could all crack the roster, O-lineman Ethan Vibert looks like a good fit and receiver Joey Corcoran and defensive back Ethan Ball have made impressions, too. Ball could benefit in the short-term by injuries to Enock Makonzo and Josh Hagerty and with Jake Kelly still on the mend after being hurt in last year’s West Final.

Connor Shay

• The QB pecking order behind Collaros is still TBD. Chris Streveler is healthy after knee surgery last fall and Terry Wilson, who was No. 2 down the stretch last year after Streveler’s injury, remains in the picture. Remember, with Collaros’s one-game suspension one of those two is scheduled to start the season opener. Chase Artopoeus is also still in house, along with Manitoba Bisons product Cole Anseeuw, who is here as part of the Canadian internship program.

Two veterans who were on the depth chart just a few weeks ago — Jake Dolegala and Shea Patterson — have both been released.

• A handful of newcomers or returnees who have raised eyebrows of late: safety Cam Allen, guard/tackle Micah Vanterpool, along with Vaval, the return candidate who is working inside at defensive halfback, Both Canadian running back Matthew Peterson and import back Quinton Cooley will also be intriguing to watch with their work in the preseason.

Also worth noting: veteran defensive end James Vaughters comes exactly as advertised as an excellent option opposite Willie Jefferson.

FYI: Not practising Sunday were OL Eric Lofton, Rec Dalton Schoen, DT Jake Thomas, DB Jake Kelly, DT Cam Lawson, DB Josh Hagerty, RB/KR Peyton Logan… New quarterback coach Jarious Jackson has yet to report and O’Shea repeated Sunday that he is away for ‘personal reasons.’

O’Shea on Global draft pick Kemari Munier-Bailey, who just recently returned to practice after missing most of the last week:

“He got a little nicked up and then he’s back on the field today and shows exactly what you like. Good getting off the ball, good use of hands, wants to get upfield and seems to have that pass-rush ability. I think it’s going to be a little bit for him to get into the shape needed for him to execute through the things he needs to work through. That, once again, is every young guy coming up here. The difference between Weber State and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers is massive. There’s a big difference and there’s a lot to learn. He’ll get on track to learn all that stuff. He certainly does possess the skills that we like coming off the edge.”

A SALUTE TO THE JETS FROM BOMBERLAND: O’Shea opened his session with the media on Sunday with this message about the Winnipeg Jets season ending Saturday night in Dallas and how the team handled the passing of Mark Scheifele’s father:

“As a fan watching that unfold and seeing that massive display of courage and leadership from that group, it’s something we can all learn from,” O’Shea said. “A helluva entertaining season. Hate to see it end that way. But just that specific game last night, courage and leadership we can all learn from.”

O’Shea praised Scheifele for getting through a difficult time and later praised captain Adam Lowry.

“I’ve been admiring Lowry’s captaincy from afar for a while now. It’s been awesome watching him and how he’s led. You listen to him speak and the way he plays the game and then just last night… it’s pretty powerful.”

NEW BLUE BLOOD: The Blue Bombers added defensive tackle Kevin Pointer (6-1, 285, Wake Forest) on Sunday. Pointer was most recently in rookie minicamp with the Las Vegas Raiders after playing 43 games at Wake Forest, where he was an All-ACC Honorable Mention last year.

NEXT: The Blue Bombers will be back at the practice field beside WSF South (211 Chancellor Matheson Road) on Monday from 9 a.m. -12:25 p.m.