Marquise Bridges has been getting a ton of work at the cornerback spot held last year by Tyrell Ford; photos by Cameron Bartlett
Preseason 1: Roughriders at Blue Bombers
The Basics
Kickoff: Saturday, May 24th, 3 p.m. CDT; Princess Auto Stadium
TV/Streaming: CFL+
Radio: 680 CJOB
Scene Setter
Football has given so much to Marquise Bridges, from four national championships at North Dakota State, to two more titles in the Indoor Football League with the Bay Area Panthers and Northern Arizona Wranglers.
So, heck yeah, it’s got a dandy collection of championship rings to go with all that damn winning.
The game has also given Bridges so much more, the kind of stuff that doesn’t show up on a guy’s resumé like memories with teammates, the importance of self-discipline and a unwavering desire to chase the pro football career while the window of opportunity is still open.
That’s why Saturday’s home preseason game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders is so important for the 28-year-old product of Minneapolis. He’s been pencilled in at the cornerback spot opposite Terrell Bonds — Tyrell Ford’s old gig — since the first day of training camp and now wants to lock down a starting gig after dressing for eight games in his rookie season with the Blue Bombers as a Swiss-Army Knife defender available at all spots in the secondary.
“Coming in this year my biggest thing was trying to find my role and trying to be the best teammate I can. Every day is about that,” said Bridges this week in a chat with bluebombers.com. “It’s a learning opportunity to see where I can help the team grow and help the team win.
“(Opening camp at the corner spot) was definitely a boost. I know that regardless of where you start you’ve got to keep your job and make it happen but there is a boost in morale when you feel they have that trust in you and your ability. It means everything.”
Bridges said his rookie CFL campaign was a whirlwind, from just trying to crack the roster and survive all season to learning the nuances of the three-down game while working in defensive coordinator Jordan Younger’s demanding and multi-faceted defence.
The learning never stops and Bridges believes the versatility he flashed last season would only help him. That became even more heightened when Ford left for the Edmonton Elks in free agency in February.
“I knew there was an opening, and I was going to try to compete for it,” said Bridges. “But it’s all in the eyes of J.Y. I tried to come in with an open mind because you never know. If he needed me to play a position I never played, I was going to be ready. It’s where he sees you fit, how he sees your skillset and where that fits in the defence.”
After his incredible run at NDSU during his college days — the Bison went 70-5 during his time and won the four titles — Bridges turned to the IFL as the pro opportunities were limited at that time. Deep down he had been eyeing the CFL as an option to chase his dream and life in the IFL — where the base salary is $200 a game — can test a man’s will and his love for the game.
“You’re mainly playing for the love of the game and to elevate your standing in the indoor league,” he said. “It does get eyes on you if you play well. That’s why I went to the indoor league — to stay relevant and try to become a better pro and continue to make my way to where I thought I could be. The goal was always to get here.
“Life is funny in that way because now I’m here and get the chance to make the most out of my opportunity. It’s a hard pill to swallow to go from the NFL to the IFL and trying to find your way. But if you give up, you’ll never know and so for me it was this: if this is what I want to do I’ve got to make sure I do it.
“I’ve got the rest of my life to work a desk job. If I want to play football, I’m going to go do it. I’m blessed enough that I’ve had the right people in my corner, and everything has gone my way so far.”
3 THINGS TO WATCH
1. Jobs to be won
The Blue Bomber roster has been the picture of stability for eons now – advancing to four consecutive Grey Cups and posting a league-best record of 51-17 over that span helps. Yet, one of the storylines through the first 10 days of practices has been the fight for starting positions which opened up over the winter and through the start of training camp.
Micah Vanterpool
The club has starter openings at the following starting positions:
Left guard (Liam Dobson): The Blue Bombers are looking for a replacement here for the second straight year after Liam Dobson left for Hamilton over the winter, one season after he replaced Geoff Gray.
Tui Eli, Gabe Wallace and Micah Vanterpool have all been getting work there in camp as the coaching staff mulls over keeping the job Canadian with Eli or Wallace, or going to three Americans up front in Vanterpool, Stanley Bryant and either Eric Lofton or Kendall Randolph at right tackle.
Receivers (two spots — Kenny Lawler, Pokey Wilson): There will technically be three changes to this crew with Drew Wolitarsky joining Lawler in Hamilton — along with Wilson now with the New York Jets — although Kevens Clercius had replaced an injured Wolitarsky for a chunk of last year.
Nic Demski, Clercius and Dalton Schoen are locks to start and what happens through the two preseason games will be massive with a ton of pass catchers all in the fight here.
Returnees Keric Wheatfall, Myron Mitchell and Kody Case have all had excellent camps and they’re joined by CFL vets Reggie White, Jr., Dillon Mitchell and Jerreth Sterns along with some impressive newcomers like Jaylen Hall, Keilahn Harris and Bryson Daughtry. That’s a lot of bodies for just a couple of gigs.
Cornerback (Tyrell Ford): Bridges — as indicated above — appears to be the leading candidate to line up opposite Terrell Bonds. Tay Gowan has been out there, too, along with Russell Dandy, Trey Vaval and Isaiah Avery. Bridges’ familiarity with the defence and his versatility would seem to have him in the lead
Safety (Brandon Alexander): With B.A. now a guest coach in camp before transitioning to a role as an Amateur Football Ambassador with the club the defence needs a new set of eyes in the last line of the defence. Jamal Parker, Jr., who missed last year with a knee injury but who had become a regular at the end of 2023, has been getting a lot of reps at the spot, along with newcomer Cam Allen.
2. QB Watch
There’s no drama as to who the starting pivot is, what with future hall of famer Zach Collaros the clear-cut QB1. But with him forced to sit down for the season opener due to suspension the preseason will be an opportunity for Chris Streveler and Terry Wilson to solidify their spot behind him. Also in camp is former Tennessee-Chattanooga/UCLA product Chase Artopoeus and CFL Canadian QB Internship participant Cole Anseeuw.
We spoke to Wilson earlier this week for this piece:
3. Replacing a special specialist, Part 2
We trotted out this storyline a year ago when the Blue Bombers opened the preseason searched for a replacement to Janarion Grant — arguably the greatest return man in franchise history — after he had signed in Toronto. There was a revolving door of talent at the spot a year ago before veteran Lucky Whitehead was parachuted in to finish the season.
The Blue Bombers chased Peyton Logan this winter in free agency, seeing the speedy running back/returner as the answer to their needs after he was so successful — especially on special teams — during his days in Calgary.
Peyton Logan in camp before he was injured
But an injury in training camp has not only limited his participation, it’s also put him on the one-game injured list, meaning he’ll miss the season opener. It’s also meant that, temporarily, the Blue Bombers are back trying to the open-audition phase in the return department. Camp has seen a bunch of different candidates step up in Logan’s absence, including Myron Mitchell, Kody Case, Trey Vaval and Dillon Mitchell, and the preseason will be critical.
The Last Word
“I fully expect to be tested, and you should expect to be tested regardless of who you are. And that’s what I want. I want those targets so I can show what I’m made of.” — cornerback Marquise Bridges.
