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News July 15, 2026

Mike Miller: “We’re basically the keepers of momentum.”

Blue Bombers special teams coordinator Mike Miller during Wednesday's practice; photos by Smart Rosales

@EdTaitWFC

It was a moment which seemed to begin in slow motion, finished on fast forward and had 30,000-plus Winnipeg Blue Bombers fans up and out of their seats at Princess Auto Stadium.

One play.

One moment of glory.

One highlight clip starring Trey Vaval and his franchise record, game-changing 129-yard missed field goal return in last Friday’s win over the Toronto Argonauts which featured all 12 of the foot soldiers on the Blue Bombers special teams unit doing their thing with the precision of a neurosurgeon.

Trey Vaval is tied for second in the CFL with six ‘big plays’ — three on punts, two on kickoffs and one missed field goal for a TD

“I just feel so happy for the guys in that moment because they put a lot of time in, they work hard and they want to be successful,” said Blue Bombers special teams coordinator Mike Miller after practice on Wednesday. “It’s the same as offence and defence, but you only have a limited amount of plays and you may only get a certain chance to turn a game.

“When it does happen, you can really see the joy on everyone’s face. You could just feel the energy on the sideline and how it just changed — you could really feel it; you could basically reach out and grab it.”

The Blue Bombers special teams have clearly been the squad’s most consistent unit through the 3-2 start and rank first or second in many of the key statistical categories the Canadian Football League tracks. Among them:

  • 2nd in net punting (38.2)
  • 2nd in punt return yards (15.9)
  • 2nd in kickoff return average (25.9)
  • 1st in punt return average against (11.2)
  • 2nd in kickoff return average against (17.7)
  • 1st in kick return big plays (6; includes punt or missed field goal returns of 30-plus yards, kickoff returns of 40-plus yards)
  • And, conversely, they are the only team in the CFL so far to have yet to surrender a big play on special teams

“The guys are awesome,” said Miller. “They’re fully bought-in and they want to do it for each other. I know that sounds so cliché, but they legitimately do want to be the keepers of the momentum as a unit. They really do thrive in it and enjoy that role.

“Creating explosives is always a momentum builder for our sideline. It puts our offence in a good position. On the other hand, you never want to be the aspect that takes away momentum because it can be deflating to a sideline when they get a big return or they score. You don’t want to be that reason. There’s a limited amount of plays these guys get to do on special teams so there’s not really that chance to necessarily make up for it later. So, you’ve really got to be in the moment. It’s got to be now; you’ve got to be right all the time and keep that momentum on our side as much as we can.

“To me, on special teams that’s the ultimate competition aspect because a lot of times it’s just you versus one guy and who is going to outwork the guy in that moment. That’s how I sell it to the guys. Osh (head coach Mike O’Shea) always says, ‘You’ve got to honour your teammates’ and that’s how you can do it on that particular play.

“I relate a lot of stuff back to hockey and I tell the guys this all the time: you’re the energy guys; you’re the third-fourth line guys that sometimes have to go out there and scrap.”

Kicker Sergio Castillo leads the CFL with an average field goal length of 36.9 yards

The work of Miller’s charges on specials has been remarkable given roster turnover — both in the offseason and on a week-to-week basis — most often impacts the personnel on those units. Yes, the team is blessed to have a game changer like Vaval on the returns, along with steady specialists in kicker Sergio Castillo, punter Jameson Sheahan and long-snapper Ian Leroux and consistent special-teams tackle leaders like Michael Ayers, Tanner Cadwallader, Jaylen Smith and Nick Hallett.

Yet, there’s also a considerable buy-in at play here, too. Most players arrive to a training camp hoping to start on offence and defence and many of them haven’t played special teams throughout their university careers — starters don’t dot the kick cover and kick return units, after all. But Miller — the CFL’s all-time special teams tackle leader — has sold his troops on a simple message to get that buy-in from everyone.

“I sell it as just another down playing the game that you love,” he said. “It’s another opportunity to get another rep and for a lot of guys you just never know when that last rep is going to be. So, if it’s on special teams then go out there, enjoy the moment and battle. Everybody in the locker room is a competitor. They wouldn’t be playing the sport if they didn’t enjoy competing.

“(The buy-in) points to the great job that the vets do to make sure the new guys get up to speed. They’re willing to give up their time to help those guys and bring them along as well. There’s also the point that for a lot of guys it would be new to understand how crucial it is in the Canadian football game compared to down south. With the two-and-outs you’ve got to be dialled in, locked in and know what you’re doing at the drop of a hat.

“The guys are doing a helluva job competing. But they also always understand we’re always going to work to get better,” said Miler. “We’re greedy. We want more.”

THE COACH SAYS: Mike O’Shea’s session with the media following practice on Monday:

OUCH REPORT: For the second straight practice day QB Dru Brown took the majority of reps with the offensive starters as Zach Collaros was dressed but limited. Here is today’s injury report:

ICYMI: A clip from our Huddle episode on Tuesday with new cornerback Major Williams. The response to this episode was outstanding and Williams certainly has made more fans.