Rookie Camp Notes and Discussion

[ModAdmin]

The Legend Returns

"...."That was fun. That was everything I thought it would be," Stegall told a media throng afterward. "I got to run around a little bit. I got one ball thrown to me – I didn't drop it; it was a bad throw – but I'm just so fortunate I was able to experience that and go through that one more time. I told somebody, the question is, 'Where will I be next year? Who's training camp will I be at next year?'...

https://www.bluebombers.com/2024/05/08/the-legend-returns/

[Ridermania]

What's this about?

2024-05-08   WPG   OLIVEIRA, Brady   RB   N   North Dakota   TRF TO INJURED VETERAN   Injured Veteran
2024-05-08   WPG   DEMSKI, Nic   WR   N   Manitoba   TRF TO INJURED VETERAN   Injured Veteran

Very common for all teams to add players to the veteran injured list, this allows for a few extra players at training camp.

[Blue In BC]

Non counters also include Nationals that went back to school last year and undrafted Nationals.

I accounted for those in my calculation from some info on CFL.CA that listed them. There were 6 + the 2 2024 global players that show on the current roster. None of the Canadian 2024 draftees show on the roster yet ( or my count ) even though they have been signed.

If they aren't on the field when the main camp starts there may be questions.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I accounted for those in my calculation from some info on CFL.CA that listed them. There were 6 + the 2 2024 global players that show on the current roster. None of the Canadian 2024 draftees show on the roster yet ( or my count ) even though they have been signed.

If they aren't on the field when the main camp starts there may be questions.

I think it's just low level CFL gymnastics to jimmy rig the numbers for TC. At this time of year it's not unusual to see multiple teams move vets. to the suspended list with no explanation provided, to serve the same purpose.

[Blue In BC]

I think it's just low level CFL gymnastics to jimmy rig the numbers for TC. At this time of year it's not unusual to see multiple teams move vets. to the suspended list with no explanation provided to serve the same purpose.

The roster count is set at 85 excluding non counters for the official TC. As far as I know there is no limit for the mini camp.

Regardless, as long as Demski and Oliveria are at practice for the main TC, then there is no issue.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

The roster count is set at 85 excluding non counters for the official TC. As far as I know there is no limit for the mini camp.

Regardless, as long as Demski and Oliveria are at practice for the main TC, then there is no issue.

I'm going to assume if they've been transferred to the injured list they will probably start TC watching otherwise what is the point of shuffling them there? They have a lot of guys they want to get a look at and this would be an easy, zero downside way of doing so. Both of those guys can miss some of the early days of camp and will be just fine. They very likely will play little of the pre-season games anyway.

The first days are also always the hardest to fit in everyone. Guys will get hurt or play their way out of a job but it will take a few practices.

[Blue In BC]

I'm going to assume if they've been transferred to the injured list they will probably start TC watching otherwise what is the point of shuffling them there? They have a lot of guys they want to get a look at and this would be an easy, zero downside way of doing so. Both of those guys can miss some of the early days of camp and will be just fine. They very likely will play little of the pre-season games anyway.

The first days are also always the hardest to fit in everyone. Guys will get hurt or play their way out of a job but it will take a few practices.

As long as that's all that's happening.

[pdirks67]

As long as that's all that's happening.

From Ed Tait's piece today:

RB Brady Oliveira and SB Nic Demski were transferred to the injured veterans list this week, but they are moves hardly setting off alarm bells in Bomberland. Said O'Shea: "They just have to do a little bit more work to get ready for camp. Those are guys we're never going to rush. We know what they can do and how important they are, too. If they needed that time before camp, that's what they'll get."

https://www.bluebombers.com/2024/05/09/quick-hits-rookie-camp-day-2-3/

[pdirks67]

I guess I might as well post Ed's entire Day 2 article.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2024/05/09/quick-hits-rookie-camp-day-2-3/


Notes and quotes from Day 2 of Blue Bombers rookie camp...

Fries and... donuts and muffins?: Eric Barriere had never crossed the 49th parallel before and so when he was invited to Blue Bombers rookie camp the Inglewood, CA product — a guy who starred at quarterback for Eastern Washington — was excited for a bit of an international adventure.

His first few takes on Canada and Winnipeg are all positive, although he has noticed some subtle differences between the U.S. of A and the Great White North.

"I like it a lot it. It's my first time being here. It's different," he began after Day 2 of rookie camp. "I had McDonald's the other day and it's different than in America, for example. I had the fries, of course, but they've also got donuts and muffins... stuff that we don't have back home. There's a habanero chicken.

"Another thing... I was trying to watch HBO Max and that doesn't work here. There's little things but like I said I like it a lot."

Barriere is one of four quarterbacks in camp, joining veterans Zach Collaros and Chris Streveler and fellow rookie Terry Wilson whose last year of college was at New Mexico before looks from the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Gamblers. Barriere has bounced around himself since starring at EWU and winning the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in the NCAA Division I FCS in 2021. Undrafted in 2022, he signed with the Denver Broncos and then the Michigan Panthers of the USFL. He signed with the New Jersey Generals last year, but then that team folded when USFL and XFL teams merged to form the United Football League.

And so, heck yeah, there's a certain appeal to come to a league that held the 110th Grey Cup last November.

"It wasn't so much about uncertainty, it's just that what happened left a lot of people without an opportunity," said Barriere. "That was the roller-coaster part of it. This league has been established for a long time and it's the next thing to the NFL. It's got great teams with great fan bases and it's a high-scoring league — that's appealing to the eyes to an offensive player who wants to go out there and make a name for himself."

Should he land work with the Blue Bombers, Barriere would be the latest EWU pivot to find a home in Canada, joining the likes of Bo Levi Mitchell, Vernon Adams, Jr. and Matt Nichols.

"I know a lot about that," Barriere said. "They've said that Eastern Washington has been a pipeline for quarterbacks to the CFL. All of them have done well in this league, too. That's good for players like me and others that come to maybe get a good opportunity up here because of that track record."

Critical now for Barriere — and Wilson — is to work to impress everyone in that fight for the third QB gig behind Collaros and Streveler.

"I'm big on being a great teammate, being vocal and showing everybody I can lead," Barriere said. "I want to show my knowledge on the field, that I can process things fast, read defences. If I could do that, that would make me very happy."

Watch and learn: Newcomers have just three sessions and less than seven hours of practice time between Wednesday's Day 1 and the end of rookie camp on Friday. Medicals and testing is on Saturday, with the veterans joining everyone for Sunday morning's first full day of main camp. Here's Blue Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea on what the coaching staff can learn about a player in just three days:

"You can learn about how guys learn. You can learn about and take in a bit about their character as they move about the building. You can learn a little bit about how much they care about their opportunity. Those things are important. The Xs and Os, that takes a little bit more time to figure out what they can digest. And then you get to see (Friday) when they get the pads on for the first time... you'll be able to figure out a little bit more about them."

FYI: DE Chauncey Rivers, one of the main candidates to replace Jackson Jeffcoat, missed the first two days of practice but is apparently now en route... RB Brady Oliveira and SB Nic Demski were transferred to the injured veterans list this week, but they are moves hardly setting off alarm bells in Bomberland. Said O'Shea: "They just have to do a little bit more work to get ready for camp. Those are guys we're never going to rush. We know what they can do and how important they are, too. If they needed that time before camp, that's what they'll get."


GABE WALLACE

Quotable: O'Shea when asked what it is about OL Gabe Wallace — selected 17th overall in last week's CFL Draft — that the club likes:

"He's got a good moustache. Ted saw him play quite often. He's a massive human being. He's gritty and we believe he plays football the way we like to play it. Then you talk to him and he's a good kid. It all added up to when he was available at that pick it would have been a shame not to have him.

Next: Friday's final day of Rookie Camp runs from 10:15 a.m.-12:20 p.m. at Princess Auto Stadium. All sessions are open to the public.

[ModAdmin]

"I've always been a fighter."

Tyrique McGhee places his helmet on the new turf at Princess Auto Stadium for a moment and then taps his index finger on a spot just above his right ear.

"This is where the cyst still is on my brain," began the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive back following the second day of rookie camp on Thursday. "I used to have seizures, grand mal seizures, when I was growing up. I couldn't focus in school, I was heavily medicated in school. It was something I had to overcome growing up and it was something the doctors always had to double-check so I was allowed to play football.

"As I matured, and my body grew the medication assisted at first and then the cyst never gave me any problems. I honestly don't even think about it much. And thankfully, I haven't had a seizure for years."

There are many layers to McGhee's story – how he got to Winnipeg a year ago....

https://www.bluebombers.com/2024/05/09/ive-always-been-a-fighter/

[Blue In BC]

We don't seem to be getting any reports from posters that might be attending practices? Anybody?

[GOLDMEMBER]

We don't seem to be getting any reports from posters that might be attending practices? Anybody?

I echo the same.

I hope to be their Sunday.

Anyone look good?

[Blueforlife]

We should start a go fund me to pay people to report we need our info lol

[ModAdmin]

Quick Hits | Rookie Camp — Day 3

Notes and quotes from the final day of Blue Bombers rookie camp on Friday...

Three down and now the real grind starts: Rookie camp can be a physical and mental overload for newcomers to the Blue Bombers and the Canadian Football League. It's a survival of the fittest competition, no doubt. And now they get a bit of a breather before the real fun begins Sunday morning with all the veterans on board for Day 1 of main training camp.

"It was good. You'd like (rookie camp) to probably be longer," said Blue Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea. "You'd like them to be maybe spaced out a bit differently. These guys need a rest now. I don't think our camp is tremendously difficult in that regard. But when you add in the volume of stuff they have to learn and the different game, possibly, for some of these guys and then there's the brain power it takes and the energy you've got to spend thinking about all the differences.

"If (the Americans) were just to go out there and play the game they know on the field they know and just compete for three days they'd probably be less tired. But when you throw in all the stuff they've got to learn... I mean, if I've got something new to learn I just want to go home and go to bed."

Fresh perspective: Offensive tackle Larnell Coleman is in the same position as a lot of rookies at Blue Bombers camp — trying to soak up as much as possible to be ready when the veterans are on the field on Sunday. That said, when a guy has been with four organizations before coming to Winnipeg — he was a seventh-round draft choice of the Miami Dolphins in 2021 and has had looks from the Carolina Panthers, Houston Roughnecks and Baltimore Stallions — it can lead to a different take on the whole process.

"The first time you get cut, it's almost like that feeling when you break up with your girlfriend," said the 25-year-old product of Malden, Massachusetts. "It's like, 'Oh my goodness... what just happened?' Some players start feeling bad about themselves sometimes.

"It hurts, but at the same time you build a resilience to it. You not making it doesn't mean you're a bad player because you wouldn't be at the professional level if you weren't good. There's a lot of great players out there and unfortunately there's just a limited number of spots. And so it's about improving every day and there's a lot of things to tune up on."

Coleman is in the mix to possible replace Jermarcus Hardrick at tackle, but the Blue Bombers also have to think beyond 2024 and, eventually, life without future hall of fame left tackle Stanley Bryant. That's not at all in Coleman's mind right now — goal No. 1 is to just get ready for Sunday. Looking beyond that is dangerous territory.

"I keep at this because I like hitting people and I can legally get away with that in this game," he said with a grin. "Honestly, it's just that I love the game. There's just something about being out here. You wake up in the morning and you can be like, 'Oh my God, I've got practice — I've got to get up.' The way I look at it, it's not just a chance to get better, it's a game. It's a kid's game."

Quotable: "Carefully. It's very difficult. He's been a very good player for us for a long time. But we've got a lot of good guys in camp, we just have to make sure we keep putting them in those positions so they can keep showing us what they can do." — O'Shea when asked how the club replaces Hardrick.

Soaking it up: Don't sleep on QB Terry Wilson stepping up when main camp begins. Zach Collaros and Chris Streveler are locks at 1-2 on the depth chart and while Eric Barriere has been getting a lot of publicity as a former Walter Payton Award winner as the top offensive player in NCAA Division I FCS and another QB product of Eastern Washington University — which has delivered Matt Nichols, Bo Levi Mitchell and Vernon Adams, Jr. to the CFL over the years — Wilson was noticeable during rookie camp due to his strong arm and comfort in the pocket.

t's been good. It's been a lot of information, but that comes with the position that I play," Wilson said Friday after rookie camp concluded. "I've been trying to pick Zach's brain and Chris — they've been a big help for me and Eric. It's definitely been fun to get out here on the field and throw the ball around and get to meet some of these guys and overall have some fun — that's why we play the game."

Asked what he's learned from the Blue Bombers two veteran pivots, Wilson was quick to offer praise.

"Overall, it's just being a pro," he said. "You see how Zach sits in meetings — he orchestrates the meetings and he's really specific about what he wants. It's seeing things like that. It's really like, 'Wow, you've been in this league for a long time and it shows.' A lot of guys have a lot of respect for him. One day, I want to be like that. That's what that makes me feel like. It's a huge plus to have Streveler helping us out also. He's been here before so he knows what he's talking about Those two guys are big help."

Wilson bounced around a ton during his collegiate days, first committing to Nebraska, then switching to Oregon — where he was behind Justin Herbert — and on to Garden City Community College, Kentucky and then New Mexico.

"I've been all over the place," Wilson said with a smile. "I learned a lot from the game, met a lot of good people and I've really grown throughout the years being able to pick people's brains and coaches brains, learn from older guys. Yeah, man, I've been all over."

Wilson has dual-threat skills, but said he prefers to sit in the pocket and deliver strikes to his playmakers. It took him a day to get used to the waggle and the wider field and deeper end zone — plus the CFL's penchant for passing — has him excited as a league built for players who like to chuck it.

"It is, isn't it?" he said. "I've got to get used to the end zone with the 20 yards. I'm pretty excited about that and to be able to throw the ball around."

Standing out: O'Shea wouldn't publicly provide names of some players who stood out in rookie camp — 'too early' — but among those who have popped out over the first three days from this perch are, in no particular order, receivers Kody Case, Myron Mitchell, Aron Cruickshank and Kevens Clercius, offensive tackle Chris Ivy, guard Gabe Wallace and linebacker Fabian Weitz.

Also, University of Manitoba receiver AK Gassama — the lightest guy in camp at 162 pounds — has had his moments, too.

"He made a catch the other day that was unbelievable with the way he contorted his body and adjusted to the ball just before the sideline. It was a fantastic catch," said O'Shea. "He hung onto to it after hitting the ground hard, too. Whatever he is (size and weight-wise)... he's out there to make plays. I know he's a good teammate. I know he's a good dude. I know he's smart and certainly taking this opportunity very seriously, and he should."

FYI: O'Shea when asked further about the Chad Kelly suspension: "I said what I had to say. One of the things I said was we should be asking the women in this league — I don't know that we should be commenting about how they feel."... DE Chauncey Rivers, one of the candidates to replace Jackson Jeffcoat, arrived Friday and should be on the field Sunday... OL prospect Kendall Randolph, the former Alabama product and another tackle candidate, has yet to practice due to injury... Former Blue Bomber head coach Mike Kelly and Manny Matsakis, who was his offensive coordinator in 2009, are part of the USA Football coaching staff for the International Federation of American Football's World Junior Championship, which will be held June 20-30 in Edmonton. Kelly is the head coach of the U20 National team, with Matsakis named as the OC.

Next: The Blue Bombers have medicals and testing on Saturday and are on the field for the first full day of training camp on Sunday, 9 a.m.-11:40 a.m. at Princess Auto Stadium. All practices are open to the public.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2024/05/10/quick-hits-rookie-camp-day-3-2/

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Thats a huge relief....I was sure he was gone after his outstanding first season with the Blue and Gold!

Despite the rise in nickel/slot corners used in the NFL over the last decade or so it's still really hard for CFL halfbacks to make the jump.

If Holm played corner as well as he did half back he might have had a shot but the NFL really has a body type they like for those guys.