2025 Main Training Camp News and Views

[pdirks67]

After dumping on a few of the receivers, here's a few players that caught my attention for positive reasons at today's practice:
 - Nick Demski: A real pro's pro. Busting his rear end on every snap and making everything look easy. Day 2, and he looked like he was in mid-season form.
 - Michael Chris-Ike: Looked surprisingly polished out there, catching the ball out of the backfield. Played fast whenever I was watching him.
 - AK Gassama: I didn't notice him catch any balls, but he is so smooth. Was really flying around out there.
 - Myron Mitchell: Of our "bigger-framed" receivers, he looked the most engaged and outwardly focussed on physically showing that he wants a spot.
 - Kevens Clercius: Like Chris-Ike, looks more polished. Was making everything look easy when the ball was thrown to him.
 - Gavin Cobb: Looked extremely quick and was gliding through his routes. Another guy who is showing that he wants a spot on this team.

[Stats Junkie]

From Ed Tait's Day 2 report
https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/05/12/blue-bombers-training-camp-report-day-2/

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH... Random thoughts after two days of Blue Bombers training camp:

-Read into this what you will, if anything, but the Blue Bombers No. 1 receiving corps to start sessions the last couple of days has featured Canadians Nic Demski and Kevens Clercius along with Keric Wheatfall and Myron Mitchell with reps also going to Dillon Mitchell, White, Jr. and Sterns.

Gabe Wallace and Tui Eli have been getting the majority of work in Dobson's old left guard spot, with Kyrie Wilson at weak-side linebacker and Marquise Bridges in Ford's cornerback spot and Jamal Parker, Jr. getting looks at safety.

-Defensive tackle Devin Adams was back on the field Monday after attending his Peru State graduation Saturday and then driving back to Winnipeg a day later. Global end Kemari Munier-Bailey has missed the first two days of main camp while Canadian defensive back Enock Makonzo left the field Tuesday with the aid of trainers after suffering an apparent arm/shoulder injury.

[ModAdmin]

Day 2 comments from Coach O'Shea...

[TecnoGenius]

ANd if we do go 3 Imps on the OLine, his spot on the AR is iffy. Would he take a PR spot?
I do agree it was a loyalty thing, giving him 1st crack to prove what he can do.

This, if they go 3 imports on the O-line, Eli and Wallace roles won't change much from last season, they still see plenty of action in 6 man sets and can back up any of the interior positions.

Maybe BF73 meant that if Eli/Wallace are still relegated to 6th/7th, then one of the newest additions could steal one of their spots.  Which is possible.

However, Eli is pretty safe if another C who is better doesn't materialize.  That said, wasn't one of the new guys capable of snapping??

I'm pretty sure we have no sophomore NAT OL this season who isn't already on the AR.  Since we like to follow the process, it's unlikely anyone else (NAT) can leapfrog Eli/Wallace until '26.

[ModAdmin]

Ed Tait's Main Camp report from Day 2...

https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/05/12/blue-bombers-training-camp-report-day-2/

[BomberFan73]

Maybe BF73 meant that if Eli/Wallace are still relegated to 6th/7th, then one of the newest additions could steal one of their spots.  Which is possible.

However, Eli is pretty safe if another C who is better doesn't materialize.  That said, wasn't one of the new guys capable of snapping??

I'm pretty sure we have no sophomore NAT OL this season who isn't already on the AR.  Since we like to follow the process, it's unlikely anyone else (NAT) can leapfrog Eli/Wallace until '26.

I don't think the newly drafted guys will pass Eli, but if we had to lose one of the 7 regulars it would be Eli IMO.
He is a very good rotational guy, but will he ever be a starter?
Doesn't matter though as BlueinBC basically answered my thought with the Imp/Nat lineup that and changes shouldn't affect who we keep as depth. I just hope we can keep Vanterpool on the PR. We all know we'll soon need to replace Bryant/Neuf/Koko

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Yes and still yes. You can't just add Vanterpool as an extra DL. It's already a change in the ratio if Randolph starts. Very seldom any team dresses an import OL as a DI.

It's probable that if Randolph starts we only have 7 starting Canadians.

Insufficient, injuries to one or two starting Natl's could put them in a world of trouble.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

LOVE THIS NEWS!

https://3downnation.com/2025/05/13/winnipeg-blue-bombers-bring-back-longtime-db-brandon-alexander-as-guest-coach/

According to Ed Tait, Alexander will transition to a new role as amateur football ambassador once training camp is over.

[Stats Junkie]

Derek Taylor
Early start for day 3 of Bombers camp. Rookie punter James Evans is here for his first day. He was the Bombers 2nd-round pick in this year's Global draft

All Tui Eli at left guard with the 1st team in the early sessions. Gabe Wallace has been the 6th and with the 2nd team.

Second straight day of Dillon Mitchell working with the second group of receivers. Curious if this is a thing. Or the team just wants a deeper look at someone else, knowing Mitchell can do the job.

I don't see DB Patrick Rogers, LB Jaylen Smith nor DB Enock Makonzo out for camp today. Rogers missed yesterday sand Makonzo appeared to hurt an arm/shoulder yesterday.
I see Jaylen Smith now as they begin individual drills

Both kickers stroking 50+ yarders at the midpoint of practice today.

THE PADS ARE GOING ON!!!

DB Marquise Bridges brings a load in these drills. Really laying it on receivers trying to block him

S Cam Allen read the in-breaking route and jumps it for an INT off Collaros. Allen seems very sharp with his ability to read receivers and concepts. Plus, he's a big, long athlete. Safety 2 so far in camp.


Ed Tait
A familiar face has joined @Wpg_BlueBombers training camp as a guest coach. Brandon Alexander will be helping out the coaching staff during camp and then transition into a new role as an Amateur Football Ambassador.
* re-posted by Derek Taylor

Day 3 of  @Wpg_BlueBombers Training camp well underway this morning
* short video in post

[Blue In BC]

Alexander is a class guy. Moving into coaching could be a good thing for him going forward.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Alexander is a class guy. Moving into coaching could be a good thing for him going forward.

Richie Hall can't hang on forever, good to maintain position nearby.

[Stats Junkie]

Huddle - Episode 3 just started

Guest is Danny McManus

Breaking News off the top of the show
Blue Bombers have signed LB Connor Shay

[VictorRomano]

Breaking News off the top of the show
Blue Bombers have signed LB Connor Shay

Best thing I've heard all day!

[Stats Junkie]

Excerpts from Ed Tait's Day 3 Report
https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/05/13/blue-bombers-training-camp-report-day-3/

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback room is an intriguing mix, featuring a future hall of famer, a fan favourite coming off knee surgery, a second-year man who grew comfortable with every snap a season ago, a Canadian Football League vet attempting to put down roots and a fresh-faced rookie still trying to get his bearings.

Chase Artopoeus is the newcomer, FYI, and was placed on the Blue Bombers negotiation list last December after his final season at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and just signed to join the club a couple of weeks ago.

WELCOME ABOARD, SHAY: The Blue Bombers announced this afternoon that linebacker Connor Shay — the club's first pick, 6th overall in the 2025 CFL Draft — has signed with the club. The Wyoming linebacker started all 12 games for the Cowboys last year with 76 total tackles 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and one interception.

WELCOME BACK, B.A.: A familiar face was back on the field at Blue Bombers practice on Tuesday morning as Brandon Alexander is now a guest coach during training camp and will then transition into a new role as an Amateur Football Ambassador with the club.

For what it's worth, more random thought on the third day of Blue Bombers training camp...

-Global punter James Evans was on the field for the first time after attending his graduation at Indiana and when he was on, crushed a few kicks into the stratosphere on Tuesday.

-Kevens Clercius latched on to a Collaros pass and took it the distance in one of the morning's highlights. He'll be counted on to take another step after a rookie campaign in which he started 12 games plus the West Final and Grey Cup.

[TecnoGenius]

Insufficient, injuries to one or two starting Natl's could put them in a world of trouble.

But almost every other team does it almost always (start 7).  An injury to a starting NAT every game is not inevitable, or common, or even infrequent.  It's rare.

And you can even exclude the OL because they are (almost) always covered by 2 backup NATs.  So really, it's (usually) 4 guys out of the 24 starters you need to worry about.

Maybe 1 starter injury every 2-3 games, and only 4/24 starters can bite you.  I calculate that at around 5% dice roll every time.  Certainly livable odds!