2026 Main Training Camp - News & Views

[Jesse]

It's not about capability, it's about roster size and ratio whether we can get all on the AR at the same time. It's possible but what / where do we give up another import?

Like I mentioned, Castillo and Vaval will be two of our 4 DI's. Because we start more than 7 Canadians, the math could work out. However that would suggest no DB or Dl as a DI.

Griffin was already there. It's just a matter of switching out Allen for Woodbey.

[Blue In BC]

Griffin was already there. It's just a matter of switching out Allen for Woodbey.

Allen may or may not be in the plans. However, I'm not sure if you are suggesting Woodbey be moved to safety? I wouldn't expect that anymore than Kramdi moving there either. What if the team expects to start Allen at safety?

We still may decide to choose a 3 import OL or add a 3rd import receiver. That would give us 6 Canadians on offence and 2 on defence. It doesn't change ratio we might want on defence.

On defence: 5 DB's, 3 DL, 5 LB's ( Ayers, Griffin, Woodbey, Jones and Wilson ). On offence: 3 OL and 2 receivers ( or vice versa ), Castillo and Vaval.

That can be done but doesn't give us the choice of 3 OL and 3 receivers or adding another DL as a DI. Effectively we wouldn't have an import DI on offence in any of those scenarios.

Extra imports could end up on the reserve list but in game injuries could be an issue. Imagine an in game injury to O.Wilson or White. That would give us 4 Canadian receivers or a 6 man OL for the rest of the game.

[Pete]

For a first year player new to the cfl I thought Allen played very well.moves to the ball, hits well good size abd speed
As OShea always says players make big steps in 2nd year, in which case he could be one of the best safeties in the league. I would like to see that
The choice should be between woodbey  and Ayers, Our strongest cdn  backups are at lb. If Ayers isnt the better rotational lb can we afford a di specialty kick cover ?

[Blue In BC]

For a first year player new to the cfl I thought Allen played very well.moves to the ball, hits well good size abd speed
As OShea always says players make big steps in 2nd year, in which case he could be one of the best safeties in the league. I would like to see that
The choice should be between woodbey  and Ayers, Our strongest cdn  backups are at lb. If Ayers isnt the better rotational lb can we afford a di specialty kick cover ?

I liked Allen as well and would consider him the leading candidate at safety. Ayers has hardly ever gotten reps on defence and I've expressed my opinion that is an issue for an ST player only. Obviously Woodbey plays a lot on defence and I'd pick him over Ayers if that's the choice.

Now that we've lost Schmekel to injury I'm a little more concerned about not having more depth at DT. Yes some of our DL can play inside or out but it's still a reduction in depth.

IMO our DL was weak last year in getting to the QB and ultimately came up short when the chips were down. We can't give QB's that much time to find open receivers.

EDIT: We signed 2 more Canadian receivers and 1 Canadian DL.  All are counters IIRC so is there an off setting release of some players?

[BIGBLUE204]

Allen may or may not be in the plans. However, I'm not sure if you are suggesting Woodbey be moved to safety? I wouldn't expect that anymore than Kramdi moving there either. What if the team expects to start Allen at safety?

According to DT. Kramdi has taken every snap at S for every 12 v 12 so far. Not set in stone just yet...but it's certainly looking like that's the plan.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

If this guy has talent and a will to excel and win, how can you not pull or him?

Frederickson seems to be really good catching balls in traffic, bigger target with sticky hands would be a great compliment to the speed and slickness of Pokey, White and Demski, who ain't big enough to fight for balls.  Hard to judge his route running or YAC abilities from this video, his QB just heaves the ball into danger and he comes down with it.    Hard to say how that will translate playing against pro DB's vs. college kids.

[GOLDMEMBER]

Frederickson seems to be really good catching balls in traffic, bigger target with sticky hands would be a great compliment to the speed and slickness of Pokey, White and Demski, who ain't big enough to fight for balls.  Hard to judge his route running or YAC abilities from this video, his QB just heaves the ball into danger and he comes down with it.    Hard to say how that will translate playing against pro DB's vs. college kids.

He looks outstanding by all accounts.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I liked it.  Clearly we need good IMP MLB/WILL backup, and even better when the dude can play both well, like JSK.

Kyrie is always expected to get IRd, even when he doesn't.

I bet we're on the market for a versatile, affordable MLB/WILL hybrid!

We better pray Kyrie & Jones stay healthy until we have backup options or we're in for some bigtime hurt.  Ayers has never proven good enough o start, and Woodbey is way too inexperienced/unproven.

I think you're reading this situation incorrectly, they're bursting at the seams with LB options, they just need to give them the opportunity to play and they'll come out on the positive side of the equation after 2-3 games. Worst case scenario, they hand the WIL job to Kyrie and he stays healthy all year, stall the careers of any of the younger LB's another year and risk losing them to FA.

As for Ayers, he played a fair bit of WIL at the end of 2024 when Kyrie was injured, in fact he stepped in front of Brian Cole to take over that spot and made him disposable. With Kyrie healthy he didn't play much WIL last season and perhaps Woodbey has bypassed him at being tougher in the box.  Still Ayers was valuable enough to slot in on the D-line in 2025 as a rush end due to his crazy athleticism, he's not a player they would ever cut but he may demand more action than just a ST gunner. Anyone know of any other Imports that play ST only, other than kickers?

[Jesse]

Allen may or may not be in the plans. However, I'm not sure if you are suggesting Woodbey be moved to safety? I wouldn't expect that anymore than Kramdi moving there either. What if the team expects to start Allen at safety?

We still may decide to choose a 3 import OL or add a 3rd import receiver. That would give us 6 Canadians on offence and 2 on defence. It doesn't change ratio we might want on defence.

On defence: 5 DB's, 3 DL, 5 LB's ( Ayers, Griffin, Woodbey, Jones and Wilson ). On offence: 3 OL and 2 receivers ( or vice versa ), Castillo and Vaval.

That can be done but doesn't give us the choice of 3 OL and 3 receivers or adding another DL as a DI. Effectively we wouldn't have an import DI on offence in any of those scenarios.

Extra imports could end up on the reserve list but in game injuries could be an issue. Imagine an in game injury to O.Wilson or White. That would give us 4 Canadian receivers or a 6 man OL for the rest of the game.

The only thing I'm suggesting is that we played with Wilson and Griffin last year. So it's simply a matter of switching out Allen for Woodbey to have all 3 of Wilson, Griffin, and Woodbey on the field. It may not end up that way, but that's the way they're practicing right now.

As to safety, I don't view JY's defence in those terms. You're going to see all on the field and they'll all take turns moving deeper or shallower in the field. Someone will be listed as safety on the depth chart but it's essentially meaningless.

[Blueforlife]

According to DT. Kramdi has taken every snap at S for every 12 v 12 so far. Not set in stone just yet...but it's certainly looking like that's the plan.

Guess I'll be eating crow lol

I didn't think Kramdi would be an option at safety, guess time will tell

I'm leaving my crow in the freezer for now but will turbo defrost as needed

I started a poll go and vote! 😀

[Blue In BC]

According to DT. Kramdi has taken every snap at S for every 12 v 12 so far. Not set in stone just yet...but it's certainly looking like that's the plan.

I guess we'll see but it's not what I expect. It would allow Griffin a full time role on defence at SAM. Unless they are looking at Allen at CB then he might well be off the AR. That would be shame IMO.

That will be the 1st things I look at this weekend against the Riders. Obviously most starters won't play so we'll see what the depth chart looks like.

[Blueforlife]

I liked it.  Clearly we need good IMP MLB/WILL backup, and even better when the dude can play both well, like JSK.

Kyrie is always expected to get IRd, even when he doesn't.

I bet we're on the market for a versatile, affordable MLB/WILL hybrid!

We better pray Kyrie & Jones stay healthy until we have backup options or we're in for some bigtime hurt.  Ayers has never proven good enough o start, and Woodbey is way too inexperienced/unproven.

Sums up my thoughts exactly and I agree

Sir BnG might not have liked the signing but it was a solid one for depth

The conversation would have been entirely different if one or two of our LB studs went down in camp or early

Knox is a very good LB at the end of a great career, I was excited to see him, speedy recovery buddy!

[Blue In BC]

I think you're reading this situation incorrectly, they're bursting at the seams with LB options, they just need to give them the opportunity to play and they'll come out on the positive side of the equation after 2-3 games. Worst case scenario, they hand the WIL job to Kyrie and he stays healthy all year, stall the careers of any of the younger LB's another year and risk losing them to FA.

As for Ayers, he played a fair bit of WIL at the end of 2024 when Kyrie was injured, in fact he stepped in front of Brian Cole to take over that spot and made him disposable. With Kyrie healthy he didn't play much WIL last season and perhaps Woodbey has bypassed him at being tougher in the box.  Still Ayers was valuable enough to slot in on the D-line in 2025 as a rush end due to his crazy athleticism, he's not a player they would ever cut but he may demand more action than just a ST gunner. Anyone know of any other Imports that play ST only, other than kickers?

Yes Ayers was used as a DE a few times and he's very fast. OTOH, if he was very good at that role he'd be fighting to start as a DE and he's not. LB's may have the speed but not the strength to brush off blockers all the time.

It isn't suggesting Allen as a CB though. That may be a problem for him.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Bombers brought in Jackson Tachinski at wr and fellow MB Bison Kaleb Mackie Mcleod at DT.

https://3downnation.com/2026/05/19/winnipeg-blue-bombers-sign-two-former-manitoba-bisons/

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Yes Ayers was used as a DE a few times and he's very fast. OTOH, if he was very good at that role he'd be fighting to start as a DE and he's not. LB's may have the speed but not the strength to brush off blockers all the time.

It isn't suggesting Allen as a CB though. That may be a problem for him.

I'm sure they'll keep Allen around even if they don't have an immediate spot for him, may even plunk him on the PR until injuries crop up.  I wouldn't be surprised if he won the CB job opposite Moxie either.