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Big rookie receiver Chris Matthews comes to Winnipeg via Kentucky. He has already caught the eye of Bombers QB Buck Pierce. (BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

Three rookies flying under the radar:

• RB Anthony Woodson: The Canadian drew considerable praise from head coach Paul LaPolice after Thursday's session, an early evaluation the player took in stride Friday. "Once the veterans get in here I want to just keep taking steps forward so I can keep impressing them then," he said. Woodson has been everything the Bombers thought he was when they drafted him in 2010.

• WR Jeremy Blount: At 5-foot-8, he's not the biggest receiver the Bombers brought in but the South Dakota product turned some heads with good hands and impressive route running. Defensive back play will go up considerably come Sunday, but Blount looks like a gamer. Honourable mention to fellow wideout Paul Hubbard.

• DB Darrell Pasco: The import has done well to this point, showing some ability to consistently cover receivers during the one-on-one drills. Note the key word: Consistent. That stands out at rookie camp. Pasco's next challenge is to continue his momentum into next week and try to make an impression among a deep group of veteran defensive backs. Tough assignment.

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Three days down, just under three weeks to go.

That's the scheduled length of commitment members of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are looking at when training camp officially kicks off bright and early at Canad Inns Stadium Sunday morning (walkthrough at 9:30 a.m; practice at 10 o'clock).

Eighteen more days. Minus a handful for travel and two pre-season games, of course.

"How many? Oh yeah, I'm looking forward to it," rookie receiver Chris Matthews joked after the final day of rookie camp Friday, his mouth stretching the truth as his talent would the football field. "Rookie camp was a grind, going over the same things that we went over at mini camp (at the end of April). The funny thing is, once we start on Sunday, we'll be going over and over and over it again.

"It will be a lot of hard work, which I guess is the point."

Matthews is a lanky pass catcher with deceptive speed who might have the inside track for the one open receiving spot heading into camp. The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder out of Kentucky feels he's had a good showing thus far, but understands he'll have to raise his intensity level once he starts running around with the veterans again.

Welcome to the reality of the competitive football job market -- either you address each opportunity with confidence and perform when pressured, or stand aside and watch someone else take your paycheque.

"When you guys show up with the vets -- we want you to respect the vets and the vets will treat you with respect -- but you can't be intimidated," Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice said, offering indirect advice to the first-year CFLers. "You're not going to be successful. Certainly, this is a talented rookie class, maybe as talented as I've seen in a while, but we have a much more talented team than we did a couple years ago.

"There will be great competition. You want guys to embrace the challenge."

No doubt all eight CFL teams are applauding the depth of their rookie pool at this juncture, but Bombers quarterback Buck Pierce says this year feels different than in years past. He's noticed some of the rookies are "football-ready" -- a label suggesting prior experience at the NFL or high-end college levels.

"This will be my eighth training camp up here (in the CFL) and it seems things are always improving with regards to talent and skill level," he said.

"I've seen some really good things out here the last three days. Some of these guys are ready to play tomorrow."

Two newcomers who have caught Pierce's experienced eye this past week are Matthews and Chad Simpson. Simpson, a former NFL running back and return man, has shown an extra gear of quickness when he needs to separate from would-be tacklers, the pivot noted.

Not all Bomber veterans will be in Winnipeg when main camp opens.

Defensive backs Jovon Johnson and Jonathan Hefney are being allowed to miss the first day or two to attend to family matters, LaPolice said.

Other than those two, the coach anticipates all 69 roster players and the seven non-counters (draft picks and CIS free agents) will pass their physicals this morning and be on the field for the first practice of the 18-day grind Sunday. Included in that list of players are two late additions -- defensive end Brandon Akpunku and defensive back Jeremy McGee were added to the roster Friday -- and the ever-elusive Demond Washington, a defensive back out of Auburn who was scheduled to be at rookie camp.

LaPolice was at a loss for words when asked what the reasons were for his absence. Regardless, he's expected to join the club today. Maybe.

Quietly, the CFL has expanded the training camp rosters for teams this year. Clubs are now allowed to carry up to 75 players, excluding the non-counters, right through the first pre-season game, meaning the Bombers won't have to make any cuts until after the June 14 game in Montreal.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @wazoowazny

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 2, 2012 C1