Richards shows some early flash

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This article was published 29/05/2015 (3777 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

STANDING OUT IN A CROWD: A number of receivers jumped out on the second day of rookie camp, including former Oregon star Lavasier Tuinei and University of Regina product Addison Richards — the 6-5 slotback selected by the club 11th overall.

“He’s like we thought he was,” said Bomber coach Mike O’Shea of Richards. “He’s a tall, fast, strong, smart receiver who understands the Canadian game and catches the ball fairly well and he’s a good player.”

O’Shea balked when asked if he could compare Richards to anyone — the names Andy Fantuz and Jason Clermont were tossed out — before adding:

“I don’t know. You start saying stuff like that, you pigeon hole a guy in terms of what they can do. Addison Richards would be a lot faster than Andy Fantuz. But Andy Fantuz has the biggest hands in the league and Addison Richards doesn’t. They’re two different guys. I want Addison Richards to be Addison Richards. I wouldn’t want him to be Clermont or Fantuz.”

MAKING STRIDES: Slotback Jordan Reaves, the son of Bomber legend Willard Reaves and brother to current St. Louis Blues winger Ryan, is trying to make the conversion to football after playing college basketball.

“He’s improved quite a bit. He really has,” said O’Shea. “And there’s still — obviously he’s knows this too, there’s still quite a ways to go. We knew from the get go that it was going to take Jordan some time. We’ll see how it all works out for him but it’s nice to see ho much he has improved from Florida (at mini-camp) until now.”

Here’s Reaves, when asked what his biggest adjustment has been:

“The sport. It would just be footwork. The plays aren’t as complicated as basketball. I’m pretty good with those. Just footwork, getting used to the velocity of the ball and adjusting to different speeds.”

And the hitting?

“I love hitting. I’m waiting until we get full contact. I heard we had pads today and I was happy and smiling. The hitting part, I welcome. I’m excited for that.”

QUOTABLE: O’Shea talking about what he liked from Day 2:

“I liked it all. It really is good to have guys out just working. For coaches, you sit around the office and I know you’re working but it just doesn’t feel the same. So this is just so good for the coaches to be out of the field and talking to the players and giving them information they can use so they can get better.

“It’s what these men need to do and want to do. This is what they’re here for. It was a good practice. I thought there was good tempo. There’s always room for improvement. I thought w can pursue more consistently on defence. But I thought they showed some good mental toughness by gutting it out through two practices with limited numbers.”

NEXT: The Bombers wrap up rookie camp today with the session going from 10:15 a.m. until noon at the field beside the Winnipeg Soccer Complex. Medicals are on Saturday with the main camp opening Sunday morning at 8:30.

— Campbell / Tait