Blue D has Willy’s number

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This article was published 02/06/2016 (3480 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Drew Willy’s first pass at Winnipeg Blue Bombers practice Thursday was tipped at the line, intercepted by cornerback Matt Bucknor and returned for a touchdown.

It was a sign of things to come for the Bombers quarterback as a fired- up defence would go on to intercept Willy two more times (linebackers Maurice Leggett and Khalil Bass had the others), while a fourth pick that hit cornerback Chris Randle in the hands was dropped.

Put it all together and — just as you’d expect in training camp — it would appear the Winnipeg defence is coming together as a unit a bit more quickly than the offence through five full days of camp.

And that seems to be just fine with Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea, who had nothing but praise for Willy.

“I expect him to have a great year,” said O’Shea. “Absolutely. And so does he. He believes in himself and he’s a confident guy. I think he’s going to have a great year and he’s prepared to do that…

“I’m as confident as ever in Drew Willy.”

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O’Shea was asked Thursday to make some early assessments of what he’s seen so far from his team’s draft class of 2016.

“All these guys have stuff to learn about being professional and the nuances of the game,” said O’Shea. “It will take time for these guys to be as successful as we think they’ll be.”

O’Shea said he’s found positives in all of the Bombers’ draft picks through training camp so far, including the club’s first pick in 2016, defensive lineman Trent Corney. “He gets off the ball and he’s very athletic. He can win the one-on-one battles,” said O’Shea. “He’s what we thought he was.”

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Receiver Rory Kohlert — who’s now the longest-serving member of the Bombers with the off-season departures of both Clarence Denmark and Bryant Turner — looks like a lock to win the only starting receiving job the Bombers are reserving for a non-import this season.

“He’s a good receiver. He’s sure-handed and he’s an intelligent receiver,” said O’Shea. “And to go beyond that, you can put him in any position on the field and he’s going to know exactly what to do and how to do it…

“He knows the situation and how to work them. He’s seen a lot now.”

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Linebacker Kyle Knox, offensive lineman Pat Neufeld, defensive lineman Derrell Johnson and cornerback Johnny Adams missed practice with injuries Thursday and O’Shea was asked if any have injuries serious enough that they are in danger of missing next Wednesday’s pre-season opener against the Montreal Alouettes at Investors Group Field.

“I hope not,” said O’Shea. “But there’s always a chance — we’ll see.”

Defensive lineman Justin Cole, who is fighting to win the starting defensive end job opposite Jamaal Westerman, may have joined the ranks of the injured Thursday, hobbling to the sidelines near the end of practice with an apparent leg injury.

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @PaulWiecek