Blue boss content with progress

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/06/2016 (3398 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Thursday marked an end to the 2016 edition of training camp for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. There was no special ceremony or formal recognition of its conclusion following the two-hour practice at Investors Group Field; just an answer from head coach Mike O’Shea who, in his news conference, spoke about camp in the past tense, adding his team was in “in pretty good shape” in doing so.

“I think we’re right where we want to be,” the coach said.

Part of what made it a successful camp, said O’Shea, was the fact the Bombers have been able to stay relatively healthy over the last couple of weeks — a primary focus for every team at this point of the year.

Rigours

Winnipeg hasn’t been completely immune to the rigours of the pre-season — the team announced Wednesday offensive lineman Jeff Keeping, receiver Addison Richards and linebacker Kyle Knox would all start the year on the six-game injured list and defensive back Johnny Adams and middle linebacker Sam Hurl have still yet to practise this month — but it could definitely be worse.

Others have been sidelined with minor injuries, a number of whom O’Shea hinted could return sooner rather than later. One of particular note is veteran receiver Weston Dressler, who has been out of practice since June 4 with an undisclosed injury.

He has attended most of the practices since then, limited to holding duties for the kickers.

Dressler, one of the biggest signings in an off-season that saw a number of them, figures to play a key role in the Bombers’ new-look offence that features two other new, and equally important, additions in receiver Ryan Smith, who Dressler played with last season in Saskatchewan, and running back Andrew Harris.

O’Shea has affirmed repeatedly in the past couple of weeks, including Thursday where he again made it clear, Dressler would indeed be back for the season opener June 24 against the Montreal Alouettes at IGF.

“You’re saying you’re holding me to that?” said O’Shea.

“You can do that.”

If there was any concern in O’Shea about Dressler being the only player yet to line up with the first-team offence in a game and therefore might be rusty in his return, O’Shea didn’t show it.

Professionalism

He countered by noting Dressler’s professionalism, that he was a full participant in the team’s offensive mini-camp in April and his comfort with quarterback Drew Willy was high already from having played together in Saskatchewan years before.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

The Warm-Up

Winnipeg Jets Game Days

On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.

Sign up for The Warm-Up

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

“I don’t foresee any issues with that, I really don’t,” said O’Shea. “He’s a fantastic football player and a great professional. The best thing is he’s going to be rested, he’s not going to have camp legs coming out.”

As to the other key signings, who include defensive tackles Keith Shologan and Euclid Cummings and kicker Justin Medlock, O’Shea said he’s been pleased with their progress and looks forward to showcasing them to fans.

“Over the course of the first few games, our fans will recognize that these guys are the exciting players they were for other teams,” said O’Shea. “And they’ll be exciting for us, too.”

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

twitter: @jeffkhamilton

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University’s journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff.

Every piece of reporting Jeff produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.