Local Bombers shine in larger roles

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This article was published 09/11/2022 (1034 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brady Oliveira and Geoff Gray contributed along the way but watched from the sidelines as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers won back-to-back CFL titles.

If the Bombers are going to make it a three-peat, they’ll need the pair of Winnipeggers to excel in much larger roles.

Both of them entered 2022 with big shoes to fill as Oliveira replaced Andrew Harris, now with the Toronto Argonauts, at running back and Gray took over at left guard for all-star Drew Desjarlais who moved on to pursue NFL opportunities.

Oliveira and Gray made sure the Bombers didn’t miss a beat all season and they’ll now make their first career playoff starts on Sunday in the West Division final against the visiting B.C. Lions.

“Seeing the mark that Andrew left on this organization and seeing where he started with this organization to where it ended off when he left, I mean, he pretty much brought it from the ground up and he was a big reason for it,” said Oliveira after Wednesday’s practice at IG Field.

“Seeing him run in the Grey Cup definitely gave me motivation. I was like, ‘I want to do that one day. I want to be like Andrew and play significant football games, meaningful football games, and help this team keep winning Grey Cups.’”

Oliveira missed the majority of his rookie season in 2019 with a broken fibula. He started a few games last season when Harris was sidelined, however, the veteran and fellow Winnipeg product returned just in time for the playoffs. Now in his third CFL campaign, Oliveira has been the go-to guy since Week 1. He started the year slow but finished with 1,001 rushing yards and an average of 4.96 yards per carry.

“Last year, just with how the season went with me actually being able to contribute and help the team win football games, that Grey Cup felt a lot sweeter. Speaking on this year, the role that I’ve had this year to start every game for this organization and help the team win football games is all that I wanted,” said Oliveira.

“So, the fact that I have a big role this year and I’m going to be starting in the West final in front of my home town is going to be spectacular.”

The Bombers leaned heavily on the run game in last year’s West final, when they turned the ball over six times but still managed to earn a win. It was a rough outing by the offence, but Harris managed to get the Bombers back on track with 136 rushing yards and a touchdown to lead the Blue and Gold to a 21-17 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

If the Bombers find themselves in a similar situation this Sunday, quarterback Zach Collaros is confident Oliveira can help get them out of a jam.

“I think Andrew and Brady would be the first to say that it starts up front (with the offensive line). Those guys did a hell of a job last year,” Collaros said. “We all have a ton of faith in Brady and we say it before every game, ‘Go out there and set the tone’ and he’s done that all season.”

Gray, meanwhile, started the first 12 games of the 2019 season while Patrick Neufeld was injured. But by the time the Grey Cup in Calgary rolled around, he was a healthy scratch. In 2021, Gray was a depth piece who dressed for just five regular-season games and both playoff contests. Gray, a 28-year-old out of the University of Manitoba in his fourth CFL season, has started all 18 games this year.

“Obviously, you’d like to be out there. Not that I’m complaining about before, but it’s a hell of a lot more fun when you’re dressed and on the field,” said Gray.

Collaros certainly appreciates the fact Gray is on the field blocking for him.

“He’s always around the pile. They could be 40 yards down field, it could be on their sideline, on our sideline, he’s always chasing the ball, being physical and getting back to the huddle just do it again,” Collaros said.

“He’s just completely selfless and just a great guy in that room.”

Gray’s teammates, however, might like him even more for his cooking skills. During the week of a home game, Gray is known to have the offensive line over for a home-cooked meal.

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“I don’t really like going out to eat because I’m like, ‘Ah, I can do better.’ And they’re like, ‘Well, let’s see. Prove it,’” said Gray. “It kind of started in 2019 and it’s become a tradition of ours. It’s good for getting the group together and just building that camaraderie.”

Collaros got a taste of Gray’s culinary skills Sunday as most of the team connected to watch the two division semi-finals.

“He makes some of the best fried chicken I’ve ever tried. We were watching the game at his place and my gawd, it was unbelievable,” Collaros said. “He (also) taught me how to do the steak tartare thing. I learned a lot from Geoff.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31

Taylor Allen
Reporter

Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.

Every piece of reporting Taylor 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.