Picking up where he left off

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This article was published 22/07/2021 (1508 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Michael Couture is like many CFL players.

He’s been aching to get back to game action for a long time due to the pandemic but in his case, the absence from the field had an added layer of regret.

After earning Winnipeg’s starting centre job in 2019, Couture missed the club’s entire playoff run to a Grey Cup title due to an injury. In the regular-season finale against the Calgary Stampeders, he tore a ligament in an ankle and had surgery to repair the tear before being reduced to a spectator role.

“It was about switching my mindset and helping out our room as much as I could and then getting to rehab,” said Couture following Day 13 of Blue Bombers’ training camp Thursday.

“That took longer than I was expecting… so having all the time off actually was a positive in that aspect. But I’m 100 per cent now.”

Couture figures he was back to full health by March of 2020 and, with fellow O-line starters Stanley Bryant, Drew Desjarlais, Pat Neufeld and Jermarcis Hardrick all back in the fold, he’s determined to build on the success that led to Andrew Harris’ third straight league rushing title.

Other than the injury, 2019 was a breakout season for Couture. After serving an apprenticeship for three seasons behind all-star Matthias Goossen, the 27-year-old product of Burnaby, B.C.’s patience was rewarded.

“I started all 18 games (in 2019) so I feel like I proved to myself that I can do it,” said Couture, who was replaced by the since departed Cody Spellar for the 2019 post-season. “So I don’t really think of my time off in the playoffs in 2019 as any sort of negative. Obviously, I wish I could have played but it’s all about mindset and how you go forward with what you’re dealing with.”

Apparently, Goossen was an able tutor.

“I did learn a lot from Goose,” said Couture. “He played very physically, he knew the playbook inside and out. He would predict what defences were doing before it happened. So I try and really pull from the things that he taught me.”

Chosen 10th overall out of Simon Fraser University in the 2016 draft, Couture was content to watch and learn.

“I didn’t get frustrated at all,” said Couture. “I actually know I needed that time. It was a big jump for me for sure my first year, and I got to learn from an amazing group of guys and savvy vets that have been in front of me. So I appreciate that process.”

Head coach Mike O’Shea has been impressed with Couture’s return to form.

“He’s a pro, he’s always he’s gonna work hard,” said O’Shea. “It was an unfortunate injury… at the end of 2019. Tough for a young man to go through that. But he’s a resilient guy, he’s bounced back nicely. He’s very smart, athletic, he’s tough… To me he’s where he should be.”

LESS IS MORE: Tui Eli shed 25 pounds in the off-season and being lighter on his feet may be contributing to the offensive lineman’s rise up Winnipeg’s depth chart.

“I’m just here to help the team, however I can, wherever that may be — guard, centre,” said 6-4 Eli, who is listed at 326 pounds and expected to be a backup this season. “I’m just blessed to be here and get the reps that I’m getting in training camp right now and we’ll see how it goes.”

A 25-year-old born in Richmond, B.C., Eli was drafted by Winnipeg in the fourth round of the 2019 draft after a college career at the University of Hawaii.

Eli’s family, which is involved in Christian missionary work, relocated to Hawaii when Tui was in Grade 10.

During the recent extended off-season, he worked with the Tribal Waves Ministries, a non-profit organization that reaches out to the Indigenous people of the Flathead Reservation in Montana.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @sawa14