Training camp provides that proverbial foot-wedged-in-the-door opportunity for some, while serving as a necessary evil for others.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are now a week into main training camp — and one week from their first preseason tune-up next Saturday in Saskatoon against the Saskatchewan Roughriders — and while the picture is still very fuzzy, some things are starting to emerge.

“We’re getting some answers, but it it’s I don’t think you want to be that early to judge,” said Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea. “You want to let him get the pads on against an opponent that’s really going to bring it and hopefully do that a couple times before you rush ro any judgment.”

Today’s edition of Tait’s Take looks at some emerging storylines we’ve seen through the first week of training camp, in no particular order…

THE QBS… ALWAYS THE QBS

Taylor Elgersma

A week of practices — and the three days of rookie camp before that — have confirmed what everyone already knew: Zach Collaros is clearly this team’s QB1. It’s what happens behind him, especially in the two preseason games, that will be riveting in the days ahead.

First week impressions, for what their worth: Canadian rookie Taylor Elgersma has certainly looked the part: big, well-spoken, elite arm strength. We’ll see how all that translates into his first opportunity if it comes this week in Saskatoon — the QB rotation is still days away from being decided or, at least, announced. After that, Terry Wilson, Bryce Perkins and Payton Thorne have all had their ‘whoa’ moments — good and bad and it says here no one has separated themselves from that grouping yet.

Translation: there’s nothing worse than a premature evaluation and we won’t go there yet on the QBs until we see them against an opponent trying to separate their heads from their shoulders.

THE DEPTH AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE IS IMPRESSIVE

Tyler Elsbury (centre)

One of the areas the club addressed significantly in free agency was adding a veteran presence on both the offensive and defensive lines with the signings of Jarell Broxton and Jake Ceresna. They’ve already been every bit as advertised. Yet, it’s the other new faces on the O and D lines who could make the roster cutdown decisions nightmarish for the coaching staff.

De’Shaan Dixon has had an excellent camp and is getting a lot of looks opposite Willie Jefferson at defensive end, but so, too has Kydran Jenkins and Kemari Munier-Bailey. Tackles Michael Fletcher and Arnold Young have also flashed.

What happens along the offensive line will just be as riveting a subplot in the days ahead. Lock in Broxton and Stanley Bryant at the tackles, and Pat Neufeld — who did miss Saturday — along with centre Tui Eli and guard Gabe Wallace have had most of the reps in front of Collaros. Still, having said that, the import OL talent here is deep, including Kendall Randolph and Micah Vanterpool from last year along with Tyler Elsbury, Micah Mazzccua, Bucky Williams and Hunter Poncius. Just to further complicate this picture, Wallace — the big guard — looked very comfortable on Saturday lining up at left tackle.

ADDING TOMMY AND TIM TO THE RECEIVING CORPS = WISE MOVE

Tim White

Tommy Nield and Tim White are two other free-agent editions who are who we thought they were — Nield as a big, reliable target; White as a consistent big-play threat. Couple their arrivals with how new offensive coordinator Tommy Condell might use them in the attack and the Blue Bombers offence might have the explosive parts it missed for much of last year.

O’Shea when asked about those two on Saturday by Jeff Hamilton of The Canadian Press/Free Press:

On Nield: “He can do a lot of different things. He’s proved that he’s very intelligent and can know all the spots so he’s versatile, he’s a plug-and-play guy. You can put him in a spot, and he’ll understand all the concepts and the entire offence. Willing blocker. Clutch catch guy. He will be in the right place at the right time for the quarterbacks. He’s going to be very trustworthy. And all he’s done is win.”

On White: “Ultra-competitive, unbelievable athlete. He’s done a lot of different things athletically. Serious about his craft — you look at all the things he’s accomplished in different sports, and you’ve got to take your preparation very seriously to do all that stuff.

“I’m looking forward to it. It reminds me a little bit of being able to get Mike Miller when we did — you get a guy who was a prolific tackler and all of a sudden, he’s available. So, we get a guy who is a very accomplished receiver and all of a sudden, he’s available. It’s good for us.”

THE TOP TWO 2026 CFL CANADIAN DRAFT PICKS ARE WORKS IN PROGRESS

Dante Daniels (73)

First-round pick Nuer Gatkuoth arrived just a few days ago, so he’s still getting his bearings. You can see his speed coming off the edge and he will give the club some options at the defensive end spot in certain packages. Yet, he is very much still a blank canvas.

Dante Daniels, the 6-6/272-pound tight end, could very well be that ‘unicorn’ the Blue Bombers were touting when they moved up three spots to get him at the top of the second round. He does have a good set of mitts and is solid in run blocking and his pass protection has shown improvement over 10 days, including rookie camp. He’ll likely get some reps in the tight end/fullback packages and, like Gatkuoth, is very much a work in progress.

INCREASED ROLES FOR WOODBEY/GRIFFIN II

Michael Griffin II

Jordan Younger’s defence has always been a fascinating watch, given how much the Blue Bombers defensive coordinator moves his personnel around the field like pieces on a chess board. It’s early — waaaaay too early — but both Jaiden Woodbey and Michael Griffin II are getting more work in the club’s defence. Both are intriguing defensive back/linebacker types big enough to get grimy at the line of scrimmage and quick enough to cover in pass coverage.

Veteran corner Jonathan Moxey also looks comfortable at corner and with him missing the last couple of days due to a knock, the club is taking a long look at Warren Burrell and Ridge Texada at the two cornerback spots, with both of them scrapping for a starting gig.

ICYMI: We recorded our latest ‘Handled Internally’ podcast this week, with Sergio Castillo joining myself and co-hosts Darren Cameron and Zach Collaros. You can check it out here:

NEXT: Sunday’ training camp practice runs from 8:30-11:35 a.m. and are open to the public.