Eight days of training camp are now in the rear-view mirror for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and here is the latest collection of notes, quotes and anecdotes…

This is the Michael Chris-Ike the Blue Bombers have seen snippets of during his first two seasons in blue and gold: a big, physical bulldozer who looks like he’s been carved straight from granite.

And on those rare occasions he’s got his mitts on the ball — four carries and six receptions over 27 games — it left most thinking there’s something there deserving more than just the odd touch.

Well, the evidence backing that narrative up has been on full display with every practice session through the week of camp as the converted fullback is getting more carries out of the backfield and popping out.

“I’m getting more comfortable with everything. Credit to my coaches because they’ve been explaining things super well,” Chris-Ike told bluebombers.com this weekend. “Everything has been slowing down a little more, so it’s been good. It’s’ exciting. I just love the fact I have the trust of my teammates and coaches.”

The Blue Bombers selected Chris-Ike — a Hamilton product out of Delaware State — in the second round, 14th overall, in the 2024 CFL Canadian Draft. A running back with the Hornets, he was moved to fullback here in Winnipeg. But given the extra work this past week, he’s flashed even more to have the club feel comfortable in the Canadian backfield depth they have behind Brady Oliveira with Matthew Peterson and Chris-Ike.

And as his workload grows, so does his confidence. Football coaches often point to the growth of players in their sophomore seasons and Chris-Ike, while entering Year 3, has less than the equivalent to two seasons played to his name.

But that next step is happening right here and right now.

“He’s done really well for us. He’s always fit. Always in great shape. Strong, fast and physically a bigger guy,” said head coach Mike O’Shea on Chris-Ike. “Everything just seems to have fallen in place this year for him. I’m sure that’s from some offseason work and studying and trying to learn more about the new playbook.

“We’ve also given him more time at his natural position after he came in as a tailback, and we moved him to fullback. That’s not the natural spot for him and now we’ve given him more time at what came naturally to him and he’s now obviously more comfortable at the fullback spot, too.”

“Everyone has their own pace, and I just feel a tunnel vision of focus right now,” added Chris-Ike. “It definitely feels that I’m about to take that next step and I’m hitting my stride as a professional. I just feel extra locked in this whole camp. Right from the beginning I felt this different energy. I really am seeing things clearer and am able to express my abilities on the field.

“It comes from having more comfort all across the board — with my teammates, with the playbook, with myself and having more confidence.”

3 THOUGHTS FROM DAY 8

1 The Blue Bombers still have four more full days of camp before travelling to Saskatoon on Friday for Saturday’s first preseason game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders — who, FYI, open the CFL preseason schedule tomorrow in Calgary against the Stampeders.

Coach O’Shea mentioned the other day when asked about the quarterbacks that the staff needs to see them in action when opponents aren’t just letting up when they get near them.

The same applies at all positions and will be especially important in the two preseason games on defence in terms of tackling — which has all but disappeared over the years in camp with players not in shoulder pads often and staffs working on keeping players upright and healthy for the long haul.

Here’s O’Shea on needing to see defenders finishing tackles in the preseason:

“We’ve had guys in the past that practice pretty hard and you like to see that continue through the game where they really do love the contact and they’re looking for it and that doesn’t work out for everybody. At every position there is some aspect of a preseason game that is really different from training camp practice, and you want to see their evolution through that.

“Training camps are much different than they used to be and tackling is a huge part of it. If you can’t tackle, you’re going to have a really hard time in football games. It’s one of the things we’re really looking for and it’s one of the missing pieces you don’t get until you get to play in a game.”

2 Random snippets from Sunday’s session:

-A Zach Collaros-to-Gavin Cobb long aerial strike TD was absolutely picturesque… Cam Allen had a solid interception off Bryce Perkins… Winnipeg Rifles receiver Jarome Penner has had a couple of solid days… The coaching staff has some tough decisions to make on the O-line and have been working through a ton of combinations, including seeing Kendall Randolph at guard, Gabe Wallace at tackle and Micah Vanterpool at both… The Blue Bombers released one receiver on Sunday in Bryce Kirtz, while adding Jihad Marks (6-1, 210, The Citadel).

3 Future hall of famer Stanley Bryant just continues to plug along at his left tackle position. He turned 40 last week — he joked again this weekend that those numbers are misprint and he’s just 35 — and yet continues to be elite.

The most decorated O-lineman in CFL history with four Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman awards, Bryant was named the Blue Bombers top hog for an eighth time last season.

“I just consider myself very fortunate to be around him,” said O’Shea. “We were very happy when we got him (in free agency in 2015). I mean, he’s been a cornerstone of our team. We’re very fortunate he said yes all that time ago.”

TIP OF THE HAT

If you have a chance, check out Cameron Bartlett’s photo galleries from camp on our website. Posted today was a gallery from some of his best work over the last week:

Training Camp Week 1: Photo Gallery

NEXT: Training camp continues Monday with practice running from 9:35 a.m.-12:25 p.m.