{"id":673805,"date":"2026-05-16T16:57:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T16:57:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/673805\/"},"modified":"2026-05-16T16:57:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T16:57:14","slug":"taits-take-blue-bombers-training-camp-day-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/673805\/","title":{"rendered":"Tait’s Take | Blue Bombers Training Camp Day 6"},"content":{"rendered":"

Six days of main training camp are now complete for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers training camp and here is our daily collection of notes, quotes and anecdotes\u2026<\/p>\n

Overheard by one of the Blue Bombers scouts earlier this week: \u2018Pat Neufeld was one of the best players on the field yesterday.\u2019<\/p>\n

Yes, the first six days of training camp have been delivered many storylines with some of them still percolating, but one thing has been clear since the first few snaps last Sunday morning: there is still a ton of tread on Pat Neufeld\u2019s tires.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been good,\u201d the veteran right guard told bluebombers.com. \u201cIt\u2019s kind of a badge of honour to be out there for Year 15 and be one of the most senior statesmen in the CFL with Stan (Bryant), myself and Zach (Collaros). It\u2019s what I love to do and there\u2019s a group of guys here I love going out there and doing it with and showing young guys how to do it right and what we do here in Winnipeg.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot everyone gets to be a professional football player. I don\u2019t take this for granted, so I want to go out there and I still have the same mentality as when I was a young guy. I\u2019m here to compete and earn my starting job and I take that mentality every day. I don\u2019t go out there and bullshit around. I\u2019m out there to compete and make the team better and myself better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Training camp is back across the #CFL<\/a>, and so are some of its longest-tenured players.<\/p>\n

Among them:
\u2022 Sean Whyte (BC) \u2014 Yr 17
\u2022 Stanley Bryant (WPG) \u2014 Yr 16
\u2022 Rene Paredes (CGY) \u2014 Yr 15
\u2022 Patrick Neufeld (WPG) \u2014 Yr 15
\u2022 3 others entering Yr 14 \u2b07\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/UKf0Q7AWch<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 CFL Stats (@CFLStats) May 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Now 37, Neufeld started every game for the Blue Bombers last year, although his 2025 season ended at halftime of the loss to Montreal in the Eastern Semi-Final when he took a shot in the back while jumping on a fumble and then had to exit for health reasons.<\/a> The big vet is back again this year and trying to keep the interior of the offensive line Canadian along with centre Tui Eli and left guard Gabe Wallace and between tackles Bryant and Jarell Broxton.<\/p>\n

This camp is stacked with talent along the offensive line, and every returnee is being pushed. Neufeld, for one, knows he\u2019s still got some fight left.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I\u2019m not getting nervous thinking about football or a little bit of anxiety in the offseason about not getting strong enough or not running enough, that\u2019s when I think I\u2019ll be done,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a double-edged sword \u2014 I don\u2019t like that feeling but it also means I\u2019ve still got that fire burning in me and I still have it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s things you hate about camp. The physical grind of it is tough and as offensive linemen we\u2019re not out there sprinting, but we are pounding on the ground and the ankles and knees, and lower back can get pretty jacked up. On the flip side, you get to be in a locker room with a bunch of dudes who are all working towards the same goal, we\u2019re finding out more about each other. We\u2019re in meetings, we\u2019re having a good time going to work and hold each other accountable. It\u2019s all those elements that I still love.\u201d<\/p>\n

All this some 15 years into what has been a sensational career.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were talking about that the other day\u2026 he just seems to get in there and it\u2019s like it\u2019s his home,\u201d said Blue Bombers head coach Mike O\u2019Shea of Neufeld. \u201cThere\u2019s just a comfort level and it\u2019s like, \u2018Oh, yeah\u2026 here we go. This is what we do.\u2019 And he\u2019s running hard. The other day I looked up and they were changing side of the field. The O-line is always down at one end, and they love it when we call for the next period to start down close to them and hate it when it\u2019s down at the other end.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure enough, they had a fairly long transition, and Paddy was hauling ass, him and Gabe were just hauling ass all the way down the field. You look up and it\u2019s, \u2018There you go.\u2019 That\u2019s leadership. It doesn\u2019t have to be, \u2018Hey, c\u2019mon guys.\u2019 It\u2019s just do it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s leadership in the form of action. It\u2019s very powerful.\u201d<\/p>\n

3 THOUGHTS FROM DAY 6:<\/p>\n

1 The list of walking wounded grew significantly longer on Friday. Not practising were receivers Nic Demski and Pokey Wilson, defensive linemen Jake Ceresna, Nuer Gatkuoth and Tanner Schmekel and defensive backs Trey Vaval, Ethan Ball and Jonathan Moxey.<\/p>\n

At the same time, there are a ton of players with taped up legs, wrapped ankles and the like who are still out there grinding. That\u2019s not a knock on the vets who were maybe told by the athletic therapy staff to back off, but a salute to the many new faces still battling.<\/p>\n

And here\u2019s O\u2019Shea when asked if that\u2019s something management notices:<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely. Durability, availability \u2014 those are all extremely important in all pro sports, contact sports especially. That would be important to every coach. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s just us. We absolutely notice that. Everybody notices who\u2019s out there givin\u2019 her even though they should probably be taking a day of rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

2 Fullback Michael Chris-Ike flashed his speed in the regular-season finale last year in a 63-yard gallop that was the longest of his career. And while he\u2019s only had four carries through the first 27 games of his two years with the Blue Bombers, every once in a while he showcases his athletic gifts. Actually, it\u2019s been more than a regular occurrence in camp, with Chris-Ike still working as a fullback but also getting a lot more work as a tailback.<\/p>\n

Also jumping out on Friday were Kevens Clercius on a TD throw from Taylor Elgersma, receivers Dorian Singer and Thomas Desrosiers with long catches.<\/p>\n

3 The longer list of players who took the day off also meant more looks for players like cornerbacks Ridge Texada and Warren Burrell \u2014 both of whom were working with starters \u2014 and receiver Christian Fredericksen, who took the work of Wilson. Fredericksen has jumped out every day with at least one noticeable catch.<\/p>\n

\u201cCUSTOM MADE SUIT\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Jordan Younger<\/p>\n

O\u2019Shea was asked by CJOB\u2019s Derek Taylor on Friday about playing in defensive coordinator Jordan Younger system and how so many of the the packages are catered to the different skill sets on the roster.<\/p>\n

And the Blue Bombers head coach came up with an interesting analogy to describe that.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would absolutely think that it\u2019s fun to play for JY \u2014 I think they all realize that,\u201d said O\u2019Shea. \u201cI would like to play for JY. I\u2019d like to turn back the clock and jump into one\u2026 although, I don\u2019t think I would have a position or a package.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s very creative, highly intelligent, studies the offensive game really well, presents football in a personally digestible manner. So, he frames it for each guy\u2026 custom-made suits.\u201d<\/p>\n

NEXT: The Blue Bombers are back at it for Day 7 of training camp on Saturday from 8:30-11:15 a.m. at Princess Auto Stadium. All practices are open to the public.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> for the times of the next chunk of scheduled practices.<\/p>\n