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<\/p>\nEight 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\u2026<\/p>\n
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\u2019s been carved straight from granite.<\/p>\n
And on those rare occasions he\u2019s got his mitts on the ball \u2014 four carries and six receptions over 27 games \u2014 it left most thinking there\u2019s something there deserving more than just the odd touch.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m getting more comfortable with everything. Credit to my coaches because they\u2019ve been explaining things super well,\u201d Chris-Ike told bluebombers.com this weekend. \u201cEverything has been slowing down a little more, so it\u2019s been good. It\u2019s\u2019 exciting. I just love the fact I have the trust of my teammates and coaches.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The Blue Bombers selected Chris-Ike \u2014 a Hamilton product out of Delaware State \u2014 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
But that next step is happening right here and right now.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s done really well for us. He\u2019s always fit. Always in great shape. Strong, fast and physically a bigger guy,\u201d said head coach Mike O\u2019Shea on Chris-Ike. \u201cEverything just seems to have fallen in place this year for him. I\u2019m sure that\u2019s from some offseason work and studying and trying to learn more about the new playbook.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve also given him more time at his natural position after he came in as a tailback, and we moved him to fullback. That\u2019s not the natural spot for him and now we\u2019ve given him more time at what came naturally to him and he\u2019s now obviously more comfortable at the fullback spot, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone has their own pace, and I just feel a tunnel vision of focus right now,\u201d added Chris-Ike. \u201cIt definitely feels that I\u2019m about to take that next step and I\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt comes from having more comfort all across the board \u2014 with my teammates, with the playbook, with myself and having more confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
3 THOUGHTS FROM DAY 8<\/p>\n
1 The Blue Bombers still have four more full days of camp before travelling to Saskatoon on Friday for Saturday\u2019s first preseason game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders \u2014 who, FYI, open the CFL preseason schedule tomorrow in Calgary against the Stampeders.<\/p>\n
Coach O\u2019Shea mentioned the other day when asked about the quarterbacks that the staff needs to see them in action when opponents aren\u2019t just letting up when they get near them.<\/p>\n
The same applies at all positions and will be especially important in the two preseason games on defence in terms of tackling \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s O\u2019Shea on needing to see defenders finishing tackles in the preseason:<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve 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\u2019re looking for it and that doesn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cTraining camps are much different than they used to be and tackling is a huge part of it. If you can\u2019t tackle, you\u2019re going to have a really hard time in football games. It\u2019s one of the things we\u2019re really looking for and it\u2019s one of the missing pieces you don\u2019t get until you get to play in a game.\u201d<\/p>\n
2 Random snippets from Sunday\u2019s session:<\/p>\n
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-A Zach Collaros-to-Gavin Cobb long aerial strike TD was absolutely picturesque\u2026 Cam Allen had a solid interception off Bryce Perkins\u2026 Winnipeg Rifles receiver Jarome Penner has had a couple of solid days\u2026 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\u2026 The Blue Bombers released one receiver on Sunday in Bryce Kirtz, while adding Jihad Marks (6-1, 210, The Citadel).<\/p>\n
3 Future hall of famer Stanley Bryant just continues to plug along at his left tackle position. He turned 40 last week \u2014 he joked again this weekend that those numbers are misprint and he\u2019s just 35 \u2014 and yet continues to be elite.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just consider myself very fortunate to be around him,\u201d said O\u2019Shea. \u201cWe were very happy when we got him (in free agency in 2015). I mean, he\u2019s been a cornerstone of our team. We\u2019re very fortunate he said yes all that time ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
TIP OF THE HAT<\/p>\n
If you have a chance, check out Cameron Bartlett\u2019s photo galleries from camp on our website. Posted today was a gallery from some of his best work over the last week:<\/p>\n