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This article was published 24/4/2016 (1608 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It is a "mini-camp" in name. If any of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers offensive personnel who step on the field for this week’s five practices believe it’s strictly an informal meet-and-greet, take note of this from GM Kyle Walters:

"Any time a player steps in the building, any time he’s in our city, he has a chance to make an impression," said the Bombers’ football boss. "It’s whether they pay attention in meetings... lots of things.

boris minkevich / winnipeg free press files A full contingent of Bomber quarterbacks will be on hand, including Dominique Davis (6), Matt Nichols (15) as well as Drew Willy and Bryan Bennett (not shown). No longer on the depth chart is Brian Brohm (seen at rear).

"Some guys are going to have to go. These guys showing up, if they’re making a negative impression for whatever reason, then they’re probably not going to be here for training camp."

CFL teams must have their numbers at 75 players by May 1 and with both the NFL and CFL drafts approaching, it means there will still be some roster juggling in the next few weeks before camp. That means the Bomber mini-camp is about more than the players reacquainting after the winter and getting a chance to test drive offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice’s new offence.

Here’s a preview of what to expect over the next few days:

Who’s attending

The camp is offence-only, so no defenders will be on the field.

All four quarterbacks under contract — Drew Willy, Matt Nichols, Dominique Davis and Bryan Bennett — will be throwing and all of the offensive coaches will be teaching.

Only two running backs will be on the field — Andrew Harris and Pascal Lochard, both free-agent additions from the B.C. Lions. BJ Catalon, currently the only import tailback on the roster (more signings are expected) is writing an exam this week at Texas Christian University.

What’s different

CFL teams hold off-season mini-camps every off-season in an attempt to find new talent. The Bombers have held theirs in Florida the last couple of years. This is a change not only in venue, but because the camp will feature players already under contract.

"These aren’t the guys who show up at your off-season workouts and pay 100 bucks and come around for you," Walters explained. "This is the top group of guys that you work and you work and you work to try and convince them to sign. It’s like recruiting. You’ve recruited these guys to come up here. The difference is some of them haven’t played football in a year. They’ve been doing the workouts or pursuing the NFL. It will be exciting to see them in person because we haven’t seen anything but their film over the past couple of years.

"It’s not like Florida where you’ve got 40 kids and they’re all competing against each other and nobody has heard any of their names. This will be a much different vibe. It will look slower on the field because it’s going to be more systems, more coaching and teaching of concepts. Myself and the scouting department will be much more focused on the individual drills the receivers and offensive linemen are going through, just to see how they move, how they catch, what kind of shape they’re in."

The emphasis

It may look odd to see the offence running sets without a defence on the field, but there is a lot to be gained from this approach.

"We’re working on different tempos, getting in and out of the huddle, terminology, how we want to set up certain routes," said Willy last week. "We’ll get a lot out of next week. I was kind of skeptical at first at not having a defence out there... it’ll be different. A lot of football is reaction, so you’re reacting to a defence.

"But after talking to coaches and other players who have done this before in the league, they were telling me it’s a good operation just because you are able to concentrate on your own stuff as an offence and you can really fine-tune and emphasize what you want to get done."

Keep an eye on

Ten players to watch during the camp:

5 Drew Willy, QB

No introductions are needed. But this will be the first look at the Bombers’ QB1 since he was injured last August. He says he’s 100 per cent, but the man who is the face of this franchise is always under the microscope.

33 Andrew Harris, RB

One of the big off-season additions, this hometown product figures to play a prominent role in LaPolice’s attack, including out of the backfield as a receiver. He’s averaged 59 catches over the past four seasons.

7 Weston Dressler, SB/WR

A longtime Bomber nemesis comes over from Saskatchewan to provide some veteran guile to the passing attack. Pulled in 70 passes for 941 yards and six touchdowns last year from five different Rider QBs. The Bombers believe he’s still got game.

18 Bryan Bennett, QB

Joined the Bombers late last October and while he got almost zero reps, flashed a howitzer of an arm. Played two years at Oregon before transferring to Southeastern Louisiana. Got a look from the Indianapolis Colts before coming north.

64 Jermarcus Hardrick, OT

Started 18 games over the past two years with Saskatchewan and B.C. Listed at 6-6, 320, he’ll be battling for starting work in main camp.

19 Jerrel Jernigan, WR/KR

Smallish (5-9) receiver/return man who spent four years with the New York Giants after being a third-round selection in 2011.

12 Ryan Smith, WR/SB

Another ex-Rider, Smith led Saskatchewan with 59 receptions for 991 yards and seven scores. Should quickly become a favourite target of Willy & Co.

61 Matthias Goossen, C

He became the Bombers’ starting centre last year when Dominic Picard was injured and started to flash the skills that made him the second-overall pick in 2014.

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82 Ernest Smith, WR

Former Baylor product is the biggest of the receivers in camp at 6-5. Spent time with San Diego before starting a football training business.

72 Larry Pinkard, WR

Posted a 1,000-yard season in his final year at Old Dominion and then had looks from Green Bay and Oakland.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: WFPEdTait