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I was standing in the south end zone at Investors Group Field Tuesday, waiting to do interviews, when defensive ends Tristan Okpalaugo and Jackson Jeffcoat sauntered over.

It was pretty obvious they wanted to do the interview I had requested together, and while many sports journalists would normally prefer a one-on-one situation, it seemed like a good opportunity to get a unique look at what makes the bookends of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive line tick.

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From our short conversation, one thing became very apparent: These guys are close friends.

“We’re brothers,” Jeffcoat said.

“We like to have fun, we like to chill. We’ve got work and then we have our fun and I think that does help with our closeness.”

Jeffcoat, 26, and Okpalaugo, 28, are both second-year Bombers and clearly they forged a strong bond over their first season and a half.

That tightness has extended to the entire defensive line, which has been outstanding this season. The group, which also includes end Craig Roh and tackles Cory Johnson, Drake Nevis and Jake Thomas, has been an integral part of a Bombers defence that leads the CFL in sacks with 21 and is third in the league against the run (94.3 yards per game).