Drew Willy got off the plane here the other day and immediately sucked in the air of a city brimming with expectation for its football team.

The Blue Bomber quarterback, in town to prepare for next week's mini-camp, can't help but notice the sense of urgency, too, that only comes with the win-now-or-else scenario facing his head coach.

“There's obviously a ton of urgency,” Willy said, Thursday. “We know everything that's going on in the organization. It's professional sports and there's urgency every year.

“But I get what you're saying. I know what's all being talked about and everything. But you can't worry about that.”

Bomber coach Mike O'Shea is, of course, going into the third and final year of his contract, and after two non-playoff seasons it's time to deliver the goods.

You could say time is running out, with the team backed up to its own goal line and the game on the line.

“It's fun to be part of,” Willy insisted. “I like to be in those fourth-quarter moments, the clutch moments to make plays. The expectations are high, but that's where you want them.”

The expectations are high because the Bombers went all-in over the off-season, going after players like, well, like their lives depended on it.

All-star kicker Justin Medlock, ratio-breaking and tackle-breaking running back Andrew Harris, glue-handed receiver Weston Dressler, D-lineman Euclid Cummings – all committed to Winnipeg as part of a six-player signing frenzy on the first day of free agency.

The man holstering that smoking six-shooter, GM Kyle Walters, is also under the gun.

“I've never been a part of anything like that,” Willy acknowledged. “The good news is a lot of the guys we've brought in have had success and are veterans, so they know what it takes. I don't think it's going to take Weston Dressler and Andrew Harris long to fulfil leadership roles.

“We're going to get in the huddle and everyone's just going to look around and be like, 'All right, there's a lot of talent in here. Let's get this done.'”

Not generally loaded with bravado, Willy didn't mind pouring some gasoline on the flames of expectation licking at the start of the 2016 campaign.

“If I stay healthy, (we) can compete with anyone in the league, numbers-wise, wins-wise,” he said. “We're going to be right up there competing with anyone for the Grey Cup. A lot of people think we're not. But really the only opinions that matter are the guys in the locker-room and the guys in the meetings.

“If you win, everyone's going to come watch.”

But what will they see?

The new offence, run by the familiar Paul LaPolice, better be miles from that run by Marcel Bellefeuille.

Willy wasn't about to let the cat even peek out of the bag, but you could see his ears perk up talking about the new plan.

“I like the stuff he's talking about,” Willy said. “He's had success in different places, but also he's learned a lot since he's been away from the game. I like where we're going. Sometimes he may not like what I want and I might not like what he wants, but we're going to come together... just talking with him, he gets me excited to get back out there.

“I had a huge smile just getting on the field and throwing with the quarterbacks. You miss it when you're out. It seems like it's been forever.”

While Willy has done “a ton” of throwing at his new home in Tampa this off-season, Thursday marked a chance to get back on the field where he hadn't hucked a pig in anger since his season ended with a knee injury prematurely, last August – an injury he says was the major reason the team missed the playoffs a fourth straight year.

“It played a big part. Game by game you don't know what it affects, but talking to a lot of guys in the locker-room, when you go to battle with guys for so long... and they see me on crutches, it's tough. And it was tough for me just to be around and watch us struggle.

“At the same time we were in a lot of those games, and a play here or there could have changed the season. Hopefully this year I can go all 18 and none of that has to happen.”

He's not the only one hoping.

CAMPING OUT

Bombers mini-camp schedule

Who: offensive players only

Where: Investors Group Field

Monday

Practice 10-11 a.m., 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Tuesday

Practice 10:15-11:15 a.m.

12:30-1:30 p.m.

Wednesday

Practice 10-11 a.m.