WINNIPEG — Paul LaPolice has taken his ‘Coach’s Playbook’ from the studio to the practice field.

The Bombers’ offensive coordinator put his new playbook into practice on Monday, as the Bombers kicked off a three-day mini-camp at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg. The camp, one of six going on this week league-wide, is for offensive players only and an opportunity to put the wheels in motion on what’s expected to be a defining 2016 season.

“We’re looking for these players to learn our expectations, learn our offence — to implement the stuff that LaPo puts in,” said Head Coach Mike O’Shea, entering his third season at the helm of the Bombers.

“This camp is designed for the offence to come together and start training camp on the right foot.”

Mini-camp is typically a time for coaches to assemble the young talent they’ve accrued throughout the off-season, with the task of trimming down the roster in time for training camp. There’s an element of that going on in the Manitoba capital this week, as LaPolice focuses part of his efforts on teaching new international players the waggle.

But just as important for the rookies this camp is the veterans, facing the task not only of gelling in time for the regular season but also learning a brand new offence.

“We’re trying to get the basics down,” said Ryan Smith, a 24-year-old Wahpeton, N.D. native who arrived as a free agent from Saskatchewan. “You’ve got your rookies here trying to get it and everything, and just working with Drew to try to get the timing of routes — it’s been good for the offence and good for the team.”

“Just working with Drew to try to get the timing of routes — it’s been good for the offence and good for the team.”

More than just building chemistry with quarterback Drew Willy, who says he’s 100 per cent following last year’s season-ending injury, the Bomber offence has a new playbook to install. Back on the field in an official coaching capacity for the first time since 2012 is LaPolice, the one responsible for fitting the pieces together after GM Kyle Walters spent his off-season stocking talent.

Weston Dressler, who joined the Bombers shortly after being released by the Riders in a surprise move back in January, knows a little bit about LaPolice having spent time with him in Regina. He says while there are some differences, the familiarity could make for a smoother transition.

“It’s actually quite different,” said Dressler. “I was thinking it might be more similar and easier to learn, but he’s definitely changed up a lot of the terminology.

“There’s some stuff that’s similar and I think he’s using a very similar process in how he’s teaching the things,” he added. “That helps me learn it and hopefully it’ll help me pick up on things a little quicker and help other guys pick up on it quicker.”

There’s certainly plenty of speculation over how the Bombers’ offence will look in 2016, and how all of the new faces will fit in. On top of slotbacks Smith and Dressler, both smaller and faster receivers that play a very similar style, Winnipeg parted ways with veteran Clarence Denmark and also added star running back Andrew Harris.

Last year that unit ranked eighth in the league in passing yards, sixth in the league in rushing yards and dead last in total offence. With the injection of talent and a new offensive gameplan, what will the Bombers’ 2016 offence resemble?

Harris likens it to the one he used to play in with the Lions under then-offensive coordinator Jacques Chapdelaine.

“It’s very similar,” said Harris, “and that’s exciting to me because I did really well in that offence.

“It’s a west coast-style offence and a lot of the terminology is similar but there are some new things to learn as well, and I think it’s going to evolve as well as he sees the kinds of guys he has.”

Willy added that stepping away from coaching may have helped LaPolice evolve, particularly through his work behind the scenes with TSN where he broke down X’s and O’s on a halftime segment called ‘Coach’s Playbook’.

“He’s learned a lot in those three years being with TSN, doing work behind the scenes,” said Willy. “He’s going to take everything he’s seen from around the league that was successful and add it to our game.”

Either way, it was impossible to ignore the excitement Monday surrounding the newly added Bombers. Of all the new talent on the field, Harris, a hometown hero, was one of the most highly-anticipated. He put on the Blue and Gold for the first time, but now says it’s time to focus on the football.

“It feels great,” said Harris. “You put pen to paper it’s one thing, and now it’s getting in little details of the offence.

“The biggest thing for me is getting to know my teammates,” he added. “Getting to know the staff and my coaches, and just building off that.

“Football is football. I’m excited being back in my hometown, but ultimately it’s about my team and building that together right now.”

Most of the Bombers’ regulars on offence are in action this week, while rookie off-season adds Jerrel Jernigan and Jace Davis couldn’t participate due to family commitments. Also out of action, due to injury, were Addison Richards and Kevin Cone.

The Bombers wrap up mini-camp on Wednesday, then starts the wait until training camp late next month.