Battle for O-line opening

The Blue Bombers couldn’t afford to pay everyone this off-season.

That led to Winnipegger Geoff Gray not being re-signed as the club already had two younger and cheaper guards under contract in Liam Dobson and Tui Eli.

“I just miss Geoff. He’s a one-of-a-kind guy and I felt I had a really unique relationship with him in the best kind of way,” said Bombers centre Chris Kolankowski after Day 2 of training camp. “We would rag on each other, and it was all love. As a friend, I’m really going to miss him. As a player, I felt with our double teams, we’re going to miss him.”

Head coach Mike O’Shea praised Gray’s play, but also referred to him as a “glue guy” as he would host the O-line and their families at his place for weekly dinners. The group will likely have to figure out a new tradition now.

“It’s still a work in progress,” said Kolankowski. “I’m sure we’re still going to be seeing a lot of Geoff.”

Gray. a 29-year-old who joined the Bombers in late 2018 after several NFL tryouts, had interest from other CFL teams, but appears ready to put his masters degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Manitoba to good use as he refers to himself as a “former professional athlete” in his LinkedIn bio.

His old left guard job is now up for grabs and Dobson, a 26-year-old from Ottawa chosen third overall by the Blue and Gold in the 2021 CFL Draft, has the inside track.

“It’s exciting. Everyone in that room knows there’s an open position,” said Dobson, who played NCAA football at Maine and Texas State. “I think everyone’s competing and that competition is just going to push me to work harder and try to get that position.”

Dobson has had to be patient since turning pro. He attended NFL mini-camps with the New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears, then expressed interest in the USFL before finally coming up north in 2022. He’s had some game action but has mostly had to sit back and learn from vets like Kolankowski, right guard Patrick Neufeld and left tackle Stanley Bryant.

“It’s been fantastic. You can come in as a good player, but you learn the CFL is a very good game and there’s lots of talented players up here,” said Dobson.

Eli, who’s been unavailable to speak with reporters this week, knows a thing or two about being patient as he was drafted in the fourth round in 2019 out of the University of Hawai’i. Born in Richmond, B.C., the 28-year-old signed a rare three-year deal in 2023 after sitting out 2022. He was the lone player on the team who did not get vaccinated for COVID-19 which led to him being suspended for the 2021 Grey Cup.

So far this week, Dobson has been getting work at right guard and Eli at left guard as Neufeld has been a spectator along with a few other vets.

Kolankowski has been impressed with both, as well as 2024 second round pick Gabe Wallace.

“They’re gonna have to battle in camp… I feel great with Tui, I feel great with Liam, and Gabe, honestly as a rookie, yesterday was my first time doing doubles with him and it was surprising how well he played,” said Kolankowski.

“It’s gonna be tough on the coaches.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

X: @TaylorAllen31