Ed Tait
Winnipeg Free Press

WINNIPEG -- Winnipeg Blue Bomber fans know all about Bob Dyce's ability to scout Canadian talent and coach. Over the years, it's hard not to be impressed with his survivor skills, too.

And it seems new Bomber head coach Mike Kelly has been watching and admiring from afar as well.

Dyce, the Winnipeg native and ex-St. Vital Mustangs/University of Manitoba Bison receiver, looks to be the only assistant coach from Doug Berry's regime who will be asked to stay aboard, although Kelly has yet to speak to defensive line coach Richard Harris. Originally a guest coach courtesy the Bisons during the Bombers' 2002 training camp, Dyce was added to Dave Ritchie's staff in 2003. Since then he's worked with -- and lived through -- the firings of Ritchie, Jim Daley and Berry.

"Bobby and I have known each other since his St. Vital Mustangs days," said Kelly Friday. "He's done a great job there with the Canadian scouting. When five of the six draft picks from last year make the club and the sixth one (Donald Oramasionwu) went back to university, that's fairly impressive right there. He's got a good eye for it. I know the receivers like him and we're going to work a lot together."

Both Bomber president Lyle Bauer and personnel man Brendan Taman had spoken highly and recommended offensive line coach Bob Wylie to Kelly, but it's almost a given Ronnie Vinklarek -- currently the Edmonton Eskimos' O-line coach and former staff member of Kelly's during his days at Valdosta State -- will be coming to Winnipeg. Also high atop Kelly's wish list is defensive co-ordinator candidate Mark Nelson, currently at the University of Louisville. He would replace Greg Marshall, who interviewed here, in Toronto and, possibly, with the Eskimos.

Courtesy: www.winnipegfreepress.com