Lobendahn shows love after big night

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This article was published 09/07/2011 (5240 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

JOE LOBENDAHN took so much from the Toronto Argos, he wanted to give something back.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers middle linebacker is the toast of the town after two impressive performances to start the 2011 season.

First there was the quickness he put on display from the middle of the defence in the Canada Day win in Hamilton. Fast forward to now. Lobendahn showed another gear Friday night.

The 28-year-old registered two sacks, seven tackles and recovered two fumbles in Winnipeg’s 22-16 victory over the Toronto Argonauts at Canad Inns Stadium. At one point of his night — after a sack of Argos QB Cleo Lemon — Lobendahn got up and turned to the adoring crowd in the north end of the stadium, almost saying ‘Thank You’ back in response to the loud love lavished his way.

“When you do make a good play, you do hear the energy that comes from the crowd,” Lobendahn said after the game. “I want to thank them, they’ve always been there for us. Just keep cheering us on and we’ll go out there and play our hearts out.”

Playing their hearts out is exactly what the Winnipeg D did Friday.

The Bombers defence registered seven sacks and held Argos RB Cory Boyd — on the short list with Bombers RB Fred Reid as the premier rusher in the CFL — to 14 yards, stuffing the tailback on his seven carries.

The front seven was relentless and reminded many of a stout Bombers defence in the mid-80s, made famous by names like James West and Tyrone Jones.

According to members of the Winnipeg defence, that shutdown effort on Boyd stems from a perceived lack of respect he dumped on Fred Reid during the off-season. The Toronto back said he handed over the rushing title to the Winnipeg rusher in the last game of the 2010 season, as the Argos sat their meal ticket heading into the post-season.

“I know he didn’t mean it, but it touched a nerve with me when (Boyd) said he let my boy (Reid) have the rushing title,” said Bombers DE Odell Willis, who finished with two sacks on the night. “We banged him around tonight.”

Winnipeg forced the Toronto side into five turnovers Friday, equaling the five they had against the Tiger-Cats to open the 2011 schedule.

For a team that stressed improving its takeaway ratio before the season, the Bombers are a plus-seven in that department.

The solid defensive effort isn’t lost on the Bombers offence, either.

“I can’t say enough about our defence,” QB Buck Pierce said. “Those guys are all over the place. They play with an energy the CFL hasn’t seen in awhile. They play you man-coverage and they go, ‘I’m not going to let you beat me.’ They’re fun to watch and it’s good to have those guys on your side for once.”

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca