Bombers hand reins to Nichols

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/07/2016 (3365 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When the Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed quarterback Matt Nichols to a one-year extension in January, the hope was to never have to use him. If Nichols, who was inked as an insurance policy for starter Drew Willy, was to never take a snap this season it would mean life was good for the Blue and Gold — a sure sign of a healthy Willy and a productive offence.

Alas, life is not good. And though Willy is still healthy, the offence certainly isn’t.

So much so head coach Mike O’Shea turned to Plan B, with the Bombers announcing before practice Sunday that Nichols would start Thursday in Edmonton against the defending Grey Cup champion Eskimos.

“I’ve always maintained that you need your quarterbacks to get to where you want to be, to win championships,” O’Shea said after the CFL team’s two-hour workout at Investors Group Field. “They’re tough decisions but they’re ones that have to be made.”

In this case, it’s likely O’Shea’s decision was a bit forced, too.

With the Bombers at 1-4, O’Shea can’t afford to lose this week. And with much of the inability to win games this year falling on a struggling, Willy-led offence, he needed to make a decision.

Though Willy has posted some good numbers — he was second in passing yards and completion percentage heading into Week 5 — he’s also near the bottom of the league in average points scored.

“I don’t think there’s any one thing from one game to the next,” said O’Shea, adding he expected Willy, 29, to continue to play a big role and be ready when called on. “We’ve always talked about the quarterback being in charge of winning, so that’s overall what it came down to.

“In the end, you just hope the picture clears up for him. Whatever that is for Drew, I just hope that happens. And I’m sure it will. I’m not really hoping — I know it will.”

It has been an up-and-down battle for Willy since his arrival in Winnipeg for the start of the 2014 season.

That year, he was named the starter by O’Shea before training camp began — despite having started just four games in two seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The move seemed premature but paid off early with a 5-1 start. Since then, however, Willy has won just six of his last 17 starts.

Now, with one win in five games in 2016 and relegated to backup, Willy was asked Sunday if he could put his finger on what’s ailing him.

“Just a lot gets put on… just how the position goes,” said Willy, who looked visibly disappointed. “I’ve been through a lot in my career. I’ve just got to keep working and make sure to keep a positive mindset.”

Talking to the media Sunday after the announcement, Nichols referred to the situation as “never an easy thing,” but said he was excited for the opportunity. The 29-year-old said he felt confident knowing he was trusted by his teammates and the coaching staff and looked forward to helping turn the season around.

“They know I’m going to lay it all out on the line,” said Nichols.

As for being thrown into the fire, it’s something Nichols is familiar with over his six CFL seasons, most of which have been as a backup.

“The biggest thing is just to be who you are,” said Nichols.

“You need to have confidence in this position and I feel like my experience helps me in that aspect. I know what I’m doing, I know what defences are doing and I’m just looking forward to it.”

Nichols was acquired in a trade with Edmonton last season after Willy suffered a major knee injury in Week 7. Prior to the trade, he had started seven games for the Esks in 2015 in relief of Mike Reilly, finishing with a 5-2 record. He started seven games for Winnipeg to close out the campaign, and posted a 2-5 mark.

“This week, he gives us a good chance to win,” said O’Shea. “We brought him in for a specific role in mind and now he’s getting to fulfill that role.”

In other words, O’Shea is cashing in on his insurance policy early, and he needs a good return.

He wouldn’t go as far as to suggest Nichols needed to win in order to get another start — “I’m not going to set a list of parameters and if he hits these he’s good to go” — but it certainly would help.

“The words are going to be hollow, really, to a lot of fans I’m sure,” said O’Shea. “We’re always aware of our fan base but I don’t know telling them anything is going to make a difference — we need to show it.”

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @jeffkhamilton

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University’s journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff.

Every piece of reporting Jeff produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.