Bombers bank on Nichols

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/08/2016 (3623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO —The Winnipeg Blue Bombers snapped a nasty streak with victories over the Edmonton Eskimos and Hamilton Tiger-Cats, winning consecutive games for just the first time in more than two years.

They’ll look to make it three straight when they take on the Toronto Argonauts at BMO Field Friday night. At 4-2, the Argonauts sit near the top of the East Division standings, meaning it’s another tough test for the Blue and Gold.

Here are five storylines to keep an eye on during Friday’s game:

BANKING ON NICHOLS

A big reason behind the recent turnaround for the Bombers has been the play of quarterback Matt Nichols.

Nichols, now 2-0 since taking over for Drew Willy, has provided a major boost to the offence. With Nichols, the team has averaged more than 33 points per game — more than 13 points higher than the 19.6 points a Willy-led offence averaged through the first five weeks (1-4).

But as money as Nichols has been — he has still yet to cough up a turnover — Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea refused to spend any time Thursday announcing No. 15 as the team’s No. 1 quarterback. Never one for labels, O’Shea provided a much more vague description of Nichol’s current status.

“Well, he’s winning us football games, that’s how I describe it,” said O’Shea during the Bombers’ media availability at a downtown Toronto hotel Thursday.

Indeed, he has. And it’s safe to say — official title or not — O’Shea is once again banking on another big night from Nichols.

A ROOKIE ON THE RISE

Nichols won’t be the only quarterback in this game looking to prove he’s a bona-fide starter in the CFL.

Argos quarterback Ricky Ray, who pulled up lame in the fourth quarter with a suspected knee injury in a win over the Montreal Alouettes in Week 5, meaning Logan Kilgore will make his second career start for Toronto.

Kilgore, 26, got his first taste of the starting role two weeks ago — the Argos had a bye last week — leading the Argos to a 23-20 win over the Ottawa Redblacks. He wasn’t exactly lights out — he had just one touchdown with a pair of interceptions — but gained the confidence of his coaches and teammates with his ability to move the ball down the field. Kilgore threw for 326 yards in his debut, making him the first Argos quarterback to accomplish the feat in his first game since Jeff Ballard did it in 2002.

“I think he has a chance to be a starter in this league for a long time,” said Argos coach Scott Milanovich following the team’s walk-through Thursday.

Kilgore, in his second season in Toronto, said he’s embraced the role of leader of the offence, made easier by the fact he’s not being compared to Ray, a future CFL Hall of Famer.

“It’s not something where I need to be a hero,” said Kilgore.

He might not have to be a hero, but with Ray out at least a few more weeks and the Argos just one point shy of Ottawa for top spot in the East — with a game in hand — he may just have to be their saviour.

NO COMMENT

If you thought Argos kicker Lirim Hajrullahu circled Friday’s game on his calendar with red pen and then pinned it to his dartboard next to a Bombers’ logo, firing dart after dart after dart until his arm was sore, you may want to think again — and maybe go see a doctor while you’re at it.

Hajrullahu, who went from hero to zero in a span of just two seasons with the Bombers, going from one of the league’s top kickers in his rookie season — he was named the West Division’s most outstanding special team’s player in 2014 — to not being good enough to get a contract from the Bombers at the end of last season, said he doesn’t hold a grudge against his former team.

In fact, he sees Friday’s game as any other, even with the Bombers’ decision to pass on him following a 2015 season in which he went 22-for-32 on field goal attempts and missed six one-point converts.

“No comment,” said Hajrullahu when asked about his departure from Winnipeg last season.

This season, Hajrullahu has done his talking with his foot. With Toronto, he’s 16-for-19 on the year and has missed just one of his 13 extra-point attempts. Against Ottawa two weeks ago, he went 5-for-5, including a 53-yard kick to win the game, and was named one of the league’s top performers for Week 6.

GOOD TO BE BACK

One player excited to play his former team is Bombers defensive tackle Euclid Cummings. Cummings, who played two seasons in Toronto before signing with the Bombers in the off-season, said earlier this week he looked forward to battling the team that gave him his first shot in the CFL.

Cummings admitted he isn’t one to start the chatter before the game starts, but once he steps onto the field, it’s no longer a battle against friends.

“I’m sure once we get on that field we’re going to be doing a little chirping,” he said.

Cummings had a breakout season in 2015, registering eight sacks in 18 games. He has just one through seven weeks for the Bombers this year, but with his size and skill, it should be only a matter of time before he hits stride.

“He’s big, he’s athletic, he’s what you’re looking for in a tackle,” said Milanovich. “We were sorry to see him go.”

A LONG WAY TO GO

As much as Winnipeg’s recent wins have helped rejuvenate the club’s fan base, there’s still much to be desired from a team sitting at 3-4.

Perhaps no one knows that better than the players in the locker room.

“Any time you can go out and be successful it’s more confidence moving forward,” said Nichols. “At the same time, we can’t be happy with two wins. We got to win quite a few more to be where we want to be.”

Whether the Bombers have finally turned the corner this season from years of futility won’t be determined by a win or loss Friday night.

But a win would certainly put them in a good position. After Toronto, the Bombers have a bye week. When they return, they’ll start a three-game stretch of what will be considered winnable games, with a tilt against the Montreal Alouettes (2-4) and back-to-back games against the Saskatchewan Roughriders (1-5).

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

twitter: @jeffkhamilton

Loading...

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton joined the Free Press newsroom in 2015, reporting on the sports and investigative beats until he left the Free Press in July 2026.

Every piece of reporting Jeff produced was reviewed by an editing team before it was 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.