Bombers fine with more stripes on field

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This article was published 15/11/2018 (2487 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The hit heard around the CFL on Sunday was causing further ripples Thursday when the league announced it was adding an eighth on-field official, specifically to be on the lookout for headshots, in time for Sunday’s division finals in Calgary and Ottawa.

The move was a direct response to the helmet-to-helmet hit by Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat on Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Brandon Bridge in the final minute of the Blue Bombers’ 23-18 win in the West Division final.

Bridge was unable to finish the game after the hit, which went unpenalized.

On Thursday, Jeffcoat was assessed the maximum fine by the CFL for the hit but will be eligible to play in West final in Calgary against the Stampeders.

“To me, you can have as many officials as you want out there,” Winnipeg defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall said. “The biggest thing is be consistent with whatever your calls are… if you’re not consistent making the calls, it kinda defeats the purpose. That’s good if it makes our game better and safer.”

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea did not shift from his original position that Jeffcoat’s initial point of contact on the play was with Bridge’s shoulder, and therefore a legal hit.

“We coach our players to hit within the strike zone, below the shoulders and above the knees all the time — that’s the way we coach them,” O’Shea said. “I told them there’s going to be another official on the field.”

Bombers quarterback Matt Nichols was lukewarm to the concept of adding another official.

“It doesn’t change anything for me,” Nichols said. “I haven’t had any issues with that. If they feel like that’s something that’s a player-safety issue and that’s going to help, I’m all for it.

“Maybe there’s a higher likelihood that a penalty will be called, but I wouldn’t say you feel safer. I feel like guys aren’t going to come out and take cheap shots on me. I never feel that way. You know what you’re signing up for when you play football.”

In other news, Bombers offensive linemen Patrick Neufeld and Sukh Chungh were also fined undisclosed amounts for unnecessary hits on Saskatchewan players.

JUST ANOTHER GAME

Nichols insists he isn’t feeling any additional pressure heading into Sunday’s clash with the favoured Stamps.

“It’s funny, I was sitting on the couch with my wife yesterday and she asked me if it feels any diffferent and I actually told her I thought it would feel different and it doesn’t, honestly,” Nichols said. “Really, since the Montreal game after the Banjo Bowl (on Sept. 8) and after that bye week, I’ve kinda felt like it was that case anyways. I felt if we lost, we were potentially done.

“And so when you’re playing for so long with that feeling, it doesn’t feel any different from what we’ve been feeling the last couple of months.”

POISED ROOKIE

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No. 2 quarterback Chris Streveler has consistently impressed with his timely contributions to Winnipeg’s attack, whether as a starter, in short-yardage packages or as a change-up to Nichols.

In Sunday’s West semifinal, Streveler threw a pair of incomplete passes but was able to provide 41 rushing yards on seven carries. He also ran the offence for Winnipeg’s final drive.

“Throughout the game I’m playing periodically, so I’m always locked in,” Streveler said. “As the backup, you have to be ready to go in any situation, so when you get an opportunity to go in and take the last series of a game, you want to be ready.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @sawa14