Bombers take underdog approach despite fast start

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This article was published 17/07/2019 (2244 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There has been plenty to like for fans of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers this year. The Bombers are 4-0 to start a season for the first time since 2004, creating quite the stir around town that this could be the year they finally snap a lengthy Grey Cup drought.

Although remaining unbeaten the first month of the season has players enjoying coming to work, it hasn’t put any extra jump in their step.

“There’s definitely a lot of buzz. But, for us, we’ve got to think of us still as the underdog. For me, I’m definitely trying to instil that in the guys,” running back Andrew Harris said after Tuesday’s practice at IG Field. “We can’t be drinking our own juice; we got to stay with that chip on our shoulder and play every game as if we’re 0-1 and we’ve got to get a win. As much as the fans and the city is excited, we’ve got to stay humble here and keep working hard.”

The Bombers will face off against the 2-2 Ottawa Redblacks at home Friday night. They’ve already defeated the Redblacks this year, earning a dominating 29-14 road win in Week 3.

Ottawa has also been hit with a heavy dose of injuries in recent days, including the loss of starting quarterback Dominique Davis. Also unavailable for the game due to injury is veteran Canadian safety Antoine Pruneau and American defensive back Jonathan Rose.

“You can just never believe people when they tell you how good you are or how bad you are. We just have the belief in our building and that just comes from working hard every day and approaching every day the exact same way,” Bombers quarterback Matt Nichols said.

“It’s professional football and it’s very hard to beat a team even once, let alone multiple times. You have a heightened awareness that they’re gonna be coming in hungry for a win and we’re a very hungry team also and it’s gonna be a good battle, much like the game was there.”

Black and blue

There was a long list of non-participants at Bombers practice Tuesday, including a number of high-profile players.

Linebackers Adam Bighill and Jesse Briggs, safety Jeff Hecht, defensive end Craig Roh, right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick, and receivers Darvin Adams and Lucky Whitehead were all spectators for the first on-field practice ahead of Friday’s home date against the Ottawa Redblacks.

Head coach Mike O’Shea offered little as far as health updates but did reveal that only Briggs and Nelson seemed doubtful to play this week, requiring additional evaluation. The only one not banged up was Adams, who was excused from practice for an undisclosed reason and will play this week.

Bighill has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury. He was a game-time decision ahead of last Friday’s game against the Toronto Argonauts after not practising. Though O’Shea said he “looks good,” it’s unlikely he plays without getting on the field first.

The same standard should apply to the rest of the injured players. With a closed practice tomorrow, it will be up to O’Shea to provide a physical update, which should come mid-afternoon.

Temple out, Jones in

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers tinkered with their linebacker depth early Tuesday, adding veteran Korey Jones to the practice roster while releasing Nick Temple.

Jones, 30, is a six-year CFL veteran, with 65 games of experience. He spent the past three seasons in Edmonton, following runs with the B.C. Lions and Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Jones has recorded 103 defensive tackles, 44 special teams tackles, two interceptions and one forced fumble throughout his CFL career.

Temple returned to the Bombers this season after a previous stint in 2015 and had recently seen game action with the absence of Bighill.

Moe on the move

Former Bombers all-star defensive back Moe Leggett has found a new football home.

Leggett has signed with the Albany Empire of the Arena Football League, joining a club that has just one more regular-season game before heading into the playoffs as the league’s No. 1 seed. The Empire are 9-2 this season and will wrap up their final game on Saturday at home against the Philadelphia Soul. Leggett will make his debut in the finale.

“I’ll be reuniting with one of the best defensive minds and coaches I’ve been around in my career. Let’s get this championship!!!!!!!!” Leggett posted on Twitter, referring to Albany head coach Rob Keefe. Keefe was the defensive co-ordinator with the AFL”s Utah Blaze when Leggett was a player there in 2013.

Leggett was released from the Bombers following a disappointing 2018 season, one that was marred by injury and inconsistency, which included a torn Achilles tendon. He tried to sign with another CFL team before looking to the AFL.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton