Rookie to place kick against Leos

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This article was published 09/10/2015 (3747 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea has determined it’s time for some “breathing room” for kicker Lirim Hajrullahu, so he’s handing the place-kicking responsibilities to newcomer Sergio Castillo for this weekend’s game.

Castillo will be the team’s convert and field-goal man when the Bombers meet the B.C. Lions in Vancouver Saturday at 9 p.m. CT.

Hajrullahu had a rough game last Saturday when the Bombers (4-10) lost by a single point to the Edmonton Eskimos. He missed four field goals from 40 yards and beyond, and a convert. Two of those kicks clanged off the uprights.

At Thursday’s practice, both kickers worked diligently in full-team drills and on their own. Both kickers had first-team reps.

Castillo’s leg strength was on display and may have clinched the deal. With the full field-goal and convert units, his kicks were strong and he easily put one through the uprights from 57 yards.

“He looks comfortable,” O’Shea said about the decision to use Castillo this weekend. “He sped up as the week went along, so his timing’s good.

“There are a lot of things that go into it from a technical aspect besides just the kick, whether it’s going to get off. That all checks, out so let’s give him a chance and let’s give Lirim a little breathing room.”

Hajrullahu and the Bombers are last in the CFL this season in field-goal percentage at 22 of 32, 68.8 per cent. Inside the 40-yard line, Hajrullahu is 15 of 16; outside the 40, he’s just 8 of 16.

O’Shea said he’s not terribly worried about nor is he giving up on Hajrullahu, who’s been the team’s punter and placekicker since early last season.

“I had a nice chat with Lirim and told him the honest truth and made sure he’s in the right headspace, asked him what he’s thinking about,” O’Shea said. “And asked him how he’s going to move forward. He believes in himself, so why wouldn’t we?

“To me, it didn’t make sense to trot him out there again right away. Let’s give him a bit of time while we have the opportunity with Sergio here. Let’s give him a bit of time to clear his head and get kicking well again.

“He’s still a good kicker. He had a not-so-good day. We asked Lirim to do a lot from part-way through last year when (punter) Mike Renaud when down. We put a lot on his plate and he’s had one of those unfortunate days that all kickers have. I’m very positive that he’ll bounce back. He believes in himself so we should, too.”

‘It was tough competing, but that’s been good… I’m just preparing the same way I do. I didn’t want to step out from that. I know what my routine does to succeed. So I’m keeping that to get back on the horse’

— Lirim Hajrullahu

Hajrullahu, who will punt and take care of most kickoffs this weekend, said he had a good week of practise, something O’Shea confirmed.

“It was tough competing, but that’s been good,” Hajrullahu said.

“It’s nothing new. I’m just preparing the same way I do. I didn’t want to step out from that. I know what my routine does to succeed. So I’m keeping that to get back on the horse.”

Castillo was trying to frame his debut as a team issue.

“As long as we put up points on the board, that’s all that matters,” said the 24-year-old from La Joya, Texas. “Hopefully we’ll score touchdowns. That would be way better for us.

“I’m grateful and I’m fortunate to be able to have this platform.”

He’s been on the practice roster since late August, but said he hasn’t done anything special this week.

“Every week I’ve been preparing as if I’m going to play because you never know what can happen,” said Castillo. “Everything with the mind, physically, spiritually, everything goes in the same vein, day in and day out.”

Will he be nervous Saturday?

“You know, it’s normal to be nervous,” he said.

“You do something you love but you’ve got to appreciate these moments because they don’t come too often.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca