Willy unfazed by return to Steeltown

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This article was published 06/07/2016 (3581 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HAMILTON — If Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Drew Willy has any concern about returning to the place where he suffered a season-ending knee injury, he sure didn’t show it Wednesday.

Last season, Willy sustained a fracture to his shinbone, as well as a partial ligament tear in his right knee in the second half of a 38-8 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Week 7 last season. He was originally expected to miss between six to eight weeks but was later ruled out for the season.

“Obviously to lose a full season like that in a game it’s tough but a great venue, obviously they have great fans here,” said Willy. “It’s a fun place to play, a lot of energy, good team; well-coached on the other side and we’re well-coached here, so, be ready to go and it should be a fun atmosphere.”

The Bombers finished 0-2 against the Ticats last year, losing by a combined score of 90-34.

NO EXCUSES: Willy was asked whether the struggles on offence this season have to do with the number of new faces in the lineup. The Bombers have put up respectable numbers on offence — more than 700 yards of net offence in two games — but most of that has come in late in games.

“There’s no excuses,” said Willy. “I’m never going to be one of those players or guys that give excuses. We need to go out there and start faster, play better and try and get a win and do everything we can to get off to a good start.”

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Against the Montreal Alouettes in Week 1, the Bombers trailed by as many as 18 points and in Calgary a week later, they were down 36-7 heading into the fourth quarter.

FEELING GOOD: Weston Dressler, who will be returning to the lineup from injury, was asked what the mood of the Bombers locker-room is after losing back-to-back games to start the year.

“I think we’re confident right now,” he said. “We had a great week of practice. We’re feeling really good about the adjustments that we’re making, and potential that’s there. We just need to materialize that right now and make it happen on game day.”

SICK BAY: With halfback Bruce Johnson ruled out, Travis Hawkins will start in the Winnipeg secondary. Linebacker Sam Hurl and defensive end Trent Corney, who recorded the team’s lone sack in the game against Calgary, as well as defensive back Teague Sherman are also out with injury. Cornerback Johnny Adams, who has been injured since early in training camp, will miss his third consecutive game.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.catwitter: @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.