Bombers shocking turnaround due in large part to quarterback Matt Nichols

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/08/2016 (3653 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With four losses through the first five weeks, the level of support from the most optimistic Winnipeg Blue Bombers fans had started to wane. Few would have guessed three weeks later the Bombers would be one of the hottest teams in the CFL, bouncing back from their 1-4 start to sit 4-4 heading into their bye week.

The Blue and Gold are heading their separate ways for a much-needed and hard-earned nine-day vacation following a 34-17 win over the Toronto Argonauts at BMO Field Friday night.

With the season nearing the halfway mark, we look back at the storylines that have stuck out through eight games, while also looking ahead to what should make for an interesting second half.

How it happened

It’s been a roller-coaster season for the Bombers. As losses piled up — to the Montreal Alouettes, Calgary Stampeders (twice) and the Edmonton Eskimos — through the first five weeks of the schedule, the healthy sense of optimism that comes with the every new year had vanished.

Instead, a familiar sense of angst settled in as Bombers Nation started to feel scammed by yet another promising off-season — one that saw upgrades in almost every area on offence and defence.

Ticket sales dwindled, negativity was the theme on local radio shows and in fan forums. Even the Bombers’ public relations team, just two games — and two losses — into the season, were starting to feel the pressure, going so far as to pen a blog post titled “Far From Over,” a plea for fans to keep the faith.

No longer do the Bombers seem so desperate to please after wins over Edmonton, Hamilton and Toronto in as many weeks. After three victories that were as encouraging as the earlier losses were demoralizing, the Bombers have breathed new life into their season and into their fans.

Next man up

Next man up is a common philosophy in professional football. When one player goes down with an injury, the next man in line for his spot, the guy who has worked hard in practice, should be ready and able to fill in.

The current list of Bombers’ injuries is a long one. Weston Dressler, Ryan Smith, Darvin Adams, Patrick Neufeld, Quincy McDuffie, Chris Randle, Macho Harris, Julian Posey and Johnny Adams have all been out for weeks. Several had been relied upon to lead on and off the field.

Instead of creating a roadblock, the depleted roster has provided a rallying point. Without injuries, Winnipeg may never have known what they had in defensive back Kevin Fogg, who has emerged as a key piece on defence and on kick returns. Against Toronto, Fogg finished with two interceptions, a fumble recovery and a sack.

The same goes for C.J. Roberts, Terrence Frederick, Taylor Loffler, Thomas Mayo, Travis Bond, Justin Cole and Manase Foketi. All have been asked to step up when someone has gone down. All have delivered.

Nichols brings change

Though every player in the Bombers locker room can take some credit for the turnaround, perhaps none is more deserving than quarterback Matt Nichols. In three games under Nichols, who replaced an underwhelming Drew Willy as the starter in Week 6, the Bombers have three wins.

Seen more as a journeyman throughout his six CFL seasons, playing mostly as a backup in Edmonton and then Winnipeg, Nichols appears to have finally found his niche. With each passing week he’s proven to be not only a reliable starter, but bona-fide talent.

The 29-year-old product of Eastern Washington University has taken a team averaging less than 20 points per game through the first five weeks to one averaging more than 33 over the past three games.

Nichols has not only amped up the air attack, completing 71 per cent of his passes for 796 yards and five touchdowns during that stretch, but has helped bring life to the ground game.

Led by running back Andrew Harris, the Bombers have averaged more than 110 rushing yards over the last three games, more than any other team during that span, and almost double the 60 yards Winnipeg was averaging before switching to Nichols.

Three things to ponder after the bye week

● With close to two weeks before the Bombers’ next game, there’s a chance several players, such as Dressler, Smith, Posey, Harris and Adams, could return to the active roster for an Aug. 26 date in Montreal.

Where they’ll fit into a lineup that has been playing well despite their absence poses a problem head coach Mike O’Shea and his staff will try to solve in the coming days.

● When receiver Clarence Denmark was brought back to the club three weeks ago, you couldn’t find his statistics anywhere. With the league revamping its website around the same time the Bombers cut Denmark in March, the profile of a guy who had played five seasons with the Blue and Gold had all but vanished.

After two games with the Bombers, Denmark’s profile — online and in the city — has reappeared with a vengeance. Denmark had seven catches for 195 yards and two touchdowns against Toronto, bringing his season total to 14 catches for 264 yards and three touchdowns.

Denmark, who played in every one of the Bombers’ 36 games the last two seasons, had just three touchdowns in each of those years. Now he has three in two games.

● Every week, coaches and players make it a point to say there are no easy wins in the CFL, insisting there is more parity between the nine teams this season than ever before.

But if there is what could be deemed a favourable stretch for the Bombers, it’s coming up.

After what was widely considered to be a wicked start, with the Blue having to face Calgary, Hamilton and reigning Grey Cup champion Edmonton twice apiece through the first six weeks, it’s come to a point in the schedule where the team will be expected to win.

In their next four games, the Bombers play once in Montreal against an Alouettes team that has lost four of its last five games; back-to-back games against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who at 1-6 sit dead-last in the standings, and then at home to Toronto, who will likely still be without quarterback Ricky Ray.

At 4-4, the Bombers are in a good situation. But as we’ve seen already this year, a lot can happen in a few weeks. Should be interesting to see how it plays out.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton