Bombers seem to be hittin’ their stride

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This article was published 21/08/2017 (2964 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers turned some heads last week after they handed the Edmonton Eskimos their first loss of the season in a 33-26 win Thursday at Investors Group Field (IGF). The victory was not only against one of the CFL’s heavy hitters, but also the fourth straight win for the Bombers, who are now 6-2 and just two points shy of the Eskimos for first place in the West Division and the CFL.

Because of their recent success, the Bombers have not only pushed themselves up the standings but into the conversation as a top-tier team. The league’s power rankings released this week have the Bombers in third place — behind Edmonton and the Calgary Stampeders, who beat Winnipeg earlier this year and are 6-1-1 — but. with the added qualification of being the “hottest team in the league.”

It’s territory that is as new as it is deserved for the Blue and Gold, who have improved with every week of the 2017 season. Though the designation of being the league’s rising star may come as a pleasant surprise to many in these parts — prior to last season’s 11-7 campaign, the last time the Bombers had a winning record was in 2011 (10-8) — it’s something that’s been felt in the locker room for some time.

“We’ve always believed we were the best team,” said Bombers defensive back T.J. Heath. “We’ve always just focused on proving it to ourselves and nobody else.”

A quiet confidence is something the Bombers have long possessed, but only in recent seasons — and recent weeks, especially — has it started to translate to positive results on the field. Where Winnipeg used to struggle at home, they’re now 3-1 at IGF this year. On the road, including playing in tough buildings such Mosaic Stadium in Regina and Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, the Bombers have just one loss in four games.

The Bombers’ lone blemish on the road this season came in a nail-biter in Vancouver against the B.C. Lions, with a last-second field goal attempt by Justin Medlock falling just short in a 45-42 loss. Since then, they’ve been perfect, with wins over the Montreal Alouettes, Ottawa Redblacks, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Edmonton.

“Collectively, all three phases are playing great right now. We’re coming together and the trust level is at the highest it’s ever been,” said running back Andrew Harris, who registered a combined 225 yards (running/receiving) against the Eskimos. It was the first time in Harris’ nine seasons in the CFL he’s eclipsed 100 yards in both rushing and receiving and he is the first Bomber to do it since Charles Roberts in 2002.

“That’s from coaching staff, players on the field, the confidence in the huddle. We’ve played some games where we’ve had to come back,” said Harris. “We’ve faced some adversity and we’ve grown off of that and that’s key for this club.”

Quarterback Matt Nichols is off to another hot start. He went 10-3 as a starter in 2016, reeling off seven straight wins along the way, and has shown few signs of slowing down this season — his first year of a three-year deal that pays him $400,000 per year. He hasn’t thrown an interception in four games and is on pace to reach the 5,000-yard passing mark for the first time in his career.

Nichols credited his success this season, at least in part, to ignoring what is said outside the locker room — good or bad — and not allowing any chatter to seep into his preparation or perception of where he or his team stand. Nichols said it’s more about what his teammates feel about him than his critics outside. The focus, he added, is always on who is next up on the schedule.

“We block out the noise around here,” said Nichols. “After big wins, big losses, it doesn’t matter — we go about our business. I’ve been saying every week, that every time you turn on the film you see a good football team as your opponent. If you listen to people tell you how bad you are, how good you are, you’re probably going to get beat by whoever you’re playing that week.”

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The Bombers will be in Montreal for a game against the Alouettes Thursday night at Molson Stadium, before a home-and-home against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, which kicks off Labour Day in Regina, followed by the Banjo Bowl at IGF the following week.

Noteworthy

Bombers safety Taylor Loffler missed a second straight practice but head coach Mike O’Shea said he expects to play Thursday… Brian Walker is a game-time decision after being out all week. Kevin Fogg has replaced Walker at field-side halfback… cornerback Brandon Alexander, who has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury, took most of the reps with the first team at practice, replacing Roc Carmichael… offensive lineman Travis Bond missed a second straight practice for a personal matter but O’Shea said he expects him to play in Montreal.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca  Twitter: @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.