Harris no fan of Alouettes tackler

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This article was published 27/06/2018 (2634 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Andrew Harris loves smash-mouth football as much as the next guy, but the Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back has a very specific idea about what player safety should involve.

In his mind, cheap low-blows are not appreciated, nor should they be tolerated.

It was a dangerous helmet-to-knee hit he absorbed from Montreal Alouettes defensive back Jermaine Robinson during Friday’s 56-10 Blue Bombers’ victory that infuriated the 31-year-old all-star, the CFL’s rushing champion in 2017.

“A lot of guys get big injuries off low tackles and it’s the way it happens,” said Harris following Wednesday’s practice at Investors Group Field. “The guy was talking trash right after it happened, and came (later) and said ‘sorry’ to me. I’ve got no time for that. If you’re going to hit me like that and talk trash and try to say, sorry after?

“Ultimately, that’s disrespectful and they’re trying to take you out of the game. Any time you’re a successful player, there’s going to be more emphasis on those type of hits.”

Harris left in the second half of the blowout win and didn’t return, but insisted he was capable of playing. Backup Kienan LeFrance came on to make some productive plays in his absence, running for 50 yards on 10 carries and catching one pass for 23 more as the Blue Bombers improved to 1-1 heading to Week 3.

Harris pronounced himself fit and ready for Friday’s matchup with the 1-1 Tiger-Cats in Hamilton.

“Obviously, I run with a certain style and it takes more than one guy or it’s hard for guys to bring me down,” Harris said. “So I’m expecting lower hits, but for me, any time a guys puts his helmet directly on your knee or your thigh — to me there’s always better ways to try to take a guy down and a safer way.

“The big thing was there was no intent to wrap up and again, if you’re trying to tackle a bigger back or guy who breaks tackles, wrapping up is what you should try to do instead of just blowing somebody’s knee out.”

The Ticats, coming off an impressive 38-21 win in Edmonton last week, look like a formidable challenge.

“They’re a team that swarms, they bring a lot of pressure,” said Harris. “They’re definitely aggressive but I think we can utilize some things within that. They’re a veteran group. We’ve gone against (assistant head coach Orlando) Steinauer many times in the past and understand the kind of things he does.

“I’m looking forward to going against the mouthy (Hamilton linebackers) Simoni Lawrence and Larry Dean. Those are guys we always have a lot of fun with, a lot of chatter. So it’s a lot of fun playing them and even playing in the Donut Box (Tim Hortons Field), it’s always a good atmosphere there.”

As much as Harris enjoys the verbal skirmish, he prefers to silence Lawrence.

“Actually, it’s funny, because when we’re winning he’s not as mouthy,” Harris said. “He starts making plays is when he starts talking more. It’s definitely one of those things where you’ve gotta get on top and be successful in the run game, in the pass game, and just work him down till he’s quiet. Honestly, as mouthy and loud as he is, it’s fun to play against him. It’s always a good battle.

Does it get personal?

“Well, we’ve got to know each other the past couple of years, so maybe a little personal,” Harris said. “Before, it was just trash talk but now we just basically have fun with each other. I’m never mic’d up when we play Hamilton for a reason, so it’s a good thing.”

STREVELER DOES HOMEWORK

Harris continues to be impressed with the work habits of rookie Bombers quarterback Chris Streveler.

“It’s been one game where he played lights out,” Harris said. “At the end of the day, you’ve gotta see how he responds to that, how he reacts throughout the week.

“For me, l’ve seen a guy that’s attacking the game the same way, coming to meetings, being observant and a student of the game that he is right now. That’s what you want to see. Week to week, there’s going to be good games, bad games and opportunities where guys make mistakes.”

NEUFELD IN, GAITOR OUT

Defensive back Anthony Gaitor suffered a lower-body injury while returning an interception in the second half of Friday’s win in Montreal is expected to miss Week 3 in Hamilton.

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Maurice Leggett, who made his season debut on special teams in Week 2 after missing eight months while rehabbing a surgically repaired Achilles tendon, filled in for Gaitor in the fourth quarter against the Alouettes and is his likely replacement.

Offensive lineman Pat Neufeld, who was listed as questionable Tuesday, said he will be in the lineup against the Ticats.

Neufeld said Winnipeg’s superiority in the trenches against Montreal was the product of good planning and execution.

“We had our receivers doing the right things, we had our backs doing the right things,” Neufeld said. “We tried to do the right things up front. So when we talk about protecting the football, it’s about everyone on offence. It’s not just about the offensive line protecting. It’s about the receivers running the right routes, the backs making the right reads and it’s the quarterback getting rid of the ball on time.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @sawa14