Lions LB expects Nichols to boost Bombers

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This article was published 06/07/2018 (2622 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

B.C. linebacker Solomon Elimimian expects the return of starting quarterback Matt Nichols will be a boost that transcends numbers for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

“He’s the leader of their offence,” Elimimian said Friday after the Lions arrived at Investors Group Field in preparation for tonight’s CFL game in Winnipeg.

“He provides confidence for that group. Sometimes, it’s not about how a player plays, it’s more so about the confidence they provide to that group. Obviously, Matt is one of the better quarterbacks in the CFL, so I’m sure he’ll give them some energy, positivity.”

Elimimian’s respect for Nichols doesn’t diminish his admiration for Winnipeg rookie Chris Streveler, who quarterbacked the Blue Bombers for three games while Nichols rehabbed a knee injury.

“The stuff you’ve been seeing on film from Streveler, you haven’t seen from a quarterback in the CFL in a long time,” Elimimian said.

“Not only can he run, but he can literally lower his shoulder and try to impose damage on somebody in the CFL. I think they did a really good job of utilizing his skill set in a positive way, where they didn’t look like they were off without Nichols. Obviously, Nichols can throw the ball and he knows where all his receivers are.”

ARE LIONS DUE? Though they haven’t shown much so far in 2018, B.C.’s offence is blessed with one of the league’s most talented receiving corps, including all-star calibre pass catchers Emmanuel Arceneaux and Bryan Burnham and tailbacks Chris Rainey and Jeremiah Johnson.

Blue Bombers corner Chris Randle believes it all starts with fourth-year quarterback Jonathon Jennings.

“That quarterback is the reason why they can do some of the things that they do,” Randle said.

“They push the ball vertical with ease.”

Once Jennings delivers the ball, Burnham and Arceneaux have game-breaking ability defences fear.

“They’ve got some great athletes, two great running backs and a guy who can sling the ball and throw it deep,” Winnipeg linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox said.

“We’ve gotta be very sound in our coverage and in everything we do because they can gash us at times if we’re not on our P’s and Q’s.”

The versatile Rainey, perhaps the league’s finest kick returner, is a nightmare to defend.

“Rainey does it all,” Santos-Knox said.

“They put him at receiver, they’ve put him inside, they can run him, he returns it — so just know when he’s out there, something’s up. You’ve gotta be aware of where he’s at, at all times.”

ARE WE LIVE? TSN’s live-miked feature during Week 3’s Hamilton-Winnipeg game didn’t go entirely as planned, with some crusty, non-family friendly audio — complete with F-bombs — making its way onto the airwaves during the broadcast.

But it would be unrealistic not to expect PG-rated dialogue during the heat of a regular-season CFL game.

“Honestly, as a quarterback, you shy away when you want to be miked up,” Nichols said.

“Certain things you say out there aren’t really your personality, and there’s kids watching that look up to you. That’s something you’d like to see done a little better, but at the same time, we’ve got to control what we say out there. I think we have one more miked-up game later, so I’ll try and keep it clean.”

VULNERABLE D? Winnipeg’s defence surrendered 487 and 480 net yards in losses to Edmonton and Hamilton, respectively. Does B.C.’s Jennings see a vulnerability to exploit?

“We hope to,” said Jennings, whose 1-1 squad is averaging 22 points per game but has managed only four touchdowns on 27 possessions in 2018.

“Any time you’ve got a team that’s allowed yards, you’ve got to take advantage of that. Also, we’ve got to make sure we get the ball in the end zone.”

B.C. and Winnipeg will meet in back-to-back weeks and Jennings was asked if that would affect his use of the playbook.

“I don’t think we came in with any mindset about saving plays or anything like that, so the challenge will be more so next week when you put everything on film and you’ve got to try to change things up and switch your thought process,” Jennings said.

“Coming in, we’re unleashing everything we have and we’re going to try and win this game.”

WALLY’S FAREWELL TOUR: Lions head coach Wally Buono relinquished his GM duties to Ed Hervey in the off-season and is expected to retire from coaching after this season.

Has he enjoyed the change?

“It’s actually been a lot nicer, a lot easier,” Buono said.

“My off-season was way different because you don’t have all the pressures, all the grinding of getting your team signed, dealing with free agency, dealing with all the free-agent camps, the draft. Ed includes me in on a lot of it, which is good, but at the end of it, more of it was spent on being a coach. Training camp was good, Ed released all the players.

“So, all those nice things you have to do, I don’t have to do anymore. It’s been a pleasure working with Ed because he’s very much about communication and very much about understanding where the coaches are.”

NOTEWORTHY: Fans are encouraged to participate in a food drive in support of Winnipeg Harvest prior to tonight’s game. Bins for non-perishable food or cash donations will be stationed at all stadium gates.

With the addition of defensive back Derek Jones (lower body), Winnipeg has five players on its six-game injured list. Also included are quarterback Alex Ross, running back Timothy Flanders, defensive back Anthony Gaitor and O-lineman Qadr Spooner.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @sawa14