Harris on pace for career year; Hall back with defence

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This article was published 15/10/2019 (2203 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Andrew Harris has experienced some extreme highs and lows in 2019.

Earlier this season, he was slapped with a two-game suspension for violating the CFL’s drug policy. It was a charge the 32-year-old vigorously denied, claiming he was a victim of a tainted supplement. Some good, however unintended, has come of the suspension.

Recently, Harris has looked fit and running in mid-season form. As evidence, look no further than his career-high 166-yard rushing output against the Montreal Alouettes in Friday’s 35-24 Winnipeg victory.

He now has a league-leading 1,261 rushing yards in just 14 games and has two regular-season games remaining to eclipse his previous career high of 1,390, set in 2018. His current 6.3-yards-per-carry average would also be a career best.

“Having that mid-season or third-of-a-season break was good for my health, and I felt like coming back I was kinda shaking off rust a little bit because I hadn’t played football in a while, but I feel great,” Harris said after practice Tuesday afternoon. “I feel like I’m firing on all cylinders right now and I feel fresh and really looking forward to the next few weeks.”

Harris’s 24 carries against the Als were also a season high. Would he like a repeat of that workload from offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice in Calgary Saturday night?

“Absolutely, absolutely,” Harris said. “Keep that coming, LaPo.”

Harris also had high praise for the club’s offensive line, which opened holes for quarterback Chris Streveler to scamper through for 64 yards on nine carries.

“They were great,” Harris said. “They were fired up and they had a certain edge. It was consistent and lasted all game.”

Facing the vaunted Calgary defence will be a major challenge for Harris and the Winnipeg ground game. How did he rate the Stamps since beating them 26-24 on Aug. 8?

“Much the same,” Harris said. “I mean, they’re very consistent on defence. They don’t let a lot of big plays up and they’re very good on the run. Again, they’ve got a great offence that can put up a lot of points — a very well-rounded team that’s well-coached.”

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Winnipeg defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall returned to the practice field Tuesday for the first time in more than two weeks. He had been absent to mourn the death of his brother.

Hall, 59, is a hugely popular figure in Blue Bombers locker room and executive offices.

“Well, I know what I miss personally,” head coach Mike O’Shea said. “I rely on Richie a lot. I sit in his office several times a week, you know, just checking things out with him. He’s been a very good coach for a long time, but he’s a wonderful human being. So, when you just take that out of the building for a little bit, the guys notice and everybody misses him.”

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One of Streveler’s nine carries on Saturday came on a jet sweep, with Harris handing the ball off to the quarterback, instead of the other way around. Even though the play resulted in only a short gain, Streveler relished the chance to try something unique.

“LaPo’s so creative with the way he game-plans and the way he gets the ball into everyone’s hands,” Streveler said.

“It’s fun to be part of an offence where everyone’s getting different touches, and he’s so creative with it. Kinda surprised to see that play call coming in at that point in the game, but nonetheless, super excited to run it.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14