Kramdi praised for not making tackle against Lions

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This article was published 18/10/2023 (727 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s the only time a defender will be praised for not making a tackle.

In the closing seconds of a 26-26 tie, B.C. Lions quarterback Vernon Adams launched a pass to Dominique Rhymes a few yards past midfield.

The receiver caught the ball with four seconds left and was off to the races with a sea of turf in front of him. Dime back Redha Kramdi chased him down at the 30-yard line with about two seconds left. Instead of tackling Rhymes to the ground— which would’ve allowed the Lions to kick a game-winning field goal — Kramdi attempted to punch out the ball as he knew there was still a second or two on the clock.

He failed, but it worked out just fine as Rhymes kept running before Jamal Parker tripped him up at the 10 with no time remaining.

The Blue Bombers went on to win 34-26 in overtime and are now a victory, or a Lions loss, away from clinching the West Division.

The Bombers host the Edmonton Elks (4-13) at 6 p.m. Saturday while the Lions welcome the Calgary Stampeders (5-11) to BC Place on Friday.

Head coach Mike O’Shea made a point to tell reporters this week that Kramdi knew the situation and did that on purpose.

“In my head, I’m running (thinking) ‘Rhymes is gonna go down, Rhymes is gonna go down.’ So, the only thing I could do is reach for the ball and hope for the best,” said Kramdi after Wednesday’s practice.

“I think he’s a great player. It’s a hard situation for him because he sees green, so he kept going. But in my head, he was going down, so the only thing I could do is go for the ball.”

Parker wasn’t surprised to see Kramdi make the right decision.

“He’s probably top three on the team football IQ wise,” said Parker. “Knowing him and being in meetings every day, he picks up on stuff you normally wouldn’t notice. I would say not many people (would’ve done what he did).”

SCHOEN LIKELY OUT FOR SATURDAY

For the second day in a row, star wide receiver Dalton Schoen was absent from practice.

And for the second day in a row, head coach Mike O’Shea refused to give any update on his team’s leading receiver.

The second-year Bomber left Week 18’s game in Vancouver late with an ankle injury.

Receiver Drew Wolitarsky wore Schoen’s No. 83 practice uniform on Wednesday. When a Bomber wears an injured player’s jersey, it’s usually a strong indicator that they’ll be missing some time.

MILLER TIME?

Special teams ace Mike Miller hasn’t played a snap all season and still isn’t practising.

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The CFL’s all-time leader in special teams tackles was scratched at the last second in Week 1 and continues to reside on the six-game injured list.

O’Shea said earlier in the year he believes the 34-year-old fullback will return at some point this season. With just two regular season games remaining, the head coach was asked for an update on Wednesday.

“I’m still hopeful. I don’t want to discuss it. I just know that we miss him,” said O’Shea.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

X: @taylorallen31

Taylor Allen
Reporter

Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.

Every piece of reporting Taylor 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.