Ford flourishing in Bombers’ secondary

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This article was published 19/09/2024 (355 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Tyrell Ford was trying to find his place in professional football. Now, the football — and his spot in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ secondary — is finding him, over and over again.

An interception in the first quarter and another game-sealing pick late in the fourth quarter of Winnipeg’s victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Banjo Bowl has the second-year cornerback tied for the league lead with six on the year.

Adding the 35 defensive tackles and three on special teams, the breakout for the 26-year-old product of Niagara Falls, Ont., is real.

Whether it’s shutting down the opposition’s top receiving threat or playing big in clutch moments, Ford has been a pleasant surprise for Bombers fans and a steady presence in a secondary that experienced its share of inexperienced moments early on.

“He’s obviously made some big plays for us,” said head coach Mike O’Shea. “Besides that, the foundation he’s building, I think is important— maybe more important than any one big play.”

Winnipeg knew the ability was in Ford all along. All he needed was some time to find where he belonged.

After being drafted 13th overall by the Bombers out of the University of Waterloo, Ford appeared in 12 games, recording three defensive tackles and adding 10 on special teams in 2022.

His time in the CFL has been interrupted by several opportunities in the National Football League, the best of which came last fall when he was among the final cuts at Green Bay Packers training camp. Ford and his agent were convinced another team would reach out for his services, which kept him away from Winnipeg for the 2023 season, but that call never came.

“It’s been a little hectic,” is how Ford described life since being drafted two years ago. “But ever since I’ve been here, it’s been great. I’m just excited for the future.”

Ford has been a perfect fit in defensive co-ordinator Jordan Younger’s scheme since returning from south of the border. He’s ball-hawked while in zone coverage, where his eyes can stay on the quarterback and he can dissect the routes that are unfolding around him.

Reading offensive concepts on the fly is where Ford has improved the most since being drafted. It’s allowed him to play freely and instinctively, leaving his supreme athleticism to do the rest of the work.

“I play a lot with my eyes, so I probably should really only have maybe four interceptions but I was able to read the quarterback and come off my route. I think that’s one of the best things I do as a DB is I play with my eyes, but it can also get you in trouble sometimes,” he said.

Certainly, the eyes of a savvy quarterback can often tell lies and be a weapon against ball-hungry defensive backs, especially younger ones like Ford.

Younger said those are things Ford learned the hard way but has worked hard to clean up. That meant never shying away from holding himself accountable.

“Everything I thought he would be when we drafted him, I thought that — based off his ability, his testing and then his intelligence when we talked to him — he’d have an opportunity to perform well, and I guess what I’m most impressed about is his humility,” Younger said.

“He struggled in the first game, and rather than letting that weigh him down, he immediately learned from those negatives, took those in strides … and added that to his game. So now he’s having success, seeing the game well, has a great sense of timing and he’s making big plays for us.”

Ford this year. Demerio Houston last year.

Though the Bombers coaching staff will refrain from patting themselves on the back, its recent success in developing cornerbacks can’t be ignored. Houston led the league with seven picks a season ago before earning a nice payday to play for the Calgary Stampeders, and, at this rate, Ford could be next.

“If you listen to what we’re coaching in our defensive room and you take that information to heart and apply it to what you see out on the field, I believe, corners especially, will have opportunities to make plays on the ball,” Younger said.

“I think from Demerio Houston last year and Ford this year, what you’re seeing is guys taking that information, using it and then it working in their favour as far as intercepting the ball.”

The Bombers will travel to Edmonton to face the Elks at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday (6 p.m.), when Ford will suit up against his twin brother, Tre, for the first time in their professional careers.

Tre, who has begun to carve out a place of his own as a dual-threat quarterback, is among the league’s most electrifying players.

The brothers have gotten the best of each other many times in practice but have yet to suit up against one another since high school.

Needless to say, Ford is licking his chops at the chance to steal one from his twin.

“I got a plan for it when I get it,” Ford said, “so I’m excited.”

joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca

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Joshua Frey-Sam
Reporter

Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He reports primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports. Read more about Josh.

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