Victory is sweet for Blue

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This article was published 05/08/2016 (3355 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Back-to-back wins for the first time in two years. The first home win of the season. Another start, another victory for quarterback Matt Nichols.

There was plenty that stuck out in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ 37-11 drubbing of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Investors Group Field Wednesday night. As much as it was a chance at redemption from past sins, it’s the sense the game brought the promise of a brighter future that has Bombers Nation back bleeding Blue and Gold.

With that, here are five takeaways from the game:

A GOOD PROBLEM

Of all the problems Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea has faced since arriving in Winnipeg for the start of the 2014 season, he may have just found his first good one.

Winnipeg has had eight regular starters out the lineup the last two games, with injuries to a number of key players on both sides of the ball. But with wins in both those games, and solid perfomances from some new pieces, what seemed like a a major nightmare before has turned out to be every coach’s dream.

His toughest task, however, may just be with the secondary, a unit staffed with four rookie starters — Kevin Fogg, Terrence Frederick, C.J. Roberts and Taylor Loffler — all playing like seasoned veterans.

In last week’s win over the EdmontonEskimos, it was Frederick who made a key interception late in the game that ultimately stalled any potential comeback. This week, it was Roberts who got in front of a Jeremiah Masoli pass, returning the ball 19 yards for a touchdown just minutes into the game against Hamilton.

Loffler, chosen in the third round of May’s CFL Draft, has also made a case for himself. He finished the game with an interception and continued to show he can hit with the best of them. And Fogg, his versatility in the air attack, having played both halfback and corner — not to mention his impact in the return game —has made him near impossible to replace.

“We got some guys playing some really good football,” said O’Shea. “It’s a good problem.”

With Chris Randle, Macho Harris, Johnny Adams and Julian Posey all nearing a return from injury, it’s also one that will have to be dealt with sooner than later.

A BETTER START

It was one of the best starts to a game the Bombers have had this season — and the many seasons before it.

A dominating 34-0 edge over the Ticats through two quarters was the closest the Bombers have come to being perfect all season, with contributions coming from all three phases — offence, defence and special teams.

Matt Nichols completed 89 per cent of his passes and threw for touchdowns to Clarence Denmark and Thomas Mayo. The defence forced four turnovers — one, an interception returned for a touchdown — and registered three quarterback sacks. A blocked punt from Derek Jones and keeping Hamilton return man Brandon Banks under control.

“Everybody’s mindset was just focused on winning — right from the handshake,” said Bombers defensive back Bruce Johnson. “Offence was clicking, defence was clicking and we just kept rolling from there.”

The feat was particularly impressive when you consider the Bombers had been outscored 42-16 in the first half through three homes games this season.

STICKING IT OUT

Winnipeg fans have the reputation of being among the best in the CFL. They took it to a whole new level Wednesday, with close to 18,000 sticking around despite a two-hour, 38-minute lightning delay.

“I’m telling you, the fans that stuck around for that delay, they’re unbelievable,” said O’Shea. “Every time I poked my head out to see what was going on, they were still just sitting there — kudos to them. I’m very excited and the players are very excited that they delivered and put on a good show for the fans.”

Appreciation for the Bombers’ strong play could be seen and heard from the seats, as fans broke out in loud cheers with every big play.

“It felt good to hear them cheering for us as opposed to booing us,” said linebacker Sam Hurl. “It’s nice to get that feeling out of them. We know it’s a long time coming for these fans out here, and Winnipeg deserves wins.”

RETURN GAME FOGGY

It’s a good thing Kevin Fogg doesn’t hold grudges.

Fogg, a defensive back, had another kick return for a touchdown called back due to penalty, making it twice this season he’s gone the distance for naught.

Fogg, who has done a formidable job in relief of the oft-injured Quincy McDuffie, had a 94-yard return to the house negated in a 20-16 loss at home to the Eskimos in Week 4. On Wednesday, it was an 81-yard score that was nulified after a holding call on Kyle Knox.

“I’ve trained myself to just let it go,” said Fogg. “I think about it at that moment, a little bit past the moment, maybe, but once I got to go back on the field I’m through with it.”

McDuffie, when healthy, is certainly a threat. Through six weeks, his 25.3 average on kickoff returns ranks third best in the CFL. But Fogg has made a case for taking over. With seven punt returns for 134 yards — a 19.1-yard average — against the Ticats, Fogg now has a combined average of 17.6 yards, which ranks best among the league’s punt returners.

OWNING MASOLI

Masoli’s first interception came just minutes before his first fumble, which came a quarter before his second interception, which came two quarters before his third.

By the end of the game, Masoli was responsible for four of his team’s five turnovers. It was actually an improvement from four weeks ago when the Bombers forced six turnovers — five of which were credited to Masoli — in a 28-24 Bombers’ win.

Masoli has turned the ball over nine times — five interceptions, four fumbles — in two games against the Bombers this season.

“I’m not trying to say we own him,” said Bombers defensive tackle Euclid Cummings. “But we put pressure on him to make him have bad reads.”

When the Bombers weren’t intercepting Masoli or forcing the ball from his grip, they were pressuring him. They swarmed him all night with different reads.

 

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

twitter: @jeffkhamilton