Harris on pace to eclipse 1,000-yards — on ground and in air

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This article was published 21/08/2017 (2996 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Andrew Harris is well on his way to becoming a four-time CFL all-star.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers tailback is also entering previously uncharted territory with his 495 rushing yards on 90 carries and 549 receiving yards on 50 catches in eight games. Those totals, projected over an 18-game regular season, would put him over 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving.

“Honestly, I don’t talk about my goals too much but having 1,000-1,000 was one of my goals this year,” Harris said after practice Sunday afternoon. “I mean, to be on pace for close to the middle of the season, it feels good. But the biggest thing is I’m contributing to the offence and helped them get wins. When my number’s called, if it’s a healthy dose then so be it. Hopefully, I can continue to make impact plays and get first downs for the club.”

In Thursday’s 33-26 win over Edmonton, Harris ripped open the Esks defence for 105 yards on 11 carries and 120 yards on eight receptions. He now leads all CFL receivers with 355 yards after the catch. He was the 10th player to accomplish double-century mark since 1995 and the first since Avon Cobourne did in 2010.

“Collectively, all three phases are playing great right now and I think we’re coming together and the trust level’s the highest it’s ever been,” said Harris. “That’s from the coaching staff, players on the field, the confidence in the huddle. We’ve played games where we’ve come back and we’ve faced some adversity and we’ve grown off that. That’s key for this club.”

Biding his time:

Kevin Fogg played in all 18 games for Winnipeg last season, but a pre-season injury and some stiff competition have kept him out of the starting lineup until now.

On Sunday, Fogg was working with the first-team defence in place of rookie halfback Brian Walker, previously injured Brandon Alexander (lower body) was taking reps for cornerback Roc Carmichael while Taylor Loffler’s safety spot was occupied by Derek Jones. Jones expects Loffler to play against the Alouettes.

“Not sure. You never really know how the season goes… I’m not really thinking too much about it,” Fogg said when asked about the likelihood of getting a start Thursday in Montreal. “That’s the way it’s been for me — it was a slow start with the injury and just working through that. Most importantly, just being a team player — being used where the coaches and my teammates need me.”

Co-ordinator Richie Hall’s defence has shown a tougher side lately.

“We’ve improved… we’re playing together football, which is how great defences play,” Fogg said. “We started off really rough at the beginning of the season, and with the yardage, of course, that’s always been the big talk. I feel like we’re starting to come into our own and playing the defence we’re capable of playing.”

Offensive pressure

Quarterback Matt Nichols likes what he’s seen from his unit’s no-huddle approach in recent games.

“Our execution as a whole has been much better the last few weeks,” Nichols said. “I know it put us in really good situations — moving the ball early in the game, keeping them off balance a little bit. That was one of the main things I think we were missing early in the season — getting off to quicker starts.”

Nichols also suggested Montreal’s lopsided 38-6 loss to the Toronto Argonauts Saturday is not an accurate indicator of how tough the Alouettes will be Thursday.

“Even this year, recently, with Saskatchewan and B.C. in back-to-back games, (it shows) how different games can be.” Nichols said. “They’re a good football team and we fully expect to get their best effort. They played us tough a few weeks ago and made it tough on us in all three facets of the game.”

Block that kick

Special teams ace Derek Jones is always hungry to block a kick, as he has done five times before in three-plus seasons with the Blue Bombers.

On July 21, Jones got his hands on the ball before B.C. punter Ty Long even got his foot on the ball. In that situation, he credited the coaching staff for exposing a vulnerability in the Lions’ protection scheme.

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“It they see an opportunity, like a hole in protection, then they’re going to attack that,” Jones said. “And I’m just lucky enough to be the guy (getting the chance) a lot of times.”

“That was definitely something in the game plan,” Jones said.

“Everyone in front of me, because I was in the line last, did their jobs. I know Jovan (Santos-Knox) took two guys and that’s why I ended up coming so free.”

Noteworthy: Winnipeg O-lineman Travis Bond did not practise Sunday. He was tending to a personal matter.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @sawa14