Oliveira hungry to run

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This article was published 26/06/2024 (482 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Almost everything last year — except the final game of the season — went Brady Oliveira’s way.

He played every game, topped the league in rushing, was a finalist for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player award, and helped his hometown Blue Bombers reach a fourth consecutive Grey Cup.

It’s a tough act to follow, but his plan for 2024 was to pick up right where he left off and end things this time by hoisting the iconic silver mug.

So far, Oliveira’s plan has taken a major detour.

He was sidelined for all of training camp with an offseason injury, suffered a setback in Week 1, missed Week 2, and went into Week 3 as the No. 2 tailback on the depth chart behind Johnny Augustine.

Oliveira has yet to enjoy a full workload as his totals are 20 carries for 102 yards through two appearances.

To make matters worse, the Bombers are winless at 0-3.

“I feel like it’s letting down my teammates. I feel like by me not being there for them that I’m letting them down. All I want to do is help this team win football games. I’m hungry, I’m motivated, I want to get back out there and get back to our style of play which is what everyone wants to see — us pounding guys in the run game,” said Oliveira after Wednesday’s closed practice.

“We did that so many times last season and I know we can do it this year.”

You’re not going to find a single player on offence who doesn’t think they should have the ball more. But Oliveira is adamant that if he receives more handoffs, good things will happen.

The Bombers are currently ranked sixth in rushing with 78.7 yards per game. That’s just over half of what they had last year when they were first at 139.1.

“You need opportunities to get back to that. Eight, nine, 10 opportunities isn’t gonna allow you to get into a rhythm with that,” said Oliveira.

“I think 15-20 is probably reasonably. Obviously, I can do 25-30, but I think if you look at that through an 18-week season it might get a little tough, but 15-20 is when I think I’m at my best and when I really start to see everything… Hopefully we can get back to it.”

With three receivers — Kenny Lawler (arm), Dalton Schoen (knee), and Keric Wheatfall (knee) — expected to miss significant time, the Bombers need to turn up the dial on the ground game.

That doesn’t mean head coach Mike O’Shea is going to force it, though, no matter what the defence throws at them.

“If some team is going to load the box up completely, we’re not going to forfeit a win because our plan said this is what we want to do,” said O’Shea.

“What we need is for guys to make the play when it comes their way. We need them to do their jobs in all three phases. If you start going outside of the system trying to do more to make big plays, it doesn’t really work very well.

“When the ball comes your way, make your play.”

The Bombers travel to Calgary to take on the Stampeders (1-1) on Saturday (6 p.m. CT kickoff). If history repeats itself, McMahon Stadium might just be the perfect place for Oliveira to get going.

The 26-year-old was bottled up through the first seven games in 2022 before breaking out for 115 yards on 15 carries in Calgary. His career has taken off ever since.

“Everything kind of just changed for me. Definitely a game that I’ll remember forever,” said Oliveira. “I’m excited for more opportunities and just getting back on the right track.”

Young Canadian receiver ready for opportunity

Jeremy Murphy didn’t record a catch in two games as a rookie.

But with all the injuries at receiver, the second-year Canadian out of Concordia will likely have a chance to get his first out of the way this weekend against the Stamps.

Murphy, who was selected in the third round, 26th overall, by the Bombers in the 2023 CFL Draft, has been running with the starters all week. The 25-year-old from St. Bruno, Que., is a former all-Canadian and U Sports rookie of the year.

“I’ve been envisioning (my first catch) for a freaking year. I’ve been envisioning since I was six years old,” said Murphy. “That’s been something I’ve thought about for a long, long time and hopefully it’ll come true (this week).”

Murphy understands there’s panic in Bomberland with Lawler, Schoen, and Wheatfall on the six-game injured list but believes the team’s young talent can hold down the fort.

“We watch these guys play and practice every day. Whatever they do, we know it’s given them success and we’re gonna want to do it. We’re not dumb, we see what works, we’ll do it,” said Murphy.

“Maybe we do it a little differently, some guys have different athletic abilities than others, but we’re all here for the same reason. We can all play. And it’s just about doing what they do, trusting what they say and see, and everything will be fine. We belong here.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

X: @TaylorAllen31