Bombers’ special teams up against tough returners

By: Mike Sawatzky Posted: 9:59 PM CDT Monday, Jul. 17, 2017

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers head to Vancouver this week for a Friday showdown (9 p.m., TSN, CJOB) with the B.C. Lions, and avoiding a repeat of a Week 4 special teams disaster is high on their to-do list.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/07/2017 (2998 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Toronto Argonauts’ Martese Jackson scorched the Blue Bombers for 191 yards on six kickoff returns and 148 yards on five punt returns, including a 78-yard burst for a TD. Another major on a kickoff return was reduced to an 84-yard return due to a penalty. The 5-6, 192-pound Jackson was a mystery to the Winnipeg cover teams, but the videotape has been analyzed in excruciating detail and the Blue Bombers are convinced they can do better.

“I think it’s something that’s easily corrected,” said Mike Miller, the club’s special teams ace and who’s tied for the league lead with seven special teams tackles.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers' quarterback Matt Nichols (15) throws against the Toronto Argonauts during the first half of CFL action in Winnipeg Thursday, July 13, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

“We obviously didn’t do a good job covering and containing that return. You have to tip your hat to him, he’s an outstanding returner. He had an amazing game — he did a lot of good things. We didn’t see a whole lot of film on him (beforehand), so we didn’t know what to expect.”

Jackson, a product of Florida Atlantic, had auditions with the Blue Bombers and Montreal Alouettes in 2016 before finding a home in Toronto this season. He got a shot with the Argos when regular return man Chandler Worthy was placed on the six-game injured list. Jackson’s 339 return yards against Winnipeg was the fourth-highest total in league history.

“He just proved to the league he’s a very dynamic athlete who’s explosive and can run and find the lanes,” Miller said.

“He’s very patient and hit the lanes hard when he found them. For us, we’ve gotta make sure we’re doing our jobs, collectively. It wasn’t one person that did things wrong, it was a group effort… You’ve always got to know your job. Our cover teams had a few busts. It was just little things that are easily corrected. We’ve identified those and we should be good this week.

“It’s a two-way street with film. You don’t like to get criticized but at the same time you need criticism to become a better player.”

Said Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea: “A mistake here or there and that’s all it takes against a good returner, because Toronto’s got good returners, too. We know everybody’s going to have a good returner at this level. We made a couple of mistakes, overlapped a little bit of coverage and got creased.”

On Friday, B.C.’s Chris Rainey presents the Blue Bombers with another tough special teams challenge.

“We’re up against another good returner this week,” Miller said. “Chris Rainey’s one of if not the best returner in the league, so we’re going to have to do a good job of getting down in our lanes and containing him. He’s a smaller guy but he’s not afraid to hit a lane. He does break tackles. We’re going to have to get down and swarm as a group.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14