Bombers wide receiver enjoys expanded role

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This article was published 17/08/2017 (2999 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Blue Bombers wide receiver Julian Feoli-Gudino is firmly established as a starter now and his numbers are starting to reflect the bigger role he has carved out for himself.

Feoli-Gudino has 20 catches for 204 yards (116 after the catch) in seven games. He’s been targetted 31 times and is on pace to set personal highs for receptions and yards by mid-season.

Is he having more fun after being a spot starter during his previous three seasons with the Blue Bombers?

“Well, I’m playing more on offence but I don’t know if I’m having more fun,” Feoli-Gudino said.

“I’m always having fun so, it’s fun to contribute, yeah? Maybe put it that way.”

The 30-year-old Laval native has been patiently biding his time, working on special teams during his first two CFL seasons with the Toronto Argonauts.

“I think it’s just the process,” said Feoli-Gudino, who caught three passes for 20 yards and scored a TD against Hamilton during Week 8. “Things take care of themselves. I’ve just been working hard for four years. Actually, I started a few games my first two years here, too… I don’t know. I think it’s just reward for hard work.”

Having head coach Mike O’Shea in his corner has been beneficial, too.

“It was huge,” Feoli-Gudino said.

“I was with him in Toronto so he knew I could help out on special teams and I think he did his research on how I played at Laval when I was there.”

WINNING COMBINATION: The Blue Bombers will dress the same 44 players as Week 8, when they beat the Tiger-Cats 39-12 on the road.

What’s more, 18 regulars have started all of the club’s seven games. It’s that kind of continuity and the offence’s ability to score on a consistent basis that has factored heavily in Winnipeg’s 5-2 start.

Justin Medlock, who has booted 12 field goals and 42 points in the past two games, is integral to the attack.

“I think we got points on eight of our 13 drives last week, right?” head coach Mike O’Shea said. “He hit a 57-yarder, so we’re in that kick territory pretty quickly in a lot of games. We punted twice last week. Those numbers tell you we should be walking away with points on a lot of drives. I think our scoring totals have shown that this year. As long as we’re finishing drives with points or the majority of drives with points, those games will end in our favour lots of times.”

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FRIENDLY FIRE: Defensive end Odell Willis is a prominent part of what the Eskimos do and he will be a constant physical and verbal presence on the field tonight.

The former Blue Bomber, whose six sacks are tied for second overall in the CFL with Calgary’s Charleston Hughes and Winnipeg’s Jamaal Westerman, should be a big factor in tonight’s game at Investors Group Field. Winnipeg quarterback Matt Nichols is prepared for his loquacious ex-teammate.

“He lets me know when he’s close to me, even after I’ve completed a ball downfield,” Nichols said. “He’ll probably touch me on the shoulder pads to tell me he was close and a lot of it is Odell cracking jokes and laughing. I feel like I can completely block that stuff out. Usually, during the game I don’t even notice it. When I’m sitting at home later in the evening, it’s like, ‘Did Odell really say that to me?’

“He was one of my favourite teammates… He was a guy that, before he got to Edmonton, all you heard was he was a disruption in the locker room or a problem guy. And what I had with him was the exact opposite.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @sawa14