Fogg not taking anything for granted in quest to be ‘the guy’

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This article was published 18/07/2018 (2640 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Kevin Fogg understands nothing is guaranteed in professional football.

Now in his third CFL season, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive back entered this year with the goal of putting behind an injury-plagued 2017 season. In truth, he aimed at being the player he once was, as a rookie in 2016, when he was one of the Bombers’ most exciting defensive players.

“Going into Year 3 or more, if you’re not on top of it… everyone wants to bring in the younger guy that can be developed,” Fogg said following Wednesday’s practice at Investors Group Field. “It’s just knowing this is it, and even if you’re feeling good about things, anything can happen. So, heading into this year, I told myself that I was going to be ‘the guy’ and it’s helped me. I believed it and it feels good to be in a position to contribute in a good way.”

In his first CFL season, Fogg played in all 18 games and recorded 79 defensive tackles as a starter in the secondary, mostly at corner. He was also a big part of a defence that led the league in takeaways. That year, he had four interceptions — tied for fifth most in the league — two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and six pass knockdowns.

He also led the league in punt-return yardage, averaging 14.2 yards on 53 returns (and had a whopping four punt-return touchdowns called back because of penalties).

Then, an injured ankle to begin the 2017 campaign led to Fogg losing his starting role on defence. Though he was the first player to go in if there was an injury — he had five starts in 15 games played — he wasn’t relied on the way he had been before. Because of that, his production was also down: he finished with nine tackles, three quarterback pressures and two interceptions, along with one forced fumble, a fumble return and a pass knockdown.

“Last year, it was a learning year. It was a learning year only because it was a complete difference to what I was doing my first year,” Fogg said.

“First year, I was healthy, moving around on the defence and was returning on special teams… more was asked of me.”

An injury to Maurice Leggett to open the season, followed by an upper-body injury to Brandon Alexander that has sidelined him the last three games, provided Fogg with the chance to get meaningful playing time. And so far, he’s made the most of it.

Though the Bombers defence has had its share of ups and downs this year, Fogg has been one of its most consistent players. In four games, he has two interceptions and 10 defensive tackles, while also playing tight coverage on most nights.

In the return game, he leads the Bombers in punt-return yards, averaging 11.2 yards on 28 returns. He also has one return on a missed field goal against the Edmonton Eskimos in Week 1 that he brought back 110 yards for a touchdown.

Bombers defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall said he’s seen a notable change in the 27-year-old from Raleigh, N.C.

“I think — and this might sound crazy — he understands what’s important to him and that’s being a professional football player. And his approach and attitude is different,” Hall said. “He’s always been a happy-go-lucky person, but there’s a certain seriousness about where, all of a sudden, you come into your third year and what you want to do is start establishing yourself — you don’t want to be a fringe or a bubble player. He’s going out there and it doesn’t matter where we put him at, he’s been successful.”

Former Bison/Bomber charged with sexual assault

The news of former University of Manitoba Bison and Blue Bomber defensive back Teague Sherman being charged with two counts of sexual assault over the weekend left many former teammates feeling shock.

Bombers linebacker Thomas Miles, who played with Sherman on the Bisons, didn’t have much to say about the incident. He hasn’t talked to Sherman, nor does he have any plans to reach out.

“We take violence and sexual violence against women very seriously in this organization,” Miles said. “That’s how the whole domestic violence works, that it can be anyone and you don’t always know. I’m not saying that he’s guilty or innocent, it’s just kind of the nature of the whole thing — you don’t ever know.”

Details of the charges were not released and have yet to be proven in court.

Sherman, 30, played five seasons with the Bisons before signing with the Bombers in 2013. He spent four years in Blue and Gold. After playing in just eight games in 2016, the Edmonton native inked a deal with the Ottawa Redblacks late into the 2017 season, playing the final three games.

He was on Ottawa’s roster again this year and was set to play last Saturday against the Calgary Stampeders before the team was notified of the charges.

The CFL issued the following statement: “Commissioner Randy Ambrosie has informed all member clubs that the league will not register a contract for Sherman should any team attempt to sign him. The Canadian Football League has and abides by a policy on violence against women and condemns violence against women in all its forms.”

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University’s journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff.

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