The defence never rests

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This article was published 23/08/2018 (2621 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Earlier this week, Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall said he was pleased with the direction his defence has taken this year.

The timing wasn’t exactly ideal, following a 44-21 loss to the Ottawa Redblacks that ended with 493 net yards of offence against. The loss to the Redblacks was a low point for a group that had played some good football over the previous month.

On Wednesday, head coach Mike O’Shea agreed with Hall’s assessment.

“They’re growing, and they’ve certainly learned to communicate a lot better,” O’Shea said, adding he believes the Ottawa game was more of a one-off on what’s been a sturdy year. “We had a 13-penalty game… this one was costly.”

KEEPING NICHOLS ON HIS FEET

The Bombers entered last week’s game against the Redblacks allowing the fewest sacks against, tied with the Calgary Stampeders at nine. They allowed four to the Redblacks’ defence, which seemed to get pressure on Bombers quarterback Matt Nichols all night.

Needless to say, those on the offensive line were not impressed when watching the game film this week.

“Guys have a chip on their shoulder, they’re pissed off,” running back Andrew Harris said. “Any time we allow one sack… they take a lot of pride in having the quarterback be upright or myself having big holes or gaps. For them, it’s definitely redemption and, myself included, we want to get back into keeping Matt upright and being more productive on first downs in the run game.”

Harris entered the game as the CFL’s leading rusher, and after tallying 72 yards on 12 carries against Ottawa, he remains at the top with 792 yards in nine games. But, Harris will have his hands full adding to his season totals against the Calgary Stampeders when the two teams meet Saturday afternoon at McMahon Stadium.

The 7-1 Stampeders lead in almost every statistical category on defence, including averaging rushing yards against (77.3) and touchdowns (4).

“They bend but they don’t break,” Harris said. “We’ve just got to stick to it, and don’t try to press too much to try to make something out of nothing.”

Winnipeg is first in the CFL when it comes to the ground game, averaging 146 rushing yards per contest.

MAKING MOVES

The Bombers pulled veteran receiver Weston Dressler off the six-game injured list late Wednesday.

Dressler missed one game with a lower-body injury he suffered in a Week 9 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

The Bombers are now able to play him this week against Calgary, but for that to happen he would likely have to practise today.

Offensive lineman Jermarcus Hardrick, who has been a spectator all week after suffering a lower-body injury against the Redblacks, has been added to the six-game injured list.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @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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