Seven Bombers crack all-star team

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This article was published 07/11/2018 (2495 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Seven Winnipeg Blue Bombers players were named West Division all-stars Wednesday, tying the B.C. Lions for the most among the five teams in the division.

Honoured for Winnipeg were running back Andrew Harris, receiver Darvin Adams and three members of the offensive line — left tackle Stanley Bryant, centre Matthias Goossen and right guard Sukh Chungh — along with two members of the defence, with middle linebacker Adam Bighill and safety Taylor Loffler also voted in by CFL head coaches and the Football Reporters of Canada.

“It’s a product of my environment and the players I play with and the coaching staff that coaches me. It’s just hard work, persistence and having a good attitude week in and week out,” Harris said following Wednesday’s practice, the first ahead of Sunday’s West semifinal game in Regina against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

For Harris, the CFL’s leading rusher with 1,390 yards, it was his fifth divisional all-star nod. Adams, who led the Bombers with 1,028 receiving yards, earned his second West all-star selection in as many years. Bryant, who was last year’s most outstanding offensive lineman and is a front-runner to win again this season, earned his fourth West all-star nomination, while Chungh and Goossen are first-time winners.

“The offensive linemen beside me, those guys could all be all-stars, all five of us had that chance,” Goossen said.

“We work really well together and that’s what makes us a good unit and good individually, as well.”

Loffler has been named a West all-star for all three seasons he’s been in the league. Bighill, who is the Bombers’ nominee for the most outstanding player and top defensive player awards, earned his sixth West all-star pick.

BRING ON THE NOISE

The Bombers were blasting artificial crowd noise into Investors Group Field for a majority of practice, in an attempt to replicate what should be a crazy atmosphere at Mosaic Stadium on Sunday.

The Bombers have played well on the road over the past three seasons, boasting a 17-10 record away from home dating back to 2016. But there are some stadiums that some players like more than others. For Harris, there couldn’t be a better place than Mosaic to kick off the post-season.

“It’s just you going against 30,000 fans, just overcoming that adversity. Just that environment, you know, everyone’s against you and I’m the kind of player that likes to be the underdog, likes to be the one that everyone’s counting out,” Harris said. “In those situations everybody wants to see you fail and there’s no better feeling than silencing a whole stadium. Saskatchewan is a great team, they play with a lot of energy and it makes the whole environment that much better.”

INJURY UPDATE

The Bombers were without linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox for Wednesday’s workout — news that raised some eyebrows after head coach Mike O’Shea noted following Saturday’s regular-season finale in Edmonton that his team had left unscathed.

Santos-Knox was later seen leaving the stadium wearing a walking boot, which has put some doubt as to whether he’ll be ready to go for the weekend.

O’Shea rarely divulges information regarding injuries, and once again stuck to his usual script Wednesday, saying he’ll give Santos-Knox as much time as he needs before making a final decision.

“I always give all these guys the benefit of the doubt and try to get them up until the last possible minute to see if they can go or not,” O’Shea said. “He didn’t practise today but that’s not to say he won’t be able to go this week. We’ll see.”

Defensive back Marcus Sayles was also a spectator but O’Shea said he will play against the Roughriders.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @jeffkhamilton