Field goals not a concern

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This article was published 10/08/2021 (1490 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It wasn’t exactly getting off on the right foot for kicker Tyler Crapigna in his debut with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last Thursday.

The Bombers won the game, 19-6, and Crapigna, a CFL veteran of five seasons, converted a 15-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter in what were Winnipeg’s final points on the night. But there were three other occasions where the Bombers were in field-goal range, and instead of calling on the 29-year-old Ontario product, head coach Mike O’Shea opted to punt.

“Our defence was playing a solid game. And obviously coach knows what he’s doing, and I think he just wanted to kind of hem them in there with the way our defence was playing,” Crapigna said Monday, as the Bombers returned to IG Field to start Week 2 preparations ahead of Friday’s tilt with the Toronto Argonauts.

“At the end of the day, obviously you want to get out there and you want to make those field goals. But he knows what he’s doing, and he elected to do that, so there’s really nothing I can say.”

The first pass O’Shea took came in the dying seconds of the first half, with the Bombers looking at a 51-yard attempt. A 45-yarder then presented itself midway through the third quarter, followed by a 48-yarder later that frame. Again, O’Shea opted to pass.

O’Shea was asked about his preference to punt on those three occasions after the game and, like Crapigna noted, said it had a lot to do with how well the defence was playing. It was also because Brandon Banks, who was back there to return the kick in case it sailed wide. There isn’t a more a dangerous option than the man who goes by Speedy B.

“Coach O’Shea is a special teams kind of guy, and he’s always emphasized special teams over the years. So, he knows exactly what it takes to excel on special teams,” Crapigna said. “You just kind of let him know what your range is and what you can do going into the game. And obviously that can change throughout the game, depending on wind and everything, if it dies down or picks up. You’re always kind of staying in communication with him. At halftime I gave him an update again on what the ranges were and everything, so he knew all that. At the end of the day, when he calls my number, I’ll be ready to go.”

Crapigna said in perfect conditions he’s comfortable from anywhere within 55 yards. What wasn’t discussed was the fact he struggled to convert from 50 yards during warmup, falling yards short, which might have also played into O’Shea’s decisions.

Still, O’Shea said he isn’t concerned with Crapigna as the team’s kicker and won’t hesitate to trot him out there in the future, assuming it’s the right call at the time. That’s a big change from the years of Justin Medlock, who certainly would have been tasked with all three skipped opportunities last week.

“Hamilton does a really good job of creating explosive plays in all phases. And, so, if you can try to limit that, that’s important,” O’Shea said. “But I’ve got confidence in our kicking game, and you’ll see him trotted out, whatever distance I feel comfortable in that game and what the game dictates, really.”

Crapigna also isn’t concerned about one game, and he looks forward to proving his worth rather than trying to fill anyone else’s shoes.

“Anytime you get an opportunity to come to such a great organization with a pedigree in the past couple of years of being contenders, you’ve just got to hop on that,” Crapigna said. I didn’t really think too much. Obviously, Medlock, I’ve talked to him before, he’s a hell of a kicker, Hall of Fame kicker… he’s his own guy and I’m just trying to be my own guy. I know what I’m capable of doing.”

INJURY UPDATE: Running back Andrew Harris (calf), receiver Darvin Adams (shoulder) and linebacker Kyrie Wilson (hip), all of whom didn’t play in Week 1, were once again spectators and should be considered questionable for Friday. Defensive back Josh Johnson (head) and defensive lineman Steven Richardson (foot) and returner Janarion Grant (ankle) were all injured Thursday and could miss Friday as well. Defensive end Willie Jefferson (ankle/head) and offensive lineman Pat Neufeld (shoulder) missed practice but those should be considered a maintenance day.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

twitter: @jeffkhamilton