Harris hints at bigger things

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/09/2021 (1462 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Andrew Harris missed training camp and Winnipeg’s first three regular-season games with a calf injury.

The three-time CFL rushing champ’s return to the lineup has been a significant boost for the Blue Bombers offence. He had an 81-yard rushing game in Week 4 and he added another 95 on the ground against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Week 5.

On Friday, Harris hinted he has bigger things in mind.

“I felt like myself a lot more in the last game….” said Harris. “I knew I was gonna get better as the season went on and I got more comfortable and got more reps. Without having any training camp, really, at all, the first two games were really my training camp.

“Hopefully, everything will be back to normal from what I’m used to and whatever my new normal is, as far as being a little bit older and having that year off. The biggest thing for me now is just getting back to my normal and playing my style of football.”

Winnipeg had starting centre Michael Couture back on the practice field Friday after a day off for an unspecified reason, meaning the veteran O-line comprised of Couture, tackles Stanley Bryant and Jermarcus Hardrick and guards Pat Neufeld and Drew Desjarlais will return intact for a sixth consecutive game.

Quarterback Zach Collaros had high praise for the veteran group.

“If you ask me I think they’ve been great all year,” said Collaros. “I love those guys. They’re always ultra prepared and ready for kind of any scenario and they’re easy to communicate with. It gives the quarterback a lot of confidence and when those guys in front know what the heck’s going on and they have your back and are physical about it.”

Harris expects the Roughriders to display plenty of fight in their return to IG Field.

“I think Saskatchewan is a very scrappy team and I think that starts with their coach and their mentality,” said Harris. “I fully expect them to come out guns blazing and to play with a certain attitude, a certain swagger.”

LOVE AND HATE: Willie Jefferson will suit up for his 100th career CFL game Saturday and his second Banjo Bowl as a member of the Blue Bombers.

In 2018, his 97-yard pick-six helped to turn the tide and helped the visiting Roughriders to a 32-27 win over Winnipeg. But past triumphs are old news for Jefferson.

“Any time I come from a team and I get the opportunity to play against that same team, especially when it may have players and staff… that was still over there when I was, I want to I want to show them what they let go and show them the reasons why they shouldn’t have let me go,” said Jefferson. “Like I said, I have good friends over there still — teammates, staff… But when it comes to, you know, Labour Day/Banjo Bowl, I hate ‘em.”

ON THE ROAD AGAIN, FINALLY: The 3-1 Roughriders will be playing away from Mosaic Stadium for the first time this season.

Head coach Craig Dickenson said the change in routine should be a welcome break for his players.

“I think they’re looking forward to getting out of the dorms, a lot of them are staying in the dorms (since training camp),” said Dickenson. “For some of them, it’ll be the first time they can sleep in a normal sized bed in two and a half months, so I don’t think we’ll have to worry about our team going out and breaking protocol.”

RETURN GAME ICE COLD: Winnipeg’s special teams have shown little game-breaking potential through five games with returner Charles Nelson averaging only 8.1 yards per punt return. His longest return has been 32 yards.

Meanwhile, Nelson is averaging 21.0 yards on kickoff returns with his longest going for 31 yards. Head coach Mike O’Shea suggested he will stay the course and remain patient.

“I don’t see it as something that we’re grasping at,” said O’Shea. “I just think it’s gonna take a little bit of time while guys get more and more used to the guys are playing beside, the angles, the nuances of the return game because we do have some younger guys out there. But they’re getting it. They’re picking it up.”

WALKING WOUNDED: The Roughriders have more than their share of injuries this week but in a more encouraging development, they’re expected to have veteran defensive tackle Micah Johnson in the lineup.

The 33-year-old Johnson, who missed the Labour Day Classic with a bum ankle, is off to a slower start in 2021. In three games, he has only two tackles and has yet to add to his 44 career sacks.

“Micah’s been one of the best players in this league for a long time and it’s certainly something that will be aware of,” said Collaros. “He’s someone you’ve always got to kind of keep tabs on.”

SOAKING UP THE ATMOSPHERE: O’Shea plans to take a moment Saturday to enjoy the spectacle of a sold-out IG Field filled with rabid CFL fans.

“I love seeing a full house,” he said. “Every player does. No player likes to play in front of a half empty stadium, that’s for sure,” said O’Shea. “Although they do love to play they’d like to play in front of a packed house and feel that energy so I will take the time tomorrow to just take a step back for a second and appreciate the crowd and what they bring for us. I imagine all our players will do the same at some point.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14