Receivers not worried by slow start

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This article was published 22/06/2022 (1172 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Rasheed Bailey and Nic Demski are close — live a couple of doors down from each other close.

So it’s easy for the teammates of three years to hold each other accountable throughout the rigours of a CFL season, especially when the going gets tough.

The Bombers receiving duo is off to a less-than-stellar start in 2022.

The Winnipeg-born Demski saw just three touches for 21 yards in Friday night’s win over the Ottawa Redblacks at TD Place, bringing his total offensive output to an underwhelming seven touches for 51 yards through two weeks.

Bailey, all the while, has posted a modest seven receptions for 68 yards (9.7 average) to start the season.

Even then, the pair were all smiles after practice Tuesday afternoon.

“I’m human. I’m a competitor. And of course it bugs me a little, but at the end of the day we’re winning and I’m still doing a good job (with) other things,” Demski says.

“(Targets) aren’t always there for me, but that’s OK. It’s a long season, I’m still doing the little things right, and I’ll just keep working hard and things will open up.”

Demski assessed the offences’ performance being “six” out of 10 to begin a season that boasts an unblemished record despite the offence posting consecutive under-20-point outputs, adding every player knows they have a lot more to give to meet the standard set by back-to-back Grey Cup champion teams.

“We know that there’s still a lot of work to do and we have to capitalize on a lot of things and get better at a lot of things,” the 28-year-old says. “I’m not saying that we haven’t done a lot of good things up until now, but we just know that there’s a lot more to give.”

Demski, Bailey and the rest of the receiving corps are trying to fill a gaping void in production left behind by Kenny Lawler, who was the Edmonton Elks’ highly-coveted signing in free agency.

The 6-3 downfield threat posted 64 receptions for 1,014 yards (15.8 average) and six touchdowns in a shortened 2021 season, pacing the league in several receiving categories and opening up holes for his teammates.

Buck Pierce, the Bombers offensive co-ordinator, says it’s going to be a complete group effort to replace the departed Lawler, but likes the group he has this season.

“Kenny was a great player and is still a great player, but we have great players here and it’s on everybody to step up,” he says.

“We’re moving forward.”

Pierce stopped short of saying he looks for ways to get Bailey and Demski the ball, but noted they are both big pieces on offence.

“If we stay on the field, there are more plays to be had. We look at what can we do to win the football game,” he says.

“Nic’s been doing it for years and years and Rasheed really came on the last couple of years, as well. I think what you see from those guys on the stats sheet isn’t telling the whole truth all the time. Those guys are leaders on our team and huge parts of our offence and we’re happy to have them.”

Bailey admits he’s a rhythm player, meaning he wants to immerse himself in the action early and often to get a feel for the game. While that can be made easier with chances to catch the ball, he’s found other ways to find his footing.

“If I’m not getting the ball, I’m taking it out in the run,” he says.

“I find different ways to get myself involved and take the pressure off myself and really just play football, because the moment you get down, that’s when the ball comes. That’s when drops happen. So you want to make sure you stay focused in those moments and know that your time is going to come.”

While the stats are far from eye-popping, winning can fix a lot of problems and both of the Bombers veteran playmakers are maintaining a team-first attitude as they look to keep a perfect season going against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats this week.

“We know what we’ve done in this league and the people in this league know what we can do,” Bailey says.

“You wait your turn. You be humble. And you do it for your team.”

The Bombers host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday at IG Field in a rematch of the 2019 and 2021 Grey Cups.

FORMER BOMBERS FOR HALL

Former Bombers head coach Dave Ritchie and defensive back Dick Thornton were announced as a part of the 2022 Canadian Football Hall of Fame induction class on Tuesday.

Ritchie served two coaching stints with the Bombers, winning a Grey Cup in 1990 as a special teams assistant before leaving and rejoining Big Blue in 1999 as the head coach.

Ritchie amassed a 52-44-1 record over his time as the head coach. His 52 wins rank behind Bud Grant (102), Cal Murphy (86) and Mike O’Shea (69).

Thornton, a defensive back and quarterback during his time, played with the Bombers from 1961-66, holding West Division All-Star honours three times (1962-63, 1965).

Nicknamed “Tricky Dicky,” Thornton was also a CFL All-Star in 1963 and 1965 before being traded to the Toronto Argonauts.

Included in the 2022 class are quarterback Ricky Ray, linebacker Chip Cox, kicker Paul McCallum, fullback Tim Tindale, Calgary Colts founder and former general manager Keith Evans and longtime CFL executive Roy Shivers.

The class will be inducted on Sept. 16 at Tim Hortons Field and honoured at the annual Hall of Fame Game on Sept. 17, when the Bombers visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

ROSS CUT FROM ELKS

Canadian wide receiver Shai Ross was cut by the Edmonton Elks Tuesday afternoon.

Ross, 28, was born in Winnipeg and drafted by the Elks in 2019. He accumulated 27 receptions for 369 yards and four touchdowns, and returned eight kickoffs for 173 yards (21.6 average) over 21 games.