Big catch all about concentration, confidence

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This article was published 14/08/2023 (763 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A one-handed catch with a defender draped all over you is no routine play

But Kenny Lawler, who did just that at the beginning of the fourth quarter in Edmonton for a 32-yard score, and his 3-XL gloves disagrees.

Lawler was held in check for most of the night in the team’s 38-29 comeback win on Thursday over the Elks, but his left-handed grab that gave the Blue Bombers a 31-29 lead earned himself a place on the highlight reel.

And rightfully so.

Lawler finished the night against his old club with two catches for 49 yards.

“I just put the left hand out there and just made one of those routine catches,” Lawler said after Monday’s practice.

“It’s not really a hard catch, it just requires a lot of concentration, a lot of confidence, and man, I’ve been making catches like that in practice for so long. I just made one out there today that was a hell of a catch. Sometimes, I don’t even know how I do it. It’s just a God gifted talent and ability that I’m blessed with. Man, all the glory to the man up top because he created these huge hands that I have.”

Bombers surrender preventable TDs

The Bombers dug themselves an immediate hole in Edmonton.

On the very first play from scrimmage, Elks running back Kevin Brown ran through the middle of the defence untouched for a career-high 65-yard touchdown run.

What the heck happened?

“Just a bit of a new run scheme and it didn’t work out the way we wanted it to go. And that’s kind of what happens. If everyone’s not where they’re supposed to be, then things like that can happen,” explained linebacker Adam Bighill. “Everyone should have a gap, but one gap wasn’t filled. Someone should be there and we didn’t have it filled. It’s as simple as that.”

It wasn’t the only costly mistake made by the defenders in blue and gold.

In the third quarter, Elks quarterback Tre Ford threw a screen pass to Kyran Moore. It was up to defensive back Demerio Houston to make the tackle, but he whiffed, and Moore sprinted down the field for a 70-yard touchdown. Edmonton’s offence lacked consistency, but when they made a play, it was a big one.

“You look at the reasons why those explosive plays happened. One’s a missed tackled, one’s a couple of missed assignments on the same play,” said head coach Mike O’Shea.

“Once again, you always focus on the reasons why these things happen. But you know very quickly why it happened. So you don’t sweat it like that. Our defence did a great job… of really holding Edmonton down except for those plays.”

The unit did, however, make up for it in a big way in the turnover department in the third quarter. Defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat spoiled a drive by forcing Brown to fumble in scoring territory. Two possessions later, defensive back Evan Holm stepped up with a crucial interception, his first of the season, and the Bombers never looked back.

“They were huge. Just getting the ball back to Dru to go against the Elks defence more was really important. It kind of changed the momentum,” said Holm.

“They get a big play, we get a big play, and then we come out on defence and we get a pick. It’s just kind of demoralizing for them after they came out and really kind of punched us in the mouth at the beginning of the game.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31