Special teams not living up to name

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This article was published 21/08/2023 (761 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Blue Bombers were far from their best in Friday’s 19-18 victory over the hometown Calgary Stampeders and Winnipeg’s work on special teams was a particular sore point.

Calgary’s Tommylee Lewis scorched the visitors for 146 yards on eight punt returns, including a 45-yard gallop, and he added 91 yards on three kickoff returns, including a 47-yard romp. Shaquille Richardson of the Stampeders went unblocked on the right side of the formation to get a hand on punter Jamieson Sheahan’s kick.

“You try to find the positives and then move on,” said Blue Bombers special teams co-ordinator Paul Boudreau following Monday’s practice at IG Field. “There were still some good things that were done but unfortunately the bad ones overshadowed the good.”

The blocked punt — the second allowed by Winnipeg in 2023 — was a breakdown Boudreau would like to avoid.

“All across the board there was a multitude of things that didn’t get communicated on a look that we’ve picked up before,” he explained. “And so that was frustrating.”

Personnel changes, though not an excuse, contributed to the miscues.

“Every year you’ve got to deal with moving pieces and stuff like that,” said Boudreau. “You know, it really shouldn’t matter… who’s in there as much as it does. (We need to) be able to communicate to one another to make sure everybody’s on the same page. Even if somebody is wrong, we’re wrong together and we’ve got to get it cleaned up together. But we’ve had some miscommunication somewhat due to we’ve had some (personnel) changes as the year goes on.”

The Blue Bombers also played their fifth game without the services of ace returner Janarion Grant, who is on the six-game injured list with an ankle ailment.

His replacement, Greg McCrae, has been serviceable but unspectacular. On Friday, he returned one kickoff for 17 yards and three punts for 26 yards. He also fumbled one of his returns but was fortunate to have teammate Nick Hallett fall on the loose ball.

Head coach Mike O’Shea would not say how close Grant was to returning to the lineup, which could mean it will remain McCrae’s job in the short term.

“There’s only so many guys that are dressed that have the ability to do it,” aid Boudreau, noting McCrae made savvy play to return Rene Paredes’ missed field goal attempt late in the fourth quarter to maintain a one-point lead.

“Just catching the ball is part number one. (McCrae) had a really smart play at the end there, getting the ball out of the end zone. I think when they kind of miss hit it and came up a little short and you never know where that ball is gonna go. So he didn’t panic. He was able to get it and then he was able to get it out of the end zone to protect the point.”

COMEBACK TRAIL: No one could have been certain if veteran linebacker Kyrie Wilson would make a successful return from surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon in 2022 but the 30-year-old from Bakersfield, Calif., has erased any doubts with his play so far.

On Friday, he equalled Adam Bighill for the team lead with five tackles against the Stamps.

“We did a lot of the (rehab) work here so back home it was moreso maintaining it,” said Wilson, who did not participate in training camp but has now played four games since being cleared to play again. “When I got back here we turned (the rehab) up a little bit more and that was it.”

In addition to regular defensive duties, he’s also seeing some action on the punt team.

“He’s been out for most of the year so we’re trying to ease him back in,” said Boudreau. “We’ve used him in the past and when you’ve got a big athletic guy like that, you like to get him out but you don’t want to put the guy at risk for somebody who’s just kind of getting back into the speed of the game live.”

CALL HIM CLUTCH: Cornerback Demerio Houston’s reputation for big plays is growing. Against the Stampeders, his 45-yard pick-six gave Winnipeg’s its first lead of the night in the third quarter. The interception, coming when Houston stepped in front of receiver Marken Michel, was was the only touchdown of the game.

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“Once I saw the back flare out to the flat, I just anticipated,” explained Houston. “They ran the route early in the ball game and they didn’t throw it (then) so I kind of figured that they would try to get in rhythm and go there. I just took a chance.”

Houston now has a league-leading seven interceptions and he could have a chance to equal or better Less Browne’s franchise record of 14, set during the 1990 season.

“The main goal is to win that week and go for a championship but personal goals? — I definitely want to lead the league and team in interceptions,” he said. “I don’t really have a number but the sky’s the limit.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14