Sack leader Willis almost invisible

By: Paul Wiecek Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011

IN a locker-room full of frustration, there was perhaps no member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers more frustrated by Friday night's 27-22 loss to the Toronto Argonauts at Canad Inns Stadium than rush end Odell Willis.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/10/2011 (5148 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

IN a locker-room full of frustration, there was perhaps no member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers more frustrated by Friday night’s 27-22 loss to the Toronto Argonauts at Canad Inns Stadium than rush end Odell Willis.

For the second consecutive game, Willis — the CFL sacks leader heading into the weekend — played only on obvious passing downs as the Bombers brain trust continues to believe they are better served not having Willis play against the run.

The result was predictable as Willis was almost invisible, held without a sack and registering only a single tackle.

“It is what it is,” said Willis. “I just have to do my part. When I’m in the game, I just have to hope to make a play that will help the team win. As much as I want to be out there, it’s the coach’s decision.”

Willis remarked on his Twitter account during the week that he was frustrated with his situation, but he said Friday that his lack of playing time is only part of his problems these days.

“I have so much stuff going on in my life these last three weeks with football and off the field, I was almost at a breaking point this week,” Willis said.

Willis didn’t specify what his off-field difficulties are right now, but did say the whole of his predicament is having a cumulative effect that is wearing on him. “It’s like ‘what else is going to happen?’,” Willis wondered. “If it’s not one thing, it’s always another thing. I just have a lot of stuff going on, but that’s just life, know what I’m saying?

“But it is what it is, I just have to remind myself. There ain’t nobody going to feel sorry for me, ain’t nobody going to ask if I’m alright. The world ain’t going to stop, so you might as well just deal with it and keep pushing.”

The Bombers registered just one sack against the Argos — defensive tackle Bryant Turner tracked down QB Stephen Jyles on the opening play of the game — and yielded 149 yards rushing to Toronto.

Winnipeg also gave up just 113 yards through the air and intercepted Jyles once.

— Wiecek