Bombers O-line redeems itself against Als

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This article was published 04/07/2023 (801 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Jermarcus Hardrick referred to Week 3’s loss to the B.C. Lions as a “horror movie.”

It was an accurate description from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers right tackle as the offensive line surrendered a whopping seven sacks in a 30-6 defeat.

“I don’t like humble pie, but it’s always good for the soul,” Hardrick said Tuesday.

“I’m 33 years old now, and every point of my football career, I’ve had to eat some humble pie and that’s why I’m here now. So, I’m glad I know what it tastes like. I don’t want to keep tasting it, but it keeps me humble.”

Hardrick and Co. managed to regain their form on Saturday as the Montreal Alouettes only took quarterback Zach Collaros down once in what was a 17-3 Winnipeg victory.

“We won. We’re sleeping better, but I played against Nick Usher and Jamal Davis. I’m pretty sore right now, it was a fist fight, but we came out on top, that’s all that matters. It was a physical game,” said Hardrick.

“I think we ran the ball a little bit better so we didn’t have to pass protect as much. We weren’t as one dimensional so we helped ourselves out a little bit more. Things just don’t change. If you have a bad game or good game, you’ve got to keep going.”

The O-line heard the chatter after the B.C. game from people questioning the group’s age and whether or not the disappointing showing was only a sign of things to come. Hardrick, 33, said the noise didn’t tick them off or add any fuel to the fire, but they were determined to bounce back in Montreal.

“That was the goal. But what do we got? 14 more games? I hope it doesn’t happen again, but I can’t promise you it won’t,” said Hardrick.

“We’re in a great league now, every team is a little older and has guys that have played in the league a long time. They get paid, too.”

Oliveira is rolling

Brady Oliveira leads the CFL in rushing through four weeks of play.

The Bombers running back, who’s in his second year as the team’s starter, has 327 yards along the ground on 62 touches for a 5.3 yards per carry average.

The 25-year-old had 20 carries for 119 yards and a fumble against Montreal.

Greg McCrae also chipped in with 49 yards on four attempts.

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Oliveira didn’t participate in any of the team’s open practices last week as he’s been nursing an injury. He was a full participant on Tuesday.

“I need to practice. I need to see these looks during the week and it allows me to go out during the game and to play at a high level, play very fast and execute. I find it’s hard when I’m not getting those looks during practice and I go out there and it’s live bullets right away. I kind of just have to make do,” said Oliveira.

“But it was very good to be out here today for Day 1 and I think that will help moving forward. I don’t think I’m playing my best yet, which is exciting.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31

Taylor Allen
Reporter

Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.

Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.