This isn’t new for Matt Nichols. He’s started games before in the Canadian Football League, after all, for both the Edmonton Eskimos and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
He’s 29 now, had a stint with the Dallas Cowboys and has been through a couple of horrific injuries with the Eskimos before being traded here last September.
Let’s just say there’s some wear and tear on the Nichols tread.
But what is new is this: unlike last year, when he was parachuted into Winnipeg after an injury to Drew Willy and the struggles of Brian Brohm and Robert Marve and with nothing to lose, Nichols is now being asked to breathe some life into both the Bombers offence and, in essence, their 2016 season as their new QB1.
No pressure or anything…
“Coach O’Shea said, ‘You’ve got the ball. We’re excited to see what you can do,’” explained Nichols when asked how the move was relayed to him. “That’s basically all that was said and that’s all that needed to be said.
“Drew and I are both veterans here, we both have the respect of our teammates. We don’t have to make some big deal about it.”
That’s true. But it should also be said that any time a team changes quarterbacks in season and it is not because of an injury, it’s certain to grab headlines. It was no different on Sunday when the Bombers opted to take the starting chores away from Willy and hand them to Nichols.
Bombers coach Mike O’Shea said the move was made after watching the film, consulting with the offensive staff and, ultimately, based on production. Willy has put up respectable numbers, but the Bombers just haven’t been getting it done consistently offensively.
Still, making the move – especially for O’Shea, who is unfailingly loyal to his players – wasn’t easy.
“It’s a good opportunity for Matt and we’ll see where it takes us,” said O’Shea. “I believe Drew Willy is still a big part of this football team. I’ve always maintained you need two quarterbacks to get to where we want to be and win championships. I expect Drew to be ready to go at any time and I know he will be.”
O’Shea said Nichols’ experiences in different offences and his understanding of the defensive looks he might face played a factor in the switch. So, too, did his production in relief of Willy last week. The Eastern Washington product came off the bench with 8:53 remaining in the Bombers’ 33-18 loss to the Calgary Stampeders last Thursday and promptly led the club to its only touchdown of the game with an 18-yard strike to Weston Dressler that was followed up with another completion to Dressler for a two-point convert. Nichols finished the night nine of 15 for 88 yards with the one TD and no interceptions.
Willy, meanwhile, was 23 of 33 for 234 yards with no touchdowns and one critical interception – returned 34 yards for a score by Joe Burnett – that prompted the in-game switch to Nichols.
“Any time something like that happens it’s hard to swallow,” said Willy after practice Sunday. “But you’ve got to take it the right way and be professional, support your teammates and do everything you can to help the team.
“It’s just how the position goes. You just need to keep playing, fight through it. I’ve seen a lot in my career, different situations throughout both leagues I’ve been in. I’ve got to keep working and make sure I keep a positive mindset and support my teammates.”
“That’s the biggest thing: love your teammates. That’s what I’m always going to do in helping the team in any way I can.”
Drew Willy
Part of what fuels Nichols is having the game taken away from him in 2011 and in 2013, first with a broken leg and then with a torn ACL. That hasn’t changed his approach, but does make him appreciate opportunities like this that much more.
“I’ve been through a lot in my career and any time I can be out on that field I’m one of the happiest guys around,” he said. “Hopefully that rubs off. I’m excited and I’m trying to get these guys excited here at practice. Hopefully we can go out and win some football games.
“The biggest thing is to just be who you are. I’m not a huge rah-rah guy, but I’m a fiery guy. I’m going to get people motivated, get people going. I like to have fun out there. I’m just going to be myself and do what I’ve done my entire life. This is the 20th year of my life playing quarterback; I know how to do it. I’m going to get these guys to believe in me, whether that’s taking off and running or diving for first downs to show them that I’m going to do everything I can to help this team win.
“I already told those guys in the last few drives last week that I’m going to play my tail off and if they keep me upright, I’m going to pick ‘em apart,” added Nichols. “That’s always my mindset because you need to have confidence at this position and I feel like my experience helps me in that aspect. I know what I’m doing, I know what defences are doing.”
O’Shea was asked after practice how he would tell fans that this isn’t a worst-case scenario given the 1-4 record and now the QB change.
“I don’t know if I’m worried about telling them that,” said O’Shea. “I mean, we have to prove it. The words are going to be hollow to a lot of fans. It’s a matter of going out there and getting a win and putting a good performance out there and coming back here, playing another game the way they deserve to be entertained. We’re always aware of our fan base but I don’t know if telling them is going to make a difference right now. We need to show them.”
BOMBER REPORT – JULY 24
OUCH UPDATE:
The Bombers exited last Thursday’s loss to Calgary with a crowded infirmary. And the news wasn’t particularly better when the club returned to work on Sunday.
Head coach Mike O’Shea confirmed the following players will be out for a spell: OL Patrick Neufeld (ankle, six weeks), CB Chris Randle (three weeks), DB Julian Posey (couple weeks) and S Macho Harris (couple weeks). Not practicing Sunday but expected to be good for Thursday in Edmonton will be OL Sukh Chungh, LB Maurice Leggett, OL Jermarcus Hardrick and LB Garrett Waggoner. Also, LB Sam Hurl, DB Bruce Johnson and receiver Addison Richards had all returned to practice.
For long stretches on Sunday, the Bombers O-line, with Chungh not participating, featured (right to left tackle): Stanley Bryant, Travis Bond, Matthias Goossen, Michael Couture and Manese Foketi.
Meanwhile, with all the injuries to the secondary, the Bombers had Taylor Loffler at safety, CJ Roberts and Terrence Frederick at corner with Bruce Johnson and Kevin Fogg at halfback. Jace Davis was sick on Sunday and did not practice, giving Gerrard Sheppard reps with the No. 1 offence.
“There’s a few spots on the roster up for grabs this week,” said O’Shea.
NEW BLUE BLOOD:
The Bombers added DB Chris Greenwood to the practice roster on Sunday.
Greenwood (6-1, 197, Albion College) was a fifth-round draft pick of the Detroit Lions in 2012. He suited up for three games with the Lions in 2013, and spent 2104 on the Minnesota Vikings practice roster.
QUOTABLE:
“We’re always talking. We’re always together. We’re always doing stuff. He’s got my support. He’s a good guy. I like Matt a lot. It would be different if I didn’t like him. I really like Matt Nichols a lot. He’s a good guy, he’s professional and he does things right. You always root for guys like Matt.” – Drew Willy on his relationship with Matt Nichols.
