He led an offence that put up 43 points in enemy territory, threw for a career-high four touchdowns, and has his Winnipeg Blue Bombers at 1-0.

And yet, there was Bombers quarterback Matt Nichols Tuesday afternoon following practice lamenting the business he left unfinished in the club’s overtime victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Canada Day.

Yes, as a mob of media gathered around his locker, Nichols was first asked about Weston Dressler, who was named one of the CFL’s Top Performers of the week after pulling in six passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns.

“And he could have been somewhere around 150 yards and three touchdowns because I missed a layup (easy throw) to him,” began Nichols. “It could have been an even better game for him. He played a great game and he would never say it, but I’m sure it was extra sweet for him just to be in that situation.”

Matt Nichols (15) and Weston Dressler (7) during the game at New Mosaic Stadium in Regina, SK, Saturday, July 1st, 2017. (Photo: Johany Jutras)

That’s been a common take from everyone in Bomberland since last Saturday – thrilled to escape Regina with a victory, especially given all the hype of the Riders home opener and christening a new building, but well aware of the work they need to get done in a hurry.

Nichols, for one, still had two throws in particular stuck in his craw: one to Dressler, the other to Clarence Denmark that would have pushed his career-best TD-passing total to six from four.

“Those are throws you don’t get very often – two times guys were just wide open,” said Nichols. “Sometimes those are the hardest ones to hit because you’re not exactly sure how to throw it. But those are throws you just have to make at this level and those are the two plays I’ve been thinking about all weekend.

“We scored 43, and for sure with the two overthrows I had with guys in the end zone that’s an extra two touchdowns. Those are things that are easily fixable.

“The slow start is something we obviously want to clean up. We felt like we have a dynamic offence and we just need to go out and prove it for four complete quarters.”

The Bombers defence was also doing its share of regrouping on Tuesday, and ecstatic to have it coming after a win.

“We did all right coming out, first game of the season and we learned some things about ourselves,” said linebacker Sam Hurl. “But still, 40 points is too much and we’re definitely not satisfied.

“I don’t really like to make excuses in that sense (first game of the year), but definitely you’re going to have rust in the first game. Coming out in the first quarter we had rust and then we shook it off in the second quarter. The big thing is you get back in that mode where you’ve got to play four quarters because in this league, everybody’s going to bring it on every single play.

“It’s across the board… we want to be cleaner in all aspects. Communication, we want to be better. Any keys or things that are going on on the field, we want to have a better understanding of what’s going on out there. We just want to make sure we’re crisp, mentally crisp, for four quarters.”

Other notes and quotes as the Bombers got back to work on Tuesday…

Taylor Loffler (16) of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the game at New Mosaic Stadium in Regina, SK, Saturday, July 1st, 2017. (Photo: Johany Jutras)

FRIEND AND FOE

Nichols appeared on Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell’s radio show Tuesday afternoon, and prior to the appearance, was asked about being 0-2 against his friend and fellow Eastern Washington alum.

The Bombers fell 25-23 to Calgary late in 2015 and 36-34 last September in the two games in which Nichols and Mitchell were the starters.

“I feel like we let one slip away last year and in 2015 we had a weird offsides call at the end of the game and it had a weird ending,” said Nichols. “I felt like both times we had a chance to win, we just didn’t seal it. We feel like we match up pretty well against them and it just comes down to making those plays at the end of the game because they’re a team that never seems to make a mistake at the end of the game. To be able to beat them, you have to avoid making mistakes and be able to play those last few minutes extremely clean.

“I don’t know if we talk directly about it (the head-to-head record). But he knows that I know… it’s not something you think about during the game, but leading up to the game I’m sure we’ll exchange a few text messages and I’m going to be on the Bo Show tonight at 5 o’clock.

“Good friends. On game day, I hope he throws five picks against us and then we’ll talk after the game, be friends and talk trash,” added Nichols with a huge grin. “But during the game I don’t really think anything about it. I’m just doing my job and I’m sure there will be a lot of people back home watching and not sure who to root for.”

ROC AND A HARD PLACE

The Bombers exited Saturday night relatively injury-free – Kevin Fogg didn’t finish the game but the club hopes he can practice later in the week. Defensive back Roc Carmichael, who took most of his reps in training camp at linebacker while Moe Leggett battled through an injury, was beaten for a couple of scores in the loss to Riders.

But the club saw too much from Carmichael in camp to read too much into one game.

“He’s playing a pretty tough position and he’s new at it,” said Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea. “He’s playing a position where there’s all sorts of guys running right at him with a head start, which takes a little time to get used to. Certain plays there could have been more help from the guys around him to make sure they can execute the coverage better.

“What we’ve seen from Roc in training camp, the way he’s able to cover, his work ethic, his tenaciousness… we’re going to give him some time here to see what he can really do.

“One thing I know about Roc: bottom line, he’s a good football player.”

Roc Carmichael (35) on day 2 of mini-camp.

Carmichael, 28, hadn’t played a real game since his days with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2014, spending a chunk of 2015 with the Arizona Cardinals before stepping away from the game.

And being back on the field has only rekindled his love for the sport.

“It was really fun, exciting,” said Carmichael. “I had a couple plays I would like to get back but we won the game. Just being on this team and having the chemistry in the locker room, we held it together pretty well and we won the game.

“Guys in this locker room know I’ve been moving around a lot. So just getting a feel for one position, it’s going to take a few reps at it. I think they believe in me, I know the coaches believe in me and have confidence in me from what we’ve been practicing in camp.

“You’ll never get an excuse coming from me. Good or bad play, it’s just football and those guys over there are getting paid as well. I have been moving around a lot, but I look at that as the coaches have confidence in me to be able to do that. I would love to accept that role and I have to be ready for that role.

“Being away from the game, you realize how much you love about it,” Carmichael added. “When you’re tired and you’re out there in camp and you want to go home and eat cookies and stuff like that. But once it’s gone, it’s gone. You miss it because it’s what I’ve done my whole life. It’s hard to stop what you love and stop what you do.

“Just being able to here, just being able to be accepted on this team and being in this locker room and able to build and chip off one week at a time… I love it.”