It absolutely had to be the first question, frankly, because the answer would determine whether an interview would have any chance of advancing at all.
“Are you superstitious?” we began after approaching with Winnipeg Blue Bombers kicker Justin Medlock after practice Monday. “Because if you are, we won’t even begin to ask you about that thing you’ve got going on right now…”
“No, you’re good,” began Medlock. “That doesn’t matter to me. Let’s go…”
‘That thing’ would be Medlock’s consecutive field goal streak, which grew to 28 after he went 4-for-4 in last week’s 33-25 victory over the Toronto Argonauts, including a 55-yard bomb near the end of the first half.
That’s a personal and club record still growing, by the way, breaking the old mark of 22 he set last year during a stretch from July to September. Just to put that streak into perspective, the previous club record prior to his arrival was 16, set by Troy Westwood back in 1996. In other words, in 21 games as a Bomber, Medlock has twice broken a record that had stood for two decades.
And yet in terms of newsflashes, it’s come to the point where Medlock being on a long run of consecutive field goals is so ho-hum it ranks right up there with ‘sun rises in east, sets in west.’
He isn’t superstitious at all, to the extent that he will openly talk about his run and not shy away from it the way a goaltender might not want to delve into specifics about a shutout streak or a pitcher is to be avoided when he’s working on a no-hitter.
“It’s good. I was in a groove like this last year,” Medlock said with a shrug about his current run. “Every kicker gets into a groove. I feel like any kicker in this league could go on a streak of 30. When I was 7 for 11 last year I thought, ‘OK, it’s time to go on a big run.’
“I really wanted to get off to a good start this season, that was the biggest thing. Last year I got off to such a rough start I was playing catch up. You get a little better as the season goes on so I wanted to make sure I started this year right.”
“Last year it was a new team, a new everything. I came in this year and it was the same pieces and I’ve felt a lot more comfortable. (Chad) Rempel and (Weston) Dressler… those guys are just awesome to work with. It makes my job easier knowing I don’t have to come into camp starting new.”
No doubt some will point out the infamous Medlock miss in last year’s West Semifinal in Vancouver. The current run is a regular season record, just to be clear. But even factoring in the playoff numbers, Medlock is on a 60 of 65 run (92.3 percent) stretch dating back to last July. The average distance in those five misses is 52 yards and one of them, FYI, hit the upright.
Medlock remains the most accurate kicker in Canadian Football League history with an 88.1 career field goal percentage and represents a transformation in how kicking has changed over the years.
CFL kickers have connected on 87.3 percent of their attempts this year and last season, five players – Medlock, Edmonton’s Sean Whyte, Rene Paredes of Calgary, Toronto’s Lirim Hajrullahu and Tyler Crapigna of Saskatchewan were all over the 85 percent success rate.
Medlock, for his part, is constantly working on fine-tuning his craft, both as a placekicker and punter. He hit a 58-yard field goal in practice on Monday, but also opened the morning taking snaps from the Jugs machine after dropping a snap on a punt last week before scooping up the ball and getting the kick off before it might have been blocked.
In short, there is no detail too small for him not to explore or fine tune.
“I just try to go one-for-one. That’s always been my motto,” Medlock explained. “I don’t look forward to anything else. It’s just like a golfer… I stay in the moment and not try to get too far ahead of myself in practice or in games. When I was younger I used to think, ‘OK, today I’m going to finish on a 60 yarder…’ Now I just go from one kick to the next. They need points? I’m going to come through.”
BOMBER REPORT – July 17
FYI: Slotback T.J. Thorpe was taking turns with the Bombers’ No. 1 offence on Monday, replacing L’Damian Washington. The club has been raving about his potential since camp, but he’s been twice dinged by injury.
Bombers QB Matt Nichols praised Thorpe on Monday for his understanding of the playbook and for being engaged while fighting through his injury.
“It’s annoying,” said Thorpe of battling through the injuries. “That’s really the only way to explain it. Obviously when it happened in the preseason and being a rookie, it wasn’t so much the injury as it was, ‘Am I going to be here?’ Once the chips fell the way they did, it just became getting back to doing what I do, take the mental reps and make sure I was ready when my number was called.
“When (the injury) happened at halftime, I came in here (the dressing room) and called my mom and let them know. My family was upset but they had the same mindset. It was ‘OK, you’ve done all you can do. It’s in (the team’s) hands and when you get your opportunity, if it comes, fine. And if it doesn’t you have to be mentally prepared for whatever is coming your way.’”
Asked what he might bring to the lineup, Thorpe said:
“Dealing with all these injuries and everything, I like to think I’m a tough guy. I like to play with a lot of passion and energy and so when we get on game day, I’m looking to make big plays, big blocks… do anything I can to help the team out.”
OUCH REPORT: Bombers RB Andrew Harris did not practice on Monday – taking a ‘vet’s day’ to stay fresh for this week’s game in Vancouver against the B.C. Lions.
Bombers head coach also announced that LB Jesse Briggs won’t be in the lineup against the Lions. Still on the mend are DBs Kevin Fogg, Bruce Johnson and Abu Conteh, WR Addison Richards, DE Tristan Okpalaugo and LBs Ian Wild and Shayne Gauthier.
ROSTER SHUFFLING: The Bombers made a few depth moves on Monday, signing Canadian linebacker Nehemie Kankolongo, bringing back DE Shayon Green and LB Kyrie Wilson after they had been among the final cuts and adding them to the practice roster and releasing WR Derek Yachison from the PR.
Kankolongo (5-11, 205, Wyoming) could be in the lineup as soon as this week. He spent the 2016 season with the Lions, appearing in 13 games and recording six special teams tackles. He signed as an undrafted free agent with Saskatchewan in 2015, playing in nine games that season.
Green played 13 games for the Bombers last year, recording 22 defensive tackles, three sacks and one interception, while Wilson returns after getting a long look in camp.
FYI: TSN’s Farhan Lalji reported Monday that B.C. Lions quarterback Jonathon Jennings had an MRI on his throwing shoulder but that there was no structural damage, with the strength and range ‘better than expected.’ Jennings is apparently being listed as ‘week to week.’ Even if he can’t go, the Lions attack is clearly in good hands: Travis Lulay came off the bench to lead B.C. in last week’s win over Hamilton by throwing for a career best 436 yards – also a CFL record for a QB coming off the bench in a game.
