Blue Bombers' Timothy Flanders is surrounded by team mates celebrating his touch down against the Ticats during fourth quarter CFL first quarter action in Hamilton on Saturday, August 12th, 2017. (CFL PHOTO - Dave Chidley)
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There are no moral victories in defeat, just as there should be no asterisks in victory.
And so even though the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ 39-12 mauling of the winless Hamilton Tiger-Cats Saturday night in Steeltown wasn’t without its warts, what shouldn’t be forgotten is this: Winning simply ain’t easy in this league.
That’s why the Bombers locker room at Tim Hortons Field was alive late after the game with the sights and sounds of a team that cranked out one of those ‘did-what-they-were-supposed-to-do’ wins that likely doesn’t jam the bandwagon with any more believers, but keeps them very much in the West Division playoff race.
Behind all that was another development: A beleaguered Bombers defence, save for a couple of busts, served up another solid effort, and coupled with the final three quarters in last week’s victory in Ottawa, has pieced together consecutive decent outings.
Remember, for all their woes, the Ticats did put up 28 points and 342 yards offence against the unbeaten Edmonton Eskimos the week previous.
Against the Bombers, they were limited to 12 points and 188 yards in net offence.
“They came out fighting and we made sure we didn’t play to their level, we made sure we played the way we know we can,” said Bombers defensive back T.J. Heath, almost yelling to be heard over noise in the visitor dressing room. “We gave them 12 points… they probably shouldn’t have even had that. But when we’re playing like that I feel like we can’t really be beat.
“All around that was just a good defensive game for us.”
Critical in the defensive effort was the Bombers ability to limit the Ticats to an average of just four yards on first down and a 40 per cent second-down conversion rate (8 for 20). The Ticats had 13 possessions, six of which did not result in a first down, while the Bombers forced two fumbles, picked off one pass and finished with five sacks and 10 quarterback pressures.
“We got after them early and we put some points on the board early and that was critical,” said Heath. “We kept getting two and outs, three and outs – we did have some mishaps happen – but we really played some sound football.
“Every time they started to get momentum, we would kill it. It really wasn’t about how they were attacking us, it was more about how we were executing all across the board.
“And when we play like that, man…”
Heath paused for a moment here, perhaps attempting to pump the brakes a bit on a performance against a Ticats team that is undergoing massive change right now.
Still, as we hinted above… a win is a win is a win.
“It feels like we’re turning defensively,” he said. “Hamilton’s had a tough start, but for us this was a good outing… especially going into next week against Edmonton. Now we have to make sure we carry this over.”
More on the Bombers win in Hamilton with our weekly collection of notes and quotes we call Upon Further Review…
THE BOMBERS, OFFICIALLY, MADE JUST TWO VISITS… to the red zone Saturday (running at least one play inside the Ticats’ 20-yard line), scoring touchdowns on both. But there were a handful of other trips into enemy territory that stalled and resulted in field-goal attempts.
Justin Medlock was six of eight on the night – one attempt hit the upright, another was blocked – including a 57-yard bomb in the heavy Southern Ontario air that just seemed to carry and carry and carry.
In each of the last two weeks, the veteran kicker has accounted for 21 points, and while everyone on offence would kill for there to be a few more converts in there, Medlock’s left foot has again been massive.
“It’s good to help the team out,” said Medlock. “There were a couple of hiccups there and I like to be perfect, obviously, and we’re trying to figure that out. But we’ve got to grind it out together… and just try and help the team out as much as we can.”
“Any time you’re coming away with points, it’s a good thing,” added Andrew Harris. “Obviously, you want to come away with touchdowns and not field goals, but that why we love Medlock – he’s so money.
“We’re going to count on him to do that but offensively we need to be better on converting some of those into touchdowns.”
MORE ON HARRIS, WHO NOT ONLY HAD HIS FIRST… 100-yard game of the season – 14 carries for 107 – but also pulled in two passes for 21 yards, both of which were second-down conversions.
Of note, 65 of his rushing yards came late in the fourth quarter with the Bombers trying to work the clock and drive the final few nails into another win.
“That’s a running back’s dream,” said Harris. “Wind’s in your face, you’re up in the game and you know the ball is coming to you, the defence knows it’s coming to you and the O-line knows you’re running the ball. It’s just who wants it more. I love playing in those situations and the O-line does, too.”
HISTORY/STATS JUNKIES IN BOMBERLAND… will also like this as it relates to Harris’ night and what it means. The 107-yard effort boosted his career rushing totals to 5,623 yards and past two Bombers legends in Dave Raimey (5,528) and Gerry James (5,554) and Montreal Alouettes legend George Dixon (5,615) into 32nd spot on the Canadian Football League’s all-time list.
Harris is now just 30 yards behind Henry Burris at 31st overall and with another 300 yards would move all the way up to Willard Reaves at spot No. 26, passing the likes of Ron Stewart, Jim Germany, Mike Saunders and James Sykes.
That’s pretty select company.
A PLAYER WHO IS GETTING A LOT MORE INK LATELY… and deservedly so, is Bombers defensive tackle Jake Thomas.
Thomas was all over the field Saturday, finishing with two tackles, a sack, three quarterback pressures and a fumble recovery. In the last four games, this under-rated product of Acadia University has two sacks and the interception that led to a TD in B.C. after he lateralled to Kyle Knox.
When it was suggested afterward he should be called ‘Big Play Jake Thomas’ the all-too modest tackle offered “I don’t know about that. It’s always nice to make a few plays but it’s usually the guys around you, especially on a lot of those things.”
The Bombers had five sacks from five different players against the Ticats – Thomas, Jamaal Westerman, Chris Randle, Kyle Knox and Trent Corney – and added 10 quarterback pressures.
AND, FINALLY… more on the work of Nichols: he was solid in the win over Hamilton, completing 25 of 35 for 267 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, and being sharp in his decision making by not forcing throws.
He has now thrown for 2,024 yards with 13 TDs against four interceptions this season – he hasn’t been intercepted in three games – and the Bombers are now 15-5 since he replaced Drew Willy as the starter late last July.
“That’s one of the biggest things I’ve learned in this league: when you don’t turn the ball over, you win football games,” said Nichols. “There’s a lot that goes into that. There’s not a lot of times I’m getting hit when I’m throwing, the receivers go up and make plays on the ball… the touchdown to Darvin (Adams), that was just me trusting him. I basically threw it up in the air and he told me if I gave him a chance he was going to go up and get it and he went up and got it.
“It takes everyone to have there not be interceptions. That’s one of our main goals every week.”
