Winnipeg Blue Bombers #15 Matt Nichols
It’s been awhile in these parts, so it’s difficult to remember what a 4-0 start for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers might look and sound like.
FYI, the last time a Bombers squad busted out of the starting block with four straight victories was way back in 2003 when Milt Stegall was catching touchdown passes from Khari Jones and Charles Roberts was making would-be tacklers whiff.
And although a few faces remain – Paul LaPolice was the offensive coordinator then, as now, while Wade Miller has morphed from special-teams demon to President & CEO – that’s a lot of miles and ton of players and coaches in between a run like this.
What’s more is you have to go back to the days of Ken Ploen, Leo Lewis and Bud Grant for the last time this franchised opened 5-0, which the Bombers have a chance to match Friday night against the Ottawa REDBLACKS at IG Field.
Interestingly, though, a stroll through the Bombers locker room on Wednesday after practice left little impression this is a group atop the West Division or are the Canadian Football League’s only unbeaten club.
Make no mistake, the place was alive and energetic, but that workmanlike approach – that now cliché ‘let’s go 1-0 this week’ mantra – was still the dominant vibe.
“That (4-0 start) is not our goal,” explained defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat. “Our goal is to be the best team in the league and to win the Grey Cup. That’s what you want to do. You want to win every game you play and you especially want to win the last one.
“So, it’s important to focus on just what’s in front of you. I know a lot of teams – and a lot of people just in life – want to look ahead and then they get smacked in the face by what’s in front of them.
“You’ve always got to focus on what’s in front of you and once you handle that business, then the next business comes.”
The Bombers business this week is an Ottawa club they knocked off just a couple of weeks ago, but has made a number of roster moves – including at the quarterback position where Jonathon Jennings will make his first start as a member of the REDBLACKS for an injured Dom Davis.
All that is of importance, of course, but it is what the Bombers have seen on film of their own play which is keeping them grounded through their perfect start.
“Some of this, from a defensive perspective, is because of the way we’ve won,” explained Jeff Hecht. “Some of it is because their quarterback didn’t see that we blew a coverage. Or against Toronto our offence put us so far ahead that when our inefficiencies were exposed in the second half it was too little too late. It’s the special teams setting us up, or flipping the field so we’ve got more field to defend.
“The way we’ve been winning has not been flamboyant, to say the least. That has an effect on the guys staying realistic about where we are.
“There have been games this year where you come into the locker room and you almost have to remind guys of the score. Guys are hanging their heads, they’re already trying to get the film loaded to their IPads, or are already on the whiteboard detailing how this or that didn’t go their way. It’s like, ‘Don’t forget, we won.’ But we’re not out their kicking the (crap) out of people the way want to right now.
“We’re realistic about our 4-0,” added Hecht. “Calgary is one drive away from being 3-1. Edmonton is 3-1. Sure, we’re playing well, but we’re one bad game away from being tied for second. That helps in keeping it real here. On paper, we’re front-running, but we’re only out front by a nose.”
The Bombers finished their final full practice in advance of Friday’s game with Ottawa behind closed doors on Wednesday. Here are some notes and quotes from today’s media availability in our 48-HOUR PRIMER…
THE WAITING IS THE HARDEST PART:
Bombers receiver Chris Matthews is healthy again and eager to get back on the field. His status for Friday is still to be determined, and the veteran receiver hopes the injury troubles that kept him from the opener and then hit again in the win over Ottawa and then left him out of the lineup last week are now in the rearview mirror.
“I’m healthy now. It’s all about going out there and making it happen,” said Matthews Wednesday. “Things happen. It was a rough start for me but hopefully that was the final (injury) that made me sit down and now I can go out there and actually contribute the way I want to contribute.
“Like I’ve said numerous times before, you’ve got to come out and be professional and figure out a way to get it done. That’s the mindset that I’m on right now.”
As to whether Matthews would play against Ottawa, Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said none of that will be official until the roster is released Thursday.
Asked for an update on some of the walking wounded, O’Shea said Adam Bighill, Matthews, Jermarcus Hardrick, Lucky Whitehead and Jeff Hecht were all ‘good’ while on KR/WR Charles Nelson he offered ‘we’ll take another day.’
STRAIGHT SHOOTER:
One more from Bombers safety Jeff Hecht, when asked to describe the play of the pass defence through four games:
“The word would be ‘inconsistent,’” he said. “Teams are taking advantage of our mistakes. We’ve been toeing that line a little bit as far as playing chicken with ourselves and they’ve been missing opportunities to exploit us. In the second half of the Toronto game they obviously went in, they saw some things and we didn’t correct them properly and they exploited them.”
FYI:
The CFL issued some supplementary discipline for transgressions in last week’s Bomber win over Toronto. Argos D-lineman Cleyon Laing was fined an undisclosed amount for a high hit on Bombers QB Matt Nichols.
