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News October 8, 2025

“This is the time of year when you really have to bite down on that mouthpiece.”

@EdTaitWFC

It was mid-afternoon, not long after the completion of another Winnipeg Blue Bombers practice session featuring that palpable combination of excitement/urgency which emerges at this time of year in the scrap for playoff spots.

Inside the Blue Bombers clubhouse Willie Jefferson was in a conversation with bluebombers.com about the emerging force that is the Winnipeg defence. And during that discussion the veteran defensive end spit out a term two-three times which seems to perfectly fit the unit and its overall approach right now:

‘This is the time of year when you really have to bite down on that mouthpiece.’ — Willie Jefferson

“When things get tough and you know you have to make the play and it’s you against somebody else in the hole, don’t shy away,” said Jefferson, when asked to dive into the expression further. “We don’t shy away from contact; we don’t shy away from smoke. If anything, we welcome it. We want things to be our way and if it’s between us and them, we’re always going to go with us.

“It’s professional football,” he added. “We know we’re going to get hit in the mouth. But we’re not the type of guys who are going to curl when we get hit in the mouth.

“We’re going to bite down on our mouthpiece and get swinging again.”

There’s a give-no-ground mentality needed to play defence at any level of football — be the hammer, not the nail; it’s better to give than to receive, etc., etc. — and for a good chunk of the season the Blue Bombers defenders were treading water as the lineup was undergoing significant changes, especially in the secondary.

Consider that through 15 games this year the club has used three different weak-side cornerbacks in Terrell Bonds, Trey Vaval and Demerio Houston, three different safeties in Jamal Parker, Jr. Redha Kramdi and Cam Allen, three different strong side cornerbacks in Marquise Bridges, Parker, Jr. and Dexter Lawson, Jr. and three dime backs in Kramdi, Michael Griffin II and Jaiden Woodbey.

The only constants? Halfbacks Deatrick Nichols and Evan Holm.

And so, with that there were some explosion plays surrendered, some growing pains and some hard lessons learned.

Yet here we are heading into the most important stretch of the CFL season and Winnipeg’s defence now ranks first in offensive points allowed (22.7), fewest opponent TDs allowed (31) and in opposition QB completion percentage (63.5).

And as the defence has settled, the numbers have improved significantly. Consider the group’s last outing as evidence. In the 40-3 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats the unit limited the CFL’s second-highest scoring offence to one field goal while Most Outstanding Player candidate Bo Levi Mitchell was held to 212 yards passing while dynamic receiver Kenny Lawler finished with two catches for 34 yards.

At the same time, this bunch hardly spent the bye week collectively slapping itself on the back. If anything, it’s inspired them to push their bar even higher.

“It’s a helluva accomplishment to hold any team in this league to three points, so super-proud of the guys at that,” said defensive coordinator Jordan Younger. “But when you look at the film you recognize there’s still things we can get better at, things we need to get better at, things that our next opponent can take advantage of.”

Younger said one of the biggest challenges his defence faced, especially early in the season, was the changes in the secondary and how it impacts communication across the air defence. With Allen settling in at safety, Houston at one corner and Lawson/Parker, Jr. settling at the other corner — both sides led by Nichols and Holm — this crew has become robust.

“It’s coming together,” Kramdi said after Wednesday’s closed practice. “JY has done a great job with all the roster changes we’ve had in the back end if you look at the lineup we started the year with compared to what we have now. I always throw flowers at our defensive coaches because they’re always working to put the right pieces in the right positions.

“He challenges the people he puts on the field to know what we do. It’s one thing if there’s an injury and someone has to come in, but if you have a week of preparation he goes in with the game plan possible.”

Again, though, there’s an overwhelming sense with this crew that’s there’s more to give.

“It’s coming together,” said Jefferson. “It’s been a long year with guys coming in and out. We’ve had some ups and downs, some good games, some games where we could have been better. We had some games where the communication was great and some where it wasn’t there. Now those things are all starting to gel.

“We’ve been a very resilient team and a very resilient defence. We have the potential. Going into these last three games, starting with this Edmonton game, we all want to be on the same page. We want to play hard, we want to play together, and we want the communication to be there.”

“It’s funny,” added Kramdi, “I was talking to Coach O’Shea about this the other day: it’s cool we are trending in the right direction but at some point, we have to be there.

“I know you’ll never be completely there but there has to be a point where we take that word away — ‘trending’ — and be where we want to be and be making plays. We’re getting there.”

OUCH REPORT: The Blue Bombers held a close practice session on Wednesday and will not be on the field Thursday. Of note from today: CB Demerio Houston was back in Winnipeg after missing two days with what he called a ‘family emergency.’

“Luckily the team was able give me that time to be with my family,” said Houston. “Now I’m back and ready for this upcoming game.

“… I know home is good and that’s the reason why I’m back. I’m just worried about making sure I do whatever it is I need to do to help the team win this weekend.”

THE COACH SAYS: Mike O’Shea weighed in on Jaiden Woodbey, James Vaughters and other stuff in his session with the media on Wednesday. Check it out here: