Bombers, Redblacks know what to expect in matchup
It’s one thing to watch a football team in action on video, quite another to actually line up against them.
Based on that, quarterback Matt Nichols should know as much about the Ottawa Redblacks’ defence as any other Winnipeg Blue Bomber, or more.
It also works the other way, with Redblacks defenders equally familiar with Nichols after facing him twice when he was wearing the colours of the Edmonton Eskimos. He became a Blue Bomber in a trade in early September, which now gives him the rare opportunity to face the same opponent four times in the same season, not including playoffs.
“Knowing his tendencies would help us, to see who he favours, and, when he throws, does he roll out to the right or does he roll out to the left? Just small things like that,” Redblacks defensive halfback Jerrell Gavins said after Thursday’s practice.
Redblacks head coach Rick Campbell described Nichols as someone who “understands what defences do and how they do it. ”
Nichols was 30-for-54 for 454 yards as the Eskimos beat the Redblacks 46-17 and 23-12 eight days apart in July. He established a personal best with three touchdown passes in the first game at Edmonton and a personal worst with three interceptions in the rematch in Ottawa.
“I’m going to have already a decent feel for what they’re going to do,” Nichols, 28, said after arriving at TD Place stadium on Thursday. “It doesn’t make it any easier.”
Nichols was also on the Eskimos’ roster when they rallied to beat the host Redblacks 10-8 last year, and he said the environment that night was louder then than it was in July, when persistent, heavy rain had many in the crowd of 21,078 — a season low if you discount the 15,011 attendance for the shortnotice, relocated contest against the Toronto Argonauts on Oct. 6 — seeking shelter rather than making the kind of racket that comes with capacity crowds of 24,000 or more.
“We expect it to be noisy,” Nichols said of Friday night’s game at TD Place stadium. “That’s something you have to deal with in a lot of CFL cities, so it’s nothing new for us. We look forward to it.”
Nichols will also see a new starting centre, with Matthias Goosen replacing the injured Dominic Picard. Backup offensive lineman Thomas Graham was added.
Campbell announced a handful of changes to the squad that lost 38-35 to the Argos. Linebacker Nick Rosamonda, receiver/returner Reggie Dunn and safety Jeff Richards come off the practice roster to make Redblacks regular-season debuts, while fullback Jordan Verdone and punter Ronnie Pfeffer return from the injured lists.
Defensive tackle Ettore Lattanzio (practice roster), defensive end Marlon Smith (one-game injured list) and running back Jeremiah Johnson (six-game list) were deactivated, while punter Brett Maher was released last week.
Losing to the Argos dropped the Redblacks (8-6) to third in the CFL’s East Division behind the Argos and Hamilton Tiger-Cats (9-5), but they can still qualify for the postseason. The fastest way in is to beat the Blue Bombers (5-10) on Friday or in the Oct. 24 contest in Winnipeg.
The Blue Bombers rallied to beat the B.C. Lions last Saturday, but haven’t won consecutive games this year.