Willy or no Willy, Bombers adding new wrinkles for Argos
The Blue Bombers don’t have to worry about Drew Willy coming back to haunt them this week — on the field, that is.
The Toronto Argonauts will sit their new trade acquisition Saturday in Winnipeg (2 p.m., TSN) and start Dan LeFevour against the Blue Bombers. But Willy will be a valuable asset in the study room and on the sidelines, helping the Argos (5-6) exploit the soft spots in his old team.
That’s why Winnipeg head coach Mike O’Shea is going to add some new plays this week to throw Willy off.
“Drew is a very smart player,” O’Shea said Tuesday. “He knows us well. I’m drawing up wrinkles right now. But I really think Drew’s focus will be on Toronto’s playbook.”
The Bombers (7-4) acquired Toronto defensive back T.J. Heath and Montreal quarterback Kevin Glenn in separate deals Sunday.
Heath was one of the league’s top performers last week, when he had a game-high seven tackles and two picks in his last game with the Argos. He is tied for the league lead in interceptions (five) with Bombers’ Maurice Leggett.
O’Shea said Heath, a first-year CFL player, has a veteran’s presence. The product of Jacksonville State is 29 and has had a number of NFL stops.
The Bombers’ willingness to trade Willy was further indication of how highly they regard Matt Nichols, who took over the starting job. “When you win games and you take care of the football, there’s a positivity that success brings,” O’Shea said. “The team is feeling upbeat.” Bombers GM Kyle Walters said Nichols, who has a quicker release and makes his reads faster than Willy, was a better fit with offensive coordinator Paul LaPolice and what he wanted to accomplish.
“Certain guys click with certain coordinators a little bit better than others,” Walters told reporters Monday. “It’s not uncommon.”
Since installing Nichols as No. 1, the Bombers have won six straight games. And the confidence has spread to the defence, ranked second in the league behind Calgary.
Turnovers are often the difference between winning and losing, and Winnipeg has had the edge in those all-important battles. They lead the CFL in takeover ratio with a plus-23.
WEEK 13 SCHEDULE
Montreal (3-8) at Hamilton (5-6), Friday, 7 p.m. The Alouettes seem to be disintegrating and that plays right into the hands of the Tiger-Cats, who struggled in losing to Toronto on Sunday. Hamilton QB Zach Collaros threw two interceptions and his completion percentage was a dreary 56.4 per cent, despite Terrence Toliver and Chad Owens each getting more than 100 yards receiving. Montreal’s defence, led by linebacker Bear Woods, is still among the best in the league. They need to be again.
Ottawa (5-4-1) at Calgary (9-1-1), Saturday, 5 p.m.
Ottawa has been the only team other than the B.C. Lions to put a blemish on Calgary’s record, having tied the Stampeders 26-26 on July 8. In that game, Trevor Harris and Bo Levi Mitchell were neck-and-neck in an aerial show. Harris rolled up 396 yards and Mitchell threw for 368.
Edmonton (5-6) at Saskatchewan (1-10), Sunday, 4:30 p.m.
Edmonton, last year’s Grey Cup champion, is in danger of missing the playoffs. Mike Reilly has been beaten up physically, and perhaps mentally, in the last two losses to Calgary. The Riders have been playing better of late, especially the connection of Darian Durant and wide receiver Naaman Roosevelt. Roosevelt has gone over 100 yards receiving in two of his last three games. The Eskimos won both previous meetings, 39-36 and 33-25.