Bombers put recent disappointment in rear-view mirror

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This article was published 28/09/2016 (2756 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers reacted the way head coach Mike O’Shea and his staff expected them to after a heartbreaking Week 14 loss to the Calgary Stampeders.

“There’s a pile of players in, not watching the Calgary game, but Edmonton,” O’Shea said of his CFL team in the days following Saturday’s defeat. “To me, they’ve already made a decision in their mind that they’re prepared to play their next opponent.”

Quarterback Matt Nichols echoed his coach’s comments after Thursday’s walk-through at Investors Group Field.

“I think coach O’Shea did a good job the night of the game and the next day in our meetings, just kind of said, go home to your families tonight. It’s over with. And I think everyone has taken that approach. Don’t think about it until you’re asked about it.”

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O’Shea said things have changed since the last time the Blue Bombers squared off against the Edmonton Eskimos.

It was that Week 6 game — a 30-23 win away in late July — that began the Bombers’ seven-game win streak, but the third-year head coach feels things will be different come tonight.

“They’re coming off a big win, it probably has their team pretty excited,” he said. “They’re a tough football team. They play a tough brand of football, I think their leaders are tough.”

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Two Texas A&M University alumni who’ve connected and become good friends over the past few years are set to square off against each other in what could be a pivotal matchup.

Defensive back Terrence Frederick, whose prowess led to the Bombers feeling comfortable with dealing 2015 West Division all-star Johnny Adams to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats this week, will go stride for stride opposite Eskimos receiver Derel Walker when the two teams meet tonight.

“It’s always fun to go up against somebody you’re close to,” Frederick said Thursday. “We work out in Katy, Texas — field work, weight room, all that type of stuff. We always stay in touch with each other.”

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One the other side of the ball, Esks head coach Jason Maas is expecting a stiff test from the Bombers backfield.

“The biggest thing everyone has talked about is the turnovers they’ve created,” Maas said shortly after the Eskimos arrived in Winnipeg. “That’s what you have to be prepared for going against them. Ball security has to be intact.

“But more than anything, they’re a good football team. Bottom line. They’ve played together. All three phases are dangerous. And obviously, momentum is a big thing in football. When you’re winning, you start feeling really good about yourself. You get on that kind of roll and that’s what they’ve been on… we have our work cut out for us.”

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @scottbilleck