M.O.A.B.

Unheralded hog grabs spotlight Hardrick spiked the ball after Harris's touchdown in Edmonton Jermacus Hardrick isn’t used to touching the football. As an offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League, it’s also rare, if ever, he’s the centre of attention. So when he had the chance to do both just minutes into the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ 30-23 win over the Edmonton Eskimos at Commonwealth Stadium Thursday, he knew exactly what he was going to do. As part of a planned celebration after his one-yard touchdown run, tailback Andrew Harris handed the ball to Hardrick, who, in one fell swoop spiked the ball to the turf. "I loved it, I want to do it again," said Hardrick, his eyes wide, after Monday’s practice at Investors Group Field. "We just do our job every play. Our job isn’t going to make headlines. Touchdowns are what make headlines." Following the win over the Eskimos, all the attention from media and fans fell on players such as Harris, who carried the ball 22 times for 127 yards — his most yards on the ground since joining the Bombers prior to this season. In the dressing room after the game, reporters surrounded quarterback Matt Nichols, who in his first start in place of Drew Willy, had just defeated the reigning Grey Cup champions — not to mention his former team that traded him for next to nothing midway through the 2015 season — in a game in which Nichols completed close to 80 per cent of his passes, throwing for 304 yards and a touchdown. Indeed, the emergence of Harris and the run game and the fairy tale beginning to Nichols’ season made for the night’s best storylines. But it can be argued none of it would have been possible had it not been for the steady play of the offensive linemen — a group comprising Stanley Bryant, Travis Bond, Matthias Goossen, Sukh Chungh and Hardrick. "It starts and finishes with them," said Harris. "They’re the guys that get it going, whether it’s pass blocking or run blocking. Even the attitude of the offence, it really starts with them. They’re the heartbeat of this offence." Not only can the job be thankless, you’d also have to think a person was crazy to want to do it week-in and week-out. On a weekly basis, the O-line is expected to create holes for the run game, while also putting their bodies in front of one — sometimes two — 300-pound defensive lineman looking to take their heads off; all so Nichols can have enough time to find an open receiver. "Every night we’ve got to come in with an attitude, bring the enthusiasm," said Bond, who made his first start at left guard against Edmonton. "They got one of the best defensive lines in this league and from going against them and what we were able to do, we’ve set our standards really high." Bob Wylie, the Bombers offensive line coach, said Thursday’s win was the best game he’s seen from his group this season. Faced with adversity earlier in the week after losing right tackle Patrick Neufeld to injury, Wylie said he challenged them to be better. Simply put, if the Bombers were going to have any chance of leaving Edmonton with a win, it would come down to whether they could protect the line from a fierce Eskimos’ front seven. "They responded to the challenge," said Wylie. "They decided ‘we’re going to get this done’ and they got it done." As for getting accolades for a job well done, Wylie said he wasn’t surprised to see his guys get shafted on the limelight front. In fact, he expects it. When asked why he feels the O-line doesn’t get the credit it sometimes deserves, Wylie didn’t have to look far for an answer. He pointed to the crest on the left breast of his shirt: a mushroom with the acronym C.O.O.L just below it. "Coaches Of Offensive Lineman," said Wylie. "We’re always left in the dark and they always feed us s--t. That’s our logo." As for their reward, it’s more than just headlines in the paper or post-game interviews. In a way, it’s about power, knowing they helped carry — in some cases quite literally — their team to victory. "When you can move a defender from point A to point B against his will, as an offensive lineman that’s one of the best feelings in the world," said Wylie. "There’s nothing better." jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.catwitter: @jeffkhamilton Read more by Jeff Hamilton. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/football/bombers/unheralded-hog-grabs-spotlight-388897251.html

or if another team, tries to claim him from the Bombers pr

Regardless whether you are pro-Willy or pro-Nicholls, you would not like any QB-change at this moment since that would mean we are losing games.

Popp shopping Vaugn Martin. Wow.

there are couple of guys that will come off the 6-game so maybe some people will drop to the PR.

Manny Arcenaux - I'll change mine to Duron Carter

Als release QB Brandon Bridge

One thing for sure, I really like our Canadian content this year compared to the previous years.

Call Tim Brown for KR/PR

How 'bout Jeff Fuller ?

its all great because we won... doesnt matter who played best and how many yardage they got... its all about the win.

so who we want to get from Montreal for Castillo?

Castillo for Nik Lewis... make it happen

Willy needs to build his confidence back. Not sure how he do it. Pretty sure he will come back at some point. But right now it's Nicholls time. And with this win, he's a confident QB. O'shea will ride this horse until it's need to go back to Willy again.

BLASPHEMY !

Derrel Walker

I wouldnt mind Bowman or Lavarias actually. or even Nik Lewis

Als tried 3 kickers today... should we trade Castillo to them? or Medlock ? ?

2 man should be j.adams and posey ... unless one of them is good to go then it would be green

What if Toronto offer... say a 2017 1st Rounder and a national starter (Coombs or Miles or an OL) for Willy, should the Bombers give in ? Not to say it will happen.

nicholls will string wins prior to LDC willy will be traded to Tor after the bye nicholls will be hurt on LDC and our bad luck continues...

honestly i dont think were finished with willy-peg unless of course matt-nitoba lights it out and string wins. this is just to find some spark for the offense. i still thinks at some point the Bombers will go back to willy

Leggett plays SAM not WIL. Wild is the WIL.

I would think the D this week will look like this. DL - Westerman*, Shologan*, Cummings, Hubbard - Corney, Thomas & Cole LB - Wild, Bass, Leggett - Burnett, Briggs, Hurl, Waggoner DB - Roberts, Fogg, Loffler*, Johnson, Frederick - Jones, Morgan I can also see Johnson at SAM, Jones at CB and Leggett at Safety Johnson at SAM is intriguing since I think hes more physical and hit harder than Leggett. They might put extra DB - Hawkins or the new guy Greenwood - (instead of Cole) as DI but Jones & Morgan showed that they can hold the fort if needed I dont think they need to shuffle the LB corp unless, they think Knox is better in there than Burnett

No. He's the CEO.