ANDREW HARRIS: A Homer to Believe In

[bearpants]

I would love to see Harris in more of a multi-position role... I don't think he should be lining up behind centre for more that half the snaps... get him out in space, in the slot, anything to get him more productive while reducing some of the beatings he takes an a RB....

[bluto]

Glad he stayed West. He always kills us. Irritating.

[SPuDS]

57 minutes ago, bluto said:

Glad he stayed West. He always kills us. Irritating.

yea he always went off on us too it seems.. glad hes a bomber now

[Taynted_Fayth]

Hes signing autographs at the bomberstore on sat from noon to 2pm,  ill get him to sign my dressler jersey lol

[do or die]

Given the way things ended in BC, Harris may have a good sized chip on his shoulder, coming in this year.   Dressler would probably like to prove (further) something as well...

[kelownabomberfan]

8 hours ago, gcn11 said:

What Harris will help with most of all is finally providing us with someone that the opposing defence has to game plan against. He isn't the best runner in the CFL, he isn't the best receiver, but put them together and he becomes one of the most dangerous players to play against. When defences have to focus on shutting down one guy it keeps them from calling the shots and dictating the game plan.

Just his presence on the field eliminates a lot of the blitz. He is what we needed, an outlet for Willy when under pressure and a player that will help our offence dictate on the field versus reacting. I think people are going to see vast improvement in our sacks against numbers and are going to be celebrating how Lapo and Wylie turned the OL around. Just remember that a big part of that was the signing of Harris.

I watched him win so many games for BC basically single-handed,  It's been a long time since we've had a player of this caliber in Winnipeg.

[Blueballz]

What I also like is that LaPo plans on establishing the run game and a guy like Harris should help that. Thus opening the play back for bootlegs and giving Dressler and Smith a good chance to make plays downfield.

And his blocking skills and ability to catch out of the backfield will really give us options we never had before.

Hard not to get a lil excited about the potential for our offense this year...

In the words of Jay... "Dude, I think I filled the cup..."

[Jacquie]

 

[Jpan85]

 

[JuranBoldenRules]

Make a big move at the draft to grab Mercer Timmis, go with 3 import OL and our offence is set personnel wise.  Limiting factor would be Lapolice's love for QB draws and field goals over touchdowns.

[Mr. Perfect]

3 hours ago, Jpan85 said:

 

Blasphemy.

[Blueballz]

Whaaaa...Stegall was arguably one of the best all time Bomber receivers, will Harris be one of the best all time Bomber RB's? Hardly...

Laughable ass kissing LaPo....

[WBBFanWest]

6 minutes ago, Blueballz said:

Whaaaa...Stegall was arguably one of the best all time Bomber receivers, will Harris be one of the best all time Bomber RB's? Hardly...

Laughable ass kissing LaPo....

It's being done in fun, more of a LaPolice vs Stegall sort of thing

[rebusrankin]

Mercer Timmis as another RB/Harris backup or in a healthy Durie type role as as wr/rb/returner?

[GCn20]

18 hours ago, Blueballz said:

Whaaaa...Stegall was arguably one of the best all time Bomber receivers, will Harris be one of the best all time Bomber RB's? Hardly...

Laughable ass kissing LaPo....

That picture is a couple years old of a Lion fan doing this. Laplace just pointing out that the picture seems a lot more appropriate now.

[Logan007]

Yeah, that's not Paul in the picture.  I mean, look at how skinny that guy is.

[Fred C Dobbs]

On 2016-02-09 at 8:57 AM, Fred C Dobbs said:

 

And the best home-grown back since Gerry James.

It took them a little time but the Bombers finally made the connection:

Legendary Canadian Football Hall of Fame member Gerry James left his mark on the Blue Bombers well over 50 years ago.

Making history was almost second nature to James, who did so often during his career both on and off the football field. A star running back, receiver, kick returner and placekicker with the Bombers, James was also a pretty good hockey player; in 1955, he was a member of the Memorial Cup winning Toronto Marlboros. Days later, he made his NHL debut with the Maple Leafs and was in their lineup during their 1960 Stanley Cup final against the Montreal Canadiens.

Twice honoured as the league’s Outstanding Canadian, James was a four-time Grey Cup champion during his 11 seasons with the Bombers. While sharing the backfield with the likes of Tom Casey, Lorne Benson, Bob McNamara, Leo Lewis, and Charlie Shepard, James rushed for over a thousand yards twice. In his rookie year as a 17 year-old, he played in 11 games, scoring four touchdowns and accumulating 767 all-purpose yards.

Now, another homegrown gridiron product, Andrew Harris, finds himself the marquee free agent signing of the off-season by General Manager Kyle Walters and will attempt to follow in James’ footsteps.

But while James was still attending high school when he signed with the Bombers in 1952, Harris comes to the Blue and Gold a CFL veteran, having spent the previous six seasons with the BC Lions.

The 29-year-old heard quite a lot about the former Blue Bomber of the 50’s and early 60’s a few years ago; Harris and Stampeders’ Jon Cornish were then the top two running backs in the league. The pair was locked in a tight battle for total yards from scrimmage, and the comparison to James was brought up often.

“He’s definitely someone I want to emulate and make history with someone like that,” Harris said of James during the club’s recent mini camp.

“The fact that he was scoring touchdowns before he even turned 18 is absolutely amazing”

“The guys who are out here are grown men and I don’t think anyone who is 18 or even 21 is a grown man yet. For him to have done that, I tip my hat to him.”

James, who was nicknamed ‘Kid Dynamite,’ still holds a number of club records; most rushing touchdowns in one season (18) and most rushing yards in a single season by a Canadian (1,205) – a mark Harris has not yet achieved but should challenge this year.

Harris twice gained over a thousand yards in a season, his best being 1,112 yards in 2012. While he is keeping his personal goals for this first campaign back home in Winnipeg to himself, the Oak Park High School grad’s team goals are ambitious; getting the Bombers back in the playoffs after a four-year absence. And he’s confident that a first or second-place finish in the West Division is not unrealistic.

“But my first goal right now is getting to know my teammates, getting to know the coaching staff and just getting familiar with everything and building trust in this locker room” said Harris. “Any successful team I’ve been on has been one that has had a tight knit, family atmosphere. I really think that’s the most important thing. With so many new guys in this locker room, my number one goal is to kind of bring these guys together and knit myself into that group and make sure we are a strong one.”

Harris was just one of a number of major free-agent signings by Walters, fuelling much optimism among the Bomber faithful.

“There’s a ton of expectations and definitely a little bit of pressure. But I think more than anything, people are excited and we’ve got to deliver.”

After 26 years, if this group can deliver a Grey Cup championship back to Winnipeg for the first time since 1990, then Andrew Harris, like Gerry James did long ago, will leave his mark on Blue Bomber history.

“I just want to put my stamp on things now and do as much as I can to be in the future one of those guys [like James] that people still talk about.”

 

http://www.bluebombers.com/2016/05/06/188644/

[Pete Catan's Ghost]

On 2/9/2016 at 10:40 AM, kelownabomberfan said:

So long I can't even remember the last one, hockey or football.

Chris Walby?

[Dee Urban Hermit]

2 hours ago, Pete Catan's Ghost said:

Chris Walby?

Troy Westwood? Bob Cameron? Joe Pop?

[Dee Urban Hermit]

On 2016-02-12 at 4:19 PM, JuranBoldenRules said:

Make a big move at the draft to grab Mercer Timmis, go with 3 import OL and our offence is set personnel wise.  Limiting factor would be Lapolice's love for QB draws and field goals over touchdowns.

This is an interesting idea, and there is a good chance Timmis will be available at 9/10.

[Jacquie]

7 hours ago, Dee Urban Hermit said:

Troy Westwood? Bob Cameron? Joe Pop?

Bob Cameron is from Ancaster, Ontario and Joe Pop is from Edmonton. 

Edited May 8, 2016 by Jacquie

[LeBird]

On 09/02/2016 at 0:29 PM, johnzo said:

ANDREWS HARRIS 2016:

20 touchdowns

1000 yards rushing

1000 yards receiving

1000mg of lithium for BigBlue.

If that happens it could be because there will have been two little guys from North Dakota giving the LB's fits. Depending on what position they end up playing I guess. 

It sure is nice to dream about what might happen and then realize that for once we do have a chance. 

[kelownabomberfan]

1 hour ago, Jacquie said:

Bob Cameron is from Ancaster, Ontario and Joe Pop is from Edmonton. 

I am trying hard to forget Troy Westwood. 

[Guest J5V]

On 2/13/2016 at 9:28 PM, WBBFanWest said:

It's being done in fun, more of a LaPolice vs Stegall sort of thing

Exactly. If Stegall isn't offended, why should anyone else be?

[Stickem]

5 hours ago, J5V said:

Exactly. If Stegall isn't offended, why should anyone else be?

Not to mention, Stegall and Lapo worked the tsn gig, and most likely had a lot of good natured run ins...Regarding Harris and James...I know they both are/were fantastic athletes..played both hockey and football, in James case NHL (leafs)...James was one of the youngest guys ever signed...could kick, catch and was a terrific back...Andrew has his work cut out for him matching James' career..Maybe Harris won't make the Jets but I know he's going to run wild on the opposition this year and get the Bombers into the playoffs. Optimism runs supreme.