August 9, 2016

Morris: Patience key in Nichols’ injury-filled journey to Winnipeg

Larry MacDougal/CFL.ca

When you have spent the better part of 18 months battling back from injuries, wondering if your CFL career might be over, waiting two and a half hours for a football game to start is not a big deal.

Winnipeg Blue Bomber quarterback Matt Nichols has always possessed perseverance. During his sometimes bumpy journey from Eastern Washington, through Edmonton and now in Winnipeg, he’s also learned patience.

“Everyone has to deal with things,” said Nichols, who has led the Bombers (3-4) to back-to-back victories since taking over from Drew Willy. “You are just trying to block out the noise as much as possible, good, bad or indifferent.

“You just need to have belief from your teammates and believe in yourself and have confidence in yourself. That will carry you through situations, where you don’t let the little things bother you, like rain delays or what people outside the locker room say about you.”

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The Canadian Press

Matt Nichols has led the Bombers to two straight wins since taking over for Drew Willy (The Canadian Press)

A lightning storm delayed the kickoff of last week’s game against Hamilton by over two hours. When the teams finally took the field, Nichols and the Bombers electrified the fans at Investors Group Field by building a 34-0 halftime lead before winning 37-11.

Nichols completed 12 of his first 13 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns as Winnipeg stormed into a 28-0 lead. By halftime he had completed 16 of 18 passes for 137 yards and an 88.9 completion ratio.

As impressive as the victory was, Nichols said the Bombers have room for improvement as they prepare to face the Toronto Argonauts (4-2) Friday at BMO Field.

“We took a few bad penalties here and there,” said the 29-year-old from Redding, Calif, who finished the game completing 23 of 31 passes for 246 yards. “There is some things we can clean up.

“You want to be able to finish those games a little bit better. When you are up 34-0 at halftime, as an offence you’d like to come out and score a couple more times and put it away. The more games we play in, where we have those opportunities to learn and correct those things, the better it is for us.”

In the two games Nichols has started he’s completed 49 of 64 passes for 550 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Combined with their win over Edmonton two weeks ago, Winnipeg has outscored its opposition 67-34.

The Bombers were 1-4 in their first five games. They scored a West Division-low 98 points during that span and were held to 20 points or less three times.

“Our mindset has changed,” said Nichols. “Everyone realized we were close in a lot of games. We were hurting ourselves with penalties and starting a little slow, waiting until late in games to make a comeback.

“I think everyone just made the decision that we don’t want to be that team. We want to be a team that expects to win from the first play. We played full speed from the first minute to the last minute. I think everyone has really taken that idea upon themselves and I think it’s shown in all three phases of the game.”

The six-foot-two, 215-pound Nichols was a four-year starter at Eastern Washington where he completed 62 per cent of his passes for 12,616 yards, 96 touchdowns and 46 interceptions in 47 games.

Overlooked in the NFL draft, Nichols appeared in two preseason games with the Dallas Cowboys before being released and signed by the Edmonton Eskimos in 2010. He was traded to Winnipeg last September for a conditional draft pick after Willy suffered a season-ending injury.

Nichols’ career was put in jeopardy by a pair of injuries while playing in Edmonton.

“When you go through stuff like that, you have a decision to make. Either you let it beat you or you don’t.”

Matt Nichols

THE CANADIAN PRESS

Nichols will look to continue winning this week when his Bombers take on the Argos (The Canadian Press)

In the 2012 East Division semifinal he broke his leg and ankle while fighting off a sack in a stomach-churning play that made highlight reels. He recovered in time to enter the 2013 training camp battling Mike Reilly for the starting position.

In his first preseason game Nichols ripped up his right knee and was finished for the season.

“That was not the easiest year and half to go through,” said Nichols. “When you go through stuff like that, you have a decision to make. Either you let it beat you or you don’t. For me, from day one of both those injuries, I wasn’t going to let an injury define me and did everything I need to do to get back to being healthy.”

Nichols returned to the Eskimos in 2014 as a backup to Reilly. He went 5-2 as a starter for Edmonton last year when Reilly suffered an injury but never seemed a favourite of then coach Chris Jones.

Nichols learned a lot about himself during his time in Edmonton.

“I have been playing this game since I was in third grade,” he said. “I don’t even know myself not being a football player. When you have a glimmer of that being taken away from you, how short (the time is) you get to play this game, it made me have a different perspective.

“I know it’s a business and a sport you need to be very serious about. But as the same time you have to enjoy it and have fun. I feel like that’s something I can bring to the table now. I have been through it. I realize any time you are on the field it’s a blessing. I couldn’t be happier out there on the field with the guys right now.”

After a slow start to the season the Bombers have climbed into third spot in the West. They have won consecutive games for the first time in two years.

Nichols dispels any notion the Bombers were able to surprise teams.

“I think everyone in this league, regardless of record, understands it’s a professional football,” he said. “Guys are always playing for something, their jobs or their families.

“You are going to have a tough game every week, no matter who you are playing. It’s professional football and it’s not easy to win. I don’t think Edmonton took us lightly. We never take anyone lightly. Every week is going to be a battle.”