August 26, 2016

O’Shea keeping Bombers humble after big win in Montreal

MONTREAL – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are on their hottest streak in years but head coach Mike O’Shea won’t let his players start buying into the hype.

A 1-4 start is forgotten and a four-game winning streak brings Winnipeg into a heated home-and-home series with the rival Saskatchewan Roughriders after a 32-18 win in Montreal.

Never deterring from his mantra to keep his team humble, O’Shea was not about to give headlines for his team to read too after Friday’s victory.

“We don’t talk about four in a row,” the Bomber sideline boss said after Friday’s victory.  “We came to Montreal and won a game.  It was a grind and it was a good way to win a game … a three-phase win and winning ain’t easy.”

Even when pressed by reporters, O’Shea did not deviate from the fact that as they enter what is often the most unpredictable week of the year – Mark’s Labour Day Weekend – his team needs to stay hungry.

“You can never be satisfied,” O’Shea reiterated. “You can never say that.  I’m asking the players to never be satisfied so I have to do that too.”

RELATED: Surging Bombers top Alouettes
» Recap: Winnipeg 32, Montreal 18
» Highlights: Bombers close out Als in Montreal
» Photo Gallery: Blue Bombers at Alouettes
» Stats: View Box Score

 

The Blue Bombers, who have been quick starters throughout the latest streak, jumped out to an early 9-0 lead and looked poised to build a comfortable lead.  However, a string of penalties and a pair of turnovers opened the door for the Alouettes to get back into the contest and even take the lead for a short period of time.

A mixture of clock-killing drives and a feisty defence that held the Als off the board in the second half lifted the Bombers in the second half and their ability to make changes on the fly didn’t go unnoticed by their head coach.

“I think we only 25 yards of penalties in the second half so we changed the way we were playing,” O’Shea said.  “The ability to adapt in-game is pretty darn good.  These guys are showing a lot in that regard.”

Right now, O’Shea is enjoying success not realized in his time as the Bombers head coach and a major part of that is having a closer in the backfield; a tailback that can pound the rock and take time off the clock when nursing a lead.

Andrew Harris did just that, grinding down the Als defence as part of a 9-play, 94-yard drive that iced the game with his 19-yard touchdown run.

“He’s finding a way to grab the guys and put them on his back,” O’Shea said of his tailback.  “He’s a dynamic player and he is a pleasure to be around”.