October 26, 2017

Medlock attempting to kick untimely slump

Justin Medlock has made a career out of avoiding exactly these types of situations.

There was the Winnipeg Blue Bombers kicker early Tuesday afternoon, staring at the crowd of media which had gathered around him for the second time in less than a month, wanting to know the what, the why and the how behind a recent slump that has seen him go seven for his last 13 field goal attempts.

And yes, there was a definite sense of déjà vu with it all, as the veteran hoofer said many of the exact same things after going 0-for-3 and missing a convert in the win over Edmonton late last month.

“I’m supposed to make those kicks,” said Medlock, reliving the potential 39-yard game winner he missed in Saturday’s 29-28 loss to the Toronto Argonauts and the 40 yarder he missed earlier in the game.

“They brought me in here to make those kicks. I was telling somebody today that’s what’s disappointing… we make those kicks. We didn’t. We didn’t come through.”

Medlock did hit on two other attempts against the Argos, connecting from 53 and 31 yards, but it was the last one that has many wondering if he is in some sort of mental or physical rut.

The veteran kicker said he has watched film, but wanted to keep his thoughts on what he saw ‘in-house.’ A perfectionist in every sense of the word, he also said there was nothing technically wrong with his mechanics on the last try.

“I was definitely ready to go make that kick. I definitely was proud of that,” he said. “I had the right mindset.

“… you want to make those kicks. That’s what I pride myself on: to make those kicks. I’ve done a pretty good job on those in the last few years. Unfortunately, that was just one that, in my opinion, I need to make.”

Now, before everyone attempts to theorize as to how Medlock is handling all this and how he seems to bare his soul to the media after his off-games, remember he was hardly a chest thumper when things were cruising last year.

In fact, he was just as quick last season in being named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player to make sure long snapper Chad Rempel, as well as Weston Dressler and Matt Nichols, who held for him last year, were included in all the praise.

“I’m just trying to move on,” he said. “We have two games here and the playoffs and I’m just focusing on that. I don’t even care about anything I’ve done in the past, whether I made 60 field goals or that I started the season off really well or had a great camp… it doesn’t matter.

“I’ve got two games left, plus the playoffs. I’ve got to be a difference maker, whether I’ve got to help the team out with punts and put the ball inside the 10 (yard line), kickoffs, field goals… hey, if we get another chance in that opportunity, I know we’ll come through.”

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea, after being asked about Medlock’s 76.7 percentage this year – lowest in the league – countered by pointing out he has made the second most field goals this year (Calgary’s Rene Paredes has 50 to his 46). It’s worth noting that Medlock also leads the CFL in scoring and the average distance on his make is 34.8 yards is second only to Hamilton’s Sergio Castillo at 35.2.

“Honestly, I don’t look at the percentage. When we trot him out there I just know he’s going to make it,” said O’Shea. “He’s as professional as they come and he’s been at the top of the heap for a long time.

“I generally leave him alone. I let him know that I’m going to keep trotting him out there. He’s our guy. He’s a good teammate… he’s damn good. So, I just leave him alone and let him do his work. And he does work extremely hard.”