Troy Westwood analyzes the kicking situation in Winnipeg

By Olivia Lawrence 

RP Show Intern

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are 10-1 in Week 13 of the CFL, and Troy Westwood said he “has never seen a Bombers team look so dominant”.  They are in a good position to becoming the repeat Grey Cup Champions, but we do not want to jinx anything for Bombers fans. I guess if we can criticize anything about this team, it is their “atrocious kicking situation”, in Rod Pedersen’s words. Who better to ask about it than 18 year Bombers veteran kicker/punter Troy Westwood?

“Whoever was going to come on the stage following Elvis, Justin Medlock, was going to be in trouble, right?” said Westwood on Friday’s episode of The Rod Pedersen Show. “There was going to be a bit of a dip, but I think I was a little bit surprised at how patient, and you can be patient with a specific position, this one kicking, when you’re winning games, right?”

The Bombers former star kicker Medlock has moved on to the National Football league after the Bombers Grey Cup win in 2019. Ali Mourtada has stepped into his spot this season and it has been a struggle for the rookie. However, so far this season, the Bombers have not been put in a situation where Mourtada has cost them the game. But with playoffs right around the corner, it is no surprise the team finally decided to bring in someone else. That someone else is Sergio Castillo, from the BC Lions. Castillo played with the Bombers from 2015-2016. The Bombers have also added National kicker Gabriel Ferraro to the practice roster.

“I don’t know what their plan is going forward here, but certainly with Castillo being brought in now, it’s likely the job will go to him at some point in time,” said Westwood. “But I think that they’ve solved it, there was a bit of a funk there. Maybe that was just for all the goodwill that they had under their remarkable Justin Medlock. They had some of that coming to them after every time that guy walked out on the field you knew that three points were going up on the board.”

Delaying bringing in new kickers may have come from the patience of Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea. Rod Pedersen and Westwood agree the Bombers have the best coaching staff in the league this year. 

“One of the strengths I think Mike O’Shea has brought to the table and his emphasis right from the start is separating each week,” said Westwood. Whatever you did last week, doesn’t matter—win or lose, this is a new situation this week, in the here and now. Similar to what Bill Belichick has done in the Patriots during their heyday. That’s kind of the same mentality he’s brought, where it just doesn’t matter what’s happened, what’s coming, what’s behind us. It is right in the here and now. I think he’s done a brilliant job with this group during his time here.”

The Bombers are on a bye this week but will return to play on Nov. 6 at home against the Montreal Alouettes.