Argos starter Logan Kilgore wary of Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ ball-hawking defence

TORONTO — An effective Matt Nichols has led Winnipeg to consecutive wins for the first time in more than two years but the Blue Bombers’ ball-hawking defence hasn’t gone unnoticed.

The unit has forced seven turnovers (three interceptions, three fumbles, one on downs) over that span, including six in last week’s 37-11 home win over Hamilton. Predictably, Toronto starting quarterback Logan Kilgore believes ball protection and making smart decisions will be crucial when the Argonauts host the Bombers on Friday night at BMO Field.

“Their ability to create turnovers drives their team,” said Logan, who’ll make his second career CFL start. “If you look at the last two weeks they got two good victories and forced turnovers in both.

“We’ve got to protect the football, we feel that every week . . . but particularly in this game and convert opportunities when we get the chance.”

Nichols has completed 49-of-64 passes for 550 yards and three TDs with no interceptions since replacing incumbent Drew Willy under centre. More importantly, Winnipeg (3-4) hasn’t turned the ball over in its last two contests.

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“Our mindset has changed,” Nichols said. “We’re starting to have a lot more belief in ourselves that we’re supposed to go out and win games.”

Not long ago, many Winnipeg football fans were calling for head coach Mike O’Shea’s ouster. Now his biggest challenge is ensuring the Bombers don’t get complacent.

“I like the interaction the players have with each other and how they’re working together on the field is looking really good,” he said. “But you also have to guard against the idea of being satisfied.

“You can’t ever be satisfied.”

But O’Shea is still under the gun in Winnipeg considering he’s missed the playoffs the last two years and is in the final year of his contract. But Milanovich feels O’Shea, who served as Toronto’s special-teams co-ordinator before joining the Bombers, has his best chance now to succeed in Manitoba.

“He’s a good football coach,” Milanovich said. “People need to give him time to do this thing and I have faith he’ll do a great job.”

Winnipeg hasn’t trailed at any point over its last two games, outscoring its opponents 32-0 in the first quarter. The Bombers have also recorded 11 sacks in their three victories but just three in their four defeats.

But neither O’Shea nor Winnipeg will have history on their side Friday night.

O’Shea has a 1-3 record versus Toronto, the team he helped win three Grey Cups as an all-star linebacker and another in 2012 with Milanovich’s staff. Milanovich is 8-2 versus the Bombers as a head coach, including 4-1 at home.

What’s more, Toronto (4-2) is coming off a bye week following its 23-20 road win over Ottawa on July 31. The Argos were 3-0 following the bye last year and are 7-1 since 2012.

Kilgore was 25 of 42 for 322 yards with a TD and two interceptions versus Ottawa. Toronto’s offence comes in as the CFL’s most proficient in the red zone, having scored TDs in 11-of-14 opportunities inside an opponent’s 20-yard line.

But Milanovich would like to avoid resting the game solely on Kilgore’s shoulders.

“Our defence needs to keep us from getting in a spot where (Kilgore) has to win the game for us and they did that (versus Ottawa),” Milanovich said. “By the second half he was playing really good football when we needed him to have him in the fourth quarter and his confidence was high.

“That’s what I’d like to see again. Obviously I’d like to play with a lead.”

Toronto will be minus offensive lineman Greg Van Roten (ankle) and receiver Vidal Hazelton (ankle) although speedy receiver Diontae Spencer comes off the injured list. But with tall receivers Hazelton, Kevin Elliott and Tori Gurley all out, Milanovich said the Argos’ approach will need to change.

“We go from starting the season with three big guys to now we’re pretty small,” Milanovich said. “The good thing is you figure you have a bit better run after the catch, we have some smaller, quicker guys that might be harder to get down.

“The negative is you can’t just chuck one in the air and ask a six-foot-five guy to go up and get it. We’ll have to make some adjustments.”

Defensive tackle Brian Bulcke also comes off the injured list for Toronto.

Offensive lineman Jermarcus Hardick goes on Winnipeg’s injured list with Manase Foketi starting at right tackle.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press