Bombers’ Odell Willis challenges perceptions

The emergence of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Odell Willis as one of the league's top pass rushers has been one of the key CFL storylines this year and a crucial part of the Bombers' turnaround—but not so much if you ask Willis. Interviewed at the Bombers' media breakfast Thursday, Willis said he doesn't think his play has really changed much.

"I've always been doing this," he said. "Check my first two years. I put up numbers then, I'm still putting up numbers. That's called being consistent. Nothing ever changes, man, the only thing that changes is the uniform."

To a degree, Willis (seen above celebrating an Aug. 26 win against Hamilton) is right. He recorded six sacks with the Calgary Stampeders in 2009, then four more with Winnipeg that year for a total of 10. Last year, he put up 11 sacks and was quite impressive, so his 13 sacks (tied with Hamilton's Justin Hickman for the league lead) this year certainly aren't unprecedented. To this observer, though, Willis has become a more complete player and a more dominant one.

WIllis was solid in 2009, but not so great that Calgary wouldn't trade him. That trade has actually worked out pretty well for both teams, though. Winnipeg got Willis, Titus Ryan, a late draft pick and Jabari Arthur, who later returned to Calgary as a free agent, while the Stampeders picked up receivers Romby Bryant and Arjei Franklin and a second-round draft pick. Thus, the Bombers got perhaps the best player in the deal in Willis, while the Stampeders received more depth.

In 2010, Willis was also impressive, but there was debate about how many of his sacks were thanks to defenses focusing on the Bombers' other defensive end, CFL 2010 sack leader Phillip Hunt. Hunt left for the Philadelphia Eagles in the offseason, though, and there's no question it's all Willis this time around. He's stepped up to the level Hunt was playing at, and that's particularly impressive. From this corner, he's also become a more complete player, showing greater effectiveness against the run and thriving in Winnipeg's Green Bay-inspired scheme. (I'm not the only one who thinks so, either; Willis made his first East Division and league all-star teams this year.) Still, regardless of whether Willis has raised his game or has just always been this good, there isn't much disagreement that he's a dominant force these days.

That's not the only perception Willis takes issue with, though. The Bombers were 4-14 last year, and despite their huge turnaround, many still see them as a massive underdog against B.C. thanks to their less-impressive regular season record and point differential, plus their late-season slump (after starting 7-1, they were just 3-7 down the stretch). Willis said none of that matters, though, as it's all about what you do in the playoffs.

"I mean, we just wanted to come out and prove to people that last year was a different thing," he said. "This year, there really isn't too much to say about it. Just check the film, my man. Every year, the goal in professional football is to get to the postseason, and once you get to the postseason the season score is over. Nobody really remembers the regular season once you're in the postseason. We're just waiting for Sunday to prove what we've been doing so far."

There is one area where Willis will agree with the popular perceptions, but it's not a surprising one. He's thrilled to be competing for the Grey Cup.

"It's where you want to be."