CONGI !!!

Saskatchewan Roughriders kicker Luca Congi
Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Leader-Post files

REGINA — Normally, a 6-for-6 day would boost anyone's confidence, not to mention their success rate.

But Saskatchewan Roughriders kicker Luca Congi — who hit all six of his field-goal attempts in Sunday's 55-10 CFL victory over the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers — said he hasn't had any issues with his self-assurance despite a slow start to the 2009 season.

"I've always been confident in my abilities," said Congi, who on Tuesday was named the CFL's special-teams player-of-the-week. "My numbers may not be exactly like last year, but I've been practising well, I've been kicking the ball well and I'm confident in what I can do."

Entering Sunday's game, Congi had made 12 of 17 field-goal attempts this season. Only Sean Whyte of the B.C. Lions, who hadn't played as many games as Congi, had fewer tries (14) and successful field goals (10).

Congi's success rate of 70.6 per cent was the lowest in the league — and was a far cry from his CFL-leading percentage of 86.4 last season (38 for 44).

"He has kicked the ball really well," said Rob Bagg, who holds on Congi's field-goal tries. "In Regina, a lot of times you're dealing with some really difficult winds. I'm sure a lot of his misses had to do with trying to judge that gust at the right time. He's a really confident kicker, he's a great kicker and he wasn't showing to me any signs that he was getting discouraged."

On Sunday, Congi nailed field goals from 40, 33, 40, eight, 32 and 29 yards in Winnipeg to raise his success rate to 78.3 per cent — good for sixth among CFL kickers.

In his mind, nothing changed from the Roughriders' first nine games to Sunday's contest.
"I've approached every day the same way," said Congi, a 26-year-old product of Waterloo, Ont.

"I do the exact same thing every day in practice and every week in every game. The only difference with (Sunday) was simply that I had more opportunities."

"He was just stroking them," Bagg noted. "Even when we took a penalty (for a time count violation), it was no problem; he was composed and just smacked it again.

"At the end of the game, he said, 'Perfect day,' and that's what we expect from each other — or at least what I expect out of him. If I can put it on the tee, he normally knocks it through."

Congi suggested his relative inactivity through Saskatchewan's opening nine games didn't affect his focus, mainly because of the nature of the games. The Roughriders were involved in a lot of close contests in that span, so he always was prepared in case he was called upon to make a kick.
It's all about concentration.

"My whole philosophy is just one kick at a time," said Congi, a product of Simon Fraser University whom the Roughriders selected in the second round (12th overall) of the 2006 Canadian college draft. "When I hit one, I focus on the next one.

"I do a lot of visualizing, replaying how I want to kick the ball, and I just keep going through those mental facets before I actually get on the field."

And that's the routine, even when he's not getting a lot of chances.
"I just do that over and over again," Congi explained. "I watch how the game progresses, I warm up on the net and I just wait for my opportunities."

***
The other player-of-the-weeks were Calgary Stampeders receiver Jeremaine Copeland (offence; five catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns), Calgary defensive lineman Jim Davis (defence; four tackles, three quarterback sacks, and a forced fumble), and Montreal Alouettes linebacker Shea Emry (Canadian; six tackles and a sack). Roughriders linebacker Sean Lucas was considered for the defensive player-of-the-week award.
ihamilton@leaderpost.canwest.com
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