Blue Bomber Report Record: 6–12–0

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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Secondary education

Blue defensive backs learn from first-half mistakes

By: Paul Wiecek

Posted: 10/21/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

What a difference a half makes: After the secondary switched to man coverage for the second half, Johnson is all over Mann, nearly intercepting a pass. (CP)

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Bombers defensive back Jovon Johnson gets burned by Toronto receiver Maurice Mann for a big gain in the first half. (NATHAN DENETTE / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

TORONTO -- In a league with as long a history as the CFL, just about everything that could happen has probably already happened.

And so yes, without even checking, it seems safe to say that there have been other CFL quarterbacks over the years who have thrown for 383 yards, four TDs and zero INTs in a game and still lost.

But it also seems safe to say that the fate that befell Toronto Argonauts quarterback Ricky Ray at Rogers Centre Friday evening in a 44-32 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers has not happened often. And the fact that it did says at least as much about Winnipeg's defence right now as it does about Toronto's.

Over half of Ray's production came in the second quarter as the Argos put three touchdowns up on the scoreboard and amassed 205 of their 418 total yards.

The second-quarter onslaught included some long gainers: a 37-yard touchdown pass to Andre Durie; another 37-yarder to Maurice Mann; and a 46-yarder to Chad Owens.

While the Bombers secondary made some adjustments at halftime and got significantly stingier in the second half, it still raised the question after the game: What the heck was that about?

"They had a great game plan in the second quarter and they hit us on some weaknesses in our defence," said Jovon Johnson, who returned to his customary position at cornerback on Friday after playing at strong-side linebacker for over a month.

"They were just making the perfect calls for the defences we were calling. We went away from what we normally do and started playing some soft (zone) coverages and they hit us on some deep balls."

Defensive back Jonathan Hefney said that once his team resumed their more customary man coverage in the second half, life got a lot tougher for Ray and his receivers.

"We ran some man and we locked it down. The offence came through for us and we did good," said Hefney.

Bombers head coach Tim Burke noted that part of the problem in his secondary started on the first play of the game when cornerback Johnny Sears got hurt returning the opening kickoff.

Sears never did return and then things got even worse in the second half when safety Ian Logan also got hurt and left the game. Plus, Johnson and Demond Washington also got hurt and had to leave at various points in the game, although both men did finish.

Burke said Sears and Logan both took hits to the head, although he stressed that didn't necessarily mean they suffered concussions. He said he didn't know if they would play Saturday in Hamilton.

And then on top of all the injuries, Washington was also making his debut at strong-side linebacker Friday night and got burned a couple of times, although Burke thought he also did some good things.

"I thought he did a really good job for the most part. I really did. There was a couple of times he let Durie get him out of position, but it was because he was trying so hard that he wasn't very good with his techniques.

"So he'll learn from this, but I think athletically he's a good guy for that position."

Washington said he thinks there's room for improvement. "I'm not pleased with my performance, but I am pleased we got the win," Washington said. "I got a few tackles, but I'm going to be harder on myself than anyone else. I want to have a perfect game."

Good luck with that plan, said Johnson, who knows better than anyone how difficult the SAM position is to play.

"He played well," Johnson laughed, "but he also found out it's not as easy as it looks. That's a hard position to play for anybody."

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 21, 2012 B2

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