INSIDE THE Xs AND Os

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/10/2010 (5520 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

VEGAS LINE:

Lions by 5 points.

BOMBERS VS. LIONS:

Since 1954: Winnipeg holds an 80-70-2 record all-time vs. the Lions; but B.C. is 9-3 in its last 12 meetings against the Bombers.

BLUE ROSTER UPDATE:

The Bombers welcome back receiver Terence Jeffers-Harris, DB Jonathan Hefney and SB Chris Davis to the lineup while FB Daryl Stephenson has also been added. Moved off the active roster are SB Adarius Bowman, SB/KR Chris Garrett, DB LaVar Glover (to nine-game injured) and WR Scott McHenry. This will be the first time Bowman sits for a non-injury reason. He is second on the squad with 50 catches for 691 yards, but has been struggling over the last month-and-a-half with consistency.

FYI:

Bomber receiver Greg Carr piled up 133 YAC — yards after the catch — last week, a CFL high this season… Lions GM and head coach Wally Buono has won an all-time record 239 games — more than the other seven CFL coaches combined… B.C. advanced to the post-season in 13 consecutive seasons, second only to Montreal’s current run of 14 straight… An omen? Winnipeg held a 26-20 record at old Empire Stadium between 1954-82, but was just 10-20 at B.C. Place. Today’s game will be their first trip to the Lions’ temporary digs at Empire Field.

THE STRAIGHT GOODS:

Here’s what Buono told his troops this week about their current predicament: “I told the guys, ‘We’re going to be a road playoff team. There’s no way we’re catching Saskatchewan, there’s no way we’re catching Calgary. That’s not happening. Be honest with yourselves: you’re fighting for third spot so let’s focus on what’s important.’ I keep saying it, ‘We are who we are and we’re a 4-8 team. That’s not very good.’ “

A NEW MAN AT THE WHEEL:

B.C. Lions QB Travis Lulay makes his fourth career start. He is 0-3 to date and the team is just looking for him to manage the game and not try to play the hero.

“That’s the challenge and the mindset going into the game: knowing I don’t have to win it by myself and I can’t win it by myself,” Lulay said. “I just have to trust in my teammates and be fundamentally sound.

“You don’t want to force it downfield, you have to let the game come to you.

“Winnipeg is like us record-wise. They could be a whole lot better if their games had ended differently.”

1K CLUB?

Terrence Edwards needs just two yards to crack the 1,000-yard mark for the third time in his career. Fred Reid is 31 yards shy of cracking the 1,000 rushing-yard mark for a second consecutive year.

WORTH NOTING:

OF the Bombers’ 401 offensive yards compiled in the loss to Montreal last week, 354 of it came on their first 10 drives — including four TDs — but only 47 came in their last seven possessions.

— Ed Tait