Three steps forward

Tonight's tilt will test mettle of Blue momentum

By: Gary Lawless Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Thursday, Jul. 14, 2011

Friday morning, your Blue Bombers might be waking up with smeared mascara and a broken heel, or perhaps they'll be sitting at breakfast with their tiaras still intact.

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Friday morning, your Blue Bombers might be waking up with smeared mascara and a broken heel, or perhaps they'll be sitting at breakfast with their tiaras still intact.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/07/2011 (5236 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Friday morning, your Blue Bombers might be waking up with smeared mascara and a broken heel, or perhaps they’ll be sitting at breakfast with their tiaras still intact.

Tough to tell this early in the season if what we’ve seen is an oasis with pure, crystalline water running through it or just a dust-spewing mirage.

Time and games played will sort all that out, but the conversation in the CFL heading into today’s game between the Bombers and the Calgary Stampeders centres around Winnipeg’s improvement to this point.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Terrence Edwards at practice Wednesday at Canad Inns Stadium. He'll keep smiling if his Bombers conquer a tough Calgary crew. — RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Terrence Edwards at practice Wednesday at Canad Inns Stadium. He'll keep smiling if his Bombers conquer a tough Calgary crew.

A 4-14 club last season, the Bombers have already grabbed two wins and have yet to lose. Early days, for certain, but wins are great at any time of the season.

Here are some quick observations while the happy music is still playing:

Killer coach

Defensive co-ordinator Tim Burke may turn out to be this club’s most important off-season signing. He’s confident, aggressive and experienced. Most of all, he’s getting results. The Bombers went young and athletic on defence early in this rebuild and it’s now taking root under Burke’s guidance. He’s got his crew flying to the ball and making plays. Most notably, the Bombers’ defence hasn’t crumbled in the late going but gotten stiffer when it counts most.

Swagger on

Bombers defensive back Jovon Johnson is the team’s most electrifying and versatile player. Whether he’s making a pick or breaking a run on a punt return, Johnson makes plays. He’s the Mayor of Swaggerville and carrying lots of political clout these days.

Old Man River

Defensive tackle Doug Brown may have some miles on him and at 36 years of age is well within his rights to be talking retirement. Poppycock. Brown is still one of the league’s best at his position and the GM Joe Mack should be working on him right now to sign an extension for next season. Brown has suffered through lots over the last decade with the Bombers, and if this team really is on the upswing should be convinced to stick around for some of the good times.

No uncle for Buck

That’s right, Bombers QB Buck Pierce has not been forced to say “uncle,” and leave a game early so far. He’s been lit up a few times but always bounced up. Good sign. Pierce hasn’t torn it up on the field to date but the longer he stays healthy, the closer he is to returning to full form.

Mr. Perfect

Last season, head coach Paul LaPolice was a rookie and made some mistakes. Those errors get magnified when a team is losing all the time. LaPo has been conservative in his play-calling and game management so far and we could quibble with some of his decisions, but at 2-0, who would listen?

Packing a punch

Middle linebacker Joe Lobendahn is healthy and smacking people to great effect. Injuries have been an issue for Lobendahn over his career, but right now he looks like the backer people have wanted him to be. Last week’s game against the Toronto Argonauts, seven tackles, with two sacks and three fumble recoveries, was perhaps the best of his career, and he picked up league defensive player of the week honours for his troubles.

Fast Fred

Running back Fred Reid leads the league with 150 yards on 35 carries and has been the top performer on Winnipeg’s offence. That’s a low bar right now but without Reid the offence would be in real trouble.

New mitts

One area in which the Bombers are lacking is in the catching department. The club’s leading receiver is Terrence Jeffers-Harris with eight catches for 96 yards. Maybe it’s Pierce not getting the ball to his receivers or maybe it’s the route-runners not getting open. Regardless, the passing game has to pick up.

Serve and protect

Winnipeg’s offensive line gets a B- to this stage. It’s left Pierce vulnerable on a number of occasions but has keyed the running game, which has been effective. Giving Pierce more time is the key for this group and if not, this is an area where some tinkering can be expected.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

bomber game day c2-4