5 Story Lines

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/07/2011 (5188 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Five things to watch for when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-1) host the

B.C. Lions (0-4) to Canad Inns Stadium tonight.

1. Composure factor

The obvious challenge for the Bombers is to find a way to deal with

the death of Richard Harris before and during the game.

“Everyone will have their own emotions, everyone is dealing with it

differently,” centre Obby Khan said. “I think guys will be able to put

it aside for a couple hours and know why we’re out there. We’re out

there for the organization, we’re out there for the city, we’re out

there for Coach Harris, and a win means more than anything.”

FYI: Defensive co-ordinator Tim Burke, linebackers coach Casey

Creehan, and head coach Paul LaPolice will look after the defensive

lineman for tonight’s game.

2. Good start, bad start

Winnipeg has been miserable in opening quarters this season, outscored

30-12 by their opponents. Same deal for the Lions, who find themselves

on the short end of a 32-13 margin.

With all the feeling surrounding this game — which will provide an

unfamiliar energy in the building — whichever team demonstrates better

focus should get the upper hand early. And that could be the deciding

advantage through an emotional roller-coaster.

3. Gunslingers

He missed the games against his old team last year, so look for

Bombers QB Buck Pierce to have a little more juice in his legs

tonight. Pierce says he’s had his calendar circled for this one.

Nothing like sticking it to your former mates, right? Of course, the

same theory applies for the Lions. Here’s QB Travis Lulay:

“You always want to play well against your friends; they become some

of your biggest rivals. (Buck) played a great football game last week.

I know I’ll have to play at a high level to get the best of Buck, but

it will be fun.”

4. Let’s get physical

The Lions secondary, while speedy and athletic, had stretches of just

awful tackling this season. Look no further than Hamilton WR Chris

Williams’ effort in the first half against the group last week. In a

related story, did anyone notice how easily Bombers receiver Terence

Jeffers-Harris rammed his way through the Argos defence on that

84-yard touchdown catch last Saturday?

5. No Joe

Winnipeg LB Joe Lobendahn is out with an ankle injury. Weak-side LB

Marcellus Bowman takes his place, meaning LB Merrill Johnson draws in.

Strong-side LB Clint Kent remains in his spot. With Lobendahn out, DT

Bryant Turner makes his way onto the active roster (he’ll be in

uniform). DB Arrington Hicks could also dress, as Deon Beasley is

dealing with an ankle injury.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca

—

KEY MATCHUP

Bombers DE Odell Willis vs. CFL officials

It’s a tough occupation, this pass rush business, and it just became

even more scrutinized this week.

The attention placed on pivot safety — stemming from the attempted

decapitation of QB Buck Pierce by Argos Ejiro Kuale — is there, and

guys like Willis are on notice.

Question: Can you put a restrictor plate on a Lamborghini?

“As a player you can’t think about any of that,” Willis said. “You

can’t just stop at the last second and hold up. Like (Kuale) said, you

have to just keep playing the way you’ve always played. As soon as you

try to change the way you approach it, you might get hurt or you might

lose your job.

“You just got to stay balls to the wall and try to be safe in what you do.”

Kuale was fined an undisclosed amount by the league Wednesday.