Bombers staying the course for Banjo Bowl

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This article was published 10/09/2011 (5383 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG — They’ll have a new punt returner, a couple of minor roster tweaks and will have a more detailed idea what to expect offensively and defensively from the resurgent Saskatchewan Roughriders.

But aside from that, the 7-2 Winnipeg Blue Bombers say they intend to use much the same recipe against the 2-7 Riders in Sunday’s Banjo Bowl at Canad Inns Stadium as they used in putting together the best win-loss record in the CFL during the first half of the 2011 season.

Amidst all kinds of second-guessing during the week that has followed their 27-7 loss in last week’s Labour Day Classic in Regina, the Bombers brain trust is looking at the bigger picture of a 7-2 season record heading into tomorrow’s marquee game and resisting the temptation to read too much into what was a humbling afternoon at Mosaic Stadium last week.

And so as hundreds of fans descended on Canad Inns Stadium Saturday morning to watch the Bombers go through one final walk-through before tomorrow’s game and take part in the club’s annual fan appreciation day, the message from the Bombers leadership and players was about staying a proven course.

“We believe in our schemes,” said Bombers quarterback Buck Pierce. “It’s just execution — one guy on one play, another guy on another play. We’ll be fine in that aspect. We’re not worried.”

Pierce said his club will also need to be more disciplined after taking 16 penalties for 178 yards in Regina and degenerating in the fourth quarter to the point where two Winnipeg players were ejected and three players ultimately fined by the league for their conduct late in the game.

“I think we lost composure,” said Pierce. “We’ve had the mental edge all year. That‘s what we’ve done and been successful at is keeping our poise. And I think we lost it at the end, just with the frustration…That’s not our football team. We just need to be mentally tougher than that.”

Bombers defensive back Jonathan Hefney said the vaunted Swaggerville defence is undaunted by what occurred last week and not particularly concerned that the Riders have added Andy Fantuz — last year’s leading receiver in the CFL — to their lineup this week.

“They made plays, it happens, they’re pros. There’s nothing we can do about that. Now, we’ll just come back and respond,” said Hefney.

“We played our defence and they just made some right plays at the right time. We’ll see what happens this week with the crowd noise and everything else.”

Bombers defensive tackle Doug Brown said his team is looking forward to playing on much friendlier turf in the sold-out Banjo Bowl than they did last week at Mosaic Stadium.

“We know we’re capable of playing better on the field,” said Brown. “We didn’t do everything horribly wrong last week but we definitely left room for improvement. And hopefully being back in our home barn, we can pile up the advantages we have here and string together a better (outcome).”

Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice urged his players to enjoy their time with the fans on Saturday. “It’s a great day and it puts our players in a position to really enjoy the day. I told them this morning it means something to play in a place where football is important. They’ve done a great job being 7-2 for the fans to be excited for them. So enjoy the day.”

The Bombers will unveil a new punt returner this week in Tim Brown, who will be attempting to inject some life into a Bombers kick return game that has been anemic all season.

Brown was injured to start the season and lingered on the practice roster all summer looking to get a chance. It’s finally come and he’s hoping to reward the patience the club has shown in him. “I’m here just to get us in good field position and do whatever I can to put the team in a better position than where they’ve been at. I’ve been working hard at it to get back on the field. And now I’m here,” said Brown, a 23-year-old out of Rutgers.

“A lot of guys kept faith in me to keep me here. It would have been easy for them to say, ‘Tim, you can go.’ But they kept the faith to keep me here and tomorrow I just got to show what they kept me here for.”

The other roster changes the Bombers announced on Saturday will see LB Marcellus Bowman returning after missing two games with an injured foot. The Bombers have also added DL Rodney Fritz, DB Jerry-Ralph Jules and FB Michel-Pierre Pontbriand for Sunday.

Coming off the roster from last week are LB Dustin Doe, WR Aaron Hargreaves, DB Daryl Townsend and DL Jason Vega.