Five story lines

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This article was published 19/06/2015 (3762 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Five storylines heading into tonight’s pre-season game between the Blue Bombers and Tiger-Cats at Investors Group Field:

1. THE FIGHT FOR WORK/STARTING JOBS

There can be a certain level of desperation in the pre-season, from the gentlemen fighting for the starting jobs to players just trying to make a living at the game and desperate for a spot — any spot — on the roster. And with the final dress rehearsal upon us, it’s worth remembering players get very little opportunity to make an impression with the decision makers.

The Bombers have a number of still-unanswered questions, including who wins the starting tailback gig along with right guard and tackle, defensive end, wide receiver, outside linebacker, in the secondary and…

Put it this way: when head coach Mike O’Shea was asked which starting jobs were still to be determined, he rattled off all of the above, and then some, before adding: “I would say, not the long snapper.”

That job is owned by Chad Rempel, but O’Shea’s answer speaks of the competition in camp and that, of course, is completely by design.

“It’s across the board and that was the plan,” said O’Shea. “I started off in training camp, letting them know there would be a sense of pride when they make this team because they beat out good football players. That’s what’s going to happen.”

2. DEEP INTO THE BULLPEN

This is Drew Willy’s show with Brian Brohm the understudy, should the No. 1 QB pull up lame. But what potentially happens after that shouldn’t be overlooked. And if you’re thinking ‘Are we actually debating who will be the third-string pivot here?!’ consider this: only one CFL quarterback started all 18 games for his team last year — Henry Burris of the Ottawa Redblacks. In fact, in a nine-team league there were 21 different pivots who took the first snap from centre in a regular-season game, including four by the Saskatchewan Roughriders, three of them after Darian Durant was injured in the Banjo Bowl.

All of this is to say coaches and GMs often cover their eyes — figuratively, at least — when a QB is pulled off the turf from beneath a pile of humanity and the Bombers are no different.

Robert Marve, the man so many are enamoured with because of his energy and ad-lib skills, is battling the silky-smooth Josh Portis for the third-string gig. So, while Willy figures to at get at least a half of work, what happens after that — particularly with Marve and Portis — could determine who dresses in the bullpen and who is either cut outright or asked to stick around on the practice roster.

3. CONTINUITY + COHESION CLEAN QBS

It’s been a grind of a few weeks for the big eaters along the Bomber offensive line, with many of them pulling up lame during training camp. But we’ll all get a look at this revamped crew, at least for a little while, against the Ticats with Stanley Bryant at left tackle, Chris Greaves at left guard, Dominic Picard at centre, Sukh Chungh/Matthias Goossen at right guard and Jace Daniels at right tackle.

Marc Dile, the former Ticat who was added in free agency over the winter, has been injured for much of camp and could be in jeopardy with Daniels, Devin Tyler and Corey Lewis all options. Ditto for Patrick Neufeld who is hurt again, opening the door for Chungh and Goossen to get all the reps at guard.

The Bombers are better here on paper, but keeping this bunch healthy will be critical in keeping the QB upright.

4. A LITTLE FLASH, PLEASE

The Bombers trotted out a rookie-laden offensive squad last week in Toronto and, not surprisingly, it showed in the black and white of the final stats. Winnipeg managed 250 yards of offence while sending out four different pivots to run the attack, including Willy, who finished three-for-three for 29 yards in less than a quarter of work.

But things change now, especially in front of the first home crowd of the season. What happens tonight against the Ticats will mean diddly squat when the Bombers open up next weekend in Regina against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, but establishing some kind of offensive mojo can do wonders for the psyche.

Willy raved Thursday about where the offence is at this stage compared to last year, how vets such as Bryant and Picard are tuning up the O-line with Nick Moore and Clarence Denmark doing the same with the receivers. There’s also a comfort level working with offensive co-ordinator Marcel Bellefueille for a second year.

“I definitely want to get a good rhythm going with the offence and put some points on the board, just be efficient as a group and get back into some game action,” said Willy. “I had a little bit in Toronto, but a lot of starters didn’t play. It will be good just to get everyone out there and get back into the routine and come out healthy, hopefully.

“We just want to come out and put some points on the board so we can feel good about Sask.”

5. AND NOW, INTRODUCING THE BOMBER STARTING DEFENCE…

Make no mistake, the Bombers love the talent they’ve assembled on defence and are rubbing their hands together at the possibilities of running a scheme put together by Richie Hall, Barron Miles, Todd Howard and Greg Knox.

That said, the secondary has been ravaged by injuries, players such as Maurice Leggett, Don Unamba and Chris Randle have bopped all over the front seven and defensive backfield and, outside of Sam Hurl, there are still some questions about who will flank him as the starting linebackers.

So, this will be a big night for the likes of Johnny Adams and Shaq Richardson, for Malachi Freeman, Vernon Kearney, Kahlil Bass, Demetrius Wright, Tony Burnett and Dominique Franks. Some of these guys could be starting a week from now in Saskatchewan. And others could be on the plane home Sunday morning after the cuts.

“You want to see certain things pop in a game. You want to see guys make plays,” said O’Shea of the importance of game film vs. practice film. “You want to see guys make great decisions at that moment when they’re under more adverse conditions and the pressure level is a little higher and when the opponent is coming a little faster and with a little more violence.

“You’re looking for guys who find ways to make big plays.”

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPEdTait