5 Storylines

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/08/2015 (3880 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

1) SPEED AND VIOLENCE

There are a number of theories as to why the Winnipeg Blue Bombers special teams have been so — how can we put this nicely? — absolutely awful for most of this season.

There have been mental breakdowns. Physical ones, too. But in discussing what he wanted to see from his foot soldiers this week head coach Mike O’Shea summed it up succinctly a couple of days ago:

“Special teams, it’s about speed and violence,” O’Shea said. “But with that, there’s got to be some understanding of the situation — when to dump your blocker, when to burst and try to make the play and when you’re not going to make that play. There’s a learning process to it. There’s drill work for it. There’s film you got to watch. (There’s) just a higher level of I.Q. we need on special teams.”

The Bombers’ special teams were critical in the club’s one-point loss in Calgary last month, fumbling a punt with a 16-0 lead, giving up a punt-block for a TD and missing a convert in ruining solid efforts from the offensive and defensive units.

Those kind of mistakes, simply put, have to skid to a halt if the Bombers are going to remain in the playoff picture.

2. ALL MARVE, ALL THE TIME

There is a fascination with the Bombers new/temporary QB1, both because of his infectious personality and his skill set. But his game is also a bit like wet cement right now and you can bet the Stampeders’ ferocious defence will do anything and everything to make sure he doesn’t get comfortable.

“He’s a very athletic quarterback who can make plays in the pocket and outside the pocket,” said Stampeders middle linebacker Juwan Simpson of Robert Marve. “He’s an accurate passer. When you come in as an unknown like this it’s hard to game plan on a guy you don’t have much film on. So, it’s going to take all 12 guys getting the job done.”

And it’s not like the Stamps haven’t seen this kind of movie before this season. They’ve faced Montreal’s Rakeem Cato twice, and Toronto’s Trevor Harris and Brett Smith in Saskatchewan last weekend.

“They’re all very similar type of guys,” said Stampeders head coach John Hufnagel. “They’re maverick-type quarterbacks that do a great job of extending plays because of their athleticism. It does stretch your defence.”

3. BO & CO.

The Stamps O-line has been ravaged by injury this season, this after losing all-stars Stanley Bryant (Winnipeg) and Brett Jones (New York Giants) in the off-season. Yet, even with all those changes up front Calgary still features an explosive aerial attack with QB Bo Levi Mitchell and a gifted crew of receivers, including TD machine Eric Rogers.

But it’s what they’ve done along the ground — even with all-everything Jon Cornish on the injured list — that was impressive in last week’s win over Saskatchewan, running out the last 3:11 while protecting a three-point lead, which has been the trademark of a dominant 11-1 run over the Bombers in their last 12 meetings.

The Stamps have regularly rolled over the Bombers’ defence like a tank through a field of daisies, averaging 143.8 yards rushing in their last dozen games — including two games of plus 200-yard performances.

“Their run game is something we have to reckon with,” said Bombers linebacker and former Stampeder Chris Randle. “What Matt Walters did last week against Saskatchewan was very impressive. And what Rogers has done all year, what Marquay McDaniel has done, is impressive. And Bo Levi he’s completing deep balls, intermediate balls… he’s an accurate passer.

“They have a lot of elements that make them a championship team. We want to be a championship team, so we have to win these kind of games.”

4. TAKE PUNCH AND GIVE A PUNCH

The Bombers have had a couple of weeks to let their last game — a 27-20 loss to Toronto that unravelled in the fourth quarter — stew. So, yeah, the bye week can be good for some, but can build ulcers for others.

Since returning from work last weekend one of the club’s common themes has been preaching more resiliency, that ability to recover from a bad play quickly and get back in the fight. That has been one of the negative trademarks of this team through its first eight games.

“A few things have gone upside down and a few guys that have had to step into new places,” said Bomber linebacker Sam Hurl. “Those guys are here because they’re good football players and the more they play, the more people are going to see it.

“We just have to try and limit the big, explosion plays. It’s all about eliminating them because they’re momentum-changers. Then we have to create some of them ourselves.”

5. KEEPING THE FAITH

The diehards never waver in their belief, but there’s also a sense from some Bombers faithful the 2015 season has reached a critical point. The Bombers are 3-5 and face West Division opponents in six of their next seven games, with today’s contest featuring a lineup minus offensive pieces such as Drew Willy, Darvin Adams, Paris Cotton and Jace Daniels.

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The Stamps are 51/2-point road favourites? Yup, sounds about right.

Yet there’s still a sense inside the Bombers locker-room this campaign is more than just salvageable. Maybe that’s blind faith, but it is real.

“No team is invincible,” said Bombers cornerback Matt Bucknor. “We go into every game with the feeling we can win. That’s our mindset. This week it’s the same. We believe. We’ve prepared well.

“We believe in each other. The guys on offence believe in the defensive guys and the guys on defence believe in the offensive guys. We’re accountable, regardless of who’s in, who’s out. We still feel like we can make plays and win games.”

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