Esks provide difficult test for Blue

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This article was published 12/07/2016 (3369 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Surrounded by reporters after Tuesday’s practice, Drew Willy was asked what it would mean to beat the reigning Grey Cup champion Edmonton Eskimos at home Thursday.

Willy, the starting quarterback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, agreed the game should provide a measuring stick for the CFL team’s progress, later playing down his assessment by adding this year “every team is going to be pretty much competitive around the league.”

Indeed, Winnipeg’s first three opponents this season have been competitive — in some cases, even dominant. And with each opponent, have come their own unique set of challenges.

In losses to the Montreal Alouettes and Calgary Stampeders to open the season, it was a balanced attack on both sides of the ball. In last week’s 28-24 win over Hamilton, it was a dangerous core of receivers that created the most trouble for Winnipeg. Had it not been for Ticats receiver Tiquan Underwood, who dropped a wide-open ball in the end zone in the fourth quarter, the Bombers could very well be 0-3, instead of 1-2.

Against the Eskimos (1-1), it will be trying to stop a prolific offence, one that has averaged more than 38 points per game — tops in the CFL.

“When you look at the numbers they’ve put up over the first couple of weeks of the season, it’s been pretty impressive,” Bombers defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall said after practice earlier this week. “They hit you with so many dimensions.”

Built around quarterback Mike Reilly, last year’s MVP in a 26-20 Grey Cup win over Ottawa, the Eskimos offence possesses a deep crew of receivers, including arguably the league’s best in Adarius Bowman. In last week’s win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Reilly threw three of his four touchdowns to Bowman, who finished with six receptions for 141 yards.

“He’s the captain that guides their ship and everything starts with him,” Richie said of Reilly. “But, to me, the next person is (John) White, their running back.”

When healthy, White, who missed all of the 2015 season with a ruptured left Achilles tendon, has torched opposing D-lines. In 2014, White finished with 852 rushing yards and two touchdowns despite playing just nine games. In two games this season, he has rushed 28 times for 139 yards and two touchdowns, while also adding 63 yards and a TD through the air.

“He can cut on a dime, he does a good job breaking tackles and can make a guy miss,” said Bombers defensive end Jamaal Westerman.

Westerman said the defence has been watching tape on Edmonton’s offence all week. When they’re able to establish the run, like they have this season, he said, “everything comes easier.” A strong run game forces defences to creep closer to the line of scrimmage, which opens up the shot down field.

Given the depth Edmonton has at receiver, it’s not a game the Bombers want to get caught up in.

“If you’re not stopping the run, it’s going to be a long day,” said Westerman.

The Bombers have already had long days this season. Winnipeg has allowed an average of 121.7 rushing yards per game, behind only Montreal. It’s made worse when you consider Hamilton all but abandoned the run last week, rushing just 11 times for 51 yards — 20 of which came during three scramble plays from quarterback Jeremiah Masoli after he was flushed from the pocket.

Against Montreal, the Bombers allowed 108 rushing yards, which was a decent outing when you compare it to the Stampeders, who racked up 207 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

And it won’t be any easier against Edmonton, especially since White isn’t the only threat out of the backfield. Reilly also has the ability to gain yards with his feet: in the last five seasons, he’s combined for 1,805 rushing yards.

It’s a part of his game many expected to slow down after Reilly suffered multiple tears in his left knee last season, an injury that sidelined him for almost three months. But that doesn’t appear to be the case, as Reilly has run 12 times through the first two weeks, totalling 38 yards. 

“The way you stop that, you just got to attack him,” said Bombers tackle Keith Shologan.

 ‘When you look at the numbers they’ve put up over the first couple of weeks of the season, it’s been pretty impressive. They hit you with so many dimensions’– Bombers defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall 

In order to get to Reilly, to stop White and to prevent the explosive throwing plays down field, Shologan said it starts with the Edmonton offensive line.

“They’re big, aggressive guys and it will be fun to play them,” said Shologan. “It all depends on our team and our play.”

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University’s journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff.

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