Blue Bombers’ preseason ends with loss, focuses on prospects’ performance

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This article was published 01/06/2024 (527 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was a glorified tryout at Princess Auto Stadium on Friday night.

The Blue Bombers, led by backups and pro football hopefuls, closed out the preseason with a 31-10 loss to the visiting Calgary Stampeders.

The numbers on the scoreboard weren’t important, it was about giving prospects and newcomers one last chance to show what they can do under the bright lights before final cuts are made Saturday.

With Zach Collaros and Chris Streveler sitting out to prepare for the June 6 season opener at home against Montreal, the Bombers rolled with two rookie passers fighting for the No.3 quarterback spot: Terry Wilson and Darren Grainger.

Wilson showed promise in last week’s loss in Regina by completing 10 of 15 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. The 26-year-old, who finished his college career at New Mexico and made his pro debut last year in the USFL, took a step back in his second audition by failing to get in the end zone and tossing a pair of picks. Wilson went 10 for 17 with 70 passing yards and his longest completion was just 13 yards.

“I feel like we got off to a good start. In the second half, there were some passes that were tipped, and I wish I could get them back. But there’s going to be a lot of film to learn from and move forward,” Wilson said postgame.

“But overall, I feel like when it comes to managing the offence and just trying to take command, I feel like I did a pretty good job. But those turnovers, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth.”

Wilson ended up playing three full quarters as Grainger, a 23-year-old out of Georgia State who recently attended New York Jets mini-camp, was shut down at the half due to injury.

Grainger wasn’t put in a position to succeed considering he arrived in Winnipeg just last weekend because he was stuck waiting for his passport. Time was not on his side, and it showed. He completed one of his six pass attempts for 13 yards.

“It’s unfortunate, man. I’m going to send him a text and check up on him and see how he’s doing,” said Wilson.

“That’s something you don’t ever want to think could happen in a preseason game, but overall, I hope he’s doing good.”

The other spot up for grabs on Friday was the return specialist gig. All signs point to Chris Smith being the big winner as he seperated himself from the pack in an obvious way with a 109-yard punt return score in the second quarter that had the announced crowd of 24,297 on their feet. His competition didn’t build much of a case with Josh Vann fumbling a kickoff in the fourth and Aron Cruickshank generating one single yard on his two punt returns.

“That was my first punt return for a touchdown since high school,” said Smith. “So, that definitely felt amazing.”

It was a different story for Smith, a 24-year-old out of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, at running back where he was held in check for 16 yards on six carries. Canadian Jonathan Rosery, a seventh-round pick in 2023, was even less effective with six yards on five tries.

The Bombers’ leading rusher was camp leg Dante Mastrogiuseppe who dropped a punt snap, picked it up, dodged a tackler, then scrambled forward for 28 yards.

Brady Oliveira can sleep just fine at night.

“We’re doing some rotation type of stuff, so maybe (we weren’t) able to get a good feel for the game or get in a groove. But it’s preseason, man. It’s all about showing what you can do,” said Wilson.

“We got so much information throughout camp and the coaches just really want to see us go out there on the field and showcase it, make some plays. It sucks losing like this, I hate it.”

Things weren’t much better on defence as the secondary gave up some big plays — most notably corner back Tyrique McGhee who allowed Cam Echols to blow past him for a 53-yard catch in the first quarter. Rookie corner Demetries Ford also had an easy interception bounce off his hands in the second quarter.

Calgary trotted out four quarterbacks — Jake Maier, Matthew Shiltz, Logan Bonner, and Kyle Vantrease — and none of them turned the ball over or were sacked.

Shiltz, a seven-year vet who signed with the Stamps in the offseason to challenge Maier, got the most work but wasn’t the most efficient by going five for 13 for 101 yards. Bonner threw the lone passing TD of the game.

Calgary outgained Winnipeg 521-121 in net offence.

“I think the defence played really hard,” said rookie defensive end Taylor Upshaw. “There’s definitely a lot of things we can improve on, but we definitely played until the end.”

The Stampeders brought a more experienced group to town with several starters on both sides of the ball getting playing time.

“I think we had a lot of emotions and nerves. Going into this last preseason game, there was a lot on the line, so I feel like we forgot the small details on things. But as a whole, we could’ve been better. Definitely a lot better,” said Bombers receiver Myron Mitchell, who led the team with five targets and had three catches for 17 yards.

The Bombers will have to crush some dreams on Saturday as their final roster is due by 9 p.m.

“Tomorrow sucks for everybody, even for the guys that are safe,” said McGhee. “Over these past weeks, guys have built some camaraderie, got to know each other, got personal, and grinded every day. But it’s a part of the business.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

X: @TaylorAllen31