Big Blue hunt for first W

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This article was published 04/07/2024 (493 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are to break free from their current losing skid, it will be with a new face at the controls.

Chris Streveler is set to make his first start of the season, with the Bombers ruling out No. 1 quarterback Zach Collaros (thorax) for their Week 5 matchup against the visiting Ottawa Redblacks Friday night.

Collaros was on the receiving end of a heavy, helmet-first hit to the midsection in last week’s loss to the Calgary Stampeders. Streveler took over in the second half, mounting a comeback in the fourth quarter only to fall short in overtime with an interception in the end zone.

With a few stints in the NFL between Streveler’s first and second run with the Bombers, it’s been almost five years since the 29-year-old has started a professional football game. It was on Oct. 19, 2019, in what ended as a 37-33 road loss to the Stampeders, just days before the Bombers, led by Collaros, went on a four-game win streak to snap a 29-year Grey Cup drought.

“It is a little bit surreal, but time goes fast,” Streveler said Thursday afternoon. “You learn to appreciate these opportunities and how rare it is and how special it is to get to step into a huddle with grown men and get to play a football game. What’s changed about me, mentally, from the last time I was here is the appreciation for getting to do this.”

The Redblacks are coming off a thrilling 24-22 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats that improved their record to 2-1. Their other victory came against the Bombers, in what was another nail-biter, 23-19, in Week 2.

With that, let’s dive deeper into Friday’s game with the latest edition of 5 Storylines.

LONG TIME COMING

While it’ll be 1,721 days since his last start, Streveler certainly doesn’t sound like someone racked with nerves. In fact, it was his genuine excitement for the opportunity that shone through when discussing it with reporters.

Streveler brings a much a different energy to the huddle compared to Collaros, and while Collaros is certainly the more talented of the two, especially when it comes to throwing the ball, Streveler brings his own unique wrinkles to the offence. He’s bigger, a greater run threat and his high-energy approach might just be the kick in the pants Winnipeg’s attack desperately needs.

For those who recall Streveler’s earlier work in a Bombers uniform — he was 4-8 as a starter, between the 2018 and 2019 seasons, throwing for 2,698 passing yards, along with 19 touchdowns and 19 interceptions — you have to imagine his time spent in the NFL has only made him better.

Streveler had a slow start against the Stampeders last week, but his work in the fourth quarter was as good as we’ve seen from the Bombers offence this season. With a full week working with the No. 1 offence, the hope is he’ll be even more effective this week.

STACKING THE BOX

The Stampeders defence took a much different approach once Collaros exited the game. With Streveler behind centre, Calgary loaded the box, ultimately to prevent the run and force Streveler to beat them with his arm.

It’s a safe bet the Redblacks will do the same, making it difficult to establish a run game — something that’s plagued the Bombers all season after leading the CFL in rushing yards in 2023.

Brady Oliveira is expecting as much, and is ready for whatever the Redblacks throw his way. Oliveira is off to a slow start this season, mostly due to some early injuries, with 128 rushing yards on 30 carries in three games.

Oliveira, who last season was the West Division nominee for the league’s most outstanding player, needs to get back to form for this offence to get going. If he can’t be a run threat, the Bombers need to get him more involved in the passing game, especially with Kenny Lawler and Dalton Schoen out of the lineup.

It should help Oliveira that Streveler is a constant threat to run, so he should take some of the focus away in the backfield. Either way, the Bombers need to see some of that game-breaking ability from the Winnipeg native sooner than later.

WELCOME BACK DRU

Dru Brown makes his return to Winnipeg for the first time since signing a two-year deal with the Redblacks.

The nerves of playing his former team likely won’t be as pronounced after leading the Redblacks to victory over the Bombers in Week 2. Don’t think it won’t be a homecoming of sorts for the 27-year-old Brown, who spent three years in Winnipeg, where he developed and formed a strong bond working under Collaros.

Brown hasn’t taken the CFL by storm in his first season as a starting QB. His 795 passing yards ranks eighth in the league, while his three passing touchdowns is also good for eighth (Brown has just one interception).

It’s not statistics that tell the whole story; it’s his football IQ. Brown is as competitive as they come, and like Collaros, won’t give up on a play until he has to, and when he does, he’s not prone to making mistakes.

Brown is at his best when he escapes the pocket. He isn’t much of a rushing threat – Brown has just four carries for 16 yards — but he does love to buy his receivers time, which means Winnipeg’s secondary will have to be on its best behaviour and not give up on plays too early for risk of getting beat deep.

The Redblacks have a reliable receiving group, led by Jake Harty and Jaelon Acklin. They also have a solid performer in the run game with running back Ryquell Armstead, whose 5.4-yard average per carry leads all running backs.

SPECIAL-TEAMS BOOST

The Bombers aren’t good enough this season to not have reliable special teams. After three underwhelming performances to start the year, special teams took a step in the right direction against Calgary.

Kicker Sergio Castillo is dialed in, coming off a four-for-four performance against the Stampeders that was highlighted by a 60-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. Castillo is now seven-for-nine on field goals, and a perfect seven-for-seven since he helped force the CFL to scrap micro-chipped footballs for kickers in Week 1.

The biggest improvement last week came in the kick-return and coverage units. Chris Smith has taken over the Bombers returner job and while his numbers don’t jump out at you — he’s averaging a respectable 13.2 yards on punts and 20.6 yards on kickoffs — he’s looked close to breaking out a big run on a few different occasions.

The coverage units will have their hands full trying to contain Redblacks returner DeVonte Dedmon, who leads the league in average kickoff return (32.2 yards) and is second in punt return average (14.2). If the Bombers can contain Dedmon, or at least limit his effectiveness, it will go a long way to earning those two much-needed points.

JUST WIN, BABY

Perhaps the most surprising part of the Bombers 0-4 start is just how composed they remain.

The confidence is there, a big part of that being that Winnipeg has lost its last three games by a combined nine points. The last time the Bombers lost three games in a row by nine points or fewer was in July of 2000.

While spirits remain high, the reality is the joy level of this club can only take so many hits before it starts to crumble. The Bombers also need to earn victories if they plan to make the playoffs. History suggests if they don’t turn things around soon, that could prove to be a tall order.

Since the CFL’s inaugural season in 1958, the Bombers have started a year 0-4 on nine occasions, including this year. None of those seasons resulted in a record above. 500, and only twice did Winnipeg make the playoffs, most recently in 2008, when the Bombers finished 8-10 before falling to Edmonton in the East semifinal.

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

X: @jeffkhamilton