TGIF: Thank god it’s finished

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/11/2010 (5449 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s been a season in which the Winnipeg Blue Bombers thrilled and chilled, astounded and confounded and set all kinds of the wrong records — for tight losses, for ‘sorry-’bout-that calls’ from the officials after games and for most X-rays on its QBs.

Thankfully — mercifully — it ended Friday night in front of 22,056 at Canad Inns Stadium in a 35-32 loss to the Calgary Stampeders that was like so many before it.

The Bombers played valiantly, especially with fourth-string quarterback Joey Elliott at the controls. They rallied from a 21-3 deficit to tie it late at 32-32 late in the fourth.

But they also took too many penalties, made critical errors at crucial times and fell — get this — for the ninth time this season by four points or less.

And if that isn’t heartbreak defined, we don’t know what fits.

Now, the Bombers have made themselves easy targets since way back in early August. They were 2-2 a month into the season and finished 2-12 in their last 14 contests. But, amazingly, there is hope going forward — some would argue even more than last year when the squad finished 7-11 but was accompanied by circus music and a laff track.

And so with that in mind, we present some fodder to mull over as the obituary is officially written on another season without playoff football.

THREE REASONS TO HAVE HOPE ABOUT 2011

1. A YOUNG TALENT BASE

THE lineup the Bombers tossed out for its season finale missed a few regulars — quarterbacks Buck Pierce and Steven Jyles and guard Brendon LaBatte being the biggest names — but it included 11 starters who were 25 years or younger.

No question that GM Joe Mack and personnel sleuths Ken Moll and Ross Hodgkinson have been able to unearth some dandy new faces, including Deon Beasley and Marcellus Bowman — both signed to contract extensions this week — and some studs at receiver in Terence Jeffers-Harris and Greg Carr. Placekicker Justin Palardy, meanwhile, was a perfect six-for-six Friday night and was solid after being added in September.

2. DEPTH AT THE QB SPOT

IT can be debated all winter whether the Bombers should hitch their wagon to Buck Pierce again, but with the popular veteran and the emergence of Steven Jyles the club at least has more depth at the pivot position than it has had in years. Toss in Joey Elliott, who looked comfortable at the controls over the last two weeks, and Alex Brink, and the Bombers will bring at least four QBs to camp next year who are familiar with the system.

3. A DEFENSIVE FOUNDATION

IF it’s true that defence wins championships — and that certainly was the case in the last two Bomber Grey Cups way back in 1988 and 1990 — then the Bombers have the bricks and mortar of a dominant crew there. The D-line, featuring sack king Phillip Hunt, Odell Willis and Doug Brown, gets after the passer and collapses the pocket. The secondary is young, but has depth. Clint Kent has been a godsend at linebacker and Bowman looks like he could be a long-term fixture.

THREE REASONS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT 2011

1. NO ESCAPING THIS REALITY: 14 LOSSES

SAY whatever you will about growing pains, about this being a young team that still needs to mature, it did set a CFL record with nine losses by four points or less. But it also screams out this: Just not good enough. Look, it’s been a frustrating season for everyone, but there are no guarantees those nine close defeats become wins next year.

The 4-14 record, it’s worth noting, is the worst by a Bomber team since the 1998 edition finished 3-15. That’s a whole lot of ground to make up just to get back to respectable.

2. A QUARTET TO KEEP… OR LOSE?

THREE of the Bombers best players — LaBatte, Hunt, and defensive back Jonathan Hefney — may all take a look at NFL opportunities, although the unresolved labour situation down south may keep them in Winnipeg. Hefney is a free agent, LaBatte and Hunt can still sniff around as option-year players. Couple that with Doug Brown not certain about returning and that’s a whole lot of ifs around the team’s best.

3. A TIGHTENING NOOSE

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COLLEAGUE Randy Turner alluded to this recently, but the new regime here — led by GM Joe Mack and head coach Paul LaPolice — has certainly used up all the goodwill it may have stockpiled before the season began.

Yes, the Bombers will be able to walk away from the wreckage of 2010 unscathed. But the pressure gets cranked up just that much more the moment the calendar turns to 2011.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca