Game Day: Bombers open season tonight against Lions

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/06/2012 (4842 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Five things to consider as the Bombers and Lions open their seasons in Vancouver this evening:

1. Stopping Simon

Tonight, Lions receiver Geroy Simon is looking for his place in the CFL record books.

The 37-year-old needs just 67 yards to eclipse Milt Stegall’s record of 15,153 receiving yards, a feat that should come with just an average night on the gridiron.

Members of the Winnipeg secondary say they aren’t thinking about focusing on Simon, but one has to think there might be a mention of it during warm-ups tonight. With ceremonies ready to be rolled out — family members and CFL commissioner Mark Cohon will be in attendance — the Bombers would love to rain on the party.

2. Seeing things

Bryant Turner’s last visit to BC Place was a scary experience.

“It was the middle of the second quarter and it was just a regular pass rush, nothing special. I was coming off a spin move and (Angus Reid) had his hands up. I pretty much spun around into his hands,” the defensive lineman recalled. “That’s when he got me.”

Reid’s finger dug into Turner’s flesh underneath the eye (roughly a centimeter below), puncturing and tearing the skin, eventually pushing the eyeball back into the socket.

Training staff glued the cut back together, but his eye was swollen shut so he couldn’t finish the Grey Cup game.

For those wondering, Turner is not wearing a visor. He tried one during training camp but found it more of a problem than a solution. “I sweat too much with the visor. It got really foggy… visors aren’t made for me.”

3. Holding the line

Buckets of ink have been spilled about the Bombers O-line and the group, already looking at two new faces — centre Chris Kowalczuk and guard Chris Greaves — got a little more inexperienced when starting right tackle Andre Douglas was left back in Winnipeg.

Rookie import Jordan Taormina fills in for Douglas, and if veteran Glenn January can’t go or is limited, rookie non-import Paul Swiston takes over in his spot. Taormina can’t wait to see what the defending Grey Cup champs will bring to the table.

“If you try to cut them, they’ll jump over you; if you try to drive block them, they’ll just twist you down,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing where my skill level is at.”

4. Who are these guys?

Last year, the Bombers linebacking power trio consisted of Marcellus Bowman, Joe Lobendahn and Clint Kent.

To start the 2012 season, Dustin Doe, a second-year special teamer, replaces the injured Bowman; Pierre-Luc Labbe, the wily veteran, beat out Henoc Muamba in the middle; while Brandon Stewart replaces Kent at the strong-side spot, learning his new position on the fly.

That’s a lot of turnover in one area. Going against the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player (Lions quarterback Travis Lulay) only adds to the degree of difficulty.

5. No respect

The gambling community isn’t giving the Bombers much love heading into the 2012 season.

Perhaps that’s due to the early scheduling woes. Or maybe that’s due to the fact the club won just four of its last 12 games in 2011. Whatever the case, Bodog (bodog.ca) has the Bombers even with Toronto (7/2) to win the East Division, behind Hamilton (7/4) and Montreal (9/4). The over/under for Winnipeg wins is 8.5, meaning the prognosticators figure the club will struggle to reach the .500 mark.

The most interesting Bomber bet: The over/under on the number of games quarterback Buck Pierce will start (14.5). That’s an intriguing figure, no doubt. Consider the changes in front of Pierce and the fact he started a career-high 16 games in 2011 before putting your cash down.

WINNIPEG DEFENCE VS. TRAVIS LULAY

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The Lions offence torched the Bombers defence for 404 net yards in the Grey Cup game, a number that was largely due to the work of the B.C. quarterback. Lulay (left) was the difference in the contest, going 21-of-37 for 320 yards and two touchdowns against a defence that was widely considered the top unit in 2011.

How do the Bombers slow him down? Limit the open space.

The agile pivot extended drives with his legs when things broke down in the Grey Cup, so Paul LaPolice figures the best way to go about it is to keep him in the pocket. The Bombers don’t have to knock him down; they have to force him into bad, impatient decisions.

“Just get him uncomfortable — like any quarterback,” LaPolice said.