Bombers gearing up for ‘fun contest’ in Edmonton this weekend

By: Paul Wiecek Posted: 2:45 PM CDT Thursday, Jul. 23, 2015 Last Modified: 4:02 PM CDT Thursday, Jul. 23, 2015 | Updates

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/07/2015 (3702 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ready or not, here they come.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday wrapped up their last full practice this week before heading to Edmonton where they will take on the CFL’s best defence this Saturday evening at Commonwealth Stadium.

The Edmonton Eskimos are either first or second in the CFL right now in 15 of 25 defensive categories the CFL tracks on a weekly basis and will be hosting the Bombers in a stadium in which Winnipeg hasn’t won since 2006.

Wayne Glowacki / Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg Blue Bomber QB Drew Willy gets protection in the pocket during team's practice Thursday. — Wayne Glowacki / Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg Blue Bomber QB Drew Willy gets protection in the pocket during team's practice Thursday.

Put it altogether and the 2-1 Eskimos pose a formidable challenge this week for the 2-2 Bombers, who are returning to Alberta after losing 26-25 last Saturday to the Stampeders in Calgary.

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea — who had a 16-year career as a CFL middle linebacker — tipped his hat to a fine Eskimos defence and said he’s relishing the challenge they pose this week for his offence.

“This will be a fun contest — a lot of fun,” O’Shea said following practice Thursday morning.

The Bombers will have at least one change to the starting lineup this week — and possibly two. With defensive end Greg Peach out with a lower-body injury sustained in Calgary, expect to see Thaddeus Gibson and Derrell Johnson — and maybe a few others too — rotating in and out of Peach’s spot in Edmonton.

And there’s also now a good chance the Bombers might have a new offensive right tackle in Edmonton, too. Devin Tyler has taken all the starting reps in practice this week at the right tackle position in place of Jace Daniels, who started the first four games of 2015 for Winnipeg.

Tyler initially stepped in for Daniels when the latter was hurt on Tuesday but Tyler continued taking the starting reps even after Daniels returned to practice on Wednesday and Thursday.

O’Shea said he’s not yet made a final decision on which man will start on Saturday.

Two other Bombers starters who left practice early on Wednesday — safety Maurice Leggett and centre Dominic Picard — were both full participants on Thursday and are expected to start versus the Eskimos.

email: paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @PaulWiecek