Big Blue don’t need miracles, they need consistency

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/08/2015 (3955 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO — Unless the Winnipeg Blue Bombers miraculously morph from average to elite overnight, the next six games are about staying in the race. Almost assuredly nothing more, and hopefully for their fans, nothing less.

More is unrealistic. Less? Well, it will increase the likelihood of empty November dates and mounting heat on the current management regime.

CEO Wade Miller isn’t a stone. He’s not immune to pressure. A playoff game would go a long way to his being able to comfortably stay the course with GM Kyle Walters and head coach Mike O’Shea. Don’t misunderstand, Miller isn’t making any changes. But the clamour will get louder and more insistent if the Bombers miss the post-season. Going to Christmas parties and having to hide behind the fondue stand gets old. Miller lives in this town and constantly moves among the populace. He’s a politician as much as anything. And Winnipeggers want their potholes fixed and their sports teams to win.

Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff bought himself a longer leash with last spring’s push to the playoffs. He can hit the Safeway or stop for a beer and not fret about the incoming line of questioning.

Miller? He doesn’t have to stock the bomb shelter with non-perishables just yet. But if the Bombers dip out of contention once again, he’ll want to begin pondering a list. One that will get him through a long and lonely winter.

A playoff berth, which after a 3-3 start to the season remains a possibility, makes everyone’s life a little easier. Management and certainly the long-suffering and loyal Bombers fans.

Are the Bombers talented and experienced enough to make a run? They’re decidedly on the fence. The next six games will reveal more about this group. They remain an unknown and this season is setting up to be a cliffhanger.

So, it’s time to grind, to steal a win or two, to quickly forget about the losses and most of all to not panic. The, “it’s a marathon, not a sprint,” cliche aptly suits the Bombers right now.

Inexperienced and maybe still a touch too flawed, if the Bombers are to get in, more than a little will have to go their way. Prior to the season, the Bombers reaching the post-season seemed to be too much of a stretch. But the unexpected collapse of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, an absence of offence with the Edmonton Eskimos and a nod to mediocrity from the B.C. Lions has opened the door in the West.

Winnipeg is in the picture today and the key over the middle six games of their schedule is to not do too much damage to shaky playoff chances.

Three more wins balanced by three losses seems like a fairly unambitious goal, but it’s realistic and more importantly, keeps the Bombers in the chase.

They’ll need Drew Willy to stay healthy, to develop a consistent run game and for Richie Hall’s burgeoning defence to continue its ascent.

Walters will have to provide added heft to the roster when NFL teams begin making cuts. Significant injuries will have to be avoided and inexperienced players will have to continue to grow. To shed their green and gain some maturity.

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So many ifs and so few sure things. They’re a gamble and a guess.

Overseeing all this will be O’Shea, who is still growing as a coach. There are going to be dips and there will be highs, but if he can keep them close to .500 into the dying days of the season there’s a chance this team can lift itself into a new day. A new status.

They’re close but are they real? We’re going to find out.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @garylawless