Bombers looking to learn from Friday’s weaknesses as they return to work

By: Ed Tait Posted: 12:34 PM CDT Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015

They are cranky and surly heading into their bye week. And, maybe, it might be a good thing for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to be the same when they return to work.

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They are cranky and surly heading into their bye week. And, maybe, it might be a good thing for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to be the same when they return to work.

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They are cranky and surly heading into their bye week. And, maybe, it might be a good thing for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to be the same when they return to work.

The Bombers head into their pit stop at 3-5 following Friday’s 27-20 loss to the Toronto Argonauts and return to face the Grey Cup champion Calgary Stampeders before the always-nasty home-and-home series with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

They are staring up at every team in the West Division except for the Riders and, with Drew Willy out until late September-early October, will likely already be in full chase mode for a playoff spot when practices resume. In the meantime, the Bombers were saying all the expected things after Friday’s loss.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers' bench as the team was losing to the Toronto Argonauts' late in the fourth quarter, Friday, Aug. 14, 2015. (TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

“We’re not where we want to be, but it’s a long season,” said Bombers slotback Nick Moore. “We’ve just got to go home over the bye, do what you’ve got to do, work out, get some film study in and come back ready to work.

“It has to get better. Everything. It’s not defence, it’s not offence, it’s not special teams. It’s a collective. We’ve got to figure it out.”

The Bombers committed four turnovers to zero for the Argos — two on downs late in the game, an interception and a fumble — but also held Toronto to just 243 yards net offence. In the game’s critical moments, all of them in the fourth quarter, the Argos were just flat-out better.

And unless the Bombers can petition the CFL for 45-minute games, this is a big-time problem.

“We didn’t finish,” said Bombers running back Cameron Marshall, who rushed 14 times for 55 yards and pulled in three passes for 84, including a 56-yard TD. “That’s kinda been the story of this year so far: we didn’t finish the close games we should win.

“We’ve just got to be better. We’ve got to be better offensively, defensively, special teams… we’ve just got to finish.”

Added defensive end Jamaal Westerman: “There’s going to be a little sour taste in our mouth for a week. Guys are clamoring for the opportunity to get back on the field and show who we are, show the flashes that we’ve shown and extend them.”

THE OPINIONS THAT MATTER MOST: Robert Marve had already won over his teammates well before his first start Friday with his infectious enthusiasm and gunslinger’s mentality. And the early reviews from those that shared the huddle with him were all good.

“He played well in his first start in a professional game,” said Moore. “He controlled the huddle, I’ll tell you that much. He was yelling at linemen, making sure everybody was listening up… it’s his first rodeo and he didn’t want to have any little mistakes, You’ve got to commend him for that.

“I’m kind of hurting for him right now. He feels terrible. He’s going around to everybody saying, ‘Sorry’ and it’s not his fault. He went in there, he stepped up and played pretty well.”

INJURY REPORT: Bombers right tackle Jace Daniels was spotted on crutches and with his right foot heavily taped following Friday’s loss. Devin Tyler, who has played both right and left tackle over the last couple of seasons, is already on the six-game injured list and guard/tackle Pat Neufeld has a broken thumb and might not yet be ready to return. That could force the Bombers to move Chris Greaves to tackle when they return to work or activate Corey Lewis from the practice roster.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

8 — The Bombers have registered eight quarterback sacks in the last two games. Westerman has three of those eight and, heading into Saturday’s action, is tied for the CFL lead with Calgary’s Charleston Hughes and Marcus Howard of Edmonton with six.