Big Blue defence has raised the bar

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/09/2015 (3842 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The bookmakers in Las Vegas certainly don’t think much of their chances.

And if all you’re looking at this weekend is the fact the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have the most anemic offence in the CFL and the Montreal Alouettes have the second-stingiest defence, well then it’s not hard to figure out how you’d arrive at a point spread for Sunday’s game that has seen the Bombers anointed a 101/2-point underdog.

As Vegas sees it, the Bombers’ offence — averaging a league-worst 16.4 points per game — will be lucky to even get on the board at Stade Molson when it faces an Als’ defence that has given up the second least points per game this season, at 16.6.

What’s missing from that analysis is the Bombers also have a pretty good defence — one that comes off its stingiest performance since July, 2014 — a stifling 22-7 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders last weekend.

What’s also missing from those long shot odds is the fact the Als’ offence is the second-worst in the league, averaging just 18.4 points per game and ahead of only Winnipeg.

Put it all together and what you’ve got are two lousy offences against two pretty good defences.

Now, it bears noting both teams come into this weekend having made some significant changes to their offences.

The Bombers, of course, now have Matt Nichols starting at QB and boasting a shiny 1-0 record in Blue and Gold after winning his debut last weekend.

In Montreal, they’ve got new offensive co-ordinators in Anthony Calvillo and Ryan Dinwiddie after tying a can to Turk Schonert earlier this month. The Als will also have a new QB in Jonothan Crompton, who will be making his first start since he was injured in Week One.

The Bombers are hoping the combination of another stifling performance by their defence coupled with another week of practice for Nichols will combine for what Vegas seems to think would be a big upset.

“We set a new standard with what we did against Saskatchewan last week,” said defensive lineman Zach Anderson. “And now that we’ve proven we can do it once, we need to bring that kind of game every week.”

Slotback Nick Moore — who was hurt in the Banjo Bowl but returned to practice Friday and is expected to play in Montreal — said Nichols is a better quarterback this week than he was last week.

“Just having another week of practice and being out here and throwing the ball around, and kind of getting guys’ rhythms, I think his game will be stepped up,” said Moore.

Nichols, acquired in a trade with Edmonton two weeks ago, said he feels much more comfortable under centre now and is confident the Bombers have a good scheme to deal with a very aggressive Montreal front-seven.

“It was really just my second week here,” said Nichols, “and I’ve gotten more and more comfortable with each day…

“We’re going to have to come in and execute and not hurt ourselves. It’s a real veteran group of guys over there, good guys I have a lot of respect for.”

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Thursdays

Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.

Sign up for Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Two areas in which the Bombers’ offence will have to improve are turnovers and sacks. Winnipeg turned the ball over five times last week and surrendered four sacks, but escaped with a victory thanks to the efforts of the defence and the futility of Saskatchewan.

But Montreal is not Saskatchewan and the Bombers won’t win — or even cover that gaping spread — if they gift their opponents that many freebies this week.

“They’ve got a great front, they’ve very physical and they’ve got a great scheme and blitz,” said centre Dominic Picard. “It’s a challenge. One sack is too many. We need to be perfect.”

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @PaulWiecek