O’Shea emphasizes feeling fresh as Bombers prepare to face Stampeders

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This article was published 24/09/2015 (3965 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will have just one full practice under their belts this week when they take on the defending Grey Cup Champions, the 9-3 Calgary Stampeders, Friday night at Investors Group Field.

Read in to that what you will, but if curious of what it means to a Bombers team that has won just four games compared to eight losses, two of which have come at the hands of the Stamps, the emphasis on feeling fresh trumps any additional on-field preparation no matter who the opponent might be.

“No matter what you know, if you can’t do it physically you have a hard time winning games,” said head coach Mike O’Shea following a walk-through at Investors Group Field Thursday.

The “fresh is best” approach O’Shea has decided to take isn’t new to this season. Twice before the Bombers have played games with a similar workout schedule, one O’Shea noted doesn’t take any time away from the classroom sessions off the field.

It worked against B.C. in Week 6, the Bombers beating the Lions 23-13 at home but not against the Toronto Argonauts, who defeated the Blue and Gold 27-20 two weeks, also at IGF, outscoring Winnipeg 13-3 in the fourth quarter to clinch the win.

“I think the coaches did a really good job this week, especially on a short week of getting our mental prep up but giving our bodies a little rest,” said defensive end Greg Peach. “Coach O’Shea has done it before so he knows what our bodies need and I think we’re going to be as fresh as we were if (we had) eight days in between.”

Calgary has outscored the Bombers 62-33 this season, but one of those games proved a close affair with the Bombers losing by just a hair, 26-25, in Week 4 at McMahon Stadium. And despite being a nine-point underdog at home, the Bombers still see themselves not only up for the challenge, but also on an even playing field with arguably the best team in the CFL.

“No, we don’t. I mean I don’t know if there is much more to say about it. We don’t feel overmatched,” O’Shea said, adding next as to why he feels that way: “being around our guys, looking in to their eyes every day they come to work, watching them out their on the field, watching their preparation through the week, just observing their attitude; they’re ready, willing and able.”

In other news, former Blue Bomber linebacker Henoc Muamba was scheduled to meet with Bombers brass today, but something came up and his visit had to be re-scheduled.

Muamba was cut from the Indianapolis Colts prior to the NFL season and has since been meeting with other NFL and CFL teams interested in his services. It’s still unsure where he’ll end up playing football this year, but given the NFL is about to enter its third week of games and just six games left for most CFL teams this season, one would expect a decision to be made soon.

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton joined the Free Press newsroom in 2015, reporting on the sports and investigative beats until he left the Free Press in July 2026.

Every piece of reporting Jeff produced was reviewed by an editing team before it was posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.