Bombers focus on tackling BC Lions’ Jon Jennings at Saturday’s game

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This article was published 09/10/2015 (3977 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

VANCOUVER — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers arrived here Friday afternoon with one mission — solving the riddle that is B.C. Lions quarterback Jon Jennings.

Jennings had a game for the ages last weekend in his second CFL start, throwing for four touchdowns, catching another and posting a QB efficiency rating of — get this — 157.08 in a Lions’ rout of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

To put that number in perspective, a “perfect” game — virtually unheard of in pro football — would have garnered Jennings a QB rating of 158.3.

The challenge for Winnipeg is figuring out a way to tame Jennings in a game at B.C. Place tonight the 4-10 Bombers have said all week is a “must-win.”

“The biggest thing with (Jennings) is that when he’s running, he’s not running to run — he’s running to throw,” Bombers defensive end Jamaal Westerman said Friday afternoon.

“When he gets open, you can see he keeps his eyes down the field. That allows his receivers to get open and for him to make big passes and for a DB to maybe lose a guy as he’s running around and staring at him.”

The Lions are 5-8 and a Bombers’ win this weekend would pull Winnipeg back into a tie for third place in the West Division with B.C., although the Lions would have a game in hand.

A loss would put Winnipeg four points behind the Lions for the final playoff spot in the West (if there is no crossover) and while it wouldn’t mathematically eliminate them, Winnipeg would be in a huge hole with just three regular-season games to play.

While a win is less urgent for the Lions, B.C. head coach Jeff Tedford said Friday his team is treating the game like it’s a playoff contest.

“This is so magnified right now — with the standings and everything so tight,” said Tedford. “It’s like a playoff game.”

The game will mark the return of injured starting QB Travis Lulay to the Lions lineup, although only as the backup to Jennings. Tedford said Lulay still isn’t fully healed.

“He’s back, and in a certain capacity would be ready to go. He’s probably about 90 per cent. But he’s a competitor and he knows the importance of this game.”

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said there was some lingering uncertainty about the status of right tackle Patrick Neufeld, who was hurt in last week’s loss to Edmonton.

But O’Shea said Neufeld is good to play and the Bombers will go with the same starting offensive line as they did last weekend, when Winnipeg didn’t give up a single sack to a league-leading Edmonton defence.

IT GETS WORSE

The CFL’s stats department dug up a fresh set of numbers this week that illustrates how badly Bombers place-kicker Lirim Hajrullahu has struggled this season.

Hajrullahu has gone just 6-10 this season in fourth-quarter field-goal attempts — the second-worst field goal percentage in the CFL in the final frame. What’s more, Hajrullahu has also struggled in what are called “lead change” field goals, going a league worst 3-6 in situations where a field goal would have given the Bombers the lead.

Hajrullahu has been relieved of the place-kicking duties this weekend and will focus strictly on punting while import Sergio Castillo will handle the place-kicking.

Hajrullahu said this week he’s trying to keep things in perspective right now.

“Everyone’s been extra supportive. Everyone realizes it’s something I have to get over. It’s a slump. Whenever I get my next chance, I’ll be ready.”

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @PaulWiecek