Bombers not out of the woods yet: O’Shea

By: Tim Campbell Posted: 2:06 PM CDT Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015

They’ve survived to fight another day but the Winnipeg Blue Bombers aren’t off to the races — or the playoffs — just yet.

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They’ve survived to fight another day but the Winnipeg Blue Bombers aren’t off to the races — or the playoffs — just yet.

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This article was published 13/10/2015 (3954 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

They’ve survived to fight another day but the Winnipeg Blue Bombers aren’t off to the races — or the playoffs — just yet.

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said today that Saturday’s must-have win in Vancouver, a come-from-behind 29-26 decision over the Lions, was just a step on the road.

“I don’t think we’ve gotten out of the woods at all,” O’Shea said, his team now 5-10 and heading to face the 8-6 Redblacks in Ottawa on Friday. Winnipeg has just three games left in its season, almost surely needing multiple wins to reach the playoffs. “We’ve just sort of put ourselves in the position that with some more wins, we can actually control our own destiny.

JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS
For Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea, only one full practice this week is enough for his team to be prepared for Friday's game against Calgary, the defending Grey Cup champions. — JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS For Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea, only one full practice this week is enough for his team to be prepared for Friday's game against Calgary, the defending Grey Cup champions.

“We’re still approaching this as a playoff game, that mentality that we want to win this game and want to prepare extremely hard. We think it’s vital.”

The Bombers got back to work today with a system-intense practice that was mostly helmet-free.

Their schedule ahead includes Friday’s game in Ottawa and then the rematch back at Investors Group Field on Oct. 24.

“Ottawa’s a very good team,” O’Shea said. “Their offence and their defence and special teams are all playing very well, all up in certain categories.

(Quarterback) Henry (Burris) is playing lights-out. They’ve got a very good receiving corps. Their defence seems to play very well as a unit. They fly around and they lead the league in sacks.

“It’s a tough contest. But so be it, it makes it fun.”

O’Shea confirmed today that Sergio Castillo will continue to handle the place-kicking duties this week after going five-for-five against the Lions, including the game-winner from 41 yards with no time left on fhe clock.

Centre Dominic Picard, who couldn’t finish last Saturday’s game due to injury, didn’t practise today but wasn’t ruled out this week by O’Shea.

Receiver Rory Kohlert, who also had to leave Saturday’s game after a hard, high hit from B.C.’s Eric Fraser, was back at practice today none the worse for wear.

O’Shea said that hit was clean.

“He hit him with his shoulder,” the coach said. “A good, hard hit.”