Ending the drought

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This article was published 13/07/2016 (3601 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1-2) return to Investors Group Field Thursday in search of a second consecutive victory. After a slow start to the 2016 season, one that began with back-to-back losses to the Montreal Alouettes and Calgary Stampeders, the Bombers finally caught fire in a 28-24 road win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last week.

Now, with the reigning Grey Cup champion Edmonton Eskimos (1-1) in town, the focus shifts to earning back-to-back wins; not only for the Bombers but for visitors, who are coming off a 39-36 overtime victory over Saskatchewan last week.

With that, here are five storylines to keep in mind for Thursday’s game:

BACK-TO-BACK Ws

To say it’s unflattering would be putting it nicely. It’s been almost two years since the Bombers have won consecutive games, dating back to 2014 when they defeated the B.C. Lions and Hamilton in weeks 5 and 6. That year, the Bombers started 5-1, only to lose 10 of their next 12, including eight straight.

If the Bombers are able to win, it will also mark the end of another, even longer drought. July 26, 2012 was the last time the Bombers defeated Edmonton, beating the Eskimos, 24-23, at Canad Inns Stadium. In six games since, Winnipeg has been outscored 183-72 — an average margin of 18.5 points.

A win would also be the first for head coach Mike O’Shea and quarterback Drew Willy, both of whom are 0-4 in their careers against the Esks.

MAKING A POINT

If the Bombers are going to win, they’re going to have to find a way to score more points. The Eskimos are averaging a league-best 38 points per game, more than 17 points more than the Bombers, who through three games have averaged much lower at 21.3.

In fact, the last time the Bombers put up 30 points was the beginning of last season, when they defeated Saskatchewan 30-26, in the 2015 season opener. Willy has shown an improvement from week to week and against Hamilton was able to sustain a number of drives. That will need to continue to compete with a high-flying Edmonton offence.

“We had a good week of practice, a good week of preparation,” said Willy. “We’ll definitely be ready to go.”

Perhaps the Bombers can make it tough on Edmonton, a team that has allowed the second-most points (34.5 per game) against this season, but to do so they’ll have to be better in the red zone. In the red zone, the Bombers are ranked last in the CFL with a 44.4 per cent conversion rate, scoring just four touchdowns in nine trips inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.

The team ran red zone drills all week at practice, with offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice rolling out some new plays. Willy has preached the need to execute, particularly deep in the opponent’s end. Now’s the time to show it.

REILLY GOOD OFFENCE

The last time Mike Reilly was in Winnipeg, he was covered in green and yellow confetti as he hoisted the Grey Cup above. On Thursday, the starting quarterback of the Eskimos hopes to create “newer, better memories.”

For opposing defences this season, Reilly has been nothing short of a nightmare. He has thrown for 383 and 378 yards, respectively, this season, making him just the second quarterback in Eskimos history to throw for 375-plus yards in the first two games. Edmonton has scored on exactly half of its 28 total possessions, including seven touchdowns.

To make matters worse for the Blue and Gold, Reilly has been close to perfect against the Bombers in recent history, including 5-0 in his last five starts.

In that stretch, he’s completed 114 of his 175 passes (65.1 per cent) for 1,301 yards and six touchdowns. But as good as he has been, he expects a big game from Winnipeg and to hear it from the fans.

“You come into this stadium, and you know you’re in for a dogfight,” said Reilly. “And this night is going to be no different.”

SHIFT IN SECONDARY

With Johnny Adams and Bruce Johnson still sidelined with injuries, the Bombers will once again have a different look in their secondary.

Last week, it was Travis Hawkins, who was pulled midway through the game after losing on a number of his assignments. This week, it’s 24-year-old C.J. Roberts who will get his first CFL start.

Roberts will start at cornerback, taking over for Kevin Fogg, who will move to halfback to fill the void left by Johnson.

Chris Randle will remain at the other corner, as well as Macho Harris at safety and Julian Posey, who has two fumble recoveries in the last two games, at the other halfback position.

The unit will have its hands full against a talented group of Edmonton receivers, including arguably the best in Adarius Bowman, who finished with six receptions for 141 yards and three touchdowns in the win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders last week.

“It’s hard because they have all those threats,” said Randle. “But as a defence, we have to accept that challenge.”

KICKIN’ IT

The Bombers may have the league’s surest foot in Justin Medlock, but it’s Eskimos kicker Sean Whyte who has the hottest heading into today’s game.

Whyte has made 18 consecutive field-goal attempts dating back to last season, making him the only kicker in the CFL yet to miss this year. He needs just four more successful boots to tie a franchise record and six more to tie a career best, one he set while with Montreal.

Fans may remember Whyte. Last year, he kicked a last-second, game-winning 53-yard field goal in a 24-23 win over the Bombers in Week 15.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton

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Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University’s journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff.

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