Five storylines to watch when Bombers rumble with Redblacks

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This article was published 04/07/2019 (2257 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have touched down in the nation’s capital with the hopes of continuing their strong start to the 2019 CFL season.

The Bombers (2-0) opened the year with a victory on the road against the B.C. Lions and another at home last Thursday to the Edmonton Eskimos. For a second straight week, they’ll do battle with a team also boasting a perfect record, with Ottawa earning their 2-0 start by edging the Calgary Stampeders and Saskatchewan Roughriders by a combined seven points.

Another victory would keep the Bombers atop the West Division, ahead of the Eskimos (2-1), Stampeders (1-1), Roughriders (1-2), and Lions (0-3). The Bombers have opened a season 3-0 just twice since 1988 (2014 and 2003).

“Ultimately, it’s really not about anybody else but us. But you think about big picture, early on it’s definitely a good opportunity to separate from the pack a little bit,” said running back Andrew Harris.

“It’s such a long season still but accumulating wins early and getting that momentum riding in throughout the season and just consistently getting better every week. There are lots of areas we can get better at from last game. For me, just looking forward to how we’re going to respond to that.”

With that, here are five storylines to keep in mind for tonight’s game.

 

TWEAKS ON OFFENCE

The Bombers’ offence has scored four touchdowns in each game, showing poise in the red zone. Inside the 20-yard line, Winnipeg has scored a major on six of seven trips.

But while they’ve been able to put up more points than their opponents through two games, there is still plenty to be desired from a group that is arguably the most talented its been in years.

Bombers offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice signalled out a few areas in need of improvement, including being better on second down. Winnipeg was able to convert 65 per cent of their second downs against the Lions but that number dipped to 35 per cent against the Eskimos.

There’s also a need to be more consistent down the stretch. The offence has nearly disappeared in the fourth quarter, scoring just seven points.

“Obviously the fans love it — we love it — getting the big 80-yard touchdowns or making somebody miss and going for 40 and scoring. Those are great plays but the consistency on converting on second-and-medium or second-and-long, keeping our defence fresh — there are so many intangibles that go along with being consistent on offence,” said Harris.

“But the biggest thing is controlling the ball, getting those tough second downs, those conversions on second down and just moving the ball consistently in those times where we need to give our defence a break. Late in the fourth quarter last week we were two-and-out, two-and-out, two-and-out and we need to be more consistent in that area.”

 

A STABLE BUNCH

The Redblacks went through a major overhaul over the winter. They lost starting quarterback Trevor Harris and top receiver Greg Ellingson. Sir Vincent Rogers, their all-star left tackle, also left for Edmonton, among others.

But what has remained much the same — and has been a big part of the club’s early success — is the continuity on defence. Of the 12 starters they had in the Grey Cup game last year, 10 have returned, with only linebackers Kyries Hebert and Rico Murray moving on.

Under the direction of Noel Thorpe, who joined the Redblacks last season after five years as the defensive co-ordinator and assistant coach with the Montreal Alouettes, the Bombers know they are up for a challenge.

“They do have a lot of returning guys, guys that have been in Thorpe’s system now for a couple years and I think he’s one of the best co-ordinators in the league,” Bombers quarterback Matt Nichols said. “You watch them on film and they’re a tough group that flies around. We know they’re going to be tough and we’re up to the challenge.”

That doesn’t mean there aren’t areas to exploit, and Nichols has seen a lot of success against the Redblacks. Though he’s 4-4 against them as a member of the Bombers, he’s won four of the last five games and two straight at TD Place.

 

A FAMILIAR FACE IN DAVIS

After facing two of the league’s top quarterbacks so far in B.C.’s Mike Reilly and Harris in Edmonton, the Bombers will be up against another familiar, though much more inexperienced, face in Dominique Davis.

Davis spent three seasons in Winnipeg, seeing just one start over that stretch. Eager to get more opportunity, he signed with the Redblacks last season and this year, with Harris gone, edged out Jonathan Jennings as the team’s starter.

“It was his job to lose. We like Jonathan Jennings, too, but Dom has been really good ever since he’s been here. Everything he’s done would suggest he could do a really good job for us and he’s been very consistent with that,” Redblacks head coach Rick Campbell said. “I’m glad for him that he’s getting this opportunity.”

Davis is off to an impressive start, even if it hasn’t always been pretty. He threw four interceptions while also rushing for three touchdowns in a 32-28 win over the Stampeders. The next week, he didn’t commit a turnover, tossing for three touchdowns in a 44-41 victory against the Roughriders.

“It’s going to be fun. I know most of the guys on offence, some guys on defence,” said Davis. “It’s family outside of the lines but inside the lines, things are different. Each team’s trying to get a W and I just hope it’s us.”

 

SACKS NOT EVERYTHING

It’s been a quiet two games for the Bombers’ defensive line. Despite having many of the same pieces from last year, along with the addition of defensive end Willie Jefferson, Winnipeg has just two sacks.

Though statistics aren’t everything, bringing the quarterback down before he’s able to throw the ball is an integral piece of shutting down drives. Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea has little concern over the sacks total, though, feeling his group has put enough pressure on opposing pivots.

Asked for his evaluation of the D-line Thursday, he picked up on where the question might have been headed.

“Quarterbacks are moving around to throw the ball, I don’t think they’re comfortable out there,” O’Shea said. “I think where you’re going with this is whether it amounts to a stat called a sack. If the quarterback is uncomfortable and they’re not throwing touchdowns, then the D-line is doing their job.”

The pressure on the D-line is only going to intensify with the absence of middle linebacker Adam Bighill, who was ruled out for the game with a lower-body injury. Kyrie Wilson is expected to take over for Bighill in the middle, while Jesse Briggs and Nick Temple should split time at weak side.

Davis provides a unique challenge. While he’s shown he can complete the long ball — he was 6-for-9 on deep throws of 20-plus yards for two TDs and 176 yards against Saskatchewan — he can also make plays with his feet. Davis has 10 carries for 53 yards and three touchdowns.

 

GOOD TO BE LUCKY

The Bombers’ offence takes a lot of pride in being able to spread the ball around. With weapons such as Harris, Darvin Adams, Chris Matthews, Nic Demski, Drew Wolitarsky and Lucky Whitehead, Nichols has a ton of options to distribute the ball.

Who gets the ball is a bit more complex. It depends on the opponent, who best fits in the areas LaPolice feels he can exploit, as well as the flow of the game. Against B.C., it was Harris and Adams combining for 248 yards. Versus Edmonton, it was Whitehead who exploded for two touchdowns, his 155 receiving yards on seven catches accounting for the lion’s share of Nichols’ 200 passing yards.

But of all the excitement created among the team’s playmakers, Whitehead might just be the hardest to ignore. It’s too premature to start comparing him to the likes of Hamilton Tiger-Cats star Brandon Banks, but what he displayed against Edmonton last week had many singing his praises as a future CFL star.

“I do think I have a chance to make a big play and get not only myself excited and going but my teammates going and the fans going,” Whitehead said. “I see they play a lot of man (coverage), so I’m excited about that. I’m all for the one-on-one competition. I’m excited to see who’s going to be lining up across from me.”

 

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton