Bombers cook up new strategy

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This article was published 06/08/2019 (2225 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

On Monday afternoon, fourth-year cornerback Chandler Fenner and second-year halfback Chris Humes were instructed to wear bulky oven mitts at football practice.

The ploy seemed unconventional, but it had a conventional message.

“Play with your feet, not your hands,” Winnipeg defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall said. “Your feet should move before your hands.”

Hall’s direction came in response to Friday’s breakdown in Hogtown, where the Blue Bombers defence exhibited some slow reaction times in a 28-27 loss to the previously winless Argonauts. The loss, coming after the visitors built then frittered away a 20-0 lead, was Winnipeg’s second on the road in six days.

It was more of the same teaching technique at Tuesday’s closed practice, but head coach Mike O’Shea wasn’t divulging exactly who wore oven mitts.

“We got a pick in practice with them, so it’s working,” O’Shea said with a smile.

Fenner opted for a light-hearted analysis.

“I was ready to make some cookies after practice, that’s for sure,” he said. “No, it was an enjoyable experience. We just have a lot of fun on the field. Looking forward to getting back in the W category. I mean, we’ve gotta do whatever it takes to win, right?”

“I think it’s something they want me to do and will help me improve,” said Fenner, who registered seven tackles against Toronto. “So, I’m trying to take my game to the next level.”

Humes didn’t see the humour, but he did take the suggestion to heart.

“It’s something that keeps me conscious of technique,” said Humes, who finished the Week 8 game with eight tackles. “It’s a joke — everybody’s laughing — but I took it pretty serious.”

The pressure on Humes, Fenner and the rest of the Winnipeg defence will be racheted up further this week, when the Calgary Stampeders roll into town for a Thursday night matchup at IG Field.

Calgary and Winnipeg sit tied atop the CFL’s West Division at 5-2.

The Stampeders, winners of three straight, have accomplished a return to the top without the services of their injured MVP quarterback, Bo Levi Mitchell. No. 2 QB Nick Arbuckle has proven to be a competent fill-in, but Calgary’s fearsome defence and special-teams work have been stellar.

Despite Mitchell’s return to practice this week, Arbuckle is expected to be Thursday’s starter.

“Bo Levi’s a very good quarterback, obviously,” O’Shea said. “The numbers he puts up, the wins he has, his record speaks for itself. But you’ve gotta be able to play. No matter who they line up behind centre, you’ve gotta get out there and play, and you’ve gotta execute your assignments and play good, tough football no matter what.

“So, I don’t know that we’re focused on that aspect of it.”

In six games, Arbuckle has completed 72.9 per cent of his passes (121 of 166) for 1,473 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions.

“Just experience,” Fenner said, contrasting the two QBs. “Arbuckle has some really sharp passes. He can throw on a dime. Just in terms of reading situations is different from Bo, just because he’s seen so much football. So, he’s still learning and hopefully we can take advantage of some of that.”

Humes sees a little of Mitchell in Arbuckle.

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“Both of them are playmakers, both of them are gunslingers, both have a grasp of what’s going on with the offence,” Humes said. “Bo’s definitely a playmaker. He’s not up right now, so we just take it for what it is.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14