Bombers look for bounce back game against first-place Ticats

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This article was published 26/09/2019 (2228 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have already suffered a great loss this week, even before doing battle with the CFL-leading Hamilton Tiger-Cats at IG Field tonight.

The Bombers announced Thursday afternoon that No. 1 quarterback Matt Nichols has undergone surgery on his injured throwing shoulder and has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2019 season. Nichols had missed the last four games and, according to the team’s recent reports, was progressing on schedule.

Clearly, things have changed.

“Matt Nichols sustained a significant shoulder injury in Week 10 from which he has been diligently rehabbing to try and avoid season-ending surgery and return to the playing field,” head coach Mike O’Shea said in a statement released by the Bombers.

“After rehabbing conservatively for a period of six weeks, it was determined by the medical team that surgery would be required and a return to the field this season would not be possible.”

The news is just the latest in a string of unfortunate incidents for the Blue Bombers this season. The focus, though, remains on the Tiger-Cats and earning a much-needed victory after last week’s meltdown in Montreal.

With that, here are five storylines to keep an eye on during tonight’s game.

 

THE STREVELER ERA BEGINS IN EARNEST

There had been serious buzz ever since Nichols was injured in mid-August that he might miss beyond the six weeks the Bombers first projected. All that speculation has been put to rest now, as Winnipeg transitions to Chris Streveler as its full-time pivot.

Streveler has started the last four games, earning mixed results with a 2-2 record. He’s shown flashes of brilliance, including four straight touchdown drives to start the game against the Alouettes. He’s also made some questionable decisions that have proven costly, most notably the three interceptions he’s thrown in the last three games.

“I feel more and more comfortable each week. As a young player, especially at quarterback, any time you get practice reps and game reps you continue to learn from those. I felt like every week I’ve continued to take steps in terms of identifying things and getting through progressions,” Streveler said.

“I should be able to continue to take steps forward. There’s definitely some stuff last game that I wanted to clean up for this week and hopefully can do that.”

While the Bombers were hoping for Nichols to return, they are comfortable running with Streveler in their pursuit of a Grey Cup. There is no plan to acquire another pivot, meaning Sean McGuire and recently signed Trevor Knight will round out the quarterback stable.

Now that Streveler has been given the keys to the car, it should be an interesting journey the rest of the way.

 

MOVE ON FROM MONTREAL

Every week, win or lose, the Bombers go through the same mental exercise.

There’s a 24-hour rule — meaning players have a full day to feel good or bad about their performance — that is put into effect, and it coincides with looking over the game tape. After that, emotions are expected to be flushed, with the task at hand transitioning to studying the next opponent.

Still, it’s hard to imagine the Bombers, coming off a heart-breaking 38-37 road loss to the Alouettes that included dropping a 20-point fourth-quarter lead, were able to easily move on from their colossal collapse. But it’s also difficult to think they let it linger for too long, either, not with the 10-3 Ticats next on tap.

“This is a week where we’ve moved past the loss, as terrible as it was and as tough as it was to move on from it, we’ve moved on from it,” O’Shea said. “You better focus on (Hamilton) because they’re tough in all three phases. You better have your eyes on the right film and be studying the right game plans and not be worrying about what happened the last game.”

It would seem the like perfect place for a bounce-back game. The Bombers are 6-0 at IG Field, outscoring their opponents 200 to 93 over that stretch.

 

BATTLE OF THE BEST

The Tiger-Cats are the class of the CFL at the moment. They have the best record in the league and it’s just a matter of time before they clinch top spot in the East Division.

The Bombers aren’t too far behind. At 9-4, they’re tied with the Calgary Stampeders for first place in the West. Winnipeg’s four losses have come by a combined 12 points, with three of those defeats by two points or less. The other was 23-15 setback against the Ticats on July 26.

Both clubs have already punched their ticket to the playoffs, with each favoured to come out of their respective divisions. That means Friday could feature an early Grey Cup preview, so long as both teams live up to their own expectations.

“This is going to be a good test for us, coming right back after the Montreal game. We’re excited to do it,” Bombers linebacker Adam Bighill said. “They’re a good football team, we’re a good football team and it’s going to be a battle.”

In a lot of ways, these two teams are similar, requiring strong efforts from all three phases to carve out wins.

But the Bombers have more to prove. After the debacle in Montreal, it will be how Winnipeg responds that should tell us what we need to know about this team and their mental and physical fortitude.

 

STAR-STUDDED OFFENCE

We saw last week what can happen when the Bombers face a mobile quarterback who can make plays on the run. Montreal’s Vernon Adams Jr., escaped the pocket on a number of occasions last week, en route to throwing for 488 passing yards.

The Bombers are up against a similar challenge in Hamilton’s Dane Evans. Evans, much like Adams and Streveler, wasn’t Plan A for this year. It was only after an injury to Jeremiah Masoli that the 25-year-old finally got his shot.

Evans had made the most of his opportunity and Hamilton continues to shine with him at the controls. He’s played especially well in recent weeks, including three straight games with at least 300 passing yards.

“(Their offence) is unique. They don’t always just run the routes as drawn up on a card. It’s reading leverages and being able to play off of body presence and space and so they do a good job of doing that and the quarterbacks do a good job of feeling it,” Bighill said. “They’re an offence, much like us, that uses misdirection. You’ve got a lot of different things that you can do and they’ve shown that they’re willing to put the ball in everybody’s hands.”

The most impressive part of their offence is the crew of receivers. Not only does Hamilton have Brandon Banks, one of the front-runners for league MVP, but also a budding star in Bralon Addison. Addison has been the CFL’s top receiver since Week 10, hauling in 38 receptions for 568 yards and three touchdowns in five games. The Bombers’ leading receiver is running back Andrew Harris, who has 449 yards through 11 games.

 

SOMETHING’S GOT TO GIVE

What happens when you pin two teams that have scored the most and given up the fewest points in the CFL? We’re about to find out.

Indeed, the Bombers average the most points (30.2) per game, with the Tiger-Cats (29.5) second. Hamilton allows the fewest points per game (20.2), with Winnipeg (20.5) right behind.

Clearly, something’s got to give. When two teams are that close on offence and defence, look to the specials teams to be the difference.

The Bombers struggled last week in this department, including two missed kicks from Justin Medlock. But they have some of the best cover teams in the league, and a returner in Janarian Grant who can hurt you. Grant leads the CFL with three punt return touchdowns.

The Tiger-Cats are no slouches in this area, either, and might possess an equally talented return threat in Frankie Williams. Williams leads the CFL with eight punt returns for 30-plus yards.

 

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton