Plenty at stake as Blue Bombers face desperate Tiger-Cats

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This article was published 16/09/2022 (1150 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HAMILTON — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers continue their pursuit of clinching the West Division with a Week 15 matchup against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Tim Hortons Field Saturday afternoon.

The Bombers (12-1) have already clinched a post-season berth and with a victory against the Tiger-Cats — as well as a Calgary Stampeders loss this week — they’ll secure a home playoff game, guaranteed to finish no worse than second in the West. Not surprisingly, the Bombers — who have been the most disciplined team off the field with what they say, as much as they are with their play on the field — have no interest in discussing the various what-ifs of a season.

Instead, all their focus lies on a Tiger-Cats team that has lacked its usual roar in 2022, and are hungry for wins as they try to its their playoff hopes alive.

“It’s going to be a challenge — it always is when we play Hamilton,” Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros said. “It’s going to be a physical football game. They’re a very physical, hard-hitting, disciplined group of guys. So, on our end we’re going to have a clean game, a physical game and see where we end up.”

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

KEEP IT ROLLING

Buck Pierce has done a lot of great things since taking over the role of offensive co-ordinator, including helping guide the Bombers to a Grey Cup last season in his first year at the controls. Few, if any, game plans were more effective than what was witnessed last week in a 54-20 beatdown over the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The Bombers scored on nine of their 10 possessions, including seven drives ending with a touchdown. Equally as impressive was Pierce’s ability to get everyone involved.

All three quarterbacks saw action, with Zach Collaros throwing four touchdowns, Dru Brown tossing one of his own and Dakota Prukop rushing in a pair of scores. Seven players caught at least one pass, including Brendan O’Leary-Orange registering his first career touchdown, and five players had a rushing attempt, with Brady Oliveira leading the way with 10 carries for 55 yards.

The Tiger-Cats have allowed the second-most points against this season, at an average of 27.5, but the second fewest offensive yards per game, with 331, tied with the Bombers. If the offence is to keep things rolling, it starts with limiting the defensive line, notably defensive tackles Micah Johnson and Dylan Wynn.

 

KEEP IT ROLLING…PART 2

Speaking of keeping it rolling, how about the run receiver Nic Demski is on right now.

Demski is on a three-game touchdown streak, with four over that stretch, including a pair against the Riders last week. The 28-year-old has six scores this season, which is a new personal single-season high for the Winnipeg native, eclipsing the four he got last year – that’s despite missing four games, and five regular-season tilts still to be played.

When I spoke with Demski earlier this week about his season so far, he alluded to finally playing the way he’s always expected from himself as a pro. In the midst of his prime playing years, he noted an increased comfort level with the offence and Collaros has slowed the game down, and in the process has made him must-watch TV.

Demski has developed into a weapon on every play — in the air or on the ground, where he’s averaged eight yards on 11 rushes — and will be a prime target once again this week in Hamilton.

 

ALEXANDER RETURNS

It was on Tim Hortons Field, midway through last year’s Grey Cup, that Bombers safety Brandon Alexander felt a pain in his knee. Unwilling to sit out the season’s most important game, Alexander kept playing, the injury only getting worse, to the point he would require surgery over the off-season and a long recovery that would inevitably bleed into this year.

It’s only fitting that after months of rehab, followed by the last few weeks of practise to test the knee’s durability, Alexander is making his 2022 debut back in Hamilton. It’s been a long journey for the 2021 CFL all-star, one that’s included staying in Winnipeg over the winter to work closely with team doctors and spending the first few months of the season as a support tool, helping coach up the secondary while he watched from the sidelines.

Now it’s Alexander’s turn to play, and it couldn’t come at a better time. The Bombers secondary is beat up, with halfback Nick Taylor the most recent player to suffer a long-term injury.

With corner Demerio Houston also out of the mix, the Bombers will be leaning on Alexander to be a calming influence, ensuring there’s communication among what’s a relatively inexperienced group compared to what the Bombers are used to. Jamal Parker and Evan Holm — a duo with a combined 13 CFL games, and even fewer starts — will be patrolling the field-side of the secondary, and it will be crucial for Alexander to help everyone get on the same page against the Tiger-Cats offence.

 

EVANS SEEKS REDEMPTION

It’s been a rough season for Dane Evans and one few could have predicted when Hamilton opted over the winter to make him the No. 1 quarterback over Jeremiah Masoli. Evans has been a shell of his former self this season, with 10 touchdown passes compared to 13 interceptions.

In his last start — a 37-20 loss to the Toronto Argonauts back in Week 12 — Evans threw three picks, leading to 17 points for the opponent. He dumped heavy criticism on himself afterwards, telling reporters he kept screwing over his team.

Evans spoke candidly about his struggles after Friday’s walk-through, particularly about his mental health. He called this season the most challenging year he’s ever had in sports, and I give him credit for sharing the work he’s put in with the team psychologist.

Professional sports is often a cruel business, and it’s unclear how much rope Evans has as the Tiger-Cats desperately search for wins. What’s clear is the Hamilton pivot is as motivated as ever, but with Matthew Shiltz back from a hand injury, a slow start will likely mean a quick change behind centre.

 

HOW BAD IS THE TICATS SITUATION?

Pretty bad. Actually, really bad.

At 3-9, Hamilton is on life support and losing runway to catch the second-place Montreal Alouettes (5-7) for second place in the East Division. With just six games remaining, including half of those against teams with better records in the West, if the Tiger-Cats plan to make up some ground on the Als, they can’t afford to fall behind any further.

Head coach Orlondo Steinauer said his players continue to possess a healthy optimism. He preached patience with the group, and a focus on the fine details, but there has to be a sense of urgency brewing in the locker room.

What a turnaround for a club that has been in the last two Grey Cups, both of which were defeats at the hands of the Blue and Gold. The Bombers now have a chance now to put them in an even deeper hole with a win, preventing the chance for a third straight meeting in the championship game.

 

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton