Bombers enter season motivated by heartbreaking Grey Cup loss

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This article was published 04/06/2024 (524 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

New season, new teammates, and a new helmet for Patrick Neufeld.

The veteran guard destroyed the one he wore in 2023 after the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were upset 28-24 by the Montreal Alouettes in last November’s Grey Cup.

“That’s probably the most frustrated and disappointed I’ve ever been after a game. It just kind of happened, I smashed my helmet in anger, disappointment and sadness,” said Neufeld on Tuesday.

“I didn’t get over that game for probably a couple months. It was a tough start to the winter.”

Some of those emotions are creeping in this week as the Bombers are preparing to host Montreal on Thursday for the season opener.

“I’m trying to let it go. That’s going to be the best thing for me to do just because we can’t get it back,” said receiver Kenny Lawler. “To be able to move forward and get better you’re going to have to let it go. It’s good to be able to watch this film because I use it as a chip on my shoulder because I don’t want to ever go through that experience again.”

Returning to a fifth straight championship game — and ideally winning this time after back-to-back heartbreaking defeats — isn’t so simple as this is a team that underwent more change this past offseason than it has in years past. The West Division has also gotten stronger — particularly Saskatchewan — and history isn’t on their side as no team has appeared in the big dance in five or more consecutive seasons since the Edmonton dynasty (1977-82).

The drive to five begins now, and to get you ready, here’s what you need to know about the Bombers in all three phases.

OFFENCE

Brady Oliveira was expected to take a step forward in 2023, but no one could’ve predicted the running back would amass more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage and be a finalist for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player award.

It’ll be a tough performance to replicate, especially now that the other eight teams know just how important Oliveira is to the offence.

He missed training camp with an offseason injury but is expected to start Thursday.

“We don’t need him to have the same year. He’s going to be better and we’re going to be a better team. Whatever that takes, whatever that looks like,” said head coach Mike O’Shea.

“I think some people get fixated on the numbers and we don’t give a sh— about the numbers, we just want wins.”

Those numbers do lead to wins, though. Oliveira has enjoyed the luxury of running behind one of, if not the best O-line in the league but there are questions surrounding his blockers heading into Thursday.

Two starters are gone — right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick signed with the Riders for big bucks and guard Geoff Gray went unsigned due to salary cap constraints. Can star left tackle Stanley Bryant hold of Father Time for another year at the age of 38?

Journeyman Eric Lofton, a 31-year-old who is coming off of a shaky season in Saskatchewan, will try to fill Hardrick’s shoes. Liam Dobson, who was chosen third overall in the 2021 CFL Draft, now has a chance to show what he can do after sitting and developing for two seasons.

Centre Chris Kolankowski re-signed after being a vote away from earning the team’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman honour. There shouldn’t be any issues on the interior with Neufeld, a 35-year-old three-time all-star, also returning.

Quarterback Zach Collaros is also 35 but is showing zero signs of slowing down after helping Winnipeg score the most points in the league. He wasn’t at his best in the Grey Cup but is still considered the best pivot in the land.

If the two-time Most Outstanding Player misses any time, it’ll be fan favourite Chris Streveler leading the offence as he’s back after bouncing around the NFL for four years.

The Bombers should be the most explosive team in the red zone with Oliveira and Streveler capable of running through defenders.

The air attack is just as impressive with Dalton Schoen, Kenny Lawler, Nic Demski and Drew Wolitarsky as the targets. Rookie Ontaria Wilson, a Florida State product, is the newest addition to the group and will take over for Rasheed Bailey after the veteran signed with Toronto.

DEFENCE

Everyone knows what to expect from star pass rusher Willie Jefferson and defensive tackle Jake Thomas, the longest-tenured member of the team, but the other players on the defensive line have a lot to prove.

The Bombers are hoping Miles Fox can be the latest American DT to slide in and produce after seeing action in just two games last year. This is an area where they don’t like to spend their money, and for good reason, as they keep finding younger and cheaper options who can clog the lanes.

Defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat was arguably the biggest loss of the winter as he retired after not hearing anything from the club about a new contract. When healthy, the 33-year-old from Texas was one of the most feared defenders out there, but injuries were starting to take a toll and the Bombers had to save cash somewhere. It’ll be up to second-year pro Celestin Haba to make up for Jeffcoat’s departure. Haba doesn’t have Jeffcoat’s size or NFL experience, but did fill in admirably for the former all-star last year over stretches with four sacks in eight games.

At middle linebacker, Adam Bighill is starting the season on the six-game injured list which could lead to special teams ace/backup Shayne Gauthier being promoted. Kyrie Wilson is entering Year 7 at weak-side linebacker and Redha Kramdi returns to the strong-side linebacker/dime position after snatching the job away from Alden Darby, Jr. in late June and never looking back. It’ll be interesting to see what Bighill, 35, is capable of once he’s at full health. He’s the hardest worker on the team, but the injuries might be catching up to him.

The secondary underwent changes at corner with the Bombers allowing last year’s interception leader Demerio Houston to walk in free agency to Calgary — and rightfully so as those seven picks inflated his value — and not re-signing Winston Rose after two inconsistent seasons.

Tyrell Ford will take over at field-side corner — a position where you rarely see Canadians — after trying to crack with the NFL with the Green Bay Packers. CFL newcomer Terrell Bonds should start the year at boundary corner after winning the competition out of training camp. Bonds is new to Canada, but no stranger to the pros as the 27-year-old has played in the NFL, AAF, USFL and XFL.

The defence also has a new, but familiar voice with Jordan Younger taking over the co-ordinator headset from Richie Hall after being the team’s defensive backs coach for six years. Hall remains on staff as a defensive assistant.

The Bombers had the stingiest defence by holding opponents to 20.9 points per contest in 2023. Younger and the new faces in starting roles have a high standard to live up to.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Bomberland can sleep well at night knowing Sergio Castillo is the placekicker. For the first time in the 33-year-old’s career, Castillo will wear the same colours in consecutive seasons.

He earned a pay raise after drilling 90.2 per cent of his kicks and going a perfect 31-for-31 inside the 40-yard line.

Global punter Jamieson Sheahan also returned to town after a solid rookie campaign in which his 46.2 punt average was fifth best in the league.

The biggest storyline on special teams is at returner where Janarion Grant is another name the Blue and Gold couldn’t fit on the payroll. They had a taste of what life is like without their all-time leader in return touchdowns last year when Grant was sidelined for 10 weeks with injury and the results weren’t pretty. Rookie Myron Mitchell is the favourite to get the first shot at Grant’s old gig in Week 1 after having some success as a returner at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

Mike Miller — the CFL’s all-time leader in special teams tackles — is in charge of the unit after a career-ending neck injury forced him to hang up the pads for good. Miller replaced Paul Boudreau who now coaches Hamilton’s special teams.

This is a group that could endure some growing pains early on.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

X: @TaylorAllen31