O-line showing cracks in foundation

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This article was published 18/06/2024 (541 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers pride themselves on playing a physical, punishing style of football. It’s an identity that has won the Blue and Gold a lot of games in recent years, including four consecutive trips to the Grey Cup, winning twice.

Nowhere on the CFL club is that better personified than on the offensive line.

After two weeks of underwhelming play by the men up front, there appears to be some serious cracks in the foundation. Questions are starting to brew as to whether this group is still the same dominating unit as before.

“We haven’t been as consistent as we have been in the past. We are not playing as well as we want to be playing,” veteran right guard Patrick Neufeld said following practice Tuesday. “But ultimately, it comes down to the work we put in during the week and playing with more aggression and intensity on the field.”

Neufeld said the O-line gathered on the plane home following a 23-19 loss to the Ottawa Redblacks and talked about some of the issues they’ve been having. The main point of the conversation wasn’t to point fingers, but to try to get on the same page after an unusually slow start on offence.

“One of us, during a drive, will make one error that we haven’t made in, like, five years,” Neufeld said. “No excuses, that’s on us… we’re just working through that stuff right now and getting back to where we should be.”

The criticism the O-line has faced this season is in large part because of how great their reputation has been. You won’t find a many excuses with this group, but there are some significant challenges that are unique to this season.

There are more moving parts to the O-line this year compared to previous seasons.

The Bombers were left with a huge hole at right tackle after Jermarcus Hardrick signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, replacing him with Eric Lofton, who has played for four teams in the last five years. Geoff Gray retired after Winnipeg told him it wouldn’t be offering a contract, making room for the likes Liam Dobson and Tui Eli to take on increased roles.

Things were only further complicated by Neufeld missing a majority of training camp, making it hard to build chemistry with Lofton. Neufeld’s absence also prevented the five-man unit from creating some much-needed chemistry with one another before the season started.

It also doesn’t help star running back Brady Oliveira got injured in Week 1 and has yet to return to the field.

“It’s a new year and a new slate and we have to earn our reputation,” centre Chris Kolankowski said. “It’s not going to be handed to us. We have to earn it every single week and that comes with putting it on tape and making sure defences know what they’re about to go against. We need to make sure we get back to that point.”

Kolankowski described the O-line’s performance in a 31-10 season-opening loss to the Montreal Alouettes as “plenty left to be desired,” but he felt they were more physical against Ottawa.

He added the O-line is made up of perfectionists and any criticism from the outside pales in comparison to what’s being thrown around in meetings.

“Even if you execute a block, you can always look for reasons to be better — hand placement, posture, all that,” Kolankowski said. “Being very critical of ourselves is the way we’re going to get back to earning that reputation again.”

Marty Costello is in his seventh season as the team’s O-line coach. While he thinks there’s another level the group can get to, with the work he’s seen them put in each day, he’s confident they’ll get there.

“It’s their character, the type of people that they are, their buy-in to what the organization is doing and what the dressing room is,” Costello said. “I got to do a better job of coaching them, putting them in better positions to succeed. It’s on all of us.”

Costello wasn’t ready to use some of the aforementioned hurdles the O-line has faced as excuses. But he did say that every little change — any one player, any practice rep, opposing defences — can change the whole dynamic of the line.

As for an identity this year, that’s something Costello said is up to the group and not him to decide.

“They want to be known as that group that chases the ball and plays hard and is physical,” Costello said. “It really doesn’t matter what I want, it’s what they’re going to show on tape. That’s what they’re working towards is to show everybody what they can do.”

Stanley Bryant isn’t one to panic. One of the best O-lineman ever to play the three-down game, he sees a group with a ton of experience, more than capable of finding an extra gear.

“I know it hasn’t looked the same so far, but we’re one or two big plays away from changing the whole outcome of the last two games,” Bryant said. “We’re killing ourselves a bit, but we’re going to get better and start winning games.”

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

X: @jeffkhamilton