Big Blue know what they have to do

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This article was published 30/07/2024 (460 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There is no crisis of confidence engulfing the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

They’ve identified the issues that have been plaguing them during their 2-6 start to the 2024 CFL season and they’re attacking those as they prepare for a critical stretch that includes consecutive games against the West Division leading B.C. Lions.

After the locker room opened following a closed practice on Tuesday, there was a clear recognition things need to improve quickly.

There was no finger-pointing on the menu either, just multiple examples of accountability.

“I think everyone has confidence in their ability, that’s why they’re here. I don’t know if it’s getting chipped away just yet,” said Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira. “Everyone still has confidence in themselves and I know I have confidence in this entire group and this entire locker room.”

Maintaining belief is critical when a team is trying to overcome the number of self-inflicted wounds that Blue Bombers have absorbed in recent weeks in falling to fourth place in the West, well behind the 5-2 Lions, fresh off a bye week and coming to Princess Auto Stadium on Thursday.

“You know what, we know what’s ahead of us — and that (there’s) a lot of football to be played. It’s not like anything is out of reach,” said Blue Bombers receiver Nic Demski. “That’s the beauty of it. You’ve always got to look at the positives, but at the end of the day we know where we are in the standings. In saying that, we know that we’re only two points behind the next team that’s above us.

“We’ve got a beautiful opportunity here — and that’s to play good football for the second half of this season. I feel like we’re on repeat, where we keep saying that it starts this week. But it does, it starts this week.”

The Blue Bombers showed plenty of signs in Saturday’s 16-14 overtime loss to the Toronto Argonauts, but ultimately fell short after losing the turnover battle 5-1, which included three lost fumbles.

“Nobody’s patting themselves on the back. They want to win. But they do see elements there that are very, very good,” said Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea. “And we just need to clean up a couple of little things. We were fairly clean, execution-wise. We just did a couple things that we want to not do.”

“Nobody’s patting themselves on the back. They want to win.”– Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea

Demski is battling through a rough patch when it comes to ball security, as he’s lost costly fumbles in consecutive weeks.

The Winnipegger has taken the mistakes hard and spoken to members of the media about them after both losses and in the days leading into the next game.

“It’s going back to the basics. It’s a humbling feeling, it’s a humbling moment,” said Demski. “But at the end of the day, in order to make plays and put this team in a good position to win, I’ve got to do that. I’ve got to go back to basics and put two hands on the ball and not make as much happen after the play.

“That just comes with it. It’s football. At the end of the day, sometimes you’re going to get the bounces, sometimes you’re not. Right now, I’m pretty sure that it’s obvious to see, I’m not getting the bounces. So, I’ve just got to go back to fundamental football.”

Executing those fundamentals has been part of what has made the Blue Bombers so successful during the previous four seasons, leading to four consecutive trips to the Grey Cup — and two league championships.

Demski wasn’t the only player looking inward on the topic of ball security.

“We had waaay too many turnovers. It’s a thing that’s going to happen in pro sports and in the game of football, but when you’re looking at four or five you’ve got to make it a point of emphasis of ball security and focus on not putting the ball on the ground,” said Oliveira, who also had a lost fumble on Saturday. “It starts with me being the main ball carrier on this team and probably touching the ball more than anyone on this offence other than the quarterback. I take great pride in what I do and especially with the ball security so it’s going to start with me and me being a leader and echoing it to my teammates. I’ve got to be better with the ball.”

We’re buckling down and making things harder and harder for teams… But we still need and want to take the ball away more and still want to be more perfect.”– Blue Bombers middle linebacker Adam Bighill

Getting back to winning the turnover battle would make life a bit easier on the Blue Bombers.

“You’ve got to take care of the football. We know that. You’ve got to put extra emphasis on taking care of the football and extra emphasis on taking it away,” said Blue Bombers middle linebacker Adam Bighill. “The defence, we’re trending in the way that we want to as we’re going through the season here. We’re buckling down and making things harder and harder for teams. That’s something we’re proud about. But we still need and want to take the ball away more and still want to be more perfect.

“It’s fun limiting teams points and yards and making their life tough.”

The next step for the Blue Bombers is to ensure they don’t beat themselves.

“We could put up 500 yards or 600 yards, if we’re not getting the result, it’s a terrible feeling,” said Oliveira. “Good teams find a way to win and right now, we’re not finding a way to win. Do I think we’re a good team though? Yes, we’re a good team and we have the guys to get the job done. We just need to find a way to get it done.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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