Blue need to strike early and often

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This article was published 22/08/2024 (440 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers hope to keep the good times rolling when they welcome the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to Princess Auto Stadium Friday night.

The Bombers are winners of two consecutive games for just the second time this season, with the chance to improve their streak to three for the first time in 2024. The recent victories, both of which have come against the B.C. Lions, have improved the Blue and Gold to 4-6 and catapulted them back into the West Division playoff race, with just five points separating first and last place.

“It’s the wild, wild West and it’s anybody’s game right now,” Bombers running back Brady Oliveira said following Thursday’s walk-through. “We still need to focus, obviously, one week at a time, come in here and continue to have good performances, stacking good performances onto good performances. I’m excited to see how this thing plays out.”

Meanwhile, it hasn’t been much fun for the Ticats this year.

They occupy the league’s basement, possessing a CFL-worst 2-8 record and have lost their last three games. Hamilton has fired two coaches already, including defensive co-ordinator Mark Washington this past weekend to make room for the hiring of Chris Jones, who was fired as general manager and head coach of the Edmonton Elks after an 0-5 start.

It’s the first of two games between the two clubs, with the season series wrapping up in Hamilton on Oct. 4. Let’s dig deeper into this week’s matchup in the latest edition of 5 Storylines.

START STRONG, FINISH HARD

The best way to handle any opponent, and especially one that is struggling as much as Hamilton, is to get on them early and often. The Bombers offence has struggled out of the gate and when it has found success in the first quarter, as was the case with an opening touchdown drive against B.C. on Sunday, it’s been tough to keep up the momentum.

Winnipeg is averaging fewer than 20 offensive points per game, the lowest in the CFL, and the 15 touchdowns it has scored is also a league low. While the ground game has been effective, with Winnipeg’s 108 rushing yards per game one spot behind Toronto’s 124, the aerial offence has been slow going. The Bombers boast the second-lowest passing yards, with an average of 260 per game, and their six passing touchdowns is the fewest in the CFL.

Quarterback Zach Collaros has five of those passing TDs, good enough for 11th among QBs, in a league that only has nine teams. The Bombers star pivot hasn’t looked much like his usual self, although he has regained some of the magic in recent weeks as he gets more comfortable with a stable of receivers that is starting to get healthy.

“It’s a really fun group to work with because they’re eager to learn,” Collaros said. “Building that chemistry is something that’s ongoing. You continue to build that chemistry day in and day out. That’s what makes this game fun.”

KEEP IT ROLLING

Have you noticed there’s been barely a peep about the Bombers offensive line lately, even with veteran guard Patrick Neufeld set to miss a third consecutive game? While the O-line has been the heart and soul of the club in recent years, it has had a slow start this season and we’re now at the point where no news is actually good news.

When asked about the progress, Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea pointed to how several players had missed a majority of training camp, as well as Oliveira, and that they’re finally catching up to where the coaching staff expected them to be. Either way, the front-five has opened lanes for Oliveira and given Collaros time to go through his reads.

What’s still missing is that trademark finish from the last few years, brought on by the O-line’s dominance in the trenches. Winnipeg has only scored TDs on half its 26 visits to within the opponent’s 25-yard line.

There’s no better time for the offence to have a breakout game and find some confidence in close than against a Ticats club that has allowed the most passing and rushing TDs this year. The Bombers will need to be feeling good about themselves as they get ready for back-to-back games against the first-place Saskatchewan Roughriders starting next week in the Labour Day Classic.

WHAT’S OLD IS NEW

It’s so on brand for the 2024 Hamilton Tiger-Cats to try and fix their league-worst defence by bringing in Jones, who was responsible for the league’s second-worst defence while with the Elks.

We’ll have to wait and see how it all pans out, but that’s a fast turnaround for any club, let alone one that has allowed the most touchdowns (33) and points (334) this season. Jones’ arrival should provide a spark, as players try to give a strong first impression to a coach who could be there for the long haul.

O’Shea said he expected Jones to have an immediate impact, adding it’s easier to adjust to a new defensive scheme than it is to digest a different offensive playbook. Asked what the characteristics of a Jones defence are, Oliveira put it this way: “Unique fronts, maybe a little bit unsound at times. They want to get to the quarterback, so they bring pressure.”

Back to the O-line, the Bombers have allowed 19 sacks through 10 games, behind only Hamilton (14) and Calgary (16). Winnipeg has been even stingier when you consider five of those sacks occurred in a loss to the Toronto Argonauts last month, in what was one of the sloppier offensive performances this season.

HERE FOR THE PICK PARTY

It’s been quite impressive watching the Bombers secondary evolve into one of, if not the best group in the CFL. The secret sauce has been a blend of veteran leadership and young talent that has become the talk of the league.

There’s been a lot of chatter about QB Tre Ford in Edmonton, and deservedly so, but twin brother Tyrell Ford is making a name for himself here in Winnipeg and has put opposing pivots across the league on notice. Ford has four interceptions this season, two back of the league lead, including one in each of his last two games.

“The playbook has slowed down for me a little bit, in the game in general,” Ford said. “But I think I’m just playing with more confidence, and I’ve got a good group of guys that are making it easy for me.”

With Ford and Evan Holm working the field-side of the secondary, Terrell Bonds and Deatrick Nichols patrolling the boundary and Brandon Alexander keeping it all together at safety, it’s pick-your-poison for opposing QBs. While this group had one interception through the first four games, it’s been feasting of late, with six picks in as many games since.

That can’t be good news for the Ticats, who have given up a league-worst 12 interceptions this year, with five coming in the last three games.

BACK TO BO

It’s been an awkward year for Ticats QB Bo Levi Mitchell.

Mitchell ended last season with his future in Hamilton in serious doubt, only to be appointed the starter again this season. Then he was leading the CFL in passing yards and touchdowns through nine weeks, but was pulled two series into a Week 10 loss to Montreal after throwing another interception — Mitchell has committed a league-leading 12 picks — and was replaced at No. 1 with a much younger option in Taylor Powell.

Mitchell took to social media to poke fun at his demotion by posting a photo of his two young daughters running a lemonade stand, insinuating the duo as the new breadwinners. Powell made his first start of the season last week against Edmonton and was knocked out with a concussion and later put on the six-game injured list.

All caught up?

The door is now open for Mitchell to make a return, whether head coach Scott Milanovich likes it or not. It’s been pure theatre so far, and one can only imagine what Milanovich will do if he sees another costly interception from Mitchell.

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

X: @jeffkhamilton