‘Whatever it takes to get it done’

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers may be 3-3 on paper, but things feel so much worse than that right now.

They’ve lost three in a row by double-digits and starting quarterback Zach Collaros is sidelined with a neck injury.

Time to hit the panic button? It’s a bit early for that. A loss tonight against the visiting Toronto Argonauts (7:30 p.m.) will have Blue and Gold diehards tempted to do so.

The 2-5 Argos have won three consecutive meetings against Winnipeg, including last week’s 31-17 beatdown in Toronto.

The Bombers, now led by No. 2 QB Chris Streveler and a defence that will look much different from the one in the previous outing, will need be sharper in all areas to split the series.

“Whatever it takes to get it done, man. That’s the mindset going into this game,” said Streveler.

“We need some energy, so, I’m going to do whatever it takes to help us get the win and I know that’s the mindset in that locker room right now.”

To get you ready for game day, here’s another edition of 5 Storylines.

Streveler time

Chris Streveler’s last start at Princess Auto Stadium couldn’t have gone much better.

It was in Week 2 against B.C., and it was arguably the best overall game of his career: 246 passing yards, three touchdowns, and one interception in a 34-20 win.

Since then, it hasn’t been as pretty. He threw a red-zone interception and a pick-six two weeks ago vs. Calgary when subbing in for an injured Zach Collaros. In a similar situation last week in T.O., Streveler was better — completing 11-of-18 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown — but didn’t do enough to get the Bombers back in the game.

With Collaros down and out – it remains to be seen for how long — the door is open for Streveler to improve on his 6-8 career record as a starter and, more importantly, get the Bombers back on track.

A big reason for the team’s struggles is their inconsistent air attack. Their 264.8 passing yards per game ranks seventh, their 90.2 pass efficiency rating ranks eighth, and their 11 interceptions are the most in the CFL.

Streveler hasn’t made a name for himself with a world-renowned arm, but at this point, his can’t be much worse than what Collaros’s has offered lately.

 

Shuffling the secondary

Field-side corner back Marquise Bridges has been benched. Taking his spot is Jamal Parker, who is moving down from safety. Replacing Parker at safety is Canadian Redha Kramdi. Sliding in at Kramdi’s dime back position is Michael Griffin, who is making his first start of the year.

You got all that?

The Bombers don’t bench players due to their production often, but Bridges gave the club no choice as they are in desperate need of a shakeup and he has given up way too many big plays to justify keeping him out there. The most damning stat is the Bombers are allowing opponents to convert on second down 50.8 per cent of the time which has them seventh in the league.

Argos journeyman QB Nick Arbuckle had no problem on second and long en route to having one of the best games of his career last week — even in the rainy conditions — by completing 22-of-31 passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns. In the two games before that, Calgary Stampeders pivot Vernon Adams Jr. combined for 489 passing yards, five touchdowns and one interception in back-to-back victories over Winnipeg.

It’ll be interesting to see if it works, especially for Kramdi who has never played safety in the pros, but O’Shea has no qualms about trusting him to be the last line of defence.

“Redha could play eight different positions, probably. If you told him to play nose guard, he’d probably figure out a way to get it done,” said O’Shea.

Since joining the Bombers last season, Griffin has played mostly special teams while also getting some action on defence. He made four starts with Calgary in 2023 and now has a chance to show if he can be a full-time starter.

 

Still no Mitchell

Will Dillon Mitchell ever make his Blue Bombers debut?

The Blue and Gold have an opening at slotback with Dalton Schoen on the six-game injured list and Kody Case suffering an ankle injury last week. Instead of giving Mitchell — who signed a one-year deal worth worth $148,000 in hard money, including a $63,300 signing bonus after three strong seasons in Edmonton — a shot, the club is rolling with fifth-round Canadian rookie Joey Corcoran.

Corcoran has appeared in six games this year in a special teams capacity but has six catches for 36 yards to his name. O’Shea said he likes the physicality and blocking that Corcoran brings to the table, and that Mitchell fits better at the ‘X’ position where Keric Wheatfall currently resides.

It’s a headscratcher, especially since Mitchell has had a taste of playing the slot before with the Elks, but the fact that he hasn’t suited up at all through seven games makes it hard to label his signing as anything but a bust. With that, and Schoen’s injury, the Bombers might just have the worst receiving unit in the CFL at the moment.

 

Brady ball

It’s not all bad news in Bomberland these days. They do still have the reigning CFL Most Outstanding Player at running back in Brady Oliveira, after all.

If there’s ever been a time to lean on him early and often, it’s now. The Bombers can’t afford to dig themselves a hole in the opening half like they have in the last three weeks as it’s made them shy away from the ground game in the closing quarters.

Oliveira hasn’t been able to put his stamp on a contest just yet, but in his limited touches, he’s looked as good as ever.

He recorded 13 carries for 82 yards in Game 1 vs. Toronto and has a career-best 6.0 yards per carry average on 43 touches in four appearances this summer.

The Boatmen have been brutal against the run all year, surrendering 117.6 rushing yards per game.

 

Welcome back Lofton

Eric Lofton started every game last year at right tackle, but a knee injury in training camp has prevented the 32-year-old from seeing the field at all in 2025.

The 32-year-old veteran is now healthy at the perfect time as the Bombers are without Stanley Bryant (ankle) and Micah Vanterpool (ankle) and need someone to slide in at left tackle.

Lofton, who also made 14 starts at right tackle with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2023, has been a serviceable player in his career but doesn’t have as much experience on the left side.

“It’s little off at first, going from right to left. Not gonna lie, it’s kind of like going to the bathroom and using the other hand to wipe,” said Lofton.

“But once you get used to it, football is football. I know the play, I know my job, I know the assignment, now, let’s go play.”

Toronto is third in sacks with 15 and are led by defensive end Andrew Chatfield Jr. who tops the CFL with five.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca