And yes! We’ve only just begun

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/09/2009 (5863 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s how Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike Kelly has ended every practice since the first day of training camp. A whistle blows and Kelly bellows: "Bring it to the W!" as the troops make their way to the Bomber logo at midfield for a final message.

That scene unfolded again Saturday as the Bombers prepared for the sixth Banjo Bowl against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in a critical matchup that marks the start of the second half of the campaign. And watching them then — away from all the controversy, the negative headlines, the references to the circus and a gong show — it hit yours truly like a two-by-four across the forehead:

Holy crap, there’s still half a season to go here…

Honestly, if it’s been draining just chronicling what has transpired to date or for fans trying to keep pace with the two-three crises of the week, imagine living it day after day after day.

"Actually," began receiver Terrence Edwards, "I’ll say this about this team: we’re not where we want to be, but we’re who we want to be."

Well said, sir.

But all of this got us thinking as the Bombers gear up for the final nine games of 2009: They may be just 3-6 but, get this, they are currently just two points out of a playoff position and four points out of second place in the East Division. In other words, there are a whole pile of chapters yet to be written on this comedy/tragedy/drama.

"I’ve said it and I will continue to say it: The guys in that locker-room work their tail off. I like this football team," said Kelly. "Do we have a couple pieces of the puzzle that probably still need to be addressed? Yeah. But the thing that I like most right now is that over the next nine weeks we play (at home) six times. There is no, ‘Geez, I hope another team can help us out.’

"There’s nothing where we have to look at it and say, ‘Boy, I hope our guys can get motivated for this. Or where’s my Knute Rockne book? I hope I can pull out a phrase.’ We are in control of our own destiny right now."

And with that in mind — and in an effort to be balanced and fair — we present the following:

THREE REASONS

to get jacked up about

the Bombers in the second half

1. THEY DON’T CALL IT ‘HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE’ JUST FOR KICKS AND GIGGLES

FACT: The Bombers finish the regular season with six of their last nine games at Canad Inns Stadium: Sunday’s Banjo Bowl against the Riders; Toronto on Sept. 26; Edmonton on Oct. 2; B.C. on Oct. 18; Montreal on Oct. 24 and Hamilton on Nov. 8.

WORTH NOTING: The Bombers are just 1-2 at home this season but were 5-4 a year ago and 7-2 in 2007. But, gulp, it’s important to also point out that of their final nine, three are against the top team in the land, the Montreal Alouettes.

2. A CASE FOR THE DEFENCE

FACT: They spend more time on the field than any other defensive dozen in the CFL, but have surrendered just 23.8 points per game this season, third-best overall. The Bombers are ranked third against the run (an even 100 yards per game); sixth vs. the pass (273.7) and lead the CFL in interceptions (20).

WORTH NOTING: Overlooked with all the headlines the Barrin Simpson story has drawn in the past couple of days was this juicy nugget — Siddeeq Shabazz will move back to his normal position at weak-side linebacker from safety with the return of Ian Logan. He was capable manning the middle of the air defence, but he’s far more dangerous near the line of scrimmage.

3. FRED EX — WHEN IT ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY HAS TO BE RUN ALONG THE GROUND

FACT: Bomber running back Fred Reid — the diehards have dubbed him ‘Fred Ex’ and we love it — is the league’s leading ball carrier (836 yards) and sports a sparkling 6.6-yard average.

WORTH NOTING: In his last 13 games — including the final four games of ’08 — Reid has rushed for 1,235 yards and a gaudy 7.06-yard average per carry. And that includes last week’s effort in which the Riders completely shut down the dynamic tailback.

… AND THREE REASONS

to be gnawing your nails

about the second half

1. WHAT EVIL LURKS IN THE HEART OF THE SCHEDULE?

FACT: No team has made more headlines, most of them negative, through the first half of the ’09 season than the Bomb Squad. They’ve shown an admirable resiliency in blocking much of it out when the ball is put on the tee, but as much as the coaches and players rave about the rock-solid chemistry in the locker-room, nothing can divide a team more violently than losing. Couple that with the sideshow stuff and it could be argued it’s a ticking time bomb.

WORTH NOTING: Was it just over two months ago when the Derick Armstrong Affair unfolded? Seems like an eternity…

2. IS THERE A QB IN THE HOUSE?

FACT: We asked the question earlier this week about the merits of the Bombers hitching their wagon to a 33-year-old nomad like Michael Bishop but, truth is, he is the best option right now for a run at the post-season with Stefan LeFors on the shelf, Bryan Randall untested and Casey Bramlet having first stepped on a CFL field on Thursday. Read into that whatever you will.

WORTH NOTING: Bishop is 2-3 in his five starts as a Bomber, but has thrown just three TDs against seven interceptions. You don’t have to be a math major to understand how ugly those numbers are. Consider this: there are three receivers in this league — Calgary’s Jeremaine Copeland, Arland Bruce III of Hamilton and B.C.’s Emmanuel Arceneaux — who have more TDs this year than the Bombers as a team. Hello.

3. A CRY FOR A RETURN STAR

FACT: It’s not nearly as awful as the start of the season — although Keyuo Craver’s fumble in last week’s loss to the Riders was critical — but the Bomber return game still lacks a home-run hitter. Three CFL teams — Edmonton, Montreal and Calgary — have kick-return scores this season.

WORTH NOTING: We’re just throwing it out there: B.C.’s Ian Smart, who led the CFL in punt and kickoff return yards last year, spoke out this week about his frustration this season after losing his kick-return gig to Ryan Grice-Mullen.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

bomber game day C2-3