They’ve got a marquee man, now Bombers’ task is a talent hunt to fill supporting roles

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This article was published 29/10/2014 (4052 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Charles Dickens, were he alive, could likely sue the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for copyright infringement. The Bombers ripped their, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” season plot line right from the pages of Charlie’s A Tale of Two Cities.

Breaking out to a 5-1 mark saw the Bombers faithful convinced their team was bound for great things and maybe even swigs of Moet and Chandon from the Grey Cup.

Alas, what was clearly too good to be true, came undone in August and the Bombers have lost eight straight and could end the season on a nine-game slump.

Bombers fans, who haven’t seen their team win a title in almost 25 years, are naturally getting impatient. The fact this team has just kick-started a rebuild and needs to bottle-feed before it can start chewing on steak doesn’t seem to matter to some these days.

Hopefully CEO Wade Miller has the good sense to be patient and can see the progress GM Kyle Walters is making regardless of the team’s record.

Quarterback Drew Willy worked with a banged up receiving corps and one of the worst offensive lines in CFL history but still managed six wins and at mid-season was in the Most Outstanding Player conversations. That talk faded in the second half as the rest of the league figured out a formula for beating the Bombers that was as simple as run the ball on offence and stop the run on defence.

Willy became the focal point for defensive co-ordinators and the combination of no help and mounting injuries saw his play diminish. Memories are short in pro sport but the good things we saw from Drew Willy will return if Walters can find him a supporting cast. Willy is the future in Winnipeg and this off-season will all be about giving him what he needs to succeed.

The Bombers added three wins to their total from a season ago and if they can do that again next year they’ll very likely be a playoff team.

Here’s our list of things the club must do in order to make that happen.

1. HOGS THAT HIT — It was evident before the season began this offensive line wouldn’t get it done. Old and beginning to break down in some areas and too green and unseasoned in others. Overall, a lack of talent and aggression made this group wholly ineffective. There are pieces worth keeping, and changing an entire positional group over one season is next to impossible. Walters will get to pick second in the 2015 CFL Draft, which is regarded as deep in terms of offensive lineman. UNLV’s Brett Boyko, Laval’s Danny Groulx, Richmond University’s Jacob Ruby and Alex Mateas of UCONN are all potential starters. If Walters could flip an asset to get a second pick early in the first round he could ramp up the O-line remodel in a hurry. Free agency will also be interesting with top-end Canadian talent such as Saskatchewan’s Ben Heenan and Toronto’s Tyler Holmes as potential UFAs. Walters must upgrade his import talent as well and it’s likely time to find a new leader for this group and move on from tackle Glenn January. A former all-star, January has played the all-important left tackle spot but he struggled mightily this season. The Bombers have to be better and have more of an edge on the offensive line.

2. CATCHERS THAT CATCH — Clarence Denmark is the only Bombers receiver that can claim a strong season with over 1,000 receiving yards. The rest were middle of the road or worse. Canadian Rory Kohlert has a respectable 42 catches for 583 yards. Prized free agent Nick Moore was banged up all season and so far has managed 44 catches for 553 yards. Once again Cory Watson struggled to stay on the field and has just 20 catches for 279 yards. Watson is talented and a tough son of a gun when he plays but it’s too infrequent. He’s got the ‘injury prone’ label and there his trade value is limited.

3. NEW SCHEMES, MAYBE NEW SCHEMERS — Offensive co-ordinators have had Gary Etcheverry’s defence figured out for some time. Pound on the ground is the formula and it was executed before our eyes week in and week out. The Bombers are last in the league against the run giving up an average of 131.2 yards per game. Winnipeg has allowed 468 points against which is a league worst. Head coach Mike O’Shea is going to have to look long and hard at Etcheverry and his scheme. The scheme almost certainly has to go — the question is can and will Etcheverry adjust. On the offensive side of the ball there will have to be adjustments but the personnel has to improve dramatically before Marcel Bellefeuille and his plan can be accurately judged. It’s simply impossible to have an effective offence without a line upon which to build.

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4. MEAN IN THE MIDDLE — Ian Wild is a capable linebacker but he’s not an every-down middle linebacker. The Bombers need a guy with some snarl, speed and whallop to his game. Veteran EJ Kuale was brought in to add experience and leadership but he was a flop collecting just 33 tackles and no sacks. The Bombers need a presence in the middle to give their defence identity and leadership.

5. RUSH TO THE DEFENCE — Winnipeg has just 41 sacks as a team which is second last in the league while Saskatchewan sits first with 61. Greg Peach leads the Bombers with seven sacks while the Riders John Chick is first in the league with 15. Winnipeg needs a dominant pass rusher other teams must focus on and respect.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @garylawless