Big Blue raise the bar when it comes to CFL success

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This article was published 28/10/2022 (1045 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

They are the Blue & Gold standard when it comes to the Canadian Football League. We shouldn’t take for granted what the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have just accomplished.

Mike O’Shea’s crew began the year with a buffalo-sized target on their backs, one that comes with winning two straight Grey Cups. How did they respond to the pressure of knowing everyone is gunning for them and bringing their best? By going out and having the greatest regular season in their storied history.

There was no championship hangover, no taking opponents lightly or putting up the feet and coasting on past successes. Rather, it was business as usual, which around here means a nose-to-the-grindstone approach, a competitive fire that appears to be burning brighter than ever and a whole lot more winning than losing.

Friday’s 24-9 victory over the B.C. Lions was notable for two reasons.

Most importantly, everyone appears to have come out of it healthy, which was the only worry from an otherwise meaningless tilt for both teams. Coming off a bye, and with another set for next week, O’Shea needed to get his starters at least a few reps to avoid too much rest, which could lead to rust. Which, of course, brought an element of risk. Consider that bullet dodged.

Secondly, it gives the Bombers a 15-3 record, which sets a single-season record for success. Fourteen wins was the previous benchmark, set three previous times in 1960, 1993 and 2001. That is truly impressive, a nice little cherry on top of a delicious sundae served up by this talented squad.

It goes well beyond the gridiron. Winnipeg blew away the rest of the league at the box office, with raucous IG Field becoming the premier stop across the land and packing in more fans than any other stadium. The business blueprint that Wade Miller, Kyle Walters and company have built should be copied and pasted by all their colleagues.

From the game-day experience and community involvement to drafting, recruiting and retaining core pieces, they seemingly can do no wrong.

About 90 minutes prior to kickoff on an unseasonably warm late October evening, I took a stroll around the concourse to soak in the atmosphere. Hundreds were already lining up at the yet-to-be opened gates, and the pre-game tailgate party was well underway. The sight of numerous young children with their parents — a.k.a. the next generation of supporters — must be especially gratifying for the organization.

The scene following the game would be equally impressive, just as it was all season long, when fans were invited down to the field to get autographs from players and play catch with each other under the bright lights. The feeling of community, of everyone having a piece of the pie, was palpable.

This is what a winning culture looks like.

I had to chuckle the other day when Michael Ball, the play-by-play voice of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, got into a bit of a Twitter tiff with some folks suggesting his underwhelming team would be forced to eat a healthy serving of humble pie after failing to make the playoffs in a year where they’re hosting the Grey Cup.

“If there is no Riders franchise there is no CFL,” Ball fired back at critics. “This league is nothing without the Rider Nation.”

While it’s true Saskatchewan is a vital piece, Winnipeg has left them in the dust in recent years. Both on, and off, the field.

Of course, with great power comes great responsibility, which is why it now feels like anything short of a third straight Grey Cup will be viewed as a massive disappointment. There’s no question the Bombers are the heavy favourites, but anything can happen in a one-game do-or-die scenario, especially when the cold wind starts blowing and the snow starts falling.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about this group, they’ll be laser-focused when they host the West Final on Nov. 13, taking on either B.C. or Calgary. If they can avoid the upset, it’ll be off to Regina and a strong chance at the rare three-peat on Nov. 20, which would cement their place in CFL history as a true dynasty.

The best news, for both the organization and its fans, is that there’s no reason to think the end is near. The three-year contract extension signed by Zach Collaros shows there’s plenty more fuel in the tank and should have a domino effect in the coming weeks and months when it comes to locking up other key personnel. Expect O’Shea, currently working on an expiring contract, to follow suit in short order.

Even if some players inevitably do depart because of salary-cap constraints, management’s ability to fill existing holes on the fly — see sure-handed receiver and surefire rookie-of-the-year Dalton Schoen as Exhibit A — provides confidence the pipeline isn’t drying up anytime soon.

That’s the thing about creating an environment of excellence. It becomes infectious, a place where those on the inside want to remain, and those on the outside wish to join.

Winnipeg’s offence, led by Collaros, is elite. And it got even more dangerous Friday with the return of receiver Greg Ellingson from injury. The defence, with the likes of Adam Bighill, Willie Jefferson, Winston Rose and Jackson Jeffcoat, is smothering and punishing.

It would be easy to become spoiled by the riches that are now on full display. That would be a mistake. Winning isn’t easy, even if the Bombers have made it look that way in recent years.

The first two Bomber drives on Friday summed it up. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke was sacked and stripped of the ball, and the Bombers immediately responded with a touchdown drive that ended with a Collaros to Schoen strike. Rinse and repeat. Winnipeg scored another major on their next possession, this time Collaros to Rasheed Bailey. Just for fun. Ho-hum. That was essentially the end of the night for the biggest stars, with the backups taking over the rest of the way.

The bullseye will get even bigger the next time the Bombers take the field. Based on everything we’ve seen to date, that will likely only strengthen their resolve and bring out their best. Which is great news for the organization and its fans. And bad news for the rest of the CFL.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg