Big Blue: The second edition

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/10/2009 (5807 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

We suppose there have been worse debuts. Fair to say, too, that history would reveal outfits which have made stinkier first impressions than the 2009 Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Just to recap — and, yes, we briefly must — the Bombers were 3-8 after 11 games this year and free-falling to oblivion. The offence was absolutely atrocious, the defence was plum tuckered out and the organization was weekly, sometimes daily, making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Shoot, if they had been a Broadway play they would have had the remainder of their schedule yanked following all the awful reviews.

Maybe that’s part of the reason why the Bombers have played to two of the lowest crowds in these parts in the last decade, including Saturday’s dominating win over the Montreal Alouettes that was witnessed by only 21,378 fans. But those out there who have thumbed their noses at the club and steered clear of the park in recent weeks have missed an intriguing transformation that has seen the Bomb Squad win four of its last five games.

Nobody is sizing this bunch up for Grey Cup rings just yet, but we’d humbly suggest that there are five reasons why the Bombers might be worth a second look:

"PLAYOFFS? YES, PLAYOFFS…

The Bombers are 7-9 and tied for second place with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, also 7-9, in the CFL East. Regardless of what happens this weekend — the Bombers are in Montreal, the Ticats at home to Saskatchewan — the regular-season finale here in Winnipeg on Nov. 8 will be for second spot in the East and the right to play host to the East Semifinal. Edmonton, also 7-9, or the 8-8 B.C. Lions would need to have more points than a third-place Hamilton or Winnipeg to become a crossover team.

The cynics will rightfully claim that 7-9 is hardly worth thumping your chest about. And in winning four of their last five the Bombers defeated just one team — Montreal — with a winning record. But worth noting is an 8-10 team has won the Grey Cup twice in this decade (B.C. in 2000, Calgary in 2001). And who thought we’d be pointing that out six weeks ago when the next of kin were notified and the obituaries were being penned on the Bombers’ 2009 campaign?

JOVO COP

Bomber cornerback Jovon Johnson is second to B.C.’s Barron Miles with six interceptions this season and has been one of the most dominant lock-down pass defenders in the CFL this season. And even though he has had considerably fewer touches than the leaders — he wasn’t the Bombers clear-cut return man when the season opened — Johnson is third in punt-return yardage and fourth in kickoff-return yardage. He has two kick-return scores this season, including a 118-yarder on a missed-field goal against Edmonton. And in the process he has made himself the new front-runner for CFL Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.

GOOD/BAD MICHAEL

Say this about Bombers QB Michael Bishop: no pivot in the CFL has fans regularly dropping their jaws and saying, "Did you see that?" after rifling a TD toss or "Did you (censored) see that?" after tossing another interception. He has been exactly as advertised since being parachuted in as the Bombers starter in July: he’s popular in the locker-room, throws the football as hard as anyone on the planet and, when he’s on, those passes actually go to the guys in Winnipeg jerseys. He is 6-6 as the starter and, for now at least, their best option in November.

FRED EX DELIVERS

Love the nickname — a slap on the back to the die-hard fan who came up with it — and you have to love Fred Reid’s game. He’s been durable and steady, although his numbers could use a boost (he has averaged 12 carries in his last eight games). In his first full year as the Bombers starting tailback, Reid has set the club record for yards in a game (260 vs. B.C.) and rushed for 1,257 yards and trails Calgary’s Joffrey Reynolds (1,295) by just 38 yards for the CFL lead.

THE DATABASE DELIVERS

For all the heat head coach Mike Kelly and director of player personnel John Murphy have taken this year, let’s be up front on this: with the help of Ross Hodgkinson, who also scouts and massages the salary cap, the Bombers have unearthed some significant new talent — and traded for others — that are making big-time contributions. Case in point: defensive back Jonathan Hefney is a legit rookie-of-the-year candidate, as is rush end Odell Willis (acquired from Calgary) and defensive tackle Dorian Smith; new receivers Titus Ryan, Dudley Guice, Jr. and Otis Amey have all impressed of late, Keyuo Craver and Lenny Walls have solidified the secondary, Siddeeq Shabazz has been steady at linebacker while Adarius Bowman and Brock Ralph — landed as part of off-season trades — get better with every snap. As well, the made-over offensive line that so many were worried about in the spring has been superb, thanks to the additions of Steve Morley, Glenn January and Luke Fritz.

Finally, a question only football fans can answer in the next few weeks: Does this crew get a second chance to make a positive impression or have thousands permanently abandoned the cause?

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca