Bombers out to tackle problems; odds are they’ll miss

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/10/2014 (4076 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE Winnipeg Blue Bombers have become adept at making stars… of opposition running backs.

Seven times in the last 11 games — including Friday’s 42-2- loss to the Ottawa Redblacks — the Bombers have surrendered over 150 yards along the ground. Ottawa finished with 188 yards rushing, the third-highest total Winnipeg has yielded this year.

“Guys are in the right spots,” said Bomber coach Mike O’Shea. “There were a couple really big gains where we had them dead to rights in the backfield and we just missed several tackles. It wasn’t one guy. When they get big chunks like that it’s because one or two or three or whatever guys miss… we had a hard time tackling.

“But they played lights out last game. They need to play more consistently… across the board we need to have more consistency.”

The Bombers have surrendered 1,785 yards rushing so far this season, an average of 127.5 yards per game. By comparison, the club gave up 1,948 rushing yards last season, an average of 108.2 yards per game. Winnipeg has kept an opponent under 100 yards rushing in just five games this year.

TERRIBLE TWOS: The Bombers were outscored 21-7 in the second quarter, continuing an ugly trend that has been problematic all season. Winnipeg has been pummelled 135-66 in second quarters this year.

OUCH REPORT: SB Cory Watson was out of Friday’s game before halftime with a shoulder injury. LB E.J. Kuale was on crutches afterward after sustaining a suspected knee injury and the status of DB Demond Washington won’t be known until the Bombers return to work Tuesday.

BETTING BAD… The Bombers were trailing 21-17 with 49 second left in the first half when they opted to gamble on third-and-five from the Ottawa 38-yard line rather than attempt a field goal. The gamble failed and Ottawa then marched the distance to score on the last play and take a 28-17 lead into the intermission.

Factoring in a swirling wind, O’Shea said the Bombers determined Lirim Hajrullahu’s maximum range was 40 yards.

“It would have been a 45-yard field goal,” said O’Shea. “The breeze was gusty and with under a minute to go I’m betting on the offence to get the first down and then I’m going to bet on the defence to stop them if they don’t.

PENALTY PARADE: The Bombers were nailed for 12 penalties totalling 72 yards, including an unnecessary roughness and roughing the passer against E.J. Kuale and another unnecessary roughness infraction against Greg Hickman. Kuale has been there, done that, before.

Asked if those penalties have to stop, O’Shea said: “Yup. We’re not surviving those types of mistakes. I think early on in the season we survived those mistakes, now we’re not surviving those mistakes.”

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPEdTait