Can’t shake restless feeling

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This article was published 16/07/2016 (3368 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was another disappointing night for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who dropped to 1-3 with a 20-16 loss Thursday to the Edmonton Eskimos.

The Bombers led the defending Grey Cup champions for most of the game, but a late surge from the Eskimos would spoil the party, dropping the Bombers to a dismal record of 7-22 at Investors Group Field since it opened in 2013.

With that, here are five takeaways from the game:

● 1. With the Eskimos putting up more than 500 yards of net offence, it’s a difficult sell to suggest the Bombers defence did enough to win this one. It was especially damning in comparison to last week’s performance, when the defence forced six turnovers, playing a pivotal role in a 28-24 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

A 74-yard touchdown pass to Derel Walker early in the fourth quarter was a major blow to the Bombers secondary, a unit that prides itself on preventing that kind of explosive play. The defensive line wasn’t much better. Though Mike Reilly, the Esks starting quarterback, was sacked twice, rarely did he look frazzled in the pocket.

But even with a high total of yards against, and as much as that play in the fourth quarter proved to be a major turning point (it gave Edmonton its first lead, 20-16), it can be argued the defence did its part.

In Edmonton’s two drives before Walker’s touchdown, the defence forced turnovers that gave the Bombers the ball within Eskimos’ 35-yard line. Winnipeg could only muster one field goal, with quarterback Drew Willy throwing an interception to J.C. Sherritt with the second possession.

Furthermore, the defence limited the Eskimos to just 20 points, almost half of the 38.5 it was averaging through its first two games. Alas, it wasn’t great, but it was certainly enough to keep the Bombers alive.

● 2. The Bombers offence continues to struggle. Willy, now in his third season with the CFL team, has yet to take over a game in 2016. The long ball has all but disappeared and when it has been open, Willy has overthrown his receiver, often by a lot.

With each loss, the relationship between the starting pivot and the local fan base is becomes more strained. In the season-opener, Willy was booed off the field with minutes left in the first half. Thursday was only a slight improvement, with fans waiting until the third quarter before demanding a change in favour of backup Matt Nichols.

That likely won’t happen anytime soon. Head coach Mike O’Shea has stayed loyal to his players, and after Thursday’s game put little blame on his quarterback. Expect Willy to be under centre for the foreseeable future.

● 3. As much as fans want to see the Bombers return to throwing the deep ball, if the offence is going to improve it has to start with the run game.

Thursday marked the third consecutive game the Bombers have abandoned running the ball.

Running back Andrew Harris has been used mostly as a receiver this season — twice he’s led the Bombers in receiving yards, including 88 against Edmonton — despite having the second most rushing yards (1,039) in the league while with the B.C. Lions in 2015.

Harris rushed nine times Thursday for 22 yards.

After rushing for 80 yards against the Montreal Alouettes in Week 1, Harris has combined for just 102 yards in three games since. A good run game keeps opposing defences honest, something the Bombers haven’t seen much of this year.

● 4. There was a noticeable displeasure brewing in the Bombers locker room after the game. A sombre mood could be felt from stall to stall, with few seeing the moral victory in being just four points shy of last year’s Grey Cup champions.

“That doesn’t mean a thing,” offensive lineman Stanley Bryant said after the game. “I like to win rather than just compete and I feel like we let this one go.”

For many, particularly a number of the new players to the Blue and Gold this year, the idea of being 1-3 was hard to swallow.

“I’m disappointed. A lot of guys here are disappointed,” said defensive lineman Euclid Cummings, who came over from the Toronto Argonauts in the off-season.

“I don’t like that at all. But it’s just more motivation to keep fighting in practice.”

● 5. O’Shea said after the game he felt penalties were the main culprit in why the Bombers lost.

Winnipeg was flagged 14 times for 136 yards, while Edmonton added another 12, for 114.

“Too many penalties to beat a good team,” said O’Shea.

But the short end of the stick belonged to the fans, who, with all the flags, were forced to watch the game at a snail’s pace, stopping for what seemed like every second play as the officials figured out who to penalize next.

It wasn’t a great night for the officials — or for the CFL, which also lost all four coach’s challenges (two from each club) — making what was a long game even longer.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.catwitter: @jeffkhamilton