Bombers will throw when necessary

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This article was published 05/09/2019 (2195 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

You’re not going to find this year’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers passing attack anywhere near the CFL record books.

In their past five outings, the Blue and Gold failed to pass for more than 200 yards in a game.

Passing yards aren’t the most important stat in the world. Just ask Edmonton Eskimos quarterback Trevor Harris, who threw for 430 yards at home against the Bombers two weeks ago, while Bombers quarterback Chris Streveler threw for 89 yards in a 34-28 victory.

But limited yards through the air have been the theme all season — even when No. 1 quarterback Matt Nichols was healthy. The Bombers have the second-lowest passing-yardage total in the CFL, with 2,275 yards. The Montreal Alouettes are last, with 2,178. But they’ve played two fewer games.

It’s not like the limited passing yards are going to one target, either. Everybody gets a bite here and there, but none of the receivers are feasting on a three-course meal. In fact, in the past five games, there’s only been two Bombers receivers to haul in more than three passes in a game — Lucky Whitehead and Nic Demski.

Whitehead had four receptions for 16 yards in last week’s 19-17 loss at Mosaic Stadium to the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Demski caught four passes for 19 yards on Aug. 1, when the Bombers lost 28-27 in Toronto against the Argonauts.

But, even though the receivers have been doing more blocking than catching lately, nobody’s complaining.

“We’re selfless,” wide receiver Darvin Adams said after Thursday’s practice at IG Field. “I think we’ve got a lot of guys that just want to see everybody doing good. Whether it’s them doing good or somebody else, it’s not a friend type of thing. I think it’s more of a brother type of thing, and we look out for each other that way.”

Adams, who had one catch for 14 yards in his return to the lineup last week after missing four games due to injury, was asked if it’s rare for a receiver group to be so unselfish.

“Most definitely it is,” the fourth-year Blue Bomber said. “You know, people can get caught up on individual stats and individual accomplishments as professional athletes. I think the biggest thing here that we take pride in is there’s only one goal for everybody, and that’s winning the Grey Cup.”

Adams shrugged off the team’s low passing totals. He believes if they needed to throw for more than 200 yards to win a game, they could do it. But that might be tough to do in the Banjo Bowl this Saturday at IG Field against the Riders. There’s a possibility the Bombers might be without two of their top playmaking receivers in the battle for first place in the CFL’s West Division.

Whitehead wasn’t at practice on Wednesday, while Demski was on the field but didn’t participate in drills. Thursday’s practice was closed to the media, and Whitehead and Demski were not allowed to speak to reporters. Whitehead was a non-participant in a practice last week, but played in Regina. To add to the speculation that Whitehead could miss the Banjo Bowl, Adams was wearing Whitehead’s No. 7 jersey at practice on Wednesday. It’s become sort of tradition for players to wear the practice jersey of one of their injured teammates, so, take that for whatever it’s worth.

Whitehead leads the team with 394 yards receiving and Demski is right behind him with 356 yards.

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea was, per usual, tight-lipped about the status of his receivers. He wouldn’t reveal the reason for Whitehead’s absence on Wednesday, nor would he confirm if he participated on Thursday.

“He’s around. As I said before, there’s lots of guys and they’re out there running around and some guys need it and some guys don’t. We’ll see where all those guys are tomorrow,” O’Shea said.

As for Demski?

“He seemed pretty chipper today.”

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If Whitehead and/or Demski aren’t good to go for Saturday, the release of veteran receiver Chris Matthews may come back to haunt the Blue and Gold. With Matthews now suiting up for the Montreal Alouettes, it would be up to players such as Rasheed Bailey and Daniel Petermann to take on larger roles. Receiver Drew Wolitarsky, who had two catches for 30 yards last week, said whatever the injury situation is, guys will be ready to fill in.

“I mean, we’ve got to be able to do everything, dude. That’s part of the offensive scheme here,” Wolitarsky said. “And, if you get drafted or chosen to be on the team, you’ve got to know every position. Wherever I go, I’m gonna know what I’m doing and everyone else will, too.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31

Taylor Allen
Reporter

Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.

Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.