More rested than rusty

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This article was published 05/11/2022 (1264 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers had two weeks off before last year’s West Division final.

You could argue it might’ve done them more harm than good as they turned the ball over six times against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on a freezing cold afternoon at IG Field.

The Bombers managed to escape with a 21-17 victory, but it might’ve been their worst performance of the year.

Did rust play a factor at all?

“No, I just think some of those were unfortunate plays,” said head coach Mike O’Shea this week. “I didn’t think there was rust, really.”

Five of the turnovers came in the first half and the Bombers were somehow down just three points after two quarters of play. After Saturday evening’s practice at IG Field, wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky shook his head at the mention of that half and referred to it as “traumatizing.”

“I think everything was there, we just made two or three errors that really turned the game around. But rusty, I don’t know man,” said Wolitarsky.

“It was definitely a cold game. It was slippery out there and the conditions were hard. I think we came out a little flat, but that’s something we obviously learned from and that’s why we’re out here now and staying in it mentally.”

The Bombers head into this year’s Western final, Nov. 13 at IG Field against the winner of today’s tilt in Vancouver between the Calgary Stampeders and B.C. Lions, having a bye in two of their last three weeks.

Wolitarsky feels the group will come out of the gates firing this time.

“I don’t remember the practices (leading up to last year’s West final) too much, but I know they weren’t this intense. They didn’t have this intensity,” Wolitarsky said.

“In my mind, we’re doing some game-like situations and stuff like that. I think we all as a team learned from last year.”

Saturday night’s observations

There was a bit of a scary play on Saturday as linebacker Adam Bighill and receiver Nic Demski collided on a deep pass towards the end of practice. Demski was quick to get up, but Bighill laid on the turf for a while before walking to the sideline. Bighill sat out the final few minutes of practice. O’Shea was asked about it after practice and assured that Bighill and Demski are both fine.

It’s unlikely to be anything serious, but Dalton Schoen was a spectator on Saturday night and is listed on the injury report with an injured knee. Demski (calf) sat out on Friday but was a limited participant Saturday.

Centre Chris Kolankowski practised on Saturday for the first time since going down with a knee injury on Oct. 15 in Vancouver. Kolankowski worked with the backups while Michael Couture was with the starters at centre.

Defensive back Demerio Houston, who’s been out since Week 12, also practiced with the second-stringers. Winston Rose, Jamal Parker, Deatrick Nichols, Desmond Lawrence and Alden Darby, Jr. made up the starting secondary for the majority of Saturday’s practice.

Not so cold after all

This week hasn’t felt like your typical November in Winnipeg.

But as everyone knows, it could be a much different story next Sunday.

“I wish it was colder,” O’Shea said.

For right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick, it doesn’t matter what the forecast is. Or location, apparently.

“We can play this thing in the Red River, it doesn’t matter where we go. It’s time,” Hardrick said.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31