Road to redemption starts here

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This article was published 08/06/2023 (849 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers road to redemption begins in earnest Friday night, as the Blue and Gold welcome the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to town for a Week 1 matchup at IG Field.

Ask around the Bombers locker room and you’ll hear nary a murmur about last year’s devastating Grey Cup loss to the Toronto Argonauts — a defeat that halted Winnipeg’s consecutive run of championships at two and prevented the club from earning dynasty status. Make no mistake, this is a proud team and there’s a reason the Bombers were able to bring back a majority of its players from the 2022 campaign.

As is the case for every new season, there are feelings of optimism and plenty of nerves. After a gruelling three weeks of training camp, it’s time to open the gates and let these horses ride.

“I got nervous before our preseason game. I got nervous before the first day of training camp,” Bombers veteran O-lineman Patrick Neufeld said following Thursday’s walk-through. “That’s a good thing. Butterflies means you care a lot and I still get them.”

The Tiger-Cats head into the 2023 season searching for redemption of their own. After making it to and losing in back-to-back Grey Cups to the Bombers, Hamilton put together a disappointing season last year, finishing 8-10 and just squeaking into the playoffs in a weak East Division.

That sets the stage for what should be a physical and eventful affair. To get to better prepared ahead of kickoff, here are five storylines to keep an eye on.

RUSTY BUT READY

We’ve often heard from head coach Mike O’Shea that experienced players suffering from an injury don’t need all the weekly reps at practice to be ready for game time. But I’m not sure we’ve ever heard that logic applied to an entire training camp.

It’s understandable then to wonder what the effect could be on several players who were held out of all or a majority of camp and yet are ready to suit up after only a few days of practice. LB Adam Bighill, RB Brady Oliveira, DE Jackson Jeffcoat and dynamic returner Janarion Grant were all absent from camp and didn’t take a single snap in the preseason. Ditto for last year’s league-leading receiver Dalton Schoen, who was also sidelined for both exhibition games.

O’Shea isn’t one to worry out loud, and he’s certainly shown a level of comfort when answering seemingly endless questions about these key players’ health status throughout camp. The Bombers coach did admit there would be an adjustment process, adding his hope is their experience will make the time required to shake off the rust as short as possible.

LAW CATCHES UP WITH LAWLER

When you have Zach Collaros throwing the ball you know you’re in good hands. The two-time reigning CFL most outstanding player has found chemistry with the entire receiving group and you know he’s going to spread the wealth.

It’s disappointing fans won’t be able to witness the magic between Collaros and star receiver Kenny Lawler for another few weeks, as Lawler sorts out getting a work visa after pleading guilty to impaired driving back in April for an incident that occurred when he played for Winnipeg in 2021. Lawler, who started his career with the Bombers and returned this year after spending last season in Edmonton, is expected to miss from three to four weeks.

Lawler’s absence, while certainly a hit to the Bombers, opens up an opportunity for Carlton Agudosi to crack the starting lineup. Consider this Agudosi’s trial period to prove he should be part of the starting five — a battle many believe to be between he and Rasheed Bailey. With Lawler eventually returning to the lineup, what happens over the next few weeks could very well determine who they choose to go with.

PAGING GROUND CONTROL

The team that controls the line of scrimmage is often the team that wins, and there’s no better way to do just that than establishing the run game. Friday’s game features a 1,000-yard rusher on each side, with Oliveira for the Bombers and the Tiger-Cats featuring James Butler, who signed in Hamilton over the offseason after years in B.C.

Oliveira is entering his fourth CFL season and second as the Bombers starting tailback. The 25-year-old had a slow start to the 2022 campaign but came into his own by season’s end, finishing with 1,001 rushing yards. He missed all of camp, but he claims to feel good, and will have the protection of an aging but stellar O-line to help him find holes.

As for the Tiger-Cats, they spent big money to bring in Butler and the move suggests they’re serious about establishing the run after years of treating it like an afterthought. Hamilton hasn’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2010, and over the last few seasons haven’t had a running back eclipse 400 yards on the ground.

The Bombers struggled to stop the run in the preseason, for whatever that’s worth, and the Tiger-Cats have a dominant front seven. It should fun battle to keep an eye on.

NEW-LOOK TICATS

The Bombers are the model of consistency in the CFL, with just seven new players on the roster and all 24 starters on offence and defence having played and started in Winnipeg last season. The same can’t be said for the Tiger-Cats, however, as Hamilton underwent a significant makeover during the winter.

The Tiger-Cats have 12 new starters compared with last season, 10 of whom were signed as free agents. That’s a lot of moving pieces for Winnipeg to consider when coming up with its scouting reports.

The fact is Week 1 is always challenging from a preparation standpoint, given that every team tinkers with its playbook from year to year and shows little of what’s to come during the preseason. To combat those shortcomings, teams will look at a club’s coaching staff and the common philosophies they employ, while going over tape of individual players to get a better idea of an individual’s tendencies.

The Bombers consistency gives them a clear edge and history is also on their side, winning six of their previous eight season-openers under head coach Mike O’Shea. Meanwhile, the Tiger-Cats are 2-15 dating back to 2005.

MITCHELL IN THE HAMMER

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Indeed, the Tiger-Cats were arguably the busiest team in the offseason, adding the kind of high-end talent that made the rest of the CFL take notice. Although LB Jameer Thurman, DL Casey Sayles and DE Ja’Gared Davis on defence, and WR Duke Williams, OL Joel Figueroa and Butler on offence are all impressive additions, the most significant newcomer is QB Bo Levi Mitchell.

It’s going to be a bit weird seeing Mitchell don Tiger-Cats colours after spending the last decade with the Calgary Stampeders. The sure-fire Hall of Famer was replaced by Jake Maier partway through last season and after his last few years were riddled with injuries and plagued by inconsistent play, many thought the charismatic Mitchell would be headed for a TV booth.

Instead, Mitchell signed a three-year deal with the Tiger-Cats, once again putting him back in the spotlight. It’s safe to assume Mitchell’s best days are behind him, but count him out to your own detriment. Mitchell can still toss the ball and with several weapons around him, he remains a deep threat; the sooner the Bombers defensive line can get to him the better.

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University’s journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff.

Every piece of reporting Jeff 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.