Bombers get back to work

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This article was published 28/06/2023 (827 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers looked no worse for wear as they returned to the practice field following their most lopsided defeat in years.

It’s not as though the Bombers didn’t learn from their mistakes in a 30-6 drubbing at home to the B.C. Lions last Friday. They had the painstaking task of reliving what was easily their worst performance in recent memory — a lack of execution, discipline and physicality all on full display as they pored over the film the next day.

It’s just they’re not about to take one loss, as uncharacteristically shabby as it was, and make it more than what it is. So, following a couple days removed from the game, the team returned to work Tuesday determined to put it behind them, their focus now on a Week 4 matchup with the Montreal Alouettes at Molson Stadium July 1.

“It’s nothing catastrophic for us,” Bombers offensive lineman Patrick Neufeld said. “We watched the film, went through it critically, we were very critical of ourselves and tried to hold each other as accountable as possible. But we move on totally and now we’re on to Montreal.”

The loss was the Bombers’ first of the season, putting them at 2-1 through the first three weeks, in a tie with the Saskatchewan Roughriders for second in the West Division, behind the 3-0 Lions. It was also just their third loss in the last 30 games at IG Field, and, incredibly, their first defeat to a Western club on home turf since falling to the Roughriders in the 2018 Banjo Bowl.

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea listed off some of the same themes, notably a lack of physicality, to explain the recent loss, but maintained his players have kept a sharp focus. When asked if the game could act as a rallying cry, O’Shea grimaced at the thought, stating it’s “business as usual.”

It’s safe to assume O’Shea, a stickler for disciplined play, addressed his club’s penchant for penalties against the Lions. The Bombers drew a season-high 10 flags for 104 yards, after averaging just four penalties per game in the previous two seasons.

“There’s no magic to it… they just need to go out and be physical and play,” added O’Shea. “They’re a good group. That doesn’t change overnight.”

While all areas of the Bombers struggled against the Lions, it was a particularly rough outing for the offence. They scored just six points, all of which came in the first half. Winnipeg had been averaging a league-high 43.5 points per game, following wins over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Saskatchewan.

Reigning two-time most outstanding player quarterback Zach Collaros had a hard time finding open receivers and was kept in the pocket for much of the evening. The Bombers registered just 235 yards of net offence.

“Obviously, when you come in and you get your butt kicked like that, it’s not fun to watch and you should take it personal and be fired up to get back to work,” Collaros, who was 15-for-26 passing for 191 yards and an interception, said. “I think we all took it that way. We’ve had a few days off to rest and get together and become better teammates. For us, it’s about team football, togetherness and continuing to build your IQ.”

Usually backed by a sturdy O-line, Collaros was sacked seven times, including three times by Lions defensive end Mathieu Betts. It was a rough night for the Bombers’ tackles, with Stanley Bryant and Jermarcus Hardrick both having a tough time against the Lions’ pass attack.

“Sun came up the next day, that was the best part about it. But it felt like a horror movie while it was happening. I hope it never happens again. Just got to vow to work better and come work harder,” Hardrick said. “I hate to say it, it was just a good a-s-s whooping. It sucked to be on the other side of it. Credit to them, man. There’s been a lot of sleepless nights trying to see everything but I’m looking back at everything. Me and my wife, we took our notes the same way, we ate the same way, we worked out the same way, we met with the O-line the same way, it just didn’t go our way.”

Carlton Agudosi had a team-high 61 receiving yards on five catches, 47 of which were on one catch deep down the right sideline. Nic Demski and Dalton Schoen — the team’s two most consistent receivers with Kenny Lawler still sidelined — combined for just eight catches for 89 yards. The Bombers were down early, forcing them to abandon the run game, with No. 1 tailback Brady Oliveira collecting 52 yards on a modest 10 carries.

Drew Wolitarsky often wears his heart on his sleeve. He was critical of himself and his team’s overall effort after the game and was equally self-reflective following practice Tuesday.

“They outplayed us, bro. They were much more physical than us,” he said. “And it’s tough to see that, dude, because that’s something you can control. Sometimes you forget that you really got to bring it every single week. You could tell that B.C. brought it and you could tell that they wanted to beat us.”

Wolitarsky noted that while it always feels better to win, the process remains the same even after a loss: learn from it, correct your mistakes, move on. He added that the Bombers look forward to visiting the Alouettes – another team with a physical defence – and getting back on track, echoing the club’s mantra of “going 1-0 each week.”

“We lost. We got beat. It’s not the end of the world,” Wolitarsky said. “If they’re a good team over there, they’re forgetting about the win and they’re moving on, too.”

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton