Bombers’ struggles continue Weather or not, Blue and Gold got the result they deserved By: Jeff Hamilton Posted: 6:26 PM CDT Friday, Jun. 14, 2024 Last Modified: 12:43 PM CDT Saturday, Jun. 15, 2024 Updates

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This article was published 14/06/2024 (661 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA — Winnipeg, we’ve got a problem.

After a second consecutive sloppy performance by the Blue Bombers to start the 2024 CFL season, the reality is kicking in that their days of dominating the three-down loop is starting to lose its grip.

The Bombers dropped to 0-2, falling in back-to-back games to start the year for the first time since 2016, with a 23-19 defeat at the hands of the Ottawa Redblacks at TD Place Thursday night.

“This is a different year, and we obviously feel that now, especially starting 0-2, something we haven’t done in a long time,” said veteran receiver Drew Wolitarsky. “At the same time, I’m not going to sit here and feel like a bum. I know we’re a good team and I know we have a lot of young talent that we just need to teach and coach. I needed the reminder tonight that it’s going to take more than I think.”

The evening had a bizarre ending, with the game halted for a one-hour weather delay and 2:09 still remaining in the fourth quarter. When the players returned to the field once the heavy rain and lightning had passed, it was the Bombers who took over the ball, facing a first-and-10 from the Redblacks’ 42-yard line, down 23-17.

Two failed pass attempts to the end zone from Ottawa’s seven-yard line, followed by a quarterback sack on Zach Collaros all but sealed the deal. The Redblacks would concede a safety, giving Winnipeg one last ditch effort to earn the win, only for the game to be sealed on a Hail Mary attempt that hit the turf.

The Bombers return home to welcome the B.C. Lions to town for a Week 3 tilt at Princess Auto Stadium Friday night. But before we look too far ahead, let’s take a deeper look back at the loss to the Redblacks:

Weathering the storm

It was quite the moment sitting in the press box at TD Place when the Bombers were moving the ball down the field for a potential game-winning drive and the lightning in the distance getting closer and closer. Just moments after pausing the game, the rain started blowing sideways and lightning lit up the sky, the kind of conditions that didn’t seem destined to ease up anytime soon.

Many were curious of what might come next and whether the game would ever resume.

CFL weather protocol states any game that has surpassed the midway mark of the third quarter is subject to a 60-minute delay. If the conditions don’t permit a return to the field within an hour, the game is officially called, which would have resulted in a Redblacks victory.

That’s happened only once before in CFL history, in 2019, when the Saskatchewan Roughriders were handed a 17-10 win over the Alouettes despite having close to three minutes left to play in the third quarter.

Luckily on Thursday the weather cleared, preventing the league from facing some inevitably harsh criticism owing to a premature ending. While it would have been exciting for fans to see some late-game heroics, the Bombers got the result they deserved.

Another stinker on offence

The Bombers spent a pile of money trying to keep an offence that led the league in almost every statistical category last season. Through two games in 2024, however, it’s Winnipeg’s attack that has posed the greatest issue.

Collaros was once again off his mark, underthrowing and overthrowing his receivers, while trying to force balls to some of his top targets. The star quarterback completed 15 of his 33 passes for 285 yards and two interceptions, and while one was the result of a tipped ball at the line of scrimmage, the other was simply a bad throw.

The Bombers were without two key weapons in running back Brady Oliveira and receiver Kenny Lawler. That’s a lot of firepower on the sidelines, but they still mustered rushing touchdowns from Johnny Augustine and Chris Streveler, while Lawler’s replacement, Keric Wheatfall, led all Bomber receivers with three catches for 111 yards.

What’s killing the Bombers is their slow starts. Against the Alouettes, four of Winnipeg’s first five drives were three-and-outs; meanwhile, Collaros and the offence moved the ball just 23 yards in four first-quarter drives against the Redblacks.

The Bombers are averaging 296.5 yards of offence through two weeks. In 2023, they averaged 414.7 over 18 regular-season games.

Where’s the creativity?

Buck Pierce has dodged criticism for much of his tenure as the club’s offensive co-ordinator, save for some underwhelming performances in the Grey Cup.

It’s hard to ignore what felt like a lack of creativity against the Redblacks.

The Bombers identity on offence is to be tough and physical in the trenches, and no one embodies that more than the offensive line. That starts with establishing the run, which Pierce and the offence all but ignored against Ottawa, with Augustine carrying the ball just seven times for 31 yards, despite the wet conditions.

If not Augustine, why not mix in Nic Demski or bring in Streveler to create some energy? That’s likely because Ottawa has a strong defensive front and are dealing with several injuries in the secondary, and it didn’t help that there were some noticeable drops from receivers.

When the Bombers moved the ball to the seven-yard line with the game hanging in the balance, everyone and their dog knew it was time to call in Streveler. He would put his life on the line for this club and if you don’t think he can get you seven yards in three runs, what was the point in signing him this off-season?

Dru comes through

Kudos to Dru Brown for rising to the occasion in what must have been an emotional game. Not only was it his first start as a No. 1 QB, but it was also against the team that gave him his first shot and with whom he maintains many good relationships.

Brown was effective all game, even if his numbers didn’t pop, finishing 20-for-33 for 238 yards and one touchdown. His lone passing TD came late in the fourth quarter, on a two-yard throw to Justin Hardy, in what proved to be the game winner.

In talking to several of his teammates the day before the game, they echoed what many in Winnipeg already knew about Brown: the 27-year-old brings the kind of confidence that makes you want to play for him. And while he was announced the club’s starter in training camp, Brown will have to compete every week to keep his job.

That’s the reality of professional sports, to be sure, but it’s even more so when you’re as unproven as Brown is. It’s also important to note that while Brown has been supported by his fellow quarterbacks, the three others on the roster — Jeremiah Masoli, Dustin Crum and Tyrie Adams — have all been in his spot before and all want to get back there.

Down a few good men

The Bombers defence has been a bright spot this year and they once again deserve kudos. Indeed, for a second straight week, the defence has done enough to win, only for the offence and special teams to let them down.

It was an especially impressive performance when you consider the Bombers lost three players during the game, with defensive back Deatrick Nichols and defensive linemen Celestin Haba and Miles Fox all leaving with injuries. No updates were provided but a couple, including Haba, looked serious.

Bombers middle linebacker Adam Bighill told the Free Press afterwards that he’s never seen that many key players go down to injury in a single game, and that’s a career spanning 12 years in the CFL. Bighill said there were players being asked to perform roles they’ve never practised before.

The Redblacks were limited to 331 offensive yards. Winnipeg got pushed around a bit against the run and Bighill noted zero takeaways hurt their chances of winning.

It was a solid effort by a unit that will likely need some help in the coming days. We’ll know more about the health of the defence once the club returns to practice, but in the meantime, does anyone have Shawn Oakman’s number?

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

X: @jeffkhamilton