Blue defensive tackles were injured? You don’t say

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/08/2011 (5196 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

VANCOUVER — It was the biggest question coming into last night — how would an injury-decimated Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive line handle a talented, but hard-luck, B.C. offence.

With starting defensive tackles Doug Brown and Dorion Smith both sitting out Saturday night with injuries, the Bombers appeared in theory at least to be vulnerable to a Lions offence with plenty of threats and a very mobile quarterback in Travis Lulay.

But the numbers at night’s end — the Lions mustered just 64 yards rushing and Lulay was sacked four times — spoke to a very different story of a Bombers defensive line that responded to the adversity with what can only be described as a remarkable effort.

“We just tried to make the best of the situation,” said lineman Jason Vega, who made his return to the Bombers roster after more than a month out with injury a successful one, recording a sack and forcing a fumble.

“We just tried to switch things around so that we could meet the ratio and still rush the passer. Our coach put us in a position to be successful and that’s what we did.”

Lineman Kenny Mainor got two of the other sacks and Don Oramasionwu got the last one. Missing from that list is defensive end Odell Willis, who saw his six-game streak with at least one sack snapped.

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Bombers receiver Clarence Denmark, pressed into service as a punt returner, was asked when the last time he returned kicks was.

“High school — a long time ago,” said Denmark. “It was fun to do it again. I’m just happy to help this team out anyway I can.”

Denmark was pressed into service in the first quarter after the Bombers regular punt returner — DB Jovon Johnson — was injured in the first quarter.

While Johnson went on to play the rest of game defensively, Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice said he didn’t want to let him return any more kicks and so pressed Denmark into service.

The results were better than anyone could have hoped for, as Denmark returned seven punts for 85 yards, including a 46-yarder that set up a second-half Bombers touchdown.

LaPolice said Denmark’s debut gives him a much needed option at punt returner. “Absolutely. It at least allows us to have two guys. Jovon, sometimes at the beginning of a game is okay, but as the game goes on he gets tired because he’s playing on defense.”

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Bombers kicker Justin Palardy had exactly the kind of game Bombers management was hoping for.

After missing a couple of short field goal attempts last week against Edmonton, Palardy was perfect against B.C., going 3-3 on his attempts from 43 yards, 32 yards and 31 yards.

The 43-yarder was Palardy’s longest of this season so far.

All humility

His team is 6-1 heading into a 13-day layoff and his defense is all about the swagger, but head coach Paul LaPolice is still all about the humility right now.

“We’re just trying to measure things from week-to-week because if you try to go the other way, you’ll never be successful because you’ll take plays off and you’ll take time off.

“This was a hard game for us. It was very difficult for us.”

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca