Blue can’t run from fact Riders ran all over them

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/06/2015 (3756 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

IF there was one glaring omission from all the hoopla surrounding the Bombers’ win Saturday, it was the run defence.

Sure, the winners write the history books, but 212 yards on the ground by the Saskatchewan Roughriders didn’t go unnoticed.

“They got us on some big plays,” said defensive lineman Bryant Turner. “Some of it was due to tendencies we saw from before that we didn’t expect this time around. Times where they’d pass 99 per cent of the time, they ran.”

Those big runs included a 53-yard rumble to the house from Riders running back Jerome Messam and three other runs of more than 20 yards.

Still, it’s no reason to worry yet, according to Turner.

“Overall, I think we are getting better against the run,” Turner said. “We are definitely getting to our goal of as (few) yards as possible. It started late, so hopefully we can speed that up (against Hamilton).”

Bombers coach Mike O’Shea wasn’t interested Monday in any public scoldings for that sub-standard run-defence number.

“We made the stops when we had to but I thought earlier in the game we gave up some big plays,” O’Shea said. “They don’t want to do that… (being) more conscious of their assignment will be what these guys work on.”

— — —

With only three days of practice this week — and one of those a very short “walk-through” day Wednesday, the Bombers are right back at it with their home opener Thursday night at IGF against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Hamilton doesn’t have much time between games either, having lost its opener Friday in Calgary.

“It’s our job to prepare and come out and perform,” Winnipeg running back Paris Cotton said of the short week. “We’re coming to execute, trying to get another ‘W.’ Whatever’s thrown in front of us, adversity or short weeks, whatever’s coming, we’re trying to capitalize on it.”

— — —

After Monday’s practice at IGF, defensive backs Matt Bucknor and Bruce Johnson were asked by the Bombers web-TV crew if they knew O Canada.

It was a duet that got it just about all right, helped by some prompting from Bucknor and a big finish by Johnson.

“They asked us if we knew the national anthem,” Bucknor chuckled after the rendition. “It was a skill-testing question. I’m Canadian; they wanted to see if our Americans have been paying attention. They’ve had a few games out here, they wanted to see if they’ve been locked in during the national anthem.”

— — —

Quarterback Drew Willy said he benefitted from having offensive co-ordinator Marcel Bellefeuille on the sidelines Saturday, as opposed to the spotters booth/press box last season.

“I’m enjoying it,” Willy said. “I wanted him down there this year.

“I just think with eye-to-eye contact, you can just see each other’s emotions, what’s going on our there. When you have the headset on, you can talk, but you can’t really get that eye-to-eye contact and be able to explain yourself.”

— — —

O’Shea said Monday defensive back Maurice Leggett is likely to return to the starting lineup after missing the opening week on the injured list.

“If he’s ready this week, he’ll go,” the coach said. “And I’m pretty sure he’ll be ready.”

The Bombers came out of their first game of the season without any major health issues, a bonus.

— — —

The team made two roster additions Monday, adding international quarterback Dominique Davis and international defensive back Julian Posey to the practice roster.

Davis, who was with the Calgary Stampeders until the end of training camp, will replace Josh Portis, who was released.

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Posey was with the Tiger-Cats for the second half of 2014.

The Bombers released defensive back Don Unamba, receiver Tony Clemons and lineman Ettore Lattanzio from the practice roster.

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tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca

Scott Billeck
Reporter

Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade’s worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024.  Read more about Scott.

Every piece of reporting Scott 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.