Game Day: 3 Keys to victory

By: Ed Tait Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Friday, Jul. 10, 2009

1. MAKE SMILIN' HANK SOUR

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/07/2009 (5934 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

1. MAKE SMILIN’ HANK SOUR

Calgary QB Henry Burris, the runner-up for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player Award a year ago and the Grey Cup MVP, is 6-2 in starts against Winnipeg since joining the Stamps with 21 TDs against just seven interceptions. He is an exceptional passer with more weapons in his arsenal than a Transformers movie, but is especially adept at buying time and extending plays with his legs. The Bombers need to keep him contained, camouflage their looks and force him to make throws into traffic.

"Plain and simple the key to Calgary is Henry Burris," said Bomber linebacker Ike Charlton. "That’s the guy. It all starts with him. You have to try and fluster him and make him the Hank that throws picks. If he’s out there smilin’ and running around and having fun that’s when he’s dangerous. That’s the Hank we don’t want."

KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Bombers QB Stefan LeFors is becoming more comfortable with the offence and is looking to put up some big numbers. — KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Bombers QB Stefan LeFors is becoming more comfortable with the offence and is looking to put up some big numbers.

2. THEY ARE CALLED ‘SPECIAL’ TEAMS FOR A REASON

The Bombers were hit-and-miss in their special-teams units last week and — excuse us for tearing open an old wound — that’s a familiar story in these parts. Winnipeg scored only two touchdowns in Edmonton, one courtesy the special teams when Shawn Gallant picked up a fumble and scooted into the end zone. But the return game was iffy on the greasy surface at Commonwealth, punter Mike Renaud was decent but his numbers weren’t as good as Noel Prefontaine’s, while Alexis Serna missed his only field-goal attempt — a 47-yarder at the end of the game that would have sent it into overtime. All of the teams must improve, but paramount is Serna hitting his tries, even if the opposing head coach tries to ‘ice’ him by calling time out — just as the Eskimos’ Richie Hall did in the game’s critical moment.

"I was kidding with him, every time he does something I yell ‘Time Out,’ " said Bombers head coach Mike Kelly. "He could be picking up a cup of coffee and it’s ‘Time Out!’ He’s fine. You make some, you miss some. Richie’s still got some quickness in him and he got the time out in and he missed the next one. Did he want to? No. But it is what it is. We battled all the way to the end and we came up two points short."

3. ‘CUTE’ DOESN’T CUT IT

Mike Kelly admitted it a week ago immediately after the loss: Given the field conditions in Edmonton and the monsoon-type rain, he got too "cute" in trying to run some of the fancy-schmancy stuff offensively that simply wasn’t going to work on that track. The Bombers are built on speed, but also need to grind out yardage to keep possessions going. They were effective along the ground (162 yards), but Fred Reid’s carries were limited to just 13 (and a 7.1-yard average). The Bombers didn’t attack the Edmonton defence vertically until the second half and the Bombers had seven two-and-out drives.

"We’re working at it," said Kelly of the offence. "We did get better this week and hopefully that will transform into (tonight). We’ll continue to work at it and continue to grow."