Game Day / Ed Tait

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This article was published 24/07/2009 (5924 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

3 KEYS TO VICTORY

Free Press football writer Ed Tait outlines how the Bombers could win tonight:

1. BREATHE SOME LIFE INTO THE PASSING GAME

It’s a topic that’s been pummelled to death this week but won’t go away until

Stefan LeFors and his receivers showcase some kind of aerial attack. Worth noting

again in the wake of the disaster in Hamilton are these gory numbers: LeFors

finished with just 99 yards passing against the Tabbies and in three games the

Bomber starting QB has completed just 44.2 per cent of his passes; Terrence Edwards

did not catch a pass against the Ticats and Romby Bryant has only seven

receptions in three games. Yes, the Bombers can pound the ball along the ground

but — as Hamilton’s defence showed last week when they held Fred Reid to seven

yards on eight carries in the second half — without the threat of a passing game

the offence becomes frighteningly one-dimensional. Growing pains or not, that

has to change and quickly.

2. A SPARK FOR THE SPECIAL TEAMS?

Something to consider here as the Bombers unveil newcomer Craphonso

Thorpe as their new return candidate and the fifth man already to be held up as

the answer in this department: B.C.’s Ian Smart had 162 touches on punt, kickoff

and missed field-goal returns last year. Translation: If Bomber fans have to

watch the ball bouncing between two returners or a kick not being fielded cleanly

140 more times this season it will be absolutely torturous by year’s end. Thorpe

has big-time speed — he ran track and played football at Florida State — and got

look-sees in the NFL because of his return skills. Put those credentials on the

bigger CFL field and the Bombers may have something, because punter Mike

Renaud has been decent, kicker Alexis Serna is improving and the coverage

teams are solid.

3. KEEP MR. JOSEPH IN THE POCKET

A statistic from the Bombers’ loss in the 2007 Grey Cup that often gets overlooked:

Saskatchewan QB Kerry Joseph — who’ll lead the Argos onto the field

tonight — was just 13-of-34 for 181 yards passing with one TD and one interception.

But it’s what he did with his legs that late November Sunday that was critical

in breaking down the Bombers — 10 carries for 101 yards. And Bomber fans

have seen this movie before. He not only killed them in the ’07 Grey Cup with his

legs, but ran for the winning TD in the dying moments of the Labour Day Classic

that season. He sports a career rushing average of 8.2 yards in 12 regular-season

games against Winnipeg. His passing numbers are nowhere near as gaudy. Keep

the safety-turned-QB between the tackles and force him to throw against an

injury/suspension-ravaged receiving corps that is without Arland Bruce III and

Andre Talbot and the Bombers’ chances for victory rise significantly. Let him

loose and he’s like trying to tackle a wet bar of soap.

(Check out our video version of Ed Tait’s 3 Keys to Victory on winnipegfreepress.com)

 

 

 

 

 

 

INSIDE THE Xs AND Os

 VEGAS LINE: Bombers by 4 points.

ARGOS VS. BLUE: (Since 1961): Winnipeg is 46-45-2 vs. Toronto in the last 48 years; Winnipeg and Toronto are 5-5 in their last 10 games and the Bombers are 4-3 in their last seven at home to the Argos.

BLUE ROSTER UPDATE:

Winnipeg has made two roster adjustments,

adding WR/KR Craphonso Thorpe

for Adarius Bowman while new LB Derrick

Doggett is on for DE Shawn Mayne (the

Bombers played one import short last

week in Hamilton).

NO THANKS, D.A.:

Argo head coach Bart Andrus confirmed

they worked out former Bomber wide

receiver Derick Armstrong, but have opted

to take a pass. "We looked at him," said

Andrus. "I don’t think he’s well. He’s not

moving like he’s well yet. That’s just my

opinion watching him do things."

NO BRUCE? NO PROBLEM:

The Argos left receiver Arland Bruce III

at home after head coach Bart Andrus

questioned his professionalism. That

story was all the buzz at Thursday’s media

availabilities for both teams, especially —

and understandably — with the Argos.

"It’s between him and coach Andrus,"

said defensive tackle Adriano Belli, who

has had his own troubles with Andrus for

taking too many penalties. "I think he’s

probably one of the best players on our

team if not the best player on our team. It

certainly sucks not having him out here,

but we’re just going to have to pick up the

slack."

Asked if the rest of the team was watching

to see how the Bruce situation will

play out, Belli cracked:

"Well, I tell you what I’m going to do…

I’m going to try to get a few more penalties

this game to take the attention away

from Arland. Maybe that will help."

Meanwhile, QB Kerry Joseph — who

was referenced by Bruce in a Globe and

Mail story as to what Andrus should be

worried about — also spoke on the Bruce

affair.

"Hey, every man is entitled to his

opinion," Joseph said. "I’m not going

to let anyone steal my joy, no person or

situation. I’m going to keep smiling. I’ve

got a game to play so I’m not even going

to worry about that.

"It’s a tough situation for (Bruce)

personally. It’s a decision coach made

and, as players, he’s the boss, he calls

the shots. We have a job to do. We know

they’ll be ready and we’ll just go with what

we have. It has an effect if you let it. If you

have that mentality that it’s something

between him and coach then as players

we’ve got to play the game. Winnipeg is

not going to feel sorry for us — for our

situation — so as players we’ve got to

stay focused and come out and get the

job done because that’s what we’re paid

to do."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO…

Bomber mascots Buzz and Boomer are

into their 25th year with the club and were

passing out cookies and cake Thursday.

REMEMBER:

To put a tin in the bin for Winnipeg Harvest

as part of Purolator’s Tackle Hunger

program.

QUOTABLE:

"We’re going to ruffle his feathers, that

cute little sucker." — the Argos’ Belli on

the defence’s plans for Bomber QB Stefan

LeFors.

— Tait

 

SCOUTING THE ARGOS

RECORD: 1-2, tied for third in the East Division.

ON THE ROAD: 1-1

VS. THE EAST: 1-0

OFFENSIVE RANKINGS: Overall scoring: 5th (25.0 points per game); passing: 4th (293.3 yards per game); rushing: 4th (102 yards per game).

Defensive rankings: Overall scoring: T-7th (35.7 points per game); passing: 4th (260.7 yards per game); rushing: 3rd (102 yards per game).

TURNOVER RATIO: minus-5 (7th overall)

 

THE QB

No. 4 Kerry Joseph: The 35-yearold vet leads the CFL in passing with 880 yards and six TDs while his QB-efficiency rating of 86.8 is third best among starters (behind Anthony Calvillo and Quinton Porter). He’s still deadly as a runner, although he’s only carried nine times for 48 yards in the first three games of the season.

Quick take: Seems more comfortable this season after the nightmare that was ’08 where he had to live through the Michael Bishop soap opera and a coaching change that cost him his starting job before regaining it. Shows no signs of deteriorating skills at age 35 and remains the best running threat among CFL QBs.

 

OFFENSIVE WEAPONRY

No. 12 Reggie McNeal, WR: Take both Arland Bruce III and Andre Talbot out of the Argo receiving corps and it is decimated. In fact, McNeal — the converted QB — is suddenly the most experienced pass catcher with 54 career receptions. Hello.

No. 25 Jamal Robertson, RB: He’s been one of the few shining stars through the Argos’ start with 240 yards in three games and a spectacular 8.3-yards-per-carry average. Has breathed new life into his career.

 

DEFENSIVE STOPPERS

No. 78 Adriano Belli, DT: He’s not just The Kissing Bandit or a guy with a penchant for dumb-ass penalties — Belli is also tied for the league lead in sacks with three.

No. 8 Zeke Moreno, LB: Continues to rack up big tackle numbers, just as he did in Hamilton and last year here in Winnipeg during his short stay.

 

THE SPECIALISTS

No. 7 Justin Medlock, K: Eddie Johnson actually won the kicking chores over Medlock in training camp, but injured his shoulder in Week 1. All Medlock has done since is nail all six of his field-goal attempts and post a respectable 37.2-yard net punting average.

No. 39 Matt Black, returner: Rookie Canadian who will get a look tonight returning. A sixth-round draft choice out of Saginaw Valley State who handled the return chores in school.

— Tait

 

Next Game Away: Toronto Saturday, Aug. 1 Noon / TSN