Memory makers and game-breakers

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/11/2009 (5799 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Coaches, players, politicians, generals and folks in all walks of life often look back at their careers or lives and pull out obscure events or people as the keys to victories and failures alike.

The Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats will lock up in a game on Sunday that, at the very least, will be talked about in these two cities for much of the off-season and maybe longer.

It’s easy to imagine some of those involved pointing to a different occurrence or two that tipped the scales one way or another. A failed third-down attempt, a howling wind or a blocked punt are all possibilities for this category.

There’s no way of pinpointing ahead of time what or who will stick out after the battle as the changeling, but here’s a sample of possible memory makers put together by our football writers.

OLD HOME WEEK

The storyline: A whole pile of ex-Bombers roll into River City in enemy colours and with visions of vicious payback dancing in their heads. A Ticat victory eliminates the Bomb Squad and will have all those former Bombers scorned thumbing their noses en route to the playoffs.

The characters: QB Kevin Glenn, O-linemen Dan Goodspeed and Alex Gauthier, DB Marc Beswick; ex-Bomber QB Khari Jones (now the QB coach in Hamilton); assistant coaches Greg Marshall, Mike Gibson, Dave Easley, John Kropke.

Worth noting: The Ticats are just 2-12 in their last 14 visits, including playoffs, to Canad Inns Stadium and are on a four-game losing streak here that dates back to 2006.

CAN REID RUMBLE AGAIN?

The storyline: Bomber running back Fred Reid is second in the CFL in rushing, but 427 of his 1,294 yards have come in two games and represent his only 100-plus rushing efforts of the season. He had just 37 yards on 11 carries in last week’s loss in Montreal.

The characters: RB Fred Reid; the Bomber O-line blocking in front of him — Steve Morley, Brendon LaBatte, Obby Khan, Ryan Donnelly, Glenn January and Luke Fritz — along with fullback Jon Oosterhuis and tailback Yvenson Bernard.

Worth noting: In two games against Hamilton this season Reid has 154 yards and a sparkling 6.42-yards-per-carry average — slightly better than his season-average of 5.8.

ASSIGNED TO ARLAND

The storyline: Former Bombers receiver Arland Bruce is a big play threat with the ability to change a game with one pass route. Bruce can get open and make the grab but it’s his ability after the catch that the Bombers must really fear.

The characters: Lenny Walls, Ian Logan and Jonathan Hefney will all play a part in this assignment. Walls and Hefney will draw most of the work against Bruce depending on where he lines up. Logan could have a major impact helping out in zone and double coverages.

Worth noting: Walls expected to work against Bruce the last time the two teams played but the Ticats moved him away from the physical DB.

X-FACTORS

The storyline: Which player, sometimes forgotten among the other regulars who have grabbed more headlines, jumps off the page in one of the biggest games of the year?

The characters: Justin Hickman, DE, Ticats; Titus Ryan, WR, Bombers.

Worth noting: Hickman has five sacks in his last four games, was the top defensive player a couple of weeks ago and racked up eight tackles and a sack in the loss to Winnipeg on Thanksgiving. He pursues QBs relentlessly and gets to them in a foul mood. Ryan has been dynamite for the Bombers in the last two games with six catches for 210 yards and a couple of scores. His ability to stretch the field, coupled with the return of Adarius Bowman, considerably changes the complexion of the Bomber receiving corps.

THE SPECIALISTS

The storyline: Hey, this ain’t complicated. It’s November, the frost is on the pumpkin and the battle for field position will be ginormous.

The characters: Winnipeg PK Alexis Serna and punter Troy Westwood plus return man Jovon Johnson and kick-cover dynamos Shawn Gallant, Derrick Doggett and Pierre-Luc Labbe; Hamilton kicker Nick Setta and Marquay McDaniel, their top return man and rookie-of-the-year candidate plus Dylan Barker and Yannick Carter and Marc Beswick, their coverage experts.

Worth noting: The Bombers were lit up by Montreal’s Larry Taylor for 335 return yards last week, including a 115-yard missed field goal for a score; the Ticats’ Setta has hit 10 straight field goals since going 1-for-3 in a 15-14 loss to Calgary in early October.

THE INTANGIBLES

The storyline: The Bombers are the home side and they’d like weather and a crowd to help them out.

The characters: November in Winnipeg is famous in the CFL for being a little nasty but that won’t be the case this Sunday as the forecast is for sunny and 9 C at game time. The ticket count is beginning to swell and by late Friday they have sold more than 27,000 tickets making a sellout a possibility.

Worth noting: A grassroots element has been calling for a Blue-out asking fans to dress in blue for the game on a take of the old hockey tradition to wear white to Winnipeg Jets games.

HEADSETS

The storyline: Coaching will be a factor from the pre-game schemes to the in-game adjustments made by both staffs. The Bombers are led by embattled boss Mike Kelly and the Ticats follow coach Marcel Bellefeuille. Both men are in their first full year as head coaches in the CFL, Bellefeuille was the interim coach of the Cats for past of last season.

The characters: Kelly has been colourful all season and is in many ways a love-him-or-hate- him-type guy. Bellefeuille and his Tabbies were the story of the first half of the season and he’s been even-keeled while rebuilding the Cats program. Both have an opportunity to secure a berth in their first playoff game as a coach.

Worth noting: Bellefeuille coached the Ottawa Gee-Gees to the Vanier Cup in 2000.

THE QBs

The storyline: The CFL is a quarterback’s league and the two men under centre will have the most to say about which club wins this game.

The characters: The Bombers will start Michael Bishop while the Ticats will follow Kevin Glenn. Bishop began the season playing touch football with family members in Texas while Glenn was dumped in the off-season by the Bombers and signed as a backup by the Ticats before taking the job from Quinton Porter on Thanksgiving Monday when Porter struggled against the Bombers. Both can be brilliant and both can make the big mistake that kills a team.

Worth noting: Bishop has steadily improved, winning four of his last six games and turning in solid performances in the wins, but is graded poorly in the losses. Glenn has not thrown an interception in three games.

THE MOUTH THAT ROARS

The storyline: Bombers rookie Jonathan Hefney has become an impact player but has yet to perform on a stage such as this. Can he be a star or will he be victimized as a rookie?

The characters: Hefney was recently named the Bombers rookie of the year and is now in the running for East Division honours. He’s a terror in the secondary who hits with his body and his insults. Hefney is also a special teams wonder and loves to throw devastating blocks for return man Jovon Johnson.

Worth noting: Bombers special teams veteran Shawn Gallant has this to say about Hefney: "Jonathan Hefney is like salt. He’s in everything."

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca. ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca.