3 KEYS TO VICTORY

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/08/2010 (5537 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

1. DON’T LET KG GET COMFY AGAIN

The Bombers were shockingly flat in their last visit here as Ticat QB Kevin Glenn completed his first 14 passes en route to an easy 28-7 win. Allow Glenn to get comfy in the pocket and he can work over a defence like a boxer pounding away on a heavy bag. Glenn’s quick release makes it difficult to sack him, but the Bombers need to get hands up in his throwing lanes and be aggressive in coverage on the receivers to force him away from his first read.

"You have to try and make sure he can’t get the ball out of his hands quickly," said head coach Paul LaPolice. "Or if he is doing well, we’ve got to knock a ball down or two. He’s good when he’s in rhythm, that’s for sure."

2. SHUT DOWN AB III

Tough assignment, this, and it will require contributions from everyone in the Bombers’ defensive dozen. Ticat receiver Arland Bruce III was outstanding in Hamilton’s loss to Saskatchewan last week, pulling in 16 passes (tying a CFL record) for 272 yards and two TDs. A running back at the University of Minnesota before being switched to receiver, Bruce III often makes the circus catch, then makes defenders miss afterward with his pure athleticism. The Ticats like to move him around in their offensive package, starting from his usual spot at the wide-side slot, often shifting him to where they perceive a mismatch. Interestingly, for all of Bruce III’s juicy numbers, he has just one 100-yard receiving game and three TDs in 17 meetings vs. the Bombers.

"We know they’re going to incorporate him into the game plan, considering the game he had last week," explained Bomber cornerback Jovon Johnson. "When they go to him early, he’s a major factor in their offence. Our way of stopping him is to take him away early and then force them to go elsewhere."

The Riders played a lot of soft zone last week, giving Bruce III tons of room underneath. Watch for the Bombers to mix their coverages, but also occasionally bring the safety over to Bruce’s side for deep help.

3. START FAST, FINISH STRONG, MAKE PLAYS

The Bombers won’t be happy with this stat: They’ve been outscored in the first and third quarters this year and have trailed after the first 15 minutes in all but one of their first four games. That can result in two things: 1. Playing catch-up puts a ton of pressure on the "D" to hold while the attack regroups. 2. A trailing team can veer away from the game plan it worked so hard to devise early in the week, leading to offensive imbalance. Winnipeg has proven adept at finishing a half and games strong, having outscored their opponents 50-32 in the second quarter and 62-46 in fourth quarters this year. But, as we saw a few weeks ago in their first visit to Hamilton, a rabid ‘Cat backed into a corner can often deliver a mortal wound early, then watch its opponent slowly bleed to death. Bomber fans can attest that doesn’t always make for great theatre.

"Ø QB Jyles starts third straight for injured Pierce "Ø Jeffers-Harris out for Bomb Squad "Ø Ticats trot out new punter