3 keys to victory

By: Ed Tait Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Thursday, Aug. 19, 2010

1. PRE-GAME SMELLING SALTS, ANYONE?

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1. PRE-GAME SMELLING SALTS, ANYONE?

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/08/2010 (5860 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

1. PRE-GAME SMELLING SALTS, ANYONE?

It’s not a blip anymore for the Bombers, but now an all-too alarming trend: often before this team’s offence or defence even steps onto the field for the first time they are already down on the scoreboard. The Bombers are an awful first-quarter squad, having been outscored in six of their seven games. If this was boxing this crew would be limping to its corner with a busted lip and cuts over both eyes at the end of the first round — and that MUST change ASAP.

NATHAN DENETTE / THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
When Montreal Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo throws passes in games against the Blue Bombers, they usually go for completions. — NATHAN DENETTE / THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES When Montreal Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo throws passes in games against the Blue Bombers, they usually go for completions.

"The one good thing I can say about the slow starts is we’ve learned to finish strong," said centre Obby Khan, ever the optimist. "If we could just start fast I really think we could be great. I mean, I’ve said all along that I think we’re a very, very, good team. We’re not a great team yet, but we could get there with better starts."

Sure as hell wouldn’t hurt.

2. ONE A.C. KAPUT, TIME TO PULL THE PLUG ON THE OTHER

The Bombers get a huge break from the heavens with dynamic running back Avon Cobourne out with a bad wheel. But QB Anthony Calvillo — a future hall of famer — will still be at the controls and that usually means disaster for the Bombers. In his last 16 games against Winnipeg Calvillo has thrown for 27 TDs, been over 300 yards passing seven times and has a 11-5 record in those contests.

Even in last week’s loss to Toronto, a game in which Calvillo was ‘bothered’ by an iffy index finger on his throwing hand, he still managed to throw for 450 yards. Hello.

So, how do you beat this guy, other than rolling up to the Alouette locker room before the game in an unmarked vehicle and kidnapping him?

"You have to play aggressive, assignment-perfect football and eliminate the mistakes," explained Bomber cornerback LaVar Glover. "The Argos were really aggressive (in last week’s win) and they were flying around to the ball. It’s the same thing we’ve got to do as a defence. Calvillo has been a great QB in this league. It’s hard to stop a guy like that but if we can contain him and hit him a couple of times and fly around as a defence I think we’ll be all right."

3. LESS FLASH, MORE CONSISTENCY

Enough with a great defensive stand here, an impressive long offensive scoring drive there. If the Bombers are going to truly become a contender and get their 2010 season back on the rails they’ll need to piece together some complete games, not these bits and pieces that tease but, in the end, result in another loss. Yours truly was speaking to an Alouettes beat reporter for one of the French dailies here on Wednesday and he was shocked, given some of the Bombers solid statistical numbers, that the team is 2-5. It is what it is, sir. This team hasn’t closed when it has had the chance and with the bye week up next and NFL cuts around the corner, management could very easily airlift in more help. And if that isn’t incentive enough to get this bunch’s attention then they are truly lost.