Bombers will try to salvage some pride

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This article was published 09/10/2010 (5816 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FORGET about magic numbers, scoreboard watching or any other mathematical formulas that would see the Winnipeg Blue Bombers qualify for the playoffs.

Until the final shovel of dirt buries this edition of The Bomb Squad, they vow to keep battling. But when a club is 3-10 and has lost eight of its last nine, another motivator should come into play. Pride.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re going into the playoffs or not. Nobody wants to go out there and get their ass kicked,” said Bomber guard Brendon LaBatte Friday. “It’s about having a little more pride than that. I don’t want to go out there and get embarrassed and there’s a lot of guys who feel that way.”

The 3-10 Bombers play host to the 5-8 B.C. Lions on Thanksgiving Monday with both pride and the struggle for a playoff spot — however fleeting — at stake. Realistically, the Bombers would have to go 4-1 in their final five games and then pray for a collapse by the Lions and Eskimos or the Argos and Ticats.

Yeah, about that…

“We’re lucky to even have a chance with what our record is,” admitted LaBatte. “It seems like for the last four weeks we’ve been living on last chances. Eventually, they’re going to run out so we’ve got to make something happen here right away.”

The big story in Bomberland this week, of course, has been the change at quarterback with Alex Brink stepping in for Steven Jyles. Despite juicy numbers — Jyles has the second-best QB efficiency rating to Montreal’s Anthony Calvillo — the Bombers are 2-6 in games he has started.

“If people are blaming Steven for our record it’s very unfair,” said receiver Terrence Edwards. “He’s not the only one out there. I think he’s done a great job, he’s led us in the best way he could. The record doesn’t reflect it.”

Bomber management has long been intrigued by Brink’s skill set, although this week head coach Paul LaPolice shrugged off any suggestion that the QB change was pushed by GM Joe Mack, who was instrumental in landing the QB in a draft-day deal this spring.

“I’m head coach,” said LaPolice. “I’m not taking many jobs where I can’t decide on things. They can speculate all they want, but I’m the head coach.”

The Bombers have lost six games by four points or less, seven by a TD or less. But last Saturday’s 16-14 loss to the Lions was especially crushing. That said, practices have been spirited and there is no indication the collective morale has been beaten to a pulp.

“Being with this crew so far this year, I think they’ve proven they’re a pretty resilient bunch and have been able to fight through those things,” LaPolice said. “They’ve come back and practised hard, but now we need to finish. Winning cures a lot of things. Winning makes up for a lot of mistakes.”

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

bomber game day D4-5