Gotta give the D an A

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/10/2010 (5809 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Lost in all the jump-out-of-your-seat dramatics an overtime thriller provides was a rigid Bombers defensive stand.

OK, it’s not as exciting as, say, a game-tying field goal with no time left on the clock, an improbable punt return from a pressed-up sideline position, or a routine interception of a bad pass in the extra frame, but the shutout pitched by the Bombers (4-10) in the fourth quarter was still a major factor in the 47-35 win over the B.C. Lions Monday.

Forget about quarterback Steven Jyles finally closing a game out for a victory; the defence, celebrated as one of the top units in the CFL this season, also showed some growth. The key moment: the last minute of regulation.

Up by three and at midfield, the Lions look to run out the clock with RB Jamal Robertson, who bangs one through the line for six yards. Second down. Needing just another first down to put Winnipeg out of its misery, the Lions turn to Robertson again, only this time the Bombers defence holds, stonewalling the bruising back for no gain.

Sean Whyte comes out to punt and the rest, as they say, is memorable.

“He ran for over 100 yards on us and his average was (5.9) yards per carry, so it meant something for us to be able to stop him there,” said DT Doug Brown. “It was second and four — they get the first down there and the game is over. It was a critical moment for us and I don’t know if we’re starting to learn lessons now or things are finally starting to sink in. We’re pretty poor students if it takes this many opportunities missed before we start figuring things out.”

Think back to the game prior, a 16-14 Lions win in Vancouver.

In that one, the Bombers defence allowed the Lions to march 77-yards down the field in the final five minutes to kick the game-winning field goal. Although the circumstances and surroundings were different, the memory of that Oct. 2 game surfaced on the Bombers’ sideline Monday.

“Yeah, it was a similar situation where we had to stop them, but this time we actually got the stop,” said DB Jovon Johnson. “Maybe we are learning something, but I think we’ve known all season that we could rise up and make a play when needed.”

Knowing and doing are separate entities, though, and the knock on this Bombers defensive unit is that it hasn’t been able to answer the bell when the outcome is on the line. But in Monday’s game, they welcomed the challenge:

— Six minutes left. With the Lions up by 10 points and in field goal range, Bombers DE Phillip Hunt comes up with a big sack, forcing the visitors to punt from midfield.

— The next B.C. series, the Lions can’t do anything with a first and 10 from the Bombers’ 45-yard line and again are forced to punt.

— Finally, with the Bombers needing another stop — only this time to preserve victory — DB Deon Beasley steps in front of a Casey Printers pass in overtime. Ball game.

For all the numbers the Bombers’ stoppers have put up this year — from the unit being the second-ranked defence in the CFL (340 yards allowed per game), to Hunt leading the league in sacks (13), to DE Odell Willis tied for the CFL lead in forced fumbles (four) — even those within the group understand the difference between being a good defence and a great defence.

“We’ve been in every game, for the most part,” Johnson said. “For whatever reason, we haven’t been able to close things out before. We really showed the hunger to want to do it (against the Lions). The interception in overtime sealed the deal, but there were a lot of things, plays by the defence, that led up to that moment.

“Hopefully, we can continue to make plays when it counts.”

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca