Game day: 5 storylines

B.C.'s Buono has history of getting teams up to speed

By: Paul Wiecek Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011

Blue Bombers (5-1) vs. B.C. Lions (1-5). Here are five things to keep an eye on:

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Blue Bombers (5-1) vs. B.C. Lions (1-5). Here are five things to keep an eye on:

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/08/2011 (5197 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Blue Bombers (5-1) vs. B.C. Lions (1-5). Here are five things to keep an eye on:

1. Lions or cubs?

The Lions had a disastrous July — but that’s nothing new. B.C. is a woeful 2-13 in the month of July over the past three seasons, including 0-5 this year.

CP
B.C. Lions' Geroy Simon (81) is taken down deep in the Bombers zone by Alex Suber (21) and Jonathan Hefney (23) during the Bombers' victory Thursday, July 28. — CP B.C. Lions' Geroy Simon (81) is taken down deep in the Bombers zone by Alex Suber (21) and Jonathan Hefney (23) during the Bombers' victory Thursday, July 28.

But as slow as they’ve started, GM and head coach Wally Buono has also proven remarkably adept at making the changes necessary to right the ship and find ways to win. Last season, Buono turned a 1-7 start into an 8-10 season and the question now is whether he can work the same magic this year.

A win over Saskatchewan last week to improve to 1-5 helped. The addition of Arland Bruce and his 9,000-plus career receiving yards this week should help even more. We’ll see if it’s enough.

2. Buck or Buckle?

Winnipeg QB Buck Pierce finished the game against Edmonton last week — and that was news in itself after Pierce was chased early from two of his three previous starts.

Look out if he stays healthy because Pierce has been putting up the best numbers of his career the past few games. The 29-year-old is seeing the field, finding the open receivers and, when they’re not open, finding them anyway with some seeing-eye passes.

3. The Third Quarter

59-13. That is the margin the Bombers have outscored their opponents in the third quarter this season.

The number is astonishing and you have to wonder how long they can keep it up. The Bombers players credit the coaching staff with making good adjustments at halftime; the coaches credit the players with their conditioning and better execution in the second half.

Whatever is behind the third-quarter magic, it has been the key to how the Bombers have staged five come-from-behind victories this season.

4. The Turnover Battle

The Bombers are plus-15 in the turnover battle this season. Plus-15. That’s a crazy statistic. How crazy? Consider this: The next best team in the CFL in the takeaway-giveaway department this season is the Edmonton Eskimos, who are plus-seven.

The Bombers have done it by dominating both ends of that statistic. In the takeaway department, they lead the league in interceptions with 10 and fumble recoveries with eight and are tied for the league-lead in turnovers on downs with five.

In the giveaway department, Winnipeg’s eight turnovers this season — five interceptions, three fumbles — also leads the CFL.

And B.C.? They’ve forced just seven turnovers and given up 11, a minus-four ratio that explains a lot about that 1-5 record.

5. Sack Attack

The 25 sacks registered by the Bombers this season is nine better than the next nearest competitor and 11 better than B.C. has mustered this season.

It’s a simple game when opposing quarterbacks are looking up at the stars — and seeing some too — all night long. B.C. got burned the last time they played Winnipeg and will have some new blocking schemes tonight. If they can rebuff the Bombers pass rush, they’ll be the first this season.

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca