5 story lines

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/08/2011 (5471 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Five things to watch when the Blue Bombers host the Tiger-Cats tonight:

1. For Those About to Rock: It’s easy to get a ticket count from the Bombers staff these days, as there are no more tickets left to count. Tonight’s game will be a sellout- plus (500 extra seats have been added), which should only shake the foundations at Canad Inns Stadium even more.

And we do mean ‘shake.’ Those temporary wooden bleachers set up beside Section ‘A’ and Section ‘Y’ rattle around as soon as you step on them, making one wonder just how solid the structure will feel when there are 250 people stomping their feet to increase the decibel level.

The Bombers are 28-8 when playing in front of a home crowd of more than 29,000. Tonight’s expected attendance announcement: 30,033.

2. Brown is Back: After keeping it a closely guarded secret for almost a month, word has leaked out that the mysterious “foot injury” that forced Bombers DT Doug Brown to miss the last two games was a broken big toe.

Now that he’s back in the lineup for tonight, Brown thinks his toes might be targets. “Functionally, it hasn’t impaired me or held me back at all,” Brown said Thursday.

“As long as I don’t tell (Ticats centre) Marwan Hage which one it was, I will be fine on the field. He’s going to be guessing, he’s going to be tap-dancing over both my feet, but hopefully I will be able to keep them out of his line of sight.”

3. Quick Learner: Linebacker Henoc Muamba, the top pick in the 2011 CFL college draft, will finally make his professional debut tonight.

Muamba has been sidelined since June 23 with a knee injury and will see lots of action on special teams. It should be a head-first dive into football action that will bring his college legs up to speed in a hurry.

“I saw the difference since camp; I’ve been practicing with these guys the past few weeks,” he said. “These guys are fast. You see it in the games.”

4. Extra Protection: After missing the last six games, Bombers WR Greg Carr draws back into the starting lineup. Terence Jeffers-Harris is the guy he’ll replace, which raises an interesting question: With Jeffers-Harris possibly out of the equation tonight, who will help out at the line when extra blocking is required?

Head coach Paul LaPolice said Aaron Hargreaves is the best blocking receiver on the club, with Cory Watson earning an honourable mention. Carr isn’t that guy, he inferred, so both will be asked to come inside and help if Jeffers-Harris doesn’t dress.

5. Rust Proof: Can the Bombers pick up where they left off? According to DB Alex Suber, the bye week won’t be an issue for the defence. “It’s exciting to be back. I don’t see why we can’t continue to play like we have been. Once the game starts, things come back pretty fast.”

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca