Game Day: 411

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/09/2011 (5449 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Where’s the offence?

The concern opens like this: Nine games are in the books and the Blue Bombers offence remains a working document.

Fan frustration grew when the club didn’t score a touchdown against the Roughriders at the Labour Day Classic and those flying the Bombers flag in the front yard are becoming unsettled with the lack of production.

Two stats of discomfort: Winnipeg leads (or trails) the CFL with 73 two-and-outs (Toronto is next with 56; Hamilton is the best at 42) and the offence has only been in the red zone (inside the opponent’s 20-yard line) 20 times, scoring just nine TDs. Both are last in the league.

With those numbers, quarterback Buck Pierce says the main priority for the Banjo Bowl is simple: Just stay on the field more.

“Let our defence rest on the sidelines and keep them fresh,” he said. “That’s important every week. We feel (confident) what with we have going into this week that we can execute it and have a big day in the time of possession.”

Winnipeg is near the bottom of the league in average yards per game (seventh, 326 yards) but as Pierce rightfully points out, the club is 7-2. The urgency to improve exists but it’s not a full-out panic yet.

Is he surprised with the criticism his offence is getting?

“That’s sports — you’re only as good as your last game,” he said. “There are 18 games and opportunities are out there still.”

Head coach Paul LaPolice carries a different torch for the offence Sunday: “The key is getting points,” he said. “If we have two-play drives that are scoring seven, that’s the most important thing.”

Winnipeg failed to score a touchdown against the Riders in the LDC. The last time the Bombers were shut out of the end zone was Oct. 30, 2010, a 16-13 overtime loss in Edmonton.

Extra points

Winnipeg holds a 4-3 record in Banjo Bowls…Saskatchewan has swept the home-and-home series three times…The Bombers won last year, 31-2, with Steven Jyles at quarterback.

Film room

Linebacker Marcellus Bowman is back after missing the last two games with a turf toe injury. He watched last Sunday’s 27-7 embarrassment on television, and offered this take:

“I felt like we let Saskatchewan down. They were expecting the best team in the CFL and we didn’t give them the best team in the CFL. And that upsets me (laughs). No, I felt like we gave them our B-game and we left a lot on the field. They played a great game, definitely, and I’m not going to take anything away from them, but I know we’re a lot better than that. We’ll bring the A-game on Sunday.”

Roster shuffle

Kick returner Tim Brown draws in, meaning a designated import will have to come off. Canadian fullback Michel-Pierre Pontbriand will dress for special teams purposes. He’ll take receiver Aaron Hargreaves’ spot on the roster.

— Wazny