Game Day: 5 storylines

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/09/2011 (5455 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Bombers and Alouettes meet in Montreal Sunday. Here are five things to consider:

1. End zone out

Montreal has only allowed 17 points in its last two home games. This comes up because scoring points has been a big problem for the Bombers of late.

Take away the garbage-time touchdown from Terrence Edwards in the Banjo Bowl and Winnipeg has just one major in its last two outings.

It’s a trend that needs to be reversed and one that falls on the entire offence, not just the quarterback.

The Bombers are at or near the bottom half of many offensive categories — and have been for most of the year. What’s most concerning, though, is the way the unit has fizzled out as it approaches pay dirt. Red zone efficiency (TDs scored) is only at 48 per cent.

Field goals won’t cut it against the Alouettes.

2. Tough test

Joe Lobendahn is out for the year with an ACL tear. So for this game — and the rest of the season — the Bombers will go with second-year linebacker Marcellus Bowman in the middle of the defence. It will only be the second time in his career (high school, college, pro) that Bowman will play a game from that spot.

Growing pains are expected, but Bowman’s mission Sunday is a daunting one: Stuff running back Brandon Whitaker (CFL-high 742 rush yards) and keep a close eye on quarterback Anthony Calvillo. Not an easy task for a guy fighting through a turf toe injury.

3. Watching Watson

Second-year Canadian Cory Watson is on pace for 983 yards receiving this season. A big game here, another big game there, and he could crack the 1,000-yard mark, which would be an incredible accomplishment for the Concordia product.

Teams are starting to pay more attention to the physical Watson, a fact he started to pick up on.

“Most of the attention still goes to Terrence (Edwards),” he said with a laugh Friday. “That’s fine with me, too. Playing beside him gives me a lot more room to work.”

Incidentally, if both Watson and Edwards (655 yards heading into Sunday) can reach 1,000-yards, it will be the first time since 2008 multiple Bombers receivers have found the pass-catching benchmark (Romby Bryant, Derek Armstrong, and Edwards were the last to do it).

4. Calm Blue ocean

Visible frustration has been a common denominator in Winnipeg’s last two losses, a lack of composure that has featured ejections (Brandon Stewart, Watson), unnecessary roughing and unsportsmanlike penalties (Greg Carr) and even a small in-game sit down (Odell Willis in the Banjo Bowl).

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Another constant in these moments of rage: Winnipeg has been losing on the scoreboard and on the short end of the stick on calls during the play. The Bombers can’t give Montreal any free distance through mental mistakes.

5. Finally, five questions

Were the games against Saskatchewan just a bad dream? What happens if Buck Pierce’s ribs feel a healthy shot? Can the Bombers’ run game get on track? Where has the pass rush disappeared to? Not many expect Winnipeg to win — is this a welcome good sign for a club that clearly loves being an underdog?

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca