Game day: 5 story lines

By: Adam Wazny Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Saturday, Sep. 24, 2011

It's the Blue Bombers and Argonauts at Rogers Centre tonight. Among the things to watch for:

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It's the Blue Bombers and Argonauts at Rogers Centre tonight. Among the things to watch for:

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/09/2011 (5450 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s the Blue Bombers and Argonauts at Rogers Centre tonight. Among the things to watch for:

1. Jyles style

Though the Bombers are familiar with the Argonauts — divisional rivals tend to have a good understanding of one another — the Boatmen aren’t exactly the club they remember from July.

MICHAEL BELL / POSTMEDIA NEWS ARCHIVES
Argonauts pivot Steven Jyles gives Toronto more options and experience on offence. — MICHAEL BELL / POSTMEDIA NEWS ARCHIVES Argonauts pivot Steven Jyles gives Toronto more options and experience on offence.

Remember Steven Jyles? The former Winnipeg pivot, who was shipped off to Toronto before the season, presents a bigger challenge than Cleo Lemon, the Bombers say, due to his ability to make plays outside of the tackles and his experience in the CFL game. He’s given them a boost offensively, which is something Toronto has needed for almost two full seasons now. Maybe longer. In a game featuring two clubs headed in opposite directions, Jyles at least provides some potential for drama.

2. Big shot bomb

Big plays (defined by the CFL as passes of 30 or more yards; runs of 20 or more) are nothing new for the Bombers. The club leads the league with 26 ‘big plays’ and has relied on the instant offence to offset the sometimes vanilla attack this season. Why has it worked? The players say they aren’t looking for the home run, but instead point to some in-game patience and an ability to answer the bell when an opening arrives. “When you draw something up and understand that it’s going to be a big play, you have to execute it,” quarterback Buck Pierce said.

3. Special relations

The usual Chad Owens watch has some extra interest to it this time around, as Toronto coach Jim Barker has removed some of the speedster’s offensive playbook so that he can concentrate on his returns. In a related story, the Bombers kickers are on high alert. Punter Mike Renaud is coming off one of his worst games as a professional in Montreal (34.6 yard average) and has worked all week on angling his kicks to the sidelines. The worry for kicker Justin Palardy is twofold: Not only will he need to place his kickoffs in a spot that won’t allow the electric Owens a chance to assess the coverage before the catch, he’ll also have to be bang-on in the field goal department. Owens leads the league with 1,946 combined yards.

4. Back beat

Bombers running back Fred Reid is averaging 65 yards per game and is coming off a confidence-building 84-yard performance against the Alouettes. Argos running back Cory Boyd is averaging 75.6 yards per game and is feeling good about his play thanks to a 90-yard effort versus the Roughriders. Bold prediction: One of these men will rush for 100 yards tonight.

5. Five final questions

Can Winnipeg continue its road domination? Do the Argos have a chance here? With the Maple Leafs playing in Buffalo tonight, will anyone in the GTA care about the local football team? Has Winnipeg picked up anything from the Saskatchewan games? Wait, Toronto has a football team?

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca