Bombers like their chances

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/10/2011 (5157 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE oddsmakers in Las Vegas have installed the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as a two-point underdog in their first-place matchup against the Montreal Alouettes Saturday afternoon at Canad Inns Stadium.

So what else is new, wondered Bombers starting quarterback Buck Pierce.

“We’ve been underdogs a lot this year. People keep counting us out,” Pierce said Thursday afternoon after his team went through its final full practice in advance of Saturday’s game. “We feel confident in what we can do as a team. And that’s what it comes down to.

“The people who matter are the people in the locker-room and the organization and how we feel about each other and how we feel as a team.”

The second-place Bombers trail the Alouettes by two points in the CFL’s East division heading into this weekend, but the season series between the two clubs is tied 1-1.

The Blue Bombers stunned just about everyone but themselves in beating Montreal at Percival Molson Stadium in mid-September, but then lost the rematch at home on Sept. 30 when the Bombers failed twice in the final seconds to score the game-winning touchdown from the one-yard line.

With those games as the backdrop to this weekend, Pierce was asked if he felt his team had the upper hand on Montreal in the head-to-head matchup.

“I wouldn’t say we have the upper hand,” said Pierce, “but I also wouldn’t give Montreal the automatic go-ahead on this game either. We’ve played very well against them.”

Defensive lineman Rodney Fritz and special teams player Tim Brown were the only players not practising for Winnipeg on Thursday, but head coach Paul LaPolice continued to stage auditions at punter and centre.

LaPolice has had Brendan LaBatte taking first-team reps at centre this week, with backup lineman Chris Greaves sliding in at LaBatte’s left guard spot and veteran centre Obby Khan the odd man out in some of the reps.

“We’re evaluating that,” said LaPolice. “We’ve had Brendan taking a lot of the snaps this week with Chris Greaves playing the left guard. So that’s one of the scenarios we’re talking through.”

Jamie Boreham also continued on Thursday to handle all the punting during practice and LaPolice said he’s been happy with what he’s seen out of Boreham, who will replace veteran punter Mike Renaud — who’s been struggling — for at least this week and will also take over the kickoff duties from Justin Palardy.

“He kicked off today down inside the five-yard line, so he’ll be great with kickoffs,” said LaPolice. “And his punting? I think he’s a good directional punter. He might have the same leg as Mike Renaud and he directionally punts well.”

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

Hope for the worst

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“I’ve tried that before. It doesn’t work, though.”

— Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice when asked if one of his defensive plans against Montreal quarterbacking legend Anthony Calvillo this weekend is to just hope Calvillo has a bad game.

Buck up

“I’d like everyone around him to play better and I’d like him to play better.”

— Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice commenting on starting QB Buck Pierce’s seventh-place quarterback efficiency rating this season.