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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/07/2012 (4831 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WHAT ABOUT RICKY?

EDMONTON — Believe it or not, Kavis Reed is still fielding questions about Ricky Ray.

Three weeks into the regular season and the Edmonton head coach is growing a little tired of it, or at least that’s how it looked at his press conference Thursday. Reed was short and to the point when the off-season trade that sent Ray to Toronto for Steven Jyles was brought up, and it only came up after GM Eric Tillman publically expressed some buyer’s remorse about the deal on a local radio station earlier in the week, but regardless, the coach was none too happy with the subject matter.

“The only comment I have for that is that Ricky Ray is not with us anymore,” he said. “It’s revisionist’s history, as it’s going to be for the rest of our lives, as to whether or not the deal should or should not be made.

“Ricky is not a part of this football team. The guys we have here are capable players.”

Jyles, seemingly unaffected by the constant scrutiny, understands that the comparison will always be there.

“It’s the first year. People can always reference the last year, or look at what Ricky (is doing in Toronto),” he said. “Everyone has to understand that myself, Kerry Joseph (Eskimos backup) and Ricky are totally different. When we’re on the field we’re going to see things different.”

For those curious, Jyles was 2-0 against Winnipeg last season.

MAKE YOUR BREAKS

Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice threw some cold water on the notion that his club’s modified hurry-up offence — new this year under offensive co-ordinator Gary Crowton — was actually hurting his defence in the long run.

Winnipeg is last in the CFL in time of possession, holding the ball for an average 24:15 through two weeks. The run game is practically non-existent (tailback Bloi-Dei Dorzon only has 56 yards on 12 carries) and the club has been unable to string together lengthy drives.

Winnipeg has had a CFL-low 26 offensive possessions through two weeks (only nine two-and-outs), and LaPolice would like to see a little more consistency during drives, but he says it’s up to the defence — a group that looks tired at the end of games — to make some stops and get off the field.

“On defence, the key is just keeping a team off the field,” he said. “If a team goes (on) a nine-play drive… we have to stop them in five plays or four plays. I don’t think the no-huddle is a factor in that.”

BOMBERS ROSTER

New names on the 46-man roster are defensive backs Darrell Pasco and Jeremy McGee, along with running back Nathan Riva and fullback Jordan Matechuk. Only Riva and Pasco are expected to be in uniform, with the latter making his first start in the secondary.

As expected, Winnipeg placed DB Alex Suber (leg), LB Brandon Stewart (leg) and RBs Chad Simpson (leg) and Anthony Woodson (undisclosed) on the one-game injured list. Defensive end Kenny Mainor (ankle) was moved to the nine-game list.

ESKIMOS ROSTER

The biggest change from last week is the loss of wide receiver Adarius Bowman, who suffered a serious knee injury last week. Dobson Collins goes onto the roster in his place.

Edmonton coaches were lamenting Bowman’s loss, and not just for his on-field production. He’s an animated guy, someone who is always chattering about something, and the worry is that the Eskimos’ room will miss the spark he provides.

Said one coach: “It’s been really quiet in there this week.”

— Wazny