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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/07/2014 (4111 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

VEGAS LINE

The Bombers are 2½-point favourites.

NOTABLE

The Bombers have made two changes to their roster as WR

Romby Bryant steps in for Aaron Kelly (knee) and Zach Anderson returns and replaces Kashawn Fraser.

Edmonton will be without LB J.C. Sherritt (foot), who set a CFL record with 130 tackles in 2012 en route to being named the CFL’s top defensive player.

FREED WILLY

Bombers QB Drew Willy has already established or tied career highs for yards (871), TD passes (5), starts (3) and attempts (98) after just three games. But the most important stat is this: He is the first Bomber QB to start a season at 3-0 since 2003 when Khari Jones began the year 4-0 before losing in Game 5. In the post-Second World War era, only Willy (2014) and Jones (2003), along with Tom Clements (1987), Ken Ploen (1960 and 1965), and Jack Jacobs (1954) have started and won the first three games of a season.

THE ‘J’ IS SILENT

He may not be a household name yet, but if Bomber kicker Lirim Hajrullahu (pronounced Ha-rula- hu) keeps connecting on all his field goals, he will be soon.

Hajrullahu has hit his first seven attempts and the last first-year kicker to start his career with more consecutive makes was Justin Medlock, who made his first 11 FGs in 2009 before missing his second attempt on Aug. 1, 2009.

Worth noting: Alexis Serna also made his first seven attempts for the Bombers in 2008 before finishing 34 of 51 (66.7 per cent).

SWISS ARMY SEARS

With last week’s start at safety, Bomber defender Johnny Sears Jr. has now started at four different positions in his five seasons with the Bombers: safety, cornerback, halfback and linebacker.

What’s next, quarterback?

“I’ve have no problem getting a couple of zone reads,” Sears laughed Wednesday. “Whatever they want me to play — I will play a little receiver, too. Whatever it takes to help us win, I’m one of those guys who’s down to do it. I just want to get the ‘W’ at the end of the night.”

With all the position-switching Sears has done in recent seasons, the 27-year-old Fresno, Calif., native was asked if he even has a “natural position” anymore.

“Yeah — defence. That’s my position — defence and stopping the guys from scoring.”

GOTTA HAVE FAITH

Bombers O-lineman Cordaro Howard took three illegal-procedure penalties in his CFL debut against Montreal last week, playing in relief of injured starting left guard Chris Greaves.

But despite the penalties, head coach Mike O’Shea said he never even considered starting anyone but Howard in place of Greaves again this week.

“I haven’t asked Cordaro if he believes we have faith in him. I think it’s a given that we do and it’s also a given he needs to play better,” O’Shea said.

Howard knows the same thing.

“It’s more so getting the right calls in the huddle,” Howard said of his miscues last week. “It wasn’t anything the crowd (in Montreal) did or anything like that. We’re professionals out here.”

—Tait/Wiecek