The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are on a mini-heater — 5-2 in their last seven after tumbling into an 0-4 hole to start the Canadian Football League season — and have a legit shot at first place when they step on the field for Sunday’s Labour Day Classic.
And yet an underlying area that keeps eating away at this club while it trots out its ‘Whatever it takes’ mantra: how does the offence — ranked last in the land — find a gear or two to build some momentum and score more touchdowns heading into the critical weeks ahead?
“More opportunities. The big thing is we keep not finishing drives and stalling in the score zone,” said Blue Bombers offensive coordinator Buck Pierce after practice on Wednesday. “We need to make sure we’re able to stay on the field — whether (we’re not) because of a turnover or a missed assignment in scoring position — that allows us to get the ball into the end zone.
“We keep looking at ways to get better at that. When you look at the overall year you look at things; why are drives stalled? It’s decision making when you get closer to the end zone and not clean execution.”
Winnipeg ranks eighth in score-zone opportunities (29) and touchdowns (14) and the club’s QBs have just a 44.8 completion percentage in that area. That’s hardly all on the pivots, however, as the offence has been massacred at different points this season by injuries to its receiving corps and offensive line.
Still…
“It’s a handful of things and like I always say — and it’s going to sound boring — but it comes down to execution of the play call,” said Zach Collaros. “That starts with me as the quarterback of understanding what the defence is doing and understanding where to go with the football — whether that’s a run play with a pass-option on it or just a straight drop back and figuring out what the defence is trying to do to us.
“Within that, it’s everybody being aligned properly and getting the proper depths of their routes — all that jargon that we talk about with you all the time. Those little details are what really matter in this game, so it’s just continuing to stress the importance of those things to work it every day and then go out there and execute it.”
Yet, even with the offensive struggles there was the attack in Friday’s win over Hamilton — minus three offensive linemen in Stanley Bryant, Gabe Wallace and still without veteran Pat Neufeld — grinding out a game-winning drive inside the final minute to secure a massive win which has set the club up for Sunday’s first-place showdown in Regina.
Asked if that final drive could provide any momentum heading into the weekend, Collaros offered this:
“There’s stuff to take away from every play. It gives us more and more confidence in our play, in our hurry-up package and we’ve always done a good job in that. And it’s an important thing to stress to the young guys in this league you’re never out of the game. It’s continue to do what you’re asked to do — alignment, assignment — and the execution will happen.
“So, let’s not put our heads down if we go two-and-out a few series in a row, if you turn the football over because it usually comes down to the final three minutes and who’s executing at a high level at that point. We were fortunate enough to do that in the last minute or so.”
APPROACHING BUD: Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea needs one more win to reach 102 and tie the legendary Bud Grant as the all-time wins leader in franchise history.
Asked by Paul Friesen of The Sun what has been the biggest surprise since becoming a head coach, he said:
“There’s so many of them. Every year there’s still surprises because every year it just evolves a little more and the players change. I would say every year there’s still surprises which is a good thing, because if you felt like you knew it all then you’re probably about to get fired.”
And if there were things that were overwhelming, especially in his early days as a head coach:
“Oh yeah. It’s just the volume of decisions on your plate. You think, ‘OK, I made this decision’ and then you realize there’s 10 more and there’s a lot of other things you just have to figure out.
“My first offseason before it all started, I probably spent a lot of time when I was leaving the office at whatever time of night just driving around town trying to get the lay of the land and just relaxing trying to see something other than your office. But it was all exciting and fun.
“Any time you’re thrust into a position and it’s something new and you have to do that much learning it’s really exciting and your brain just gets going and that’s a lot of fun. In other jobs that have been new to me, when there’s so much to learn I find that very inspiring.”
FYI: Another practice day has come and gone and still no sign of left tackle Stanley Bryant, although the club is still hopeful he’ll be able to suit up Sunday. The O-line has featured Eric Lofton and Kendall Randolph at tackles, Liam Dobson and Tui Eli at guard with Chris Kolankowski at centre. Rookie Micah Vanterpool, who has been with the team since rookie camp, is also getting reps at both guard and tackle.
Worth noting: LB Adam Bighill and DB Nick Hallett were both back on the field after missing Tuesday’s practice.
Injury Report: August 28, 2024#ForTheW pic.twitter.com/dgpDO7UhPx
— Winnipeg Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers) August 28, 2024
SALUTING ‘BLINK’: ICYMI, the Blue Bombers announced earlier this week that running back Charles Roberts — the franchise’s all-time leader in rushing — will be added to the Ring of Honour at next week’s Banjo Bowl.
“I had found a home.” | Charles Roberts added to Ring of Honour
Roberts played with the club from 2001-08 and during that time often lined up against O’Shea.
“I don’t think I ever touched him,” said O’Shea with a chuckle. “With Charlie, we would change our (defensive) plan. If we were penetrating gaps, against Charles you’d just stay on the of scrimmage and try and build a wall and not give him any opportunity to make you miss in space, make him stop his feet. If you’re at him and you’re three yards deep in the end zone he’ll make you look stupid and then run right through the place you just came from.
“I can’t count them, but I remember not really tackling him… ever. He was fun to play against. He was certainly more fun to watch when you weren’t playing him.”
FORD, OLIVEIRA, CASTILLO HONOURED: The CFL announced its Honour Roll for the month of August with three Blue Bombers making the list.
Cornerback Tyrell Ford was named the top defensive player posted two tackles, one special teams tackle, two knockdowns and two interceptions while scoring a 90.7 grade on 91 coverage snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
Brady Oliveira was the top running back with a grade of 83.1 while Sergio Castillo was selected as the kicker after posting a grade of 93.4.
Honour Roll, August: Harris, Ford, Elks’ offensive line earn top marks
CONGRATS TO: Blue Bombers 2024 CFL Draft pick Giovanni Manu — the 6-8, 240-pound mountain out of UBC — who has landed a spot on the Detroit Lions 53- man roster as an NFL rookie.
Selected in the fifth round, 46th overall — his CFL stock having dropped because of considerable NFL interest — Manu is one of five tackles kept by the Lions on their roster.