VANCOUVER – It’s already written in indelible ink, with IG Field booked for the afternoon of November 13th and the first-place Winnipeg Blue Bombers planning to play nasty hosts to either the B.C. Lions or Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League’s Western Final.
That said, don’t dare refer to Saturday’s date here on the left coast against the Lions – or the finale featuring the same two clubs on October 28th – as ‘meaningless.’
And especially not within earshot of anyone associated with the two-time defending Grey Cup champions.
That’s not just a verboten term inside the dressing room, it also comes against this backdrop: even with changes to the roster for Saturday this bunch wants to keep foot to floorboard.
“It’s what we’ve been saying all week to get the guys ready,” explained defensive end Willie Jefferson. “Guys know they’re playing this week and so the whole vibe, the whole message to those coming off the practice roster or who have been playing but not getting a lot of reps is ‘This is your time.’
“This isn’t a preseason game. We’re not sitting guys down to take it easy or take a break on defence. We want to see what these guys can do. We’re going to call the same plays we’ve been calling. We’re going to put them in the same situations we’ve been in all season.
“So, what are you going to do? Have you been paying attention? Have you been locked in during the meetings? Have you been locked in at practice and taking advantage of your reps this week?”
The Blue Bombers are also chasing some history in the final two regular-season games. A Winnipeg squad has reached the 14-win mark four times in franchise history – 14-2 in 1960, 14-4 in both 1993 and 2001 and now 14-2 again this season, but never 15.
A total of 11 teams have hit the 15-win mark in CFL history, the most-recent being the 15-2-1 Calgary Stampeders in 2016, while Edmonton’s 16-2 club from 1989 holds the league record for most victories in a season.
And, just for the record, absolutely none of the above was mentioned by a single soul in Bomberland this week.
See, the while the big picture is to get injured bodies healthy, these last two games are also as much opportunity as they are about following the ‘Go 1-0 this week’ commandment.
“This is a chance for those guys on the bubble or who haven’t been playing to help management make their decisions about next year,” said Jefferson. “Now it’s ‘We had this guy on the sideline all season, but when we gave him the opportunity to step in and play, he stepped up.’
“These guys know that if you want to play, if you want to put some good tape out there, this is the time. We’re going against a good team that is going to be in the playoffs, so this is the time.”
Jefferson is the most-vocal leader on the Blue Bombers squad and provides daily inspiration before practice and, most certainly, on game day.
And here’s a hint of what he’ll say to his teammates – some familiar, some making their first starts – prior to kickoff Saturday night:
“When it’s game time all that ‘This is your time’, ‘This ain’t a preseason game’… all those conversations are gone already,” he said. “We’re focussed on the game then. We’re here. It’s going to be, ‘You’re not a backup anymore, bro. You’re a starter, you’re a player. So, let’s go out here and handle our business, do it how we do it and play Bomber football and get a ‘W.’”
More on Saturday’s West Division showdown with the Lions in this week’s 3 STORYLINES…
1. NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES
The Blue Bombers are tinkering with their starting lineup to give bodies rest for Saturday’s game, with the biggest being Dru Brown starting at quarterback for Zach Collaros.
It will be Brown’s first start since his college days at Oklahoma State and, before that, at the University of Hawai’i.
“He’s been here for a couple years now, and we spent a lot of time even during the (lost) COVID season (of 2020) just getting to know each other,” said offensive coordinator Buck Pierce. “He does a great job of understanding the game of football and picking up on the little details. He sees pictures well from the quarterback’s perspective and gets the ball out of his hand quickly.
“When you look at his playing time from last year into his year, his evolution has been in his recognizing pre-snap/post-snap things quicker. You see the touchdown he threw to Dalton (Schoen, in last week’s win over Edmonton), I think he knew he was going there just with how the defence lined up.
“It’s been a good progression for him.”
For the record, the Blue Bombers are 5-5 in their last 10 games with QBs making their first start for the club:
- Sean McGuire – 11/13/21 vs Mtl – 28-14 loss
- Zach Collaros – 10/25/19 vs Cal – 29-28 win
- Chris Streveler – 6/14/18 vs. Edm – 33-30 loss
- Dan Lefevour – 11/3/17 vs Cal – 23-5 win
- Dom Davis – 11/6/15 vs Tor – 21-11 loss
- Matt Nichols – 9/12/15 vs Sask – 22-7 win
- Robert Marve – 8/14/15 vs Tor – 27-20 loss
- Brian Brohm – 10/18/14 vs Cal – 33-23 loss
- Drew Willy – 6/26/14 vs Tor – 45-21 win
- Max Hall – 8/16/13 vs Ham – 37-18 win
2. SETTING THE AIR DEFENCE PERSONNEL
Alden Darby, Jr. will make his first start in ’22 at the dime spot for the Blue Bombers after being acquired in a trade earlier this month from Hamilton. And with Deatrick Nichols out this week to deal with a personal matter and Jamal Parker moving into his spot, Desmond Lawrence – another pick-up from the Ticats, where he was that club’s top rookie a year ago – will now start at corner.
Those two will mark the 13th and 14th different starters the Blue Bombers have used in the secondary this season.
Lawrence is a bit of an unknown, but the club made the deal for Darby, Jr. because of the experience he brings to a secondary already starting two rookies in Parker and Evan Holm.
“It’s the communication he brings,” said safety Brandon Alexander of Darby, Jr. “He’s a very intelligent guy and he’s played a lot of positions during his time in the CFL. Bringing that to our group is a bonus.
“I will say that Redha Kramdi (who played the dime spot last week) has played that position in college and was really good last week. But Alden just sees things faster, anticipates things faster because he’s seen a lot of snaps.”
Blue Bombers defensive back coach Jordan Younger explained the value in experience this way – with offences always in motion and using the ‘Waggle’ to their advantage, defences don’t get a final picture until the ball is in the quarterback’s hands. And so, what Darby, Jr. brings is this:
“He’s seen so many snaps in the CFL he can also communicate post-snap and during the play,” Younger said. “It’s ‘In-in-in-in!’, ‘Out-out-out-out!’ or ‘I’m here, I’m here!’ That kind of communication brings a certain comfort level. It’s, ‘I know I’m not here by myself. I don’t have to cover all of this side; I only have to cover this side because I’ve got my guy here.
“There are some very creative offensive coordinators in this league, and they create indecision by the way they have receivers move around. Again, that communication helps us just get lined up and with the comfort level.”
3. THE ROURKE WATCH
B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke was THE story of the first chunk of the CFL season as he had thrown for 3,281 yards and 25 touchdowns in just nine games as the Lions rolled to an 8-1 start – the lone blemish a 43-11 loss to Winnipeg in Vancouver in early July – before a foot injury shelved the Canadian pivot.
He’s back throwing this week and apparently ahead of his rehab schedule which has fans, particularly on the west coast, crossing their fingers he could be back for a playoff push.
In the meantime, it’s veteran Vernon Adams, Jr. behind centre after the Lions made a deal with Montreal to bring him to Vancouver. The Lions are 2-2 under Adams, Jr. as he’s thrown for 1,008 yards and four touchdowns.
“He’s very elusive, but this year he’s trying to be more of a pocket passer,” said Jefferson of Adams, Jr. “He’s trying to stay in there a little bit longer and push the ball down the field more. Strong arm, very accurate. Every knows him as a scrambling quarterback and he can get out of bad situations with his legs, but it’s like he’s trying to become more of a passer.
“Sometimes that gets him in trouble, sometimes that helps the team out. We’ll just try to do what we do: get to him early, get him off his spot and off his first couple of reads.
“We all see and hear the media talking about Nathan being back,” added Jefferson. “It’s good to see him back, good to see him moving. It doesn’t matter to us. We’ll lock in, focus on us, watch film the way we prepare and stick to our process.”
