Say this about the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as they continue preparations for this week’s mammoth rematch with the B.C. Lions: They certainly have been completely honest and upfront about the first meeting between these two Canadian Football League powerhouses earlier this season.
Just to recap – and apologies for opening old wounds, Bomber Nation – from a Winnipeg perspective B.C.’s dominant 30-6 win back in June was ugly with a capital ‘ugh.’
It was a result that opened some eyes across the league, none wider than in Winnipeg, and was framed as both shocking and uncharacteristic. To that end, veteran left tackle Stanley Bryant was asked for his own description following Blue Bombers practice Monday. Bryant mulled over the question for a moment and then was blunt with his take.
“Surprising for us. I mean, we haven’t been that way since 2015,” he said. “It was a slap in the face for us, but we know that it wasn’t us. We have to be better and find a way to improve and go out there and do what we do; not overthink things and just play ball.”
There’s a lot on the line Thursday against the Lions, including the season series with another B.C. victory and a four-point spread atop the West Division standings. Perhaps even bigger will be the Blue Bombers working to re-establish their place as an elite squad with still more to give, not a team playing on the back nine of their time together as so many critics have suggested.
Again, rewind to that June loss and there was so much shocking and uncharacteristic – ‘surprising’ certainly fits, too – and Bryant and the offence were part of that. The Blue Bombers gave up seven sacks that night, had two field goals in the first half and were completely shut out in the final 30 minutes.
With that as a backdrop, the phrase ‘redemption game’ came up in the conversation with Bryant.
“I’m not going to say ‘redemption,’” he countered. “That was a bad game for myself. I take a lot of pride in what I do and how I do things. I also think as an offence and an offensive line we’re way better than that. We’ve shown that multiple games since then.
“We just have to do what we do and how we know to do it: be physical, win our one-on-ones and just go out there and dominate and I think the result will be different.”
The Blue Bombers were held to just 235 yards net offence that night, and in addition to the seven sacks surrendered, also turned the ball over four times and took nine penalties for 104 yards – all totals that scream out negatively.
Critical after any loss, and especially one like that, is for a team to first admit they took it on the chin, study the reasons behind that and then get back up and start throwing punches again.
The Blue Bombers have done all that over the last few days, while repeatedly tipping their hats to the Lions.
“We hurt ourselves. We did a good job on some series moving the ball and getting in position to score, but we just didn’t do enough,” said Bryant. “It’s a great defence over there. They’re doing a great job, so we give them a lot of credit.”
The seven sacks surrendered, by the way, was the most since a 38-8 loss to Hamilton in August of 2015. But ownership of that number goes beyond the men up front.
“If you’re looking strictly at just sacks then you’ve got to look at everything,” said Blue Bombers offensive coordinator Buck Pierce. “It’s everybody’s responsibility – it’s quarterbacks; it’s receivers, it’s backs… everybody on offence.
“We’ve got to play faster. That’s a good defence. They’re well coached. It’s importance for us to match that speed and for us to play fast, not at just the receiver position, but all positions.
“We’ve got to play physical, and we’ve got to play fast. When you’re facing a team that gets pressure on the quarterback and has a veteran secondary that communicates really well you’ve got to make it hard on them. You can’t be slow in and out of your breaks, you’ve got to be quick up front, and the quarterback has to make fast decisions. You have to make them uncomfortable with your speed.”
PUMP THE BRAKES:
There’s a narrative out there – and we’ve certainly fanned it ourselves – that a loss Thursday could be a critical blow in the Blue Bombers’ quest to finish first in the West. After all, a Lions victory would push them four points ahead AND give them the season series.
Yet… Thursday’s game will come in the first week in August with tons of highway still to travel.
“It’s Game 8. There’s a lot of football left,” said Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea on the importance of Thursday in the pursuit of first. “You know this league – so many different things happen on a weekly basis that can change the tide of the season for every team. I think it’s a little much to say it’s more than just Game 8 for us.”
Asked if going over the Lions tape again this week was difficult, O’Shea added:
“They’d already gone through it. I don’t know if it created much of an emotional response or anything. Certainly, the guys weren’t pleased with it then. I think they’ve moved past that and are just preparing for this week and making sure they are playing their best football.”
FYI:
Receiver Dalton Schoen was back at practice on Monday after missing Sunday’s session. Canadian LB Jared Beeksma was on crutches.
