Winnipeg Blue Bomber Thread

[jerrym]

Mixed news for the Bombers: after injuries on the weekend against BC, HC O'Shea thinks Andrew Harris will be able to play against Calgary, but it is unlikely that Matt Nichols will be available.

[jerrym]

The Bomber nominees for outstanding player awards are:

Player: Matt Nichols
Defensive: Chris Randle
Canadian: Andrew Harris*
Offensive Lineman: Stanley Bryant
Special Teams: Justin Medlock
Rookie: Brandon Alexander

http://winnipegsun.com/sports/footba...tanding-player


IMO, Andrew Harris should have also been Winnipeg's nominee for MOP.

[AngeloV]

The Bomber nominees for outstanding player awards are:



http://winnipegsun.com/sports/footba...tanding-player


IMO, Andrew Harris should have also been Winnipeg's nominee for MOP.

Harris was by far their most outstanding player, flirting with becoming the first 1000/1000 guy in league history. The only thing that Nichols may have set a record for is complaining of having his helmet breathed on by opposing defensive players. But I think he's neck and neck with Mike Reilley on that one.

[OV Argo]

The Bomber nominees for outstanding player awards are:



http://winnipegsun.com/sports/footba...tanding-player


IMO, Andrew Harris should have also been Winnipeg's nominee for MOP.

Agreed 100%.

Nichols had a good season at QB but Harris does way more for the Bomber offence IMO and like AV says, was on pace for a CFL unprecedented double 1000 yard season.

But as I said in the Defensive MOP thread - the "top Canadian" award is sometimes treated like a consolation prize for Canadian players - give the MOP to the American player, cause there's still this top Canadian award to give to the Canadian. Part of a CFL "culture", IMO.

[jerrym]

Having to play LeFevour, with Dominique Davis as backup, instead of Nichols due to injury greatly reduces the Bombers' chances of winning and thereby earning a home playoff game.

LeFevour – 2-5 as a starter in the CFL – takes the place of Matt Nichols who had started all 17 games for Winnipeg this season – and 30 in a row since taking over for Drew Willy in 2016 – and thrown for 4,472 yards with a league-best 28-8 TD-INT ratio in 2017. ...
LeFevour has more experience than Davis, playing in 26 games through five seasons connecting on 222-of-334 attempts for 2,529 yards with 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, adding 903 rushing yards on 187 carries and 17 touchdowns on the ground.

http://3downnation.com/2017/11/01/da...rs-stampeders/

[jerrym]

O'Shea announced some good news for the Bombers: Matt Nichols will be start at QB in the semi-final after missing the last game and most of the previous one due to a strained calf.

[jerrym]

The Bombers have agreed to a deal with 680 CJOB to continue to broadcast their games through 2024.

[jerrym]

Asked after the Bombers' last game whether he wanted to return, free agent Justin Medlock replied that he wanted to take some time to think about it. It doesn't sound like he is too interested.

[jerrym]

The Bombers most glaring problems throughout the year were their lack of competent backups at QB and a pass defence that repeatedly failed to cover receivers.

[AngeloV]

The Bombers most glaring problems throughout the year were their lack of competent backups at QB and a pass defence that repeatedly failed to cover receivers.

But...but..but, they had TJ Heath in their line up. I thought he was the Superman of DB's? Bombers played a lot of zone on D, which tells me that they really didn't have to much faith in the secondary as cover guys.

[R.J]

But...but..but, they had TJ Heath in their line up. I thought he was the Superman of DB's? Bombers played a lot of zone on D, which tells me that they really didn't have to much faith in the secondary as cover guys.

Bombers DC Richie Hall has always called a zone heavy defense FWIW.

[AngeloV]

Bombers DC Richie Hall has always called a zone heavy defense FWIW.

True, and it really worked well for them last season.

[R.J]

True, and it really worked well for them last season.

It did to the same extend that it did this season IMO. Yes, a lot of takeaways, but also a lot of yards, big plays and to a degree points.

[jerrym]

O'Shea has announced he will be reviewing Rich Hall's and the defence's performance. Will Hall survive?

Defensive coordinator Richie Hall is under contract for the 2018 season, but Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea wants to make adjustments to that unit.
“We do need to change what we’re doing on defence. We can’t expect to do same thing and get the results we want. Every player on the defence knows that, understands that, every coach on the defence knows that,” O’Shea said. ...
Winnipeg allowed the most offensive points (478) and offensive touchdowns (51) among West Division teams, Hamilton and Montreal gave up more in both categories. Opponent passing touchdowns (33) ranked tied for last in the league. But it was the yardage total that was concerning above all else.
“It’s two years of giving up a lot of yards, but it’s also two years of over 100 takeaways. And it’s a year where we by far led the league in points off takeaways, our offence benefits from that also. We can’t hide the fact that we gave up a lot of yards and we have to minimize that in order for us to win a championship, no doubt, everybody knows that,” O’Shea said.
“But there are things that our defence does that are excellent, so we have to figure out a way to combine those good things and not give up the yards that we give up.”
The Bombers were one of two teams to allowed over 7,000 yards of offence in 2017, the Alouettes being the other. Despite the gaudy total Winnipeg came away with 42 turnovers, second in the CFL, 25 of them interceptions to lead all teams, and scored 166 points from the pilfers to pace the league.

http://3downnation.com/2017/11/15/bo...by-mike-oshea/

[jerrym]

On the other hand OC Paul LaPolice has been extended through 2018. Hardly surprising, considering the Bomber offence was the highest scoring in the league. So the contrast between the extension of LaPolice and the review of Hall, even though he is signed through 2018, further suggests Hall may not have long left in Winnipeg.

[jerrym]

HC O'Shea reviews the Bombers' season in the url, including a video of his comments.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2017/11/...apping-season/

[jerrym]

The Bombers have extended Canadian OL Patrick Neufeld and Interational OL Jermarcus Hardrick.

Neufeld has signed a two-year extension after spending the past four seasons in Winnipeg. The seven-year CFL vet was originally acquired in a trade with Saskatchewan in 2013, and has played in 82 career games. He started the final two regular season games at left guard, as well as the Western Semi-Final. “Without question, I’m really grateful to be returning to the Blue Bombers,“ said Neufeld. “As an offensive line group, we all believe we are just scratching the surface of what we can accomplish, and to be coming back to play for Coach O’Shea and Coach Marty, honestly, I could not ask for anything more. Wade and Kyle have built such a desirable franchise here, and to continue to be a part of that is beyond exciting.”
Hardrick has signed a one-year extension after being named a West-Division All-Star in 2017. He started all 18 games this season at right tackle, and 16 the year before, after signing as a free agent heading into the 2016 season. The Nebraska Cornhuskers product will be entering his fifth CFL season in 2018. “I’m having the most fun of my life playing football right now,” Hardrick said. “This is one big family, and the fans of the Bombers have been so amazing to me and my family. I’m just really excited and grateful for today and the opportunity the Bombers have given me.”

https://www.cfl.ca/2017/11/16/bomber...drick-neufeld/

[jerrym]

GM Kyle Walters is complaining that the Bombers got robbed by the playoff structure. In the last two years, teams that finished behind them in the standings got the bonus of facing Eastern teams who finished with sub .500 records while the Bombers played and lost to a 12-6 BC team in 2016 and a 12-6 Edmonton this year. I agree. The format should be changed so that the cross-over team does not benefit in the playoffs from playing a weaker opponent than the teams in front of them in the standings.

[jerrym]

I think the cross-over rule should be modified so that the team qualifying with the worst record for the playoffs should play the best of the teams in the semi-finals, regardless of which division it is in.

[jerrym]

A couple of surprises out of Winnipeg: former Argo Justin Medlock is giving serious consideration to retiring and Matt Nichols was playing with a broken finger, not simply an injured hand.

Kicker Justin Medlock says retirement is one option he'll consider now that the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' season is over.
Another surprise as the players cleaned out their lockers Monday was quarterback Matt Nichols revealing the injured ring finger on his throwing hand was actually broken.
Medlock, a pending free agent, made all three of his field-goal attempts in Sunday's 39-32 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League's West Division semifinal.
"I want to take a second to kind of think about what I want to do, whether I want to play, whether I want to play somewhere else, whether I want to play here," Medlock, 34, said.
Moving on after seven CFL seasons and time in the National Football League is one option for the Florida resident, who was a key free-agent signing by Winnipeg last year.
"Been thinking about doing some other things in life, maybe, so we'll see," Medlock said. "But I'm also considering coming back, too. I love playing here."

https://www.thespec.com/sports-story...es-retirement/