Winnipeg Blue Bomber Thread

[AngeloV]

I think Nichols confidence is shot, and obviously I have no idea if he can get it back this season, so the Bombers hopes maybe with Streveler. BC's the wildcard IMO, because while they're a lot better with Lulay; something's off... Posey should help though.

I think BC has an easier schedule between the 3 (Toronto, Winnipeg, BC)

If the Argos can win in BC, their schedule is definitely harder than the Argos, and I can see BC going 2-6 down the stretch in such a scenario.

Hamilton x 2
Calgary x 2
Saskatchewan
Edmonton
Argos
Montreal

Argos:
Saskatchewan
Calgary
BC
Hamilton
Ottawa
Montreal x 2

And remember, for a crossover, the west team has to finish with more points. There are no tie-breakers. Tie would put the east team in. Should the Argos beat BC, I think they can afford 2 losses down the stretch. Calgary and either Saskatchewan or Hamilton.

[R.J]

If the Argos can win in BC, their schedule is definitely harder than the Argos, and I can see BC going 2-6 down the stretch in such a scenario.

Hamilton x 2
Calgary x 2
Saskatchewan
Edmonton
Argos
Montreal

Argos:
Saskatchewan
Calgary
BC
Hamilton
Ottawa
Montreal x 2

And remember, for a crossover, the west team has to finish with more points. There are no tie-breakers. Tie would put the east team in. Should the Argos beat BC, I think they can afford 2 losses down the stretch. Calgary and either Saskatchewan or Hamilton.

BC's got one more home game though, and finish the season against Calgary at home. Calgary normally doesn't try in the season finale, so it could be a huge two points for the Lions, as will the home game against Edmonton IMO.
Argos are facing 3 tough teams in a row (BC at home is tough; not so much the road). And if Hamilton and Ottawa are real close by that point, those games won't be easy either, and the Als could be fighting for the playoffs at the end of the season, so who knows.

IMO it's going to come down to the next 3 games for the Argos, and the next 4 for the Lions.

[AngeloV]

BC's got one more home game though, and finish the season against Calgary at home. Calgary normally doesn't try in the season finale, so it could be a huge two points for the Lions, as will the home game against Edmonton IMO.
Argos are facing 3 tough teams in a row (BC at home is tough; not so much the road). And if Hamilton and Ottawa are real close by that point, those games won't be easy either, and the Als could be fighting for the playoffs at the end of the season, so who knows.

IMO it's going to come down to the next 3 games for the Argos, and the next 4 for the Lions.

The way I see it, Argos need to win 2 of the next 3 games, including the game in BC, or they will be done. But I think it is doable.

[R.J]

The way I see it, Argos need to win 2 of the next 3 games, including the game in BC, or they will be done. But I think it is doable.

Finish the season 5-2 two years in a row ? Doable, but unlikely IMO.

[AngeloV]

Finish the season 5-2 two years in a row ? Doable, but unlikely IMO.

True, but IIRC, you said it was unlikely last season and even thought that the Ti-Cats would catch the Argos for 2nd place. I honestly believe this team will come out after the break different, and will be bolstered with the additions of Carter, McCluster and most notably Knox.

[R.J]

True, but IIRC, you said it was unlikely last season and even thought that the Ti-Cats would catch the Argos for 2nd place. I honestly believe this team will come out after the break different, and will be bolstered with the additions of Carter, McCluster and most notably Knox.

Lucky seasons don't normally happen twice in a row (things have a way of balancing out over time), but let's see if the Argos can pull it off again.

[AngeloV]

Lucky seasons don't normally happen twice in a row (things have a way of balancing out over time), but let's see if the Argos can pull it off again.

While I agree beating Calgary was lucky in the Grey Cup, I see nothing lucky about their 5-2 stretch at the end of the season. They were playing very good football.

[jerrym]

O'Shea refuses to say who will start at QB in the Bombers next game.

[jerrym]

Second-year National (through parentage) WR Drew Wolitarsky had the second-most productive game of his career, catching five passes for 67 yards against the Riders, most of them coming after former college teammate QB Chris Streveler entered the game. After just one catch for 15 yards in his rookie season, Wolitarsky is becoming an increasingly important part of the Bomber attack with 393 yards in receptions after 12 games.

[jerrym]

Bomber fans are getting restless.

They are in the middle of a four-game losing streak, their longest in years, and are tumbling down the CFL standings with a 5-7 record. Their starting quarterback, Matt Nichols had the worst game of his career last weekend and was replaced by raw rookie Chris Streveler. They lost back-to-back games to their arch-rivals, shooting themselves in the foot repeatedly in doing so.
The fans have been booing — targeting the quarterback, the head coach, the offensive and defensive co-ordinators and the team in general. It can’t be easy to just go and enjoy a week off with all that on your mind.

It would seem the majority of fans would like it to be Streveler, but you can be sure O’Shea will think hard about it all week. Either way, he expects Nichols to handle either assignment — starter or backup — with professionalism and class.

https://winnipegsun.com/sports/footb...hols-or-streve

[jerrym]

Winnipeg has added National DB Jacob Firlotte, and Internationals WR Charles Nelson and Kenny Lawler, LB Kache Palacio, and DB Boobie Hobbs.

Firlotte (6-3, 216, Queen’s University, May 29, 1996 in Abbotsford, BC) was selected 58th overall in the 2018 CFL Draft by the Blue Bombers. He spent four seasons with the Queen’s Gaels, playing in 30 games. Firlotte recorded 49 solo tackles and 3 interceptions in his career at Queen’s.

Nelson (5’8, 170, Oregon, October 29, 1995 in Daytona Beach, FL.) played four seasons for the Oregon Ducks, catching 124 passes for 1,555 yards and 14 touchdowns. Nelson also had 2,424 kick return yards and two kick return touchdowns during his time at Oregon. In 2014, Nelson received the Gordon E. Wilson Award for being Oregon’s top special teams standout and was given 1st-Team Pac-12 All-Conference honours in 2015.

Lawler (6’2, 203, University of California, June 25, 1994 in Pomona, CA.) was selected in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks, spending time on their practice squad in 2016 and 2017. Lawler played three seasons with the California Golden Bears, catching 143 passes for 1706 yards and 27 touchdowns.

Palacio (6’1, 237, Washington State University, January 30, 1994 in Gardena, CA.) spent his college career with the Washington State Cougars. In four seasons, he recorded 146 total tackles, 26 tackles for a loss and 17 sacks, putting him 10th on the school’s all-time sacks list. In 2016, Palacio signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent. He also spent time with the Seattle Seahawks, playing in one NFL game in 2017.

Hobbs (5’10, 180, University of Utah, June 28, 1995 in New Orleans, LA.) spent three seasons with the Utah Utes, playing in 50 games and making 47 total tackles. In 2016, Hobbs led the NCAA in total punt returns and was third overall in the Pac-12 with 274 punt return yards.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2018/09/...actice-roster/

[jerrym]

HC Mike O'Shea has named Matt Nichols the starting QB against against the Als.

[jerrym]

Andrew Harris broke the 1,000 yard rushing mark for the fourth time with 44 yards on the ground to give him 1028 yards, but was then suffered a lower body injury that took him out of the game and enabled William Powell to pass him for the CFL rushing lead. Winnipeg needs to hope it is not a major injury as the entire team's offence is built around him.

[jerrym]

Fritz Hanson, who led Winnipeg to the West's first Grey Cup victory in 1935, has been added to the team's Ring of Honour. In that year's Grey Cup he had 334 yards in punt returns to lead Winnipeg to an 18-12 win over Hamilton. Between 1935 and 1941, he was an All-Star five times and was won the Conacher Award as Canada's Male Athlete of the Year in 1939, while also leading the team to Grey Cup wins in 1939 and 1941 before joining the army in fight in WWII. After the war, he played for Winnipeg and Calgary, helping the Stampeders win a Grey Cup in 1948. He was a member of the inaugural group of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1963.

[jerrym]

The Bomber defence continues to get better, even during their four game losing streak. In their last two games they have only allowed one TD and only four TDs in their last three games. Furthermore, one of those four was on an one yard plunge after an interception.

[doubleblue]

True, but IIRC, you said it was unlikely last season and even thought that the Ti-Cats would catch the Argos for 2nd place. I honestly believe this team will come out after the break different, and will be bolstered with the additions of Carter, McCluster and most notably Knox.

If McCluster gets to see the field a lot, we will know for sure Carter was being slow walked on purpose not because he had to "learn the system".
Maybe Trestman can make a man out of Carter yet and he will be changed going forward, sign a long term contract and be the go to WR the next few years. Meanwhile the season went down the drain, and we won't see any pigs flying.

[ArgoRavi]

If McCluster gets to see the field a lot, we will know for sure Carter was being slow walked on purpose not because he had to "learn the system".
Maybe Trestman can make a man out of Carter yet and he will be changed going forward, sign a long term contract and be the go to WR the next few years. Meanwhile the season went down the drain, and we won't see any pigs flying.

I am not sure that there is a valid comparison between McCluster and Carter. McCluster has been with the team for months while Carter has been an Argo for one month.

[jerrym]

The Bomber defence continues to dominate with its 30-3 win over Edmonton, having given up just four TDs in its last four games.

[jerrym]

Here's further evidence of the Bomber's defensive dominance against the Eskimos:

• The defence limited Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly to 17 of 31 passing for just 164 with zero touchdowns and two interceptions, including a Pick-6 by Kevin Fogg. The 164 yards passing was his lowest of the season – a guy who had seven 300-yard games coming in – and his lowest since throwing for 160 in a game against Saskatchewan in August last year.
• Reilly also had a streak of 42 consecutive starts where he threw or rushed for one touchdown snapped Saturday night.
• Edmonton’s longest play from scrimmage was a 26-yard pass to Duke Williams with seven minutes left in the game and with the Bombers leading 27-3.
• The Eskimos managed just 2.7 yards on second downs and were just 1-of-11 on second-down conversions of seven yards or more.
• Edmonton had 15 offensive possessions that included three interceptions, a turnover on downs, three fumbles and seven punts – plus the one field goal. Their average start in field position was their own 25-yard line. J

https://www.bluebombers.com/2018/09/...-wpg-30-edm-3/

[jerrym]

International CB/PR Kevin Fogg was named one of the league's Top Performers for Week 16 during which he a pick-6, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, three punt returns, 3 DTs, and took a lateral on a Taylor Loftier interception for an additional 24 yards.