The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have reached the one-third mark of their 2017 schedule fresh from a dramatic two-game win streak that saw both victories posted with zeroes on the clock.
They are 4-2 – both losses coming to West Division rivals Calgary and B.C. – and have shown flashes of the club that went 11-7 last year, including a 10-3 run to finish the season.
And yet there has been a very real sense over the last two days of practice of players and coaches purposefully straight-arming any kind of compliments or kudos to the ground.
Undoubtedly, part of that approach comes as the Bombers prepare to face the winless Hamilton Tiger-Cats this weekend and the very real fear of a mental letdown in preparation.
But a good chunk of that tactic also comes from this: The Bombers, to a man, believe they are miles away from their ceiling. They want to continue to be prolific on offence, be difference makers on special teams, and shore up a defensive unit that still has some of the uglier stats in the Canadian Football League.
Yes, the first third of the season has given us some good, some bad, and some ugly from the Bombers. Here’s a look at 10 juicy numbers that jump off the page:
30.3
Points per game scored by the Bombers offence; third in the league behind B.C. and Calgary (31.0).
Inside that number: The Bombers didn’t have a fourth-quarter offensive touchdown until the two scores inside the final minute in the miraculous win over the Montreal Alouettes two weeks ago.
Since then, they’ve out-scored their opponents 27-20 in the final 15 minutes. Interestingly, the Bombers have trailed after the first quarter in all six of their games to date.
32.8
Points surrendered by the Bombers defence through the first third of the season, which ranks 8th (only Hamilton, at 36.2, is worse).
Inside that number: That 32.8 points is almost two touchdowns more than the CFL’s stingiest defence in Calgary, which has surrendered just 19 points per game.
40
Receptions by Andrew Harris in six games, a number which leads the Bombers, is first among CFL running backs, and fifth overall.
Inside that number: Harris had three catches in last week’s win over Ottawa and is still on pace to smash the CFL record for most receptions by a running back – 102, set by Craig Ellis in 1985. The Bombers record, FYI, is 71, set by Robert Mimbs in 1991 and a number that was challenged last year by Harris, who had 67.
1,757
Passing yards for Matt Nichols.
Inside that number: Nichols threw for a career-best 3,666 last season in just 13 starts. His current pace would have him finish at 5,271 yards. Only two quarterbacks in Bombers history have eclipsed the 5K mark – Khari Jones (5,334 in 2002) and Kevin Glenn (5,114 in 2007).
49.3
The second-down conversion rate by Bombers opponents so far this year.
Inside that number: That might seem high, but it’s actually fifth-best in the CFL this year (Edmonton is first at 42.9). What is disturbing for the Bombers is this number is on the rise: in their last two games, opponents have a second-down conversion rate of 60 per cent (30 of 50).
+2
Turnover ratio for the Bombers through six games, tied for third-best in the CFL (behind Calgary at +9 and Edmonton at +3).
Inside that number: The Bombers are tied for first with eight interceptions and have also turned the ball over twice on downs and once via a fumble. Winnipeg has committed nine turnovers, FYI, leading to the +2 ratio.
36-382
The Bombers penalty and penalty yardage total through the first third of the season.
Inside those numbers: Those are the lowest totals in the CFL so far, understanding the Bombers have played one fewer game than Calgary, B.C., Toronto and Ottawa.
Just by comparison, after six games last year, the Bombers had taken 58 penalties for 543 yards.
2
The number of 100-yard receiving games by Weston Dressler in five games (he missed last week in Ottawa and is currently on the six-game injured list).
Inside that number: It’s significant not just to show how dominant Dressler can still be, but especially given this – no other Bombers receiver has posted a 100-yard game through the first six weeks.
313
Yards rushing against the Bombers in the last two games.
Inside that number: The Bombers rank fifth in yards rushing against at 85.7 per game. But after surrendering just 201 yards along the ground in the first four contests, this is another number that is enlarging.
1,087
Combined yardage total for Bombers receiver Ryan Lankford.
Inside that number: Lankford’s total ranks second in the CFL, behind only B.C.’s Chris Rainey, who has 1,143 combined yardage. Lankford has 724 yards in kickoff returns, 80 on missed field goal returns, 132 on punt returns and 151 yards receiving.
BOMBERS REPORT – August 9, 2017
A NOD FROM CFL HQ:
Two Bombers – kicker Justin Medlock and linebacker Maurice Leggett – were honoured Wednesday as Top Performers of the week for their work in Ottawa. The voting was conducted by a panel that included Matt Dunigan and Duane Forde of TSN and Pierre Vercheval of RDS.
Medlock finished last week’s win with 21 points, on six-of-seven in field goals, two singles and one convert.
Leggett returned from injury to finish with seven tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.
MORE, PLEASE:
Bombers defensive coordinator Richie Hall spoke out last week about his squad’s effort after a practice and was none-too pleased after their work Tuesday.
“I didn’t think we practised very well (Tuesday). It was a lot better today,” he said. “The focus and energy was there, but just not the execution that we need to be where we want it to be.
“It’s a grind. You’ve got to keep doing it and keep doing it and keep emphasizing it and try different things. Last week I let them know how I felt. Today, at this morning’s practice I didn’t say very much.
“You just have to think that they look at it and they’re not satisfied with how we practised. Was it a dismal practice? No. But, again, it’s how can you challenge yourself, how can we get better individually and as a group?
“You push them, but they also need to push themselves. It’s one of those things where as coaches, it’s no different as parents. You can only do so much; at some point in time they have to do it for themselves. We’re only going to improve when they decide they’re going to improve. I can only push them so much, but I can’t force them to do anything. It’s not like they’re not pushing themselves, but we want to be greedy, we want to try and be the best that we can be. We’re not going to be perfect, but we will strive for excellence in every play on every day.”
AND THE BOSS SAYS:
Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea was also asked about the team’s defensive effort, especially coming off three quarters of decent work in last week’s win in Ottawa.
“We’ll have to see it again this week and the week after,” said O’Shea. “I thought we certainly played better and tackled better in this last game, but as we’ve already talked about and as I’m sure the players recognize, they would have liked to have had a few of those interceptions, a few of those picks would have been nice.
“Still really inconsistent. We still need to not give up the big plays and be right more often. We’ve got to be able to get rid of the up and down play that we’ve been susceptible to in the first third of the season.”
OUCH UPDATE:
Receiver T.J. Thorpe returned to work on Wednesday, but wideout Julian Feoli-Gudino played just the spectator. And while Matt Coates took reps in Feoli-Gudino’s place, O’Shea expects his starter to be good to go Saturday in Hamilton.
HEADING ‘HOME’:
Coates, the receiver/holder, is heading back to Hamilton, a place where he played the first three years of his CFL career and one year of junior with the Hamilton Hurricanes.
“Hamilton… I played with them for three years and played my junior years there as well,” said Coates. “I definitely have a good relationship with all the coaches and players there and my family has been down to a lot of games there, too. There will be a few of my family members there and so it’s going to be awesome. It will definitely be a good welcome.”
