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August 23, 2018

Game Preview | WPG at CGY

Justin Medlock (9) and Matt Nichols (15) of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the game against the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon stadium in Calgary, AB. Friday, July 1, 2016. (Photo: Johany Jutras)


GAME 10 | WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (5-4) at CALGARY STAMPEDERS (7-1)

THE 4-1-1

Kickoff: 2:30 p.m., Saturday; McMahon Stadium
TV: TSN, ESPN+
Radio: CJOB
Vegas line: The Stampeders are favoured by 9 points.
Streaks: Winnipeg: 1L; Calgary: 1L
Home/Road: The Bombers are 2-2 on the road; Calgary is 4-0 at home.
Series: The Stamps lead the all-time series (since 1945) 110-91-0.
Recent history: This is the first meeting between the two clubs in 2018. The Bombers did win in their last visit to Calgary, with a 23-5 victory in wintry conditions last November 3rd in the regular season finale for both teams. Worth noting: the starting QBs in that game were Dan LeFevour for the Bombers (subbing for an injured Matt Nichols), and Andrew Buckley for the Stamps (who elected to rest Bo Levi Mitchell for the playoffs).


3 STORYLINES

1. THE CALGARY CONUNDRUM

An ugly stat for the Bombers and their fans: the guys in blue and gold are just 4-15 in Calgary since the 2000 season. That’s ugly with a capital ‘Ugh’.

And yet… there are a number of second-year Bombers who only know winning in Calgary after dominating in last November’s regular-season finale, while newcomers like Kenbrell Thompkins, Rashaun Simonise, Marcus Sayles, Chris Streveler, and Daniel Petermann have never worn Bomber colours at McMahon Stadium. So that 4-15 mark means both diddly squat.

“The only time we were there, we won,” said linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox. “I know that Bo (Levi Mitchell) didn’t play then, so I’m looking forward to that. But what I see is the same thing everybody else does: they don’t make many mistakes, especially at home. And if they do, people don’t usually make them pay for it. That’s our goal.

“They’re a top-level team and so to compare yourself against a team of that standard and that talent will say a lot and tell us where we’re at. We know in-house how we feel about our team and where we want to be. So, this is a good testing point.”

Bombers QB Matt Nichols referred to the matchup earlier in the week as a ‘statement game’ – not so much to the rest of the CFL, but to the players in the Winnipeg locker room.

But the key to beating Calgary is cut down on mistakes and not be in chase mode early.

“It’s not a secret,” said Nichols. “I mean, to beat a good team like this and the teams that have beaten Calgary the last couple of years are the teams that don’t make the big mistakes and don’t allow them to get that momentum because they’re a team that seems to steamroll once they something goes their way. You make sure you don’t give them anything and string together some drives… just try to take the fight to them a little bit. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

2. BO KNOWS FOOTBALL

The numbers, frankly, are staggering. Bo Levi Mitchell is just 28 but already has a career regular season record of 63-11-2. Just to put that into perspective, consider:

Worth noting is he has lost consecutive starts just once in his career (October 20-28 last year). Even in last week’s loss to Saskatchewan Mitchell threw for 275 yards and four TDs.

“They do a really good job of protecting him,” said Bombers defensive tackle Jake Thomas. “You watch film and they’re rarely giving up any sacks. He has a cannon of an arm… we were watching a few plays today and he basically threw a ball 60 yards in the air with pinpoint accuracy. As a front, we’re going to have to get a lot of pressure and hopefully make him have a long day.”

3. FEARING SECOND AND LONG

One of the many gruesome stats that came out of the Bombers loss to Ottawa last week was their putrid production on first down. Winnipeg managed just 83 yards on 30 first-down plays last week – a measly 2.8-yards per play. Even the mathematically-challenged like yours truly know that leaves a whole lot of work to do on second down.

“Whether it was passing or running the football that was probably our worst first-down production game,” said Nichols. “That’s usually one of our strong points, so getting back to that and making sure we’re getting first downs on first downs and getting into second and manageable more consistency is how you sustain drives in this league.”

Ironically, for all the chatter before last week’s game about Nichols’ numbers and the fact the club hadn’t had a receiver eclipse the 100-yard mark, the Bombers saw Nichols throw for a season-high 275 yards while Darvin Adams finished with eight receptions for 162 – and the club lost by 23.

But the Bombers also saw Justin Medlock punt eight times and had 10 possessions of two plays or less.

“When you’re in second and short, it means defences have to tighten down, play more man coverage… they can’t just back all the way off because then you can throw a check-down to a running back for a first down,” said Nichols. “It allows you to strike in different ways. It allows you to run the ball more and open up your whole playbook more. If you’re in second and 10, there’s just certain things you can’t do.”

THE QBS

  • Winnipeg’s Matt Nichols 33-23 in his career as a starter and 25-11 since taking over from Drew Willy in July of 2016. But, as he pointed out earlier this week, he is 0-7 in his career in starts against Calgary.
  • Calgary’s Bo Levi Mitchell is 63-11-2 as a starter in his career and 9-1 lifetime against the Bombers.

 

ROSTER SHUFFLE

The Bombers are making three change to their 46-man roster. Coming onto the roster are DT Brandin Bryant, FB John Rush and WR Weston Dressler. Coming off are RB Johnny Augustine, OL Jermarcus Hardrick (who is now on the six-game injured list) and DB Tyneil Cooper.

Dressler is not expected to suit up, but the Bombers moved him from the six-game injured list so that he could begin practising. He was on the field today and could be a full participant next week leading up to the Labour Day Classic.

3 BOMBERS TO WATCH

#4 Adam Bighill, LB: Long-time Bombers coach Dave Ritchie used to preach religiously that ‘big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games.’ Now, it’s a reach to suggest this is a ‘big-time’ game, given it’s still August, but a guy like Bighill has already proven to be a defensive difference-maker. And the Bombers could use some of his magic on Saturday.
#33 Andrew Harris, RB: The CFL’s rushing leader posted solid numbers in last week’s loss – 12 carries for 72 yards and a TD – and if the Bombers are going to dictate things offensively, it has to start with the O-line dominating the line of scrimmage in front of their workhorse tailback.
#57 Manase Foketi, RT: The Bombers have been a stable unit up front for the better part of two years, but will see a change this week with Hardrick on the shelf. In steps Foketi, who hasn’t seen any action since 2016. But the coaches and his teammates have been raving about him for two years and the fact he’s been earning a full paycheque as one of the two scratches from the 46-man roster over that span speaks of how highly he is regarded by management.

X FACTOR

#22 Chandler Fenner, LB: The Bombers signed Fenner as a free agent in the offseason not just as insurance as they monitored Maurice Leggett’s recovery from Achilles surgery, but because the man can flat-out play. But with Leggett returning to his old form, Fenner has been used primarily on special teams. That could change this week as the Bombers look to maximize his skillset by getting him more defensive snaps.

CRITICAL NUMBER

9-2: Since becoming the Bombers unquestioned starter in late July of 2016 Matt Nichols has guided the club to a 9-2 record in the 11 games after a loss.

MISCELLANEOUS

  • The Stamps have earned at least a split in their season series with Winnipeg in each of the last 15 years, posting a 25-8 mark over that stretch. Calgary is 14-2 against the Bombers since 2011.
  • Winnipeg’s 23-point loss was their worst defeat in 54 games, dating back to a 36-8 loss to Calgary on August 29, 2015.
  • Last week’s loss in Regina marked just the second time in their last 60 games that the Stamps failed to have a lead at any point in a contest.
  • Andrew Harris needs just one yard rushing to pass Jim Evenson for 12th spot on the CFL’s all-time rushing yardage list.
  • The Stamps will be without defensive coordinator Devone Claybrooks, who is dealing with a health matter and is getting tests and under observations in hospital. It’s hard to know what impact, if any, his absence from the sidelines might have on the Stamps.
    “I briefly heard that this morning,” said the Bombers Nichols. “I don’t know anything about it, other than he might not be there for the game. I hope he’s doing well. He’s a guy I’ve had a ton of respect for in this league.
    “Who knows what you’re going to get. They do have veteran guys, veteran coaches around so I don’t think much will change. If I didn’t have LaPo there (Bombers offensive coordinator Paul LaPolice) it would be definitely be different. But we have all the faith in the world in Buck, he would probably be the one calling the plays and I know he would call a great game and put us in a position to win.
    “It’s still the players out there playing… so whoever is calling the plays, they’re still the ones out there executing.”