EDMONTON ELKS at WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
THE 4-1-1
Kickoff: Friday, 7:30 p.m. CT, IG Field
The weather forecast: From Environment Canada: Sunny. Becoming a mix of sun and cloud in the afternoon. High 25. Rain beginning late in the evening. Low 14.
TV: None
Radio: 680 CJOB
Home/Road: The Bombers were a perfect 7-0 at home in 2021; 8-0 including the Western Final victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Edmonton was 3-4 on the road.
Notable: Friday will mark the first preseason game for the Blue Bombers since June 6, 2019 and a 35-29 victory over Saskatchewan in Regina.
To that end, here’s Blue Bombers coach Mike O’Shea on the importance of preseason games vs. last season when there were none in the abbreviated schedule:
“There’s an evaluation process that gets done probably a little more efficiently than in the previous year – you’re going to get more information. It’s important for the guys to play at a better pace, a better tempo against an opponent that’s working hard, too. I mean, you can only go so hard in practice situations. It’s also a great time for these young guys to figure out what kind of shape they’re in and for them to be able to adjust between now and the first regular-season game, because you believe you’re in shape and then you get out there and you realize it’s a different animal when you get going.
“You certainly get a grade on their readiness in terms of assignment. You see who knows their stuff and who doesn’t fairly quickly. When you’re dealing with a shorter clock and being out of breath and somebody is trying to make contact with you every play it lets you know who really knows their assignment and who thinks they know they’re assignment. You get a better glimpse of the level of physicality that each player is willing to bring, you get a better glimpse of their toughness, their grit for sure.”
7 Bombers to Watch
#12 Dakota Prukop, QB: Zach Collaros gets the night off, meaning Prukop – the former Edmonton Elk – becomes the most-experienced pivot on the Blue Bombers depth chart. Also dressing tonight are Dru Brown, the club’s No. 3 QB last year, along with newcomer Joe Mancuso and University of Manitoba’s Jackson Tachinski.
#22 Tyquwan Glass: He spent last year in Montreal where his playing time was limited, but Glass has been a quick study since the start of training camp and his experience and versatility means there is likely a starting spot for him in the Blue Bombers secondary.
#92 Kenny Randall, DT: He’s quietly had a solid camp. Attended camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars last year after a superb season at the University of Charleston.
#81 Blake Jackson, WR: Was jumping out during training camp last year before injuring his Achilles. The club still thought so highly of him they brought him back for another look this year.
#64 Liam Dobson, OG: Winnipeg’s first pick, 3rd overall, in the 2021 CFL Draft, Dobson was a later arrival in camp but seems to have been brought up to speed quickly by offensive line coach Marty Costello and his crew.
#25 Tyrell Ford, DB: The team’s first pick in this year’s draft, 13th overall, Ford is an exceptional athlete who can also return kicks. A cool subplot: his brother Tre – a first-round pick of the Elks this year – will likely start at QB for Edmonton.
#00 Les Maruo, LB: Without Thiadric Hansen and with Aussie punter Tom Hackett having headed home after rookie camp for personal reasons, Maruo is the leading candidate to be the club’s global player. Born in Japan, Maruo played his college ball at the University of Texas-San Antonio.
FYI
The Blue Bombers play Friday night and then on Tuesday in Regina against Saskatchewan – the game previously scheduled for Victoria Day before the CFL strike. That’s a short four-day turnaround between Winnipeg’s two preseason games.
“I can’t remember ever being a part of it, so this is uncharted waters for me, too,” said O’Shea. “Between the games I’m not sure how much we’ll even be on the field. I don’t know that it’s fair to play a guy a few quarters and then ask him to play again in that time frame. So, we’re going to try and manage it the best we can. I don’t know if there’s any way to make it perfect for anybody.
“The fortunate thing is it’s not a regular-season situation where these are the 40-plus guys you’re playing both games. There’s enough guys in training camp that we can limit their reps for everybody so that they get a fair evaluation.”
The Last Word
Willie Jefferson, Blue Bombers DE, when asked what he hopes to get from playing in Fridays preseason game:
“Just being able to knock the rust off, full contact on the running backs and quarterbacks, the chance to open up and run sideline to sideline, a feel for the referees, the fans in the stands, the smell of the atmosphere… the popcorn. It’s getting back to all the good things about football.”
