Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Dru Brown (6) looks downfield during the first half of preseason CFL football action against the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Sask., on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu
Not sure who penned it first – it might have been the late great Jim Murray of the Los Angeles Times – but football preseason games were once said to have as much entertainment value as watching a tree form its annual ring. They can often be plodding and tedious penalty-filled affairs, as coaches trot out dozens of players in their evaluation of personnel.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ 25-16 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders Tuesday night in Regina had its tree-forming-ring moments – it was 3-0 for the Blue Bombers at halftime and 11-0 after three quarters before a wild final 15 minutes – but it did provide a stage for newcomers and help answer some questions leading into next week’s season opener.
The Blue Bombers left 10 projected starters on offence in Winnipeg, including the entire offensive line and quarterback Zach Collaros, and eight starters we have pencilled in on defence, including the defensive front.
That decision wasn’t made solely on keeping as many regulars as healthy heading into the season opener on June 10th versus the Ottawa RedBlacks at IG Field, but also on giving the collection of talent assembled in camp a true shot at landing work.
To that end, head coach Mike O’Shea was beaming about the work of the squad taken to Regina, saying ‘We’ve got guys who get it, who’ve got grit.’
And so as the Blue Bombers have now finished with the dress rehearsals, here’s a recap of what we know and what’s still to be determined after Tuesday’s win in this week’s edition of UPON FURTHER REVIEW…
WHAT WE KNOW… SO FAR:
It looks like we can pencil in Geoff Gray at left guard… and that’s not exactly a newsflash, as that was the expected scenario when training camp opened with the club seeking a replacement for Drew Desjarlais.
The Blue Bombers left tackles Stanley Bryant and Jermarcus Hardrick and guard Pat Neufeld at home – all of them CFL All-Stars last year – as well as centre Michael Couture and Gray.
The O-line crew the team took to Regina had its moments – both good and bad – but there will be decisions needed to be made as to who backs up the starters, both in terms of imports and Canadians. There’s a good collection here available, too, to fill those roles.
Tyquwan Glass has found a spot in the secondary… likely at corner, but his versatility gives defensive coordinator Richie Hall and defensive back coach Jordan Younger some options. Glass, the former Elk and Montreal Alouette, had an interception Tuesday night and two tackles against Edmonton is just limited snaps. He looks like the ballhawk who had three picks in 14 games with Edmonton in 14 games before a lost season last year in Montreal.
Linebacker Malik Clements and receiver Dalton Schoen have earned… a spot somewhere on the roster. Clements had 14 tackles and a sack in his two preseason games and was scooped up by the Bombers in the offseason because of his special teams play.
Asked after Tuesday’s win if the next couple of days would have him on ‘pins and needles’, Clements chuckled and said:
“It is. I’m a little paranoid right now, actually. I can only control what I can control and that’s going out there and playing my best and practise my best. Obviously they make the decision and when the time comes I’ll just have to brace myself and prepare for it.”
And Schoen caught everything thrown his way in his two pre-season appearances, with five catches for five catches for 48 yards. The Bombers brought Greg Ellingson in during free agency after losing Kenny Lawler (Edmonton) and Darvin Adams (Ottawa) in the offseason, so there is room for one more receiver in the starting lineup.
STILL TBD
The Blue Bombers will have to tread water at safety… for a chunk of the season, as all-star Brandon Alexander works through his rehab from offseason surgery.
Canadian Nick Hallett started both pre-season games in his place, with Malcolm Thompson getting work in the second half of both. Hallett has solid cover skills, while Thompson certainly showcased a penchant for bringing the wood with some violent hits.
There had been a suggestion the Blue Bombers may use a Canadian at the one cornerback spot with draft picks Tyrell Ford and Patrice Rene, but that seems unlikely now with Glass playing so well in the preseason, as well as a handful of other corner candidates.
The battle for the No. 2 QB picture just got blurry again… especially after the work of Dakota Prukop in Tuesday’s win. Dru Brown had taken the early lead in the race for the gig behind Collaros with a superb effort against Edmonton. But four days later it was the veteran Prukop who stepped up his game.
For what it’s worth, here are the combined QB numbers from the two preseason games:
- Dru Brown: 16-of-27 (59.3%), 1 TD, 0 INTs; Rush: seven carries for 42 yards and two TDs
- Dakota Prukop: 12-of-26 (46.2%), 2TDs, 2 INTs; Rush nine carries for 92 yards and one TD.
The kicking competition might need… more time before there is a clear-cut winner – if that happens at all before the start of the season.
The Blue Bombers opted to gamble in the red zone three times on Tuesday rather than attempt chip-shot field goals and, as a result, there was only one field-goal attempt over two preseason games, with Marc Liegghio hitting from 18 yards. Both men also punted in two preseason games and shared the kickoff chores and there was very little difference between the two.
How the Blue Bombers handle this for next week – with the two sharing the duties or one man handling punts, kickoffs and placekicking – might need more time to marinate.
And, finally, the players in camp did exactly… what they are supposed to do in camp with so many of them taking turns in practice or in the preseason games popping of the page.
The Blue Bombers will have to make cuts by 9 p.m. on Saturday, and as O’Shea said after Tuesday’s game ‘Ted (Goviea, Assistant GM), Danny (McManus, Assistant GM) and Kyle (Walters, GM) want to make sure those decisions are tough. If it was all easy, then they’d be upset.’
Let the debating begin, for as much as the two-time defending Grey Cup champions have so many returning faces, they will have some difficult calls to make on who cracks this talented roster.
