Game 3: Elks (0-2) at Blue Bombers (2-0)

Kickoff: Thursday, June 26th, 7:30 p.m. CDT; Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg
TV/Streaming: TSN, RDS, CBS SportsNetwork; CFL+
Radio: 680 CJOB (pre-game begins at 5:30 p.m. CDT); Play-by-play: Derek Taylor/analyst: Doug Brown; Sirius XM (ch. 167)

Scene Setter

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers defence features a collection of both engaging and familiar characters that can lure fans in like a moth to a flame.

Along the defensive line there’s the gregarious Willie Jefferson, a future hall of famer, a long-serving vet like Jake Thomas, a new vet like James Vaughters, an emerging talent like Cam Lawson and Devin Adams, whose every task on the football field is done at high volume and with a smile on his mug.

There are the dominant halfbacks in Deatrick Nichols and Evan Holm, second-year starter Terrell Bonds at one corner and Marquise Bridges in his first go as a regular at the other. Redha Kramdi is the somehow still under-rated dime, and we all saw a flash in last week’s win over the B.C. Lions of what Jamal Parker, Jr. brings to the safety position.

The linebacking corps features the always steady Kyrie Wilson, the tackling machine that is Tony Jones and a mixture of predominantly talent behind them that includes veteran Canadians like Shayne Gauthier and Tanner Cadwallader and young homegrowns like Connor Shay, Jaylen Smith and Lane Novak.

Now it could be said the one name we haven’t mentioned here — at least, not yet — is the man who best represents the versatility of defensive coordinator Jordan Younger’s defence. He is part linebacker, part defensive back, part heat-seeking missile and part Swiss-Army knife and a guy who is as often sticking his nose in at the line of scrimmage as he is busting up a pass downfield.

And for those who maybe haven’t been introduced but are so often checking to see who that #32 is out there making so many plays on defence, meet Michael Griffin II — cut adrift by the Calgary Stampeders on May 15th a year ago, he surfaced in Winnipeg three days later and has quietly and consistently emerged as an important cog in one of the Canadian Football League’s top defences.

“It was kind of unexpected leaving Calgary, to be honest,” said Griffin II this week. “Things happened and they made a different decision. I just put my head down and went back to work and whatever opportunity came I was going to take.

“Winnipeg was the first to call. They let me know there wasn’t a spot immediately, so I had to start off on practice roster, but injuries happen, and I just kept working and then I got my chance. (The release from Calgary) was a blessing in disguise.

“It’s worked out nicely.”

Griffin II grinned here and it’s little wonder, as he’s found a spot — and some joy — playing in a defence that has yielded just 34 points in two games and yet is far from satisfied.

“There’s so much growth still,” said Griffin II, who had three tackles, a sack and a pass knockdown last week. “It’s still early in the season and we’re trying to pick up from last season but we’re also starting with a higher standard.

“Even though the numbers were high last year, we still had some areas where we could be better. That’s the great thing about us. Our room is all about potential and so as long as we continue to grow and get better this could be the best defence.”

There certainly have been snippets of that through the first two wins of the season over B.C. where the unit has been occasionally stifling. Now comes the next test with an Edmonton Elks squad that, while 0-2, has the unpredictable Tre Ford at quarterback and last year sported the CFL’s most prolific ground game.

“We’ve picked up where we left off last year, so that’s cool,” explained the always affable Kramdi. “But there’s so many plays left out there on the field every game. So many small mistakes. There’s room for improvement from everybody. We’re heading in the right direction, so that’s fun, and we’re doing it with people who are fun doing it with — friends outside of football, too.

“We’ve got the right people in the right spots and it’s crazy… but it’s only the second year with JY being the defensive coordinator. I think on his end he thinks he can do way better and us playing we think we can be better. There’s a lot of small mistakes we’re making. For example, at the end of our last game we let our foot off the gas. We have such a high standard but also holding B.C. to just 14 points is good and we maybe shouldn’t be as mad at ourselves as we are.

“But that’s the standard we have.”

Earlier this week head coach Mike O’Shea was asked about the pressure from up front — the club’s two sacks this year are from Griffin II and Wilson — but as several teammates have noted, the four interceptions forced this year have come from D-line hurries.

“Our defence is playing pretty damn well,” O’Shea said. ” They play as a 12-man unit. They meet together. They talk about the defence together. They communicate together. The pieces all have to fit together and they go out on the field and the play all together.

“So, adding up pressures when the defence is playing pretty well… I guess everybody wants more of everything. People would like the DBs to have more knock downs and the (opposing) offence to have less catches. People would like the linebackers to have more hellacious hits and less yardage on the ground. People would like the defensive front to generate more pressure and whatever.

“But as a defence, they’re all in on whatever is going to make it all work and get the desired outcome — which is damn good football.”

THE LINEUP: The Blue Bombers depth chart does not feature any changes for this week, although receiver Nic Demski does have a ‘GTD’ — game-time decision — designation. Demski was nicked in Saturday’s win over B.C., a game in which he extended his consecutive games streak with at least one reception to 73 and did not practice on Tuesday according to the daily injury report. If Demski can’t go, the Blue Bombers could start 2025 draft pick Joey Corcoran or activate veteran Gavin Cobb.

It also means running back Brady Oliveira — the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player and Canadian a year ago — will not be suiting up for a second straight game. He remains on the one-game injured list along with KR/RB Peyton Logan, LS Mike Benson, LB Jonathan Jones, WR Dillon Mitchell, DT Tanner Schmekel and OL Micah Vanterpool.

DT Jamal Woods, DBs Jake Kelly and Enock Makonzo and OL Eric Lofton are all on the six-game injured list.

FULL DEPTH CHART