FROM THE CHOKE TO GOING FOR BROKE
After giving up 31 unanswered points in 25 minutes to choke in spectacular fashion against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last week, the Edmonton Eskimos are no doubt looking to get back on track in their title-defence season by making an example of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday at Commonwealth Stadium (7 p.m., TSN, 630 CHED). The visitors are coming in with their backs against the wall, and are changing quarterbacks from Drew Willy to Matt Nichols. Nichols will make his first start in Edmonton since being traded by the Eskimos midway through last year’s Grey Cup run.
1 The Eskimos’ gun vs. their own foot
It took four games for the Eskimos no-huddle offence to backfire. But when it finally did, it was monumental, leading to a 31-point comeback victory by the Ticats last week. Quick two-and-outs by the offence led to a tiring defence getting stuck on the field as ex-Eskimos backup quarterback Jeremiah Masoli set a CFL record 23 consecutive completions, on the way to four consecutive touchdown drives. Now it’s fellow former Eskimos pivot Matt Nichols’ turn.
2 The Eskimos vs. the clock
Last week, the Eskimos scored an opening-drive touchdown for the first time this season. So much emphasis was placed on getting off to a fast start that the Eskimos forgot they still needed to finish after jumping to a 31-6 lead early in the second half. If they ever figure out a way to get it together for both halves, they’re going to be hard to handle. But it will take a full 60-minute effort that we haven’t seen yet.
3 Mike O’Shea vs. the pink slip
Things haven’t exactly been going O’Shea’s way since becoming head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2014. A 1-4 start to the season puts the club record at 13-28 during his tenure, which could be finished one-third of the way into 2016 if the team doesn’t find some way to win. Desperate times call for desperate measures, as a quarterback change was announced early this week in hopes of finding a spark against an opponent he is 0-5 against as a head coach.
4 Mike Reilly vs. Matt Nichols
Sure, both quarterbacks are never on the field at the same time. But that didn’t stop them from answering blow for blow in an all-out shootout the last time they faced each other. Reilly completed 71.4 per cent of his passes for 298 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions, while his former backup was interception free, going 22-for-39 for 320 yards and a touchdown in a game that had to be decided by a last-second field goal on Oct. 3, 2015.
5 Reilly vs. the injury bug
On the heels of a 2015 season where Henry Burris and Bo Levi Mitchell were the only two starting quarterbacks to make it through unscathed, the pivotal position is once again getting hit hard across the league. Hamilton’s Zach Collaros is just now on the verge of returning from last year’s season-ending knee injury, while both Henry Burris and Trevor Harris have been hurt in Ottawa. Darian Durant is back on the banged-up bench in Saskatchewan, while Ricky Ray has left a void in Toronto. And with Matt Nichols getting the nod for the Bombers this week, do Drew Willy’s hurt feelings count as an injury?