An aberration, or was that the Bombers’ real defence?

Manhandling of Lions could signal arrival of consistency, writes Paul Friesen.

The evidence continues to trickle in, and it’s as confounding as any whodunit.

One day you think the Winnipeg Blue Bomber defences looks guilty of repeating its crimes from the last two seasons, the next it looks like a changed unit.

On a hot and steamy Saturday night in Winnipeg, with the liquor and the sweat flowing freely around it, the Bombers’ dirty dozen stood steadfast and true in a 41-19 manhandling of the B.C. Lions.

A statement game, perhaps? “You tell me,” linebacker Adam Bighill, the star of the show, replied. “What’s in the headline?”

I was about to tell Bighill I don’t write the headlines, when he offered a one-word suggestion.

“Execution.” Normally, that’s not a word a hardened criminal wants to hear.

But for these “offenders,” it’s the simple explanation for what they did better against the Lions than they’d done against Hamilton the week before, or Edmonton in the season opener.

“We didn’t do a lot of special things,” Bighill continued. “But what we did was solid. We just executed out stuff really well. I’m telling you, when we execute, those are the things that happen.

“It comes to being consistent. If we want to be a great defence, consistency’s the key.”

It’s not sexy, like a jailbreak pass rush on every other play.

But it was murder on Lions quarterback Jonathan Jennings, who was sacked four times, picked off three times and held to less than 200 yards passing.

The thing is, the up-and-down nature of the Bombers defence through four games raises the possibility of a stinker next weekend.

Perhaps that’s why nobody in blue and gold wanted any part of any statement.

“They executed a good plan,” coach Mike O’Shea said. “They took advantage of play calling that was quite timely, they made plays, they played tougher on the football than they did previously.

“But statement games. I’m not sure what that even means.”

It means you can count on a high level of play, week to week. You’ll be consistent, to use Bighill’s measuring stick.

The jury is still out on that.

BIG EVE FOR ADAM

Teammates were raving about Bighill’s two-interception, one-touchdown game against the Leos. There’s nothing quite like sticking it to your old team, apparently.

“Adam was on fire,” running back Andrew Harris, another former Lion, said. “I know how good that feels. I’m right there with him.”

A coach like O’Shea may downplay the notion of getting more fired up for certain games, but it’s real.

“He was focused all week,” corner Chris Randle said of Bighill. “I’m not saying that he’s never focused, but it’s that extra element to it, being that it’s his old team.”

ADRENALIN AND RUST

Quarterback Matt Nichols had downplayed the thought of having to work off any rust, but it turned out that rust was also mixed with too much adrenalin, resulting in some early overthrows.

“Being truthful, I probably was a little juiced up there at the beginning,” Nichols acknowledged. “I’ll get that under control a bit and be better next week.”