High-flying Bombers can’t afford turnovers
Over the last two weeks, the defensive numbers put up by the Saskatchewan Roughriders have been impressive.
While winning by a combined score of 95-39 over the B.C. Lions and Edmonton Eskimos, the Riders defence produced seven interceptions, six quarterback sacks and four fumble recoveries.
Through eight games, the Riders have allowed 25.4 points per game, second best in the league, and their 358 yards allowed per contest is fourth best.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have been an offensive juggernaut while winning their last five games — and have scored at least 33 points in seven straight games — and that means something has to give in Sunday’s 54th annual Labour Day Classic at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.
“You just want to rise up to the occasion,” Blue Bombers running back Andrew Harris said of facing the red-hot Saskatchewan defence. “It’s a challenge. You see a team that forces a team to turn the ball over and holds them to certain amount of yards. You look at that as a challenge, at how you can be better than that, and how you can attack them, what weaknesses you can focus on. For us, it’s just about coming out, playing physical, doing our job, holding onto the football and winning the time of possession. The recipe is real simple and plain and we’ve just got to get it done.”
Behind quarterback Matt Nichols (293.4 passing yards per game), Harris (570 rushing yards, 490 receiving yards) and a highend offensive line, the Bombers have used their uptempo offence to give defences fits.
Most importantly, especially against this Saskatchewan defensive dozen, the Bombers don’t often turn the ball over. They have turned the ball over just 13 times in nine games, third best in the league, while the Riders (who have played one fewer game) have turned it over only 11 times.
Both teams are plus-6 in the turnover ratio, with the Bombers holding a 19-17 edge in takeaways.
It would be fair to suggest whichever team does a better job of taking care of the football will likely emerge as Sunday’s winner.
The Bombers record this season when committing fewer turnovers than the opposition is 6-0. When they commit more, their record is 0-2.
It’s no secret that it’s a big part of their success.
“We emphasize it every single week, from the off-season, minicamps, training camp on,” Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said.
“We saw how it played an important role for us last year, with the take-aways that we generated on defence and great ball security on offence. It’s something we talk about on a daily basis.”
A big part of limiting turnovers will be giving Nichols time to throw the football. The Riders have a strong defensive front and a swarming defence.
“Every single game of football I’ve played, that’s been the most important thing,” Bombers centre Matthias Goossen said, regarding the need to protect the quarterback.
“Every week we take a lot of pride in doing that. I know (the Riders) are ready to get after the quarterback and we’re ready to stop them.”
The Bombers have won their last two regular-season games in Regina, including last year’s Labour Day Classic (28-25) and this year’s season opener (43-30 in overtime).
A lot has changed since then for the Riders. They sputtered to a 2-4 record before exploding for big wins the last two weeks to get back to .500.
Despite the tight race in the West Division (where Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton all have seven wins), the Riders see this home-and-home set with Winnipeg (the rematch goes Sept. 9 at Investors Group Field) as a great opportunity to get back into the thick of the playoff race.
“They’re playing extremely well right now and you can tell they’re buying into the system,” Bombers quarterback Matt Nichols said. “They’re making it tough on people . ... We’re going to have to execute for four quarters against a very good defence, a very good football team, in a tough environment.”