BOMB SHELLS
After needing a miracle comeback against the Als in Week 6, coach O’Shea is keeping his team sharp ... Eyeing a home playoff game ... Will Bombers field Flanders?
WINNIPEG — It was the last practice before a trip East to face another team from the CFL’s weakling division.
Of course, the 6-2 Winnipeg Blue Bombers, fresh off a win over previously undefeated Edmonton, can’t think that way going into Thursday’s game in Montreal. That might be head coach
Mike O’Shea’s greatest challenge now that the Bombers have emerged as a contender in the West Division: To keep egos and practice habits in check.
“There are certain things that make us who we are,” the coach said of his message to the team this week. “And we’ve got to remember to stay within that framework.”
O’Shea initially tried to arm tackle a follow-up question about what, exactly, makes the Bombers who they are.
He eventually loosened his grip, if just a little.
“Even though it’s an emotional game, they rely on their preparation,” he said. “They play a fast-paced, tough brand of football. And each week we try and get smarter.”
If they’re smart this week, they’ll treat the Alouettes not as the team Toronto just blew out, but as the team that gave the Bombers fits here at home, four weeks ago.
Only a miracle finish prevented Winnipeg from dropping to 2-3. Looking back, that was obviously the turning point of the season, as the Bombers haven’t lost since.
“That’s just the type of team we are,” defensive end
Jamaal Westerman said of the close call. “We know that, yes, we’re a good football team. But we’re by no means the juggernaut team or the team that’s blowing teams out. Every down, every play, every series, we have to fight extremely hard to give ourselves the chance to come out with the win.”
That fight can’t afford to take a week off, not with the Eskimos and Stampeders still ahead in the standings.
“We had to play all the way to the end to claw out a victory,” quarterback Matt
Nichols said. “He (O’Shea) is preaching it’s a tough place to play, one of the more physical teams in the league. So we know it’s going to be a battle.”
DON’T LOOK NOW, BUT ...
While the Bombers are right there with the Esks and Stamps, they apparently don’t talk about going after first place.
“That’d be the biggest mistake,” Westerman said. “To think about first place or where we’re at in the division, you really just have to focus on the games in front of you. You can’t take your eye off the ball.”
It’s the most boring cliche in the book, and the Bombers have mastered it.
“One week at a time,” Nichols said. “You start stringing wins together and you’ll end up where you want to be. We’re talking about trying to get a win this week. Obviously that helps in the long-term goals.”
After losing the West semifinal in Vancouver last year, though, hosting a playoff game has to be the next step.
“Anyone that was at the stadium last week would understand our fans are important to us,” running back Andrew
Harris said. “The atmosphere at IGF is huge and plays a big advantage to us ... but we’ve got a lot of work to do, still.”
We found out last season a good record (11-7) might not be enough. So letting games like this week’s slip away could haunt them, come November.
“Those things you talk about all off-season, all training camp, that it’s such a huge advantage, especially with our crowd, to be able to play a playoff game in front of them,” Nichols said. “Hopefully it’s only one — in the second round.
“But that’s way down the line.”
MIND GAMES
O’Shea refused to tip his hand on possible lineup changes.
You can tell he’d like to keep import running back Timo
thy Flanders on the roster. “Every time he touches the ball he’s getting yards,” O’Shea said. “But he also does a lot without the ball in his hands. He’s playing good special teams for us.”
Flanders has averaged around seven yards per carry on 15 carries, while adding two catches for 26 yards against Edmonton.
Safety Taylor Loffler didn’t practise all week and appears doubtful.
“I don’t rule any players out,” O’Shea said. “You have to by a certain time frame, but I’ll give them every chance to get on. They deserve that. They put a lot of time in to make sure they can get back in healthy.
“The way he throws his body around, if he can keep that up, we’re quite happy to give him the rest he needs.” Defensive back Brian
Walker also missed practice all week, and could be replaced by Kevin Fogg.
SECONDARY CONCERN
Brandon Alexander could go in for Roc Car
michael, who has had his struggles in the secondary.
“If I’m up this week, I’m up,” Alexander said, declaring himself healthy after missing three games. “If not, then so be it. I’m just glad to be out here running again.”
Running is one thing the Bomber defence doesn’t want the Alouettes doing well.
“We really didn’t do a good job of stopping the run against Montreal the first time we played them,” Alexander said. “And the result was a really, really, tight game. Stopping the run and being physical is definitely the big part of this game.”
The Als amassed 183 yards along the ground on July 27, 495 net yards in all, the Winnipeg defence’s worst performance of the season — albeit it in a 41-40 Bomber win.
HASH MARKS
O-lineman Travis Bond returned from practice, Tuesday, after dealing with a personal matter. He wasn’t made available for interviews, but is expected to play ... O’Shea wouldn’t say what the plans are for import D-lineman Tristan Okpal
augo, who is set to come off the six-game injury list. With the play of Jackson Jeffcoat, it’s less urgent to get him back on the field.