Slimy Sculpin

How do you win a game in the CFL without a QB? Well, I watched one unfold yesterday. Take the W but that offense was an embarrassment. On to the next one with, hopefully, Collaros at the helm. With a little less than six minutes to go in the 3rd, the Bombers were 3rd and 5 from about the Ottawa 49. They lined up to punt in a different formation than usual. There were two guys back with Sheahan and when he punted the ball, they were behind him, onside I believe. It was a shorter, sky-high punt and those two guys were headed towards where the ball was to land. The Ottawa returner mishandled the ball but retained possession after a bit of a scramble. I was pleasantly surprised that the Bombers attempted a bit of "trickery". Question: Did those onside players have to give the returner 5 yards or, if lucky, could one of them have caught/recovered the ball for a Bomber 1st down?

Another jacka$$ play call.

69 and 53👍👍

This offence is offensive and embarassing. So predictable. So high school-ish. Yikes!

WTF was that QB draw about?

Our women's rugby team can wrap up and tackle better.

Every week I hope for some significant changes to the Bombers' depth chart and every week I'm disappointed. I look at the D-line and keep seeing two Canadians (only one with some potential) with a backup Canuck (a previous Bomber cut) in the middle and give my head a shake. I realize that there are so many body morphologies but did Thomas ever look like a football player? On the other side of the ball, I see an O-line continually anchored (not in a good way) by Kolankowski and give my head another shake. As for QB, I'm pretty sure that Streveler is not the "answer", however, against the RedBlacks, I'll give him a half to change my mind. I'll be watching (weather calling for rain so I won't feel guilty about not doing yardwork) but I'm not expecting a win. "The nice part about being a pessimist is that you are constantly being either proven right or pleasantly surprised."....George F. Will.

From the Winnipeg Free Press (posted online yesterday evening by Taylor Allen) about the Bombers’ OC, “the last time he was the head offensive coordinator was nearly a decade ago at a secondary school in Laval.” I’ll give my head a shake and leave it at that.

A few post-game thoughts… I was banished to the TV in the den after I swore up a storm when Streveler threw that first INT. The TSN talking heads suggested that Wilson missed an assignment on that one. I don’t know about that but I do know that injury, no injury or still recovering from an injury, Streveler is not the answer. He’s a deer-in-the-headlights, happy-footed, blinders on, can’t read a defense wannabe (used to be?) QB. Quite a few Bombers were slipping like they were on banana peels last night, Lawson Jr. in particular but O. Wilson and even Oliveira. Was it the turf? Did the training staff bring the wrong shoes? I don’t think that Hamilton had the same problem although I could be wrong on that one. We were lacking strength up the middle last night (most of the season?)….QB, C, the middle of the D-line (Lawson may turn out to be OK but Thomas and Kornelson, yikes!). Jones at MLB is adequate and Allen at S is still learning the position. I saw too many downs with two of those three Canucks on the field. And what the heck was Thomas doing on the field for that onside KO attempt? Oliveira does amazingly well considering who are blocking for him. I thought Houston acquitted himself well for his first start in a while. However, Lawson Jr. should be the next guy to be shown the door. O. Wilson looks like he’s coming along, too. This Woodbey guy looked solid. Where has he been all season? Rhetorical question. The still plenty of season to go but I’ve got a feeling that even with Collaros back, the playoffs are fading away. I wonder what Wade Miller is thinking right about now? I’ll be there to the end but it’s getting harder and harder.

No coasting to playoffs. Bombers won't be in playoffs.

We are really bad but I'm wondering if the team equipment guys brought the right shoes.

WTF was that fake handoff about?

The Jays are on Sportsnet. And they're ahead!

For a guy who has been around, Streveler still has that deer-in-the-headlights look. Coming off an injury or not, he's not good.

I agree. Hot routes or not, there was a lot of blitzing from the Riders which left a lot of open space available in the middle. Nary a Bomber receiver in sight though. Is that on the receivers, Collaros' audibles (Does he even call them?) or an OC, who can't seem to "adjust at half-time"?

A view of the game from the 55 yard line, west side upper deck. First Banjo Bowl for me in about three years, for my wife, first one ever. I thought that the atmosphere was a little lacking for a game of this magnitude. At other games this year the crowd seemed more boisterous. In spite of the loss, we had a good time. I only swore once at the ineptitude of the Bombers (might have had to do with my company yesterday). But, in spite of enjoying ourselves, it was a frustrating game to watch. Some of many thoughts on the game: Although coming out on the short end of the score, the game sheet suggested that it was an evenly played game with one or two notable exceptions. We out-possessioned them (31-29 minutes) and the rushing and passing stats were similar. The exceptions….4 Bomber turnovers to one for them and we had had no, zero, zilch red zone opportunities (Our lone TD came from outside the area.) The game was winnable by the Bombers but….. The usually reliable Castillo misses two FGs. The missed one in the third quarter was into the wind. He kicked it low but it was a bit wide. Stuff happens. The whiff in the 4th was with the wind but he still kicked a line drive ball. It was odd. Perhaps, it was just a mis-hit. Although the wind was quite stiff from the north, I wonder how it impacts the game given that the field is below grade and the stands form a bit of a bowl around the field? We had three Americans starting on the O-line yesterday but were they able to run and pass block any better? Who is in charge of the blocking schemes for the O? Is it a line coach who then works with the OC in an attempt to have it all mesh? And, who calls the blocking assignments (adjustments?) at the line? Is it the centre? I won’t comment on the other linemen but Kolankowski is lacking in so many areas. Someone else coined this nickname K-olé-kowski. It fits! I didn’t like the play calling on our last drive in the 2nd quarter, the one that resulted in a FG for the Riders. With 54 seconds to go, we started at our 26. Plenty of time to move it into the scoring zone, I thought. Oliveira into the line two times. Hmm, although a first down resulted, that’s going to use up the clock. An IC followed by and ill-advised long ball INT by Collaros and disappointment again. I saw at least one other Bomber receiver open underneath on that one. It seems that Zach focusses in on his first look a little too much. A problem all year? Did OC Hogan have any competition for the position? Seriously, was anyone else interviewed? I don’t think that Vaval can handle both current duties. He seems to have potential for both, so pick one. As a DB, he was certainly picked on yesterday. I’m also not a fan of Younger’s play calling. A couple of times I saw only one guy at the line. Seriously, one guy on the line and 11 back! No pressure that results in too many options for the opposing QB. I think that if Collaros is out long term and, that is a distinct possibility, IMO, we won’t make the playoffs this year. Heck, I think that if he’s back at the controls next week, the Bombers will be hard pressed to make it. And, this when the Grey Cup is being held in town? What were the tall foreheads thinking in the past offseason? This is the CFL so, I’ll be there to the bitter end. Go Bombers Go!

Yes, when was the last time the Bombers did something "surprizing"? Several times this year on 3rd and short (3-4 yards), I've seen the middle of the opposition's 3rd down D peel off or get blocked to the side leaving quite the gap with the oppositoion moving/leaning the opposite way. Has Sheehan, who I assume has some athletic ability, ever scooted up the middle for those yards? I realize that he's got to make up the behind the LOS yards but, IMO, there have been big lanes available.

I'm not trying to be a jerk but how can you make this claim? There are nine teams in the league each with their own team of MDs, physios, trainers, etc. There is no way that a fan (you, me, all the folks on this board) can know the competence of the personnel on the Bombers "med team", let alone the other eight teams. I don't know if Schoen re-injured the same leg yesterday but I do know from photos circulated here that he was wearing a pretty heavy brace during the practices leading up to the game. Oops, I posted this before reading some of the other comments on this particular post.

He may be injury prone but I wish that the staff (coaches and medics) would let him heal properly. This is what....two years in a row where they most likely put him back in too early.

Logan has been a disappointment. He doesn't look fast/quick to my eyes. Is he still not fully healed? Got to wonder about personnel decisions over the last few years.

We can dream.

Comments on the game from the cheap seats (my big ass recliner): Is Nichols playing injured? It sure looked like it last night. I've watched a lot of CFL this season and it looks like all of the O-linemen (usually our opposition) must have taken that league seminar on holding very seriously.😉 Anyone else notice that Hardricke seems to "jump up" on basically every play. Illegal Procedure? Why would the Bomber Tall Foreheads hire a novice OC when the Grey Cup is here this season? Streveler in on first and goal and then leaving him in on second and goal was a puzzler. Where was Collaros? Where was Oliveira? There was another instance where it was second and very short and a Collaros roll-out/pass was called resulting in a sack. Yikes! Even the 2-point convert attempt call had me scratching my head. The OC is in way over his head, IMO. This isn't uni or junior football. Collaros made a couple of beauty tosses to the end zone but more often than not he's guilty of underthrowing the ball. Although his underthrow of Demski near the end resulted in the PI and a chance to tie/win. Schoen definitely came up lame on the 2-point attempt. It makes me wonder about the team docs. If a missed RTP can be challenged (I think), why can't a missed face mask call (very obvious) be challenged? Or, did SK think it wasn't worth it? Kolankowski made a nice block (and ball spike) on Oliveira's TD. However, for the bulk of the game, he was totally out of it. Seriously, I saw him literally standing around disengaged on most plays. The guy seems less than a pylon. Anytime that I see two of our Canuck DTs on the field at the same time, I cringe. It's amazing but with all of the coaching blunders (I really think that we're a poorly coached and prepared team.) and the lack of adequate talent a certain positions, we were still in the game. And, since this is the CFL....just make the playoffs and....You got to love the CFL! I'll be at the Banjo Bowl with my wife (She's not been to one.) and I'll be joining the chorus in making life miserable for Harris et al. Go Bombers Go!

Did you notice Schoen coming up lame on that aborted 2-pt attempt? Gotta wonder about the team docs.

Agree about the lack of tackling technique.

Why would they hire an inexperienced from within when the GC is in town this season? Asking for a friend.