Tracker

You can bet your bippy it won't be LaPolice or Hall.

My thinking exactly. We are going to find out if Nichols blossoms or wilts under pressure.

Bombers have added two training camp rejects: national defensive back Jacob Firlotte, international receivers Charles Nelson and Kenny Lawler, international linebacker Kache Palacio and international defensive back Boobie Hobbs. That's as good as it gets, folks. Cue the Boobie jokes.

I have mixed feelings on this. Some players like Mike Sellers, grew out of their mistakes but Chris Jones has been bringing in problems children for some time and still has a crappy team, so there is no magic in this.

For a miracle comeback to happen, the Bombers would have to have better coaching, a viable quarterback (and Nichols has been declining for a year now) and a couple-three receivers who scare the opposing defences. So far, we are zero for three on this.

But think how much they would save on shampoo and conditioner.

Its damned hard on the assembled faithful, though.

Yes, but did he say what year? Was it still in four digits?

Apart from Muamba and Bowman, scheming against the Als' defence is like shooting fish in a barrel.

What some here have been predicting came to pass last night. The Rider defence was good, but not quite as good as in other games, the offence was its usual self, and Elizondo came up with a plan to beat the Rider defence with an average O-line. As Suitor pointed out repeatedly, the Rider game plan was to load up the box and stuff Powell. Ottawa countered with an outside passing game and when the Riders tried to adapt, Powell was sent into the line to seal the deal.

I am not expecting much from the 2018 Bombers except that they will stumble into the playoffs by way of crossover and lose in the first game. What I am hoping for is that the players who are worth keeping will show themselves in a much better effort in the games to come. Until recently, I had thought that we had the talent to not only get to the playoffs but maybe even get to the western final. I am not smart enough to judge whether its a lack of talent, inept coaching or a combination of both, but whatever the problem is, I think we are way past the tinkering stage and down to the rebuild stage.

Five years of rebuilding and the best we can hope for is a crossover. Sad.

That was then and this is now. The September team has to know how close they are to the abyss and that Nichols can no longer be relied on.

A win against Montreal is by no means a guarantee, and if the Bombers manage to fumble away a victory, it would signal that the season is over for them. There is absolutely no reason for the Bombers to lose and if they want to reestablish their credibility as a playoff team they need to win decisively. It would be heartening if the offence woke up and the defence also played well. The Riders are winning on the backs of their defence, but that will take them only so far.

Montreal lost last night because of a horrible performance by their o-line and receivers. Pipkin had no time on most plays to make any kind of play, and his receivers didn't help much either. BC's defence was the best they have looked all year, but the loss of Lulay was critical. If he can come back soon and play, making the playoffs is not out of the question.

By all reports, the fabulous Mr.Manziel is verging on a hissy-fit because he is not starting for the Als. I was wondering when his ego would surface and start causing problems for the team. Despite the implications of a BC win, I hope that Manziel takes the field and is roundly beaten.

I believe that you are suffering from a severe case of monachopsis.

That statistic pretty much reflect how both Nichols' and the Bombers' year has gone and is likely to continue. At this point,even a .500 season seems unlikely.

Luck has nothing to do with it. Before this year, Nichols played a smart, controlled game, but he has devolved into forcing the ball, missing the receiver or just flat-out throwing brain-dead chucks.

Since his last name isn't Lankford, he wouldn't see the field.

Apparently not for O'Shea.

If so, it seems to have affected his brain.

Brock did not show up with that arm strength. He was just another QB prospect who managed to hang around long enough to get noticed. At season's end, he was told to strengthen his arm, so he went back home and started throwing shot-put balls around all offseason. He returned the next training camp and had put about 20 pounds on in his upper body- mostly on his shoulders and arms. I was spectating at that camp and his arms did not seem to taper from his shoulders to his wrists. And boy, could he sling that ball. The receivers were complaining about their hands being hurt.

If Bennett could not beat out that sad lot of quarterbacks in Regina, how good can he be?

With benefits?