Bombers not taking Tiger-Cats for granted

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/09/2022 (1254 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

You’d think a rematch of the past two Grey Cups would be a highly anticipated contest.

That isn’t the case for Saturday’s game at Tim Hortons Field between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

It was only last December when the Tabbies gave the Bombers everything they could handle in the championship game before falling short in overtime. This year’s edition of the Ticats is a disaster as they sit at 3-9 and are in danger of missing the post-season in the lowly East Division.

“Not with what they’ve been dealing with. Not at all,” said Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea when asked if he’s surprised about Hamilton’s season.

“It’s tough. I don’t know how many O-line combinations they’ve used, but it’s probably one of the most in the league. I haven’t gone back and counted it. They won’t offer any excuses, I can promise you that. But from the outside looking in, they’ve had some pretty tough challenges.”

Hamilton’s biggest problem hasn’t been the offensive line, it’s been the quarterback. Dane Evans, who the Ticats opted to keep instead of Jeremiah Masoli, has been a turnover machine. Evans has thrown more interceptions (13) than touchdowns (10) and leads the league with six lost fumbles.

The Ticats have coughed the ball up 41 times this season, the most in the CFL. The Bombers, on the other hand, have the fewest turnovers in the league with 16.

“Some of those it felt like they maybe were in some tough spots score wise and had to push the ball down the field and force some throws,” said linebacker Adam Bighill after Wednesday’s practice.

“But at the end of the day, you have to be able to execute. And I mean, he’s a good quarterback. He’s got it in him. So, I’m sure there’s no way he’s given up on himself.”

The Ticats, who are coming off a bye, have had two weeks to think about their dismal performance on Labour Day when the Toronto Argonauts came to town and handed them a 28-8 defeat. It was the first time the Ticats lost the Labour Day Classic since 2012.

Hamilton lost in embarrassing fashion as the offence scored one point and could only muster 253 total yards. Jamie Newman, a 24-year-old rookie out of Wake Forest University, got the start for an injured Evans (shoulder) and completed 14-of-25 passes for 171 yards and an interception.

It hasn’t helped Hamilton’s case that they can’t run the ball either. They average 82 yards on the ground per game which is the second fewest in the three-down league.

“They’re kind of like a gas tank with water in it. They’re kind of sputtering along a little bit,” said Bombers defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall.

“They’re still very dangerous. We still have to be on our A-game to play well.”

Still dangerous? Are you sure about that?

“Because at some point in time, they’re going to come out of their funk. It’s just a matter of when,” Hall said.

“A play here or a play there will get them going and get that life back into them. And they’re playing at home, so that’s a big challenge.”

Evans said earlier in the week that he’s feeling great after the bye, opening the door for him to start on Saturday. For the Blue and Gold, it doesn’t matter if they see Evans or Newman.

“If we have it our way, we expect to see both,” said Bighill.

Evans was under centre in Week 3 when the two sides met at IG Field and the Bombers prevailed 26-12. This week’s Tabbies will likely look much different than the team that came to Winnipeg. The Ticats had 13 players on their six-game injured list in Week 13.

Nothing has gone right in the Steel City in 2022.

“It doesn’t mean they’re not a good football team, they just haven’t been playing their best brand of football,” said Bighill.

Veteran defensive back Nick Taylor, who left last Saturday’s Banjo Bowl victory with an Achilles injury, wasn’t at practice on Tuesday. Taylor showed up midway through Wednesday’s practice with a walking boot on his right leg and watched from the IG Field concourse.

Taylor didn’t come alone as his newborn son Nico was with him in a stroller. At one point, Taylor made his way down the steps to shake hands with a large portion of the Bombers’ defence.

» Winnipeg Free Press

“It’s gonna be a lot different not having him out there,” Bighill said. “He’s a great football player, a great communicator, and he understands the game. He’s just a great football player for us and we’re gonna miss him a lot.”

» Winnipeg Free Press