Five storylines

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This article was published 24/10/2014 (3464 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Five story lines to ponder before tonight’s Lions vs. Bombers matchup at Investors Group Field:

1. BLEEDING OUT OR A PULSE?

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers playoff scenario, officially, goes something like this: The Bombers need to win their final two games, have the B.C. Lions lose both of theirs and then have a second team in the East Division — other than the Ottawa Redblacks — finish with 11 losses.

So, unofficially, the scientific formula for the above would read: 2 Acts of God x 6 divine interventions/1 virginal sacrifice Bomber playoff spot.

Interestingly, when head coach Mike O’Shea gathered the troops together after practice on Friday, gone was the “it’s a big game because it’s the next game” mantra they’ve been spitting out all season. Instead his message was succinct:

“OK… 29 hours until the biggest game of our season,” he told his players on the field. “We know what the stakes are. We have to win.”

Added O’Shea in his media session:

“Yeah, (the message) has changed. I said it would, too. When it comes down to being a sudden-death point of view, it changes. So, this is it. This is a must-win situation now. They know that. They get it. We are in the fight of our lives. It’s the biggest game of the year.”

Just for the record — and this might best encapsulate how this season has come off the rails — the Bombers’ current seven-game losing streak matches a run between July 13 and Sept. 1 of last year. And a loss today would make this the second-lost skid since the 1998 Bombers opened the season with 10 straight losses.

“It’s tough, man,” said Johnny Sears Jr. “It’s a little easier this year because it’s a different type of feel. We didn’t start off losing, we started off hot, so I think we have it in us. Last year we started off where we couldn’t get a feel of where we were at or who we were.

“But right now it’s like an identity crisis. We’ve got it in us, we practise it every week, but we’re just not finishing, we’re not executing like we’re supposed to.”

2. WILLY-PEG, MARVE-TOBA?

Credit TSN’s Chris Cuthbert for the Marve-Toba thing last week as a play on backup QB Robert Marve’s name and the early-season love for QB Drew Willy that had Bomber fans renaming this town “Willy-peg.”

Willy returns to the No. 1 spot after missing last week’s game with a bum hand and Marve, who replaced starter Brian Brohm after he suffered a broken thumb, moves up the depth chart to No. 2 with Josh Portis now the third man.

“It was definitely tough (watching),” said Willy, who has guided the Bombers to all six of their wins this season. “We only had five days between the Edmonton and Calgary games. It would have been real tough to get out there… I tried to make some throws at the end of the week and I just didn’t feel comfortable with a few throws I needed to be able to make. If I would have had the full seven days, I probably would have been ready to go.”

Willy has been winging it all week at practice and brings a confidence to the huddle. But there’s also no doubting the enthusiasm Marve provides. FYI: Willy’s 3,526 yards passing is the most by a Bomber pivot since Kevin Glenn threw for 3,675 yards in 2008.

3. THE MORE THINGS CHANGE…

Make it 10 different O-line combinations and counting for the Bombers this season as they make a couple of other changes for the matchup with the Lions. Glenn January returns to his old spot at right tackle, shifting Jace Daniels — who was solid in his CFL debut last week — to left tackle to replace Devin Tyler. They flank left guard Chris Greaves, centre Steve Morley and right guard Matthias Goossen.

So, as the club released Canadian Paul Swiston Friday, starts two 30-somethings in January and Morley today and has Goossen playing out of position — he is a natural centre — this ongoing, and tiring, saga of trying to find some help upfront will continue.

Worth noting: Winnipeg has surrendered a league-high 60 sacks this season. A year ago, with the offensive co-ordinator fired in mid-season, three different QBs starting games and the team a woeful 3-15, the sack total against was 50. Discuss amongst yourselves.

4. A DEFENSIVE BACKBONE

Take notes, Bombers: The Lions have been without quarterback Travis Lulay for all but one start this year — although Kevin Glenn is a helluva ace to have out of the bullpen — have lost running back Andrew Harris for the season and been without receivers Manny Arceneaux, Courtney Taylor and Marco Iannuzzi for stretches and run through their own changes along the O-line.

So an argument could be made that the only reason this team is above .500 is because its defence is absolutely, positively scary good. Consider this:

•  The Lions have not allowed an opposition touchdown in five of their last six games and in six games this season.

•  Opposition offences have not scored a TD on the Lions in their last 47 possessions dating back to a 40-23 loss to Toronto on Sept. 19. In the last 128 opponent drives, B.C.’s defence has surrendered only seven touchdowns.

“We’ve been playing lights out,” said dominant linebacker Solomon Elimimian. “We haven’t allowed a touchdown in six games and that’s impressive. This is professional football… a lot of people get lauded for the sacks. That’s a sexy stat, but at the end of the day, it’s about when you compose a defence, you’re trying to make it successful. Our guys are playing up front, they’re dominating and we’re playing with a lot of passion.”

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5. THE REPLACEMENTS/OPEN AUDITIONS

The Bombers trotted out new O-lineman Jace Daniel a week ago and this week it’s receiver Justin Wilson who will make his CFL debut. As well, linebacker Will Smith — the former Texas Tech star and Dallas Cowboys draft pick — figures to get a lot more work this week in the defence after debuting last week on special teams.

Officially, the Bombers still have a playoff heartbeat. But the changes also give this an open-audition-for-2015 feel.

“It’s a good opportunity for me,” said Smith. “A lot of guys have been helping me adjust to the rules. That’s been a big adjustment, just understanding the different schemes you play up here. It’s been the distance of the field, the five-yard halo (no-yards zone on kicks), the whole rouge-point thing, the kicks back and forth… that was something else last week. I was caught off guard by that, but it’s all starting to make some sense.”

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPEdTait