Bob Irving
CFL.ca
Since they started losing close games with regularity early in the season, people around the CFL have been saying the Winnipeg Blue bombers are the “best” team with a “bad” record that they have ever seen.
The latest in a long line of testimonials came on Saturday night in Edmonton when Edmonton Eskimos General Manager Eric Tillman appeared on CJOB radio’s pre-game show. Tillman said the Blue Bombers are a tough-luck crew, but a hard-working, talented and well coached bunch that has much to look forward to. Tillman went so far as to predict a breakout year in 2011 for the Blue Bombers.
A few hours after Tillman made his comments, the 2010 grief continued for the Blue Bombers and their fans as they suffered yet another gut-wrenching loss, dropping a 16-13 overtime decision to the Eskimos.
It was an angry, frustrated group of players and coaches in the Bomber locker room, once again seeking answers for why they keep coming up short. And you couldn’t blame this loss on turnovers. The Bombers forced five Edmonton giveaways and committed only two themselves, although it should be noted that the two Winnipeg turnovers were failed third-and-one gambles, one of them at the Eskimos one-yard line.
However, the Bombers picked off four Jared Zabransky passes and also forced a turnover on downs. Most times, when a team comes up with five turnovers, they win. Not this year’s edition of the Blue Bombers though. They could only convert the Edmonton gifts into 10 regulation time points.
Penalties did play a key role in the Bombers 13th loss of the year and head coach Paul LaPolice expressed more anger with the infractions than he has all season. The Bombers were flagged 15 times with defensive end Odell Willis performing the remarkable, if undesirable, feat of taking five penalties himself. Twice Willis was flagged for being offside and three times he was hit with 15-yard rough play penalties. That in itself could be some kind of league record.
Rookie quarterback Joey Elliott made his first professional start and only his second appearance in a game this season predictably struggled. Elliott, a 24-year old graduate of Purdue University, completed 15 of 29 passes for 130 yards. To his credit, Elliott didn’t throw any interceptions and he led the Bombers on a late game drive that enabled them to tie the game and force overtime.
The experience Elliott gained this week should stand him in good stead when the Bombers play their final game of the season Friday at home against the Calgary Stampeders.
And frankly, this season can’t end soon enough. Yes, the Bombers have some outstanding young talent. And yes there is reason to be very optimistic about the future. But, eight times the Bombers have played games decided by four points or less. Incredibly, all eight times they have lost, producing a 4-13 record and a level of frustration among players, coaches, management and the fans that hasn’t been experienced in Winnipeg for a long time.
Bring on 2011.
