OT: Winnipeg Blue Bombers 2024 Season Thread - Footnote it is. Another long off-season ahead.

Huffer

Registered User
Jul 16, 2010
16,934
7,049
Late to the party here but was at the game and it was a blast. I thought our offense had an excellent game plan that worked, and then once the Blue got the running game going they really bullied the Riders D. The Riders D was gassed in the 2nd IMO.

On D, the Bombers really showed up. When Harris is throwing one step quick hitters you're not going to get to him, but our D line had him contained (not that he's a huge running threat), and besides a good run or two, really stopped their run. But our DB's really came to play. We didn't have the 8 yard cushion BS. Evan Holm especially balled out.

Special teams were the only real sore spot. The punt fake got them 7 when the team was off the field, and Lucky's fumble was costly and unnecessary as well.

Looking forward, it will be interesting to see the Bombers game plan for next week. Would love to hear thoughts from @Holden Caulfield, and @WPGChief. On O I'm wondering if something similar to the Riders game is in order. The Argos have a strong DL, so quick hitters to soften them up? On D with Arbuckle in, I'm not sure which way they go. Cover the run, but also bring more blitzes? Or just repeat the game plan from the Riders and contain and have the DB's play tight coverage and force them to march down the field?
 

Benny27

Registered User
Mar 10, 2011
201
78
Winnipeg
Blue Bombers Talk

⚡️West Final Review
⚡️One word to describe the Bombers West Final Win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders
⚡️Most surprising stat of the West Final?
⚡️At what point did you believe the Bombers had this game?
⚡️Players of the Game
 

Holden Caulfield

He's guilty
Feb 15, 2006
23,343
6,211
Winnipeg
Late to the party here but was at the game and it was a blast. I thought our offense had an excellent game plan that worked, and then once the Blue got the running game going they really bullied the Riders D. The Riders D was gassed in the 2nd IMO.

On D, the Bombers really showed up. When Harris is throwing one step quick hitters you're not going to get to him, but our D line had him contained (not that he's a huge running threat), and besides a good run or two, really stopped their run. But our DB's really came to play. We didn't have the 8 yard cushion BS. Evan Holm especially balled out.

Special teams were the only real sore spot. The punt fake got them 7 when the team was off the field, and Lucky's fumble was costly and unnecessary as well.

Looking forward, it will be interesting to see the Bombers game plan for next week. Would love to hear thoughts from @Holden Caulfield, and @WPGChief. On O I'm wondering if something similar to the Riders game is in order. The Argos have a strong DL, so quick hitters to soften them up? On D with Arbuckle in, I'm not sure which way they go. Cover the run, but also bring more blitzes? Or just repeat the game plan from the Riders and contain and have the DB's play tight coverage and force them to march down the field?

I was there and lost my voice for a couple of days as well haha.

I'll be the first to tell you, I've never coached the game of football and never played above the high school level. I am no expert. But since asked...

1) This game is going to come down to the Bomber offense. Toronto scored 9 and 14 offensive points against the Bombers this year. But this O put up 14 and 11 for. They need to find a way to score some points. What has really stood out against TOR is that they are very very good at pressuring the QB. Zach is not going to have time to sit back and lob it up to Lawler like they did last week. Use Brady to take the pressure off. Not only just running the ball, but dump offs, swing routes, etc. Hell I wouldn't mind a few WR screens, get Demski/Whitehead going east-west on sweeps. They might have some struggles with that early, maybe some negative plays but STICK TO THE GAME PLAN. Anything to take the edge off the TO pass rush is going to be key. If they can back that pass rush off, TO has weaknesses in the secondary. Particularly on the quick short passes, Dru Brown ate them up with it in the East Semi but couldn't get any help from his D.

2) There's going to be alot made of Arbuckle. Who cares. Scott put up 9 pts, Kelly put up 14. This TO offense depends on the big play. The Bombers are fantastic at shutting down the big plays. I'm not really concerned about the D, just keep limiting those big plays and they'll be fine. Bombers run D can be a little suspect, but with very little air threat it should mostly eliminate the run game. I'd be shocked if TO puts up more than 17 pts on O and that's on the high side.

3) We ARE going to lose the special teams game. Just a fact. TO is better at returning the ball, better at covering kicks, better at punting, more reliable in the kicking game. The key is going to be at limiting it. They either need to limit the damage here or win so big in the other phases to make this irrelevant as we saw last week.

4) It's a one game playoff. One game samples are inherently unpredictable. Limit big swings. Pick 6's, return TD's, fumbles, deep shots etc. Bombers are the better team, more repeatable team. Stay focused and prepared on the details and limit the big plays is really all there is too this. But easier said than done of course.

So basically it. There's really two ways this goes, IMO. One is that they let TO hang around and a big play (Janarion return TD or a Zach pick 6) wins TO the Cup. Or Wpg dominates it from start to finish and TO can't overcome the lack of offense they'll have. Those are the scenarios I think are most likely. If I was a betting man I'd be betting the under. I think this being played in BC is a huge advantage to Winnipeg as Zach has really struggled in the cold over the years.
 
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WPGChief

Registered User
May 25, 2017
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I was there and lost my voice for a couple of days as well haha.

I'll be the first to tell you, I've never coached the game of football and never played above the high school level. I am no expert. But since asked...

1) This game is going to come down to the Bomber offense. Toronto scored 9 and 14 offensive points against the Bombers this year. But this O put up 14 and 11 for. They need to find a way to score some points. What has really stood out against TOR is that they are very very good at pressuring the QB. Zach is not going to have time to sit back and lob it up to Lawler like they did last week. Use Brady to take the pressure off. Not only just running the ball, but dump offs, swing routes, etc. Hell I wouldn't mind a few WR screens, get Demski/Whitehead going east-west on sweeps. They might have some struggles with that early, maybe some negative plays but STICK TO THE GAME PLAN. Anything to take the edge off the TO pass rush is going to be key. If they can back that pass rush off, TO has weaknesses in the secondary. Particularly on the quick short passes, Dru Brown ate them up with it in the East Semi but couldn't get any help from his D.

2) There's going to be alot made of Arbuckle. Who cares. Scott put up 9 pts, Kelly put up 14. This TO offense depends on the big play. The Bombers are fantastic at shutting down the big plays. I'm not really concerned about the D, just keep limiting those big plays and they'll be fine. Bombers run D can be a little suspect, but with very little air threat it should mostly eliminate the run game. I'd be shocked if TO puts up more than 17 pts on O and that's on the high side.

3) We ARE going to lose the special teams game. Just a fact. TO is better at returning the ball, better at covering kicks, better at punting, more reliable in the kicking game. The key is going to be at limiting it. They either need to limit the damage here or win so big in the other phases to make this irrelevant as we saw last week.

4) It's a one game playoff. One game samples are inherently unpredictable. Limit big swings. Pick 6's, return TD's, fumbles, deep shots etc. Bombers are the better team, more repeatable team. Stay focused and prepared on the details and limit the big plays is really all there is too this. But easier said than done of course.

So basically it. There's really two ways this goes, IMO. One is that they let TO hang around and a big play (Janarion return TD or a Zach pick 6) wins TO the Cup. Or Wpg dominates it from start to finish and TO can't overcome the lack of offense they'll have. Those are the scenarios I think are most likely. If I was a betting man I'd be betting the under. I think this being played in BC is a huge advantage to Winnipeg as Zach has really struggled in the cold over the years.
I, too, am certainly not an expert and would honestly defer to Holden over myself on anything "predictive" - but I largely agree with the above, and mostly would emphasize the point that it's a one game, winner-take-all, so anything can happen.

My personal take: if Bombers can dominate the time of possession and have long drives, that should tire out the Argos defense (who are way, way better than the Roughriders - which I think Corey Mace fell victim to his own game plan and a lack of significant adjustments within the game more than anything), and that could give Collaros the time he needs/wants to get Lawler involved. But Ceresna on the interior DL - which is where I think Bombers offensive line has been the weakest (and Lofton of course) - is already a huge difference-maker. Oliveira has been great at picking up blitzers, but I would imagine Bombers could run a lot of 6OL sets to double up on both runs and pass protection, and that could allow the TOR secondary to play a more ballhawk style and go for turnovers which they've been exceptional at to close the season.

As Holden mentioned though, special teams and TOR's own big plays on offence is the ultimate equalizer, so even if the time of possession ends up in something like 40:20 in the Bombers favour, the game could still be close if WPG isn't scoring TDs on its drives. But if Pierce can scheme up a plan that forces TOR to back off from the line of scrimmage, it'll open up Oliveira to take over - and then if they start stacking the box, that's when Collaros can bet on Lawler to outplay his coverage. Basically: force TOR to get frustrated and tired on defence, and then hope that Arbuckle can't stretch the field vertically and get easy stops on 2nd-and-long's.
 

Jetland162702

Pup-peroni Junkie
Sep 23, 2011
835
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Blitzkrug

Registered User
Sep 17, 2013
27,330
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Winnipeg

Good riddance. Ambroise should have been gone after how badly he mangled the league's response to COVID. Not to mention all the other failures here; the sports betting shit, the bizarre chase for international talent, etc.

Ambroise: we need government funding to keep this canadian institution afloat during this tough time

Government: We can probably work something out, show us your books

Ambroise: no lol

Moron. Even more interesting is apparently Ti-Cats owner Bob Young approached Ambroise with an an offer to foot the bill for a shortened season in a bubble but for some reason was told no.
 

Holden Caulfield

He's guilty
Feb 15, 2006
23,343
6,211
Winnipeg
I've been saying it all year. Bombers plan to run back pretty much everyone next year again for the home GC. Bighill, Bryant, Collaros, Thomas, Alexander, etc. They signed most of these guys specifically through the end of 2025. Well be taking a run at 6 straight appearances with the same core. I think 2026 will be a huge retool year afterwards.

Just hope 2025 we'll be looking for our 4th GC WIN in 6 seasons!
 

jetsmooseice

Up Yours Robison
Feb 20, 2020
1,948
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Absolutely the Bombers made the right decision when they moved on from Harris and gave the ball to Oliveira, his awards last night proved it, seems like a really good dude to.
It appears that Oliveira has moved past his apparent resentment over the fans considering him a downgrade from Andrew Harris after he left for Toronto a couple of years ago. In fairness, Andrew Harris set the bar pretty damn high, I think anyone would have found him a tough act to follow. Especially with those two Blue Bomber Grey Cup rings on his fingers.

Of course, what Oliveira has accomplished since taking over from Harris is probably beyond anyone's wildest dreams. His career is playing out like a fairytale and the only thing left for him to do is to lift the cup as a starter and team leader. That would cement his legacy as an all-time Bomber and CFL legend, and a true hometown hero.

The fact that he comes off as a genuinely good guy just makes it even sweeter and happier for everyone involved.
 

Benny27

Registered User
Mar 10, 2011
201
78
Winnipeg
Bombers Talk

⚡️Grey Cup Preview
⚡️One word to describe the Bombers/Argos matchup…
⚡️What storyline intrigues you the most?
⚡️Who on the Argos gives you the most concern?
⚡️What do the Bombers need to do to beat the Alouettes?
⚡️Grey Cup Game Breakers!
 

ps241

The Ballad of Ville Bobby
Sponsor
Mar 10, 2010
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Really hope the Bombers can find a way on Sunday. Argo's defense has had their number and one would hope the OC can come up with some fresh ideas to deal with the challenge. The issue is that as we saw when the Bombers were at their most dominant, when you have true difference makers on the D line it can be the difference in a game.

That being said I am picking the Bombers in this game.
 
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jetsmooseice

Up Yours Robison
Feb 20, 2020
1,948
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Really hope the Bombers can find a way on Sunday. Argo's defense has had their number and one would hope the OC can come up with some fresh ideas to deal with the challenge. The issue is that as we saw when the Bombers were at their most dominant, when you have true difference makers on the D line it can be the difference in a game.

That being said I am picking the Bombers in this game.

I think the Bombers will live or die by these position groups on Sunday:

1) O line - can they fend off the extremely effective Argonaut front seven? They managed to hold off Sask last week which was no small feat, so we'll see if they can do it again. Giving Collaros adequate time in the pocket and opening up holes for Oliveira will be key.

2) Secondary - all the Argos need Arbuckle to do is to play a conservative game focused on preventing turnovers and hope the defense takes care of the rest. But if the Bomber secondary can force a couple, that could tip the scales in favour of a Bomber win.


I am picking the Bombers too, I think it will be closer than the 9.5 point spread suggests, but I do think it will be Winnipeg's game to lose.
 

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