Time to question Bombers quality

TORONTO — We’re nearing the midway mark of the CFL season and it’s time to start seriously questioning whether the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are good enough to win.

I’m not talking about good enough to make the Grey Cup for a fifth consecutive year — spoiler: they’re not — but good enough to even make the playoffs in a league where six out of nine teams get a berth.

Following another ugly loss — this time to the Toronto Argonauts, 16-14, in overtime at BMO Field Saturday night — the Bombers are now a dismal 2-7 on the year and 0-4 on the road. Meanwhile, the win improved the Argonauts to 4-3.

While it was certainly a close game, and one the Blue and Gold had plenty of opportunity to win, the fact they couldn’t secure a victory against an Argos club that generated just 205 yards of offence is cause for alarm. Indeed, it was another solid effort by Winnipeg’s defence that was wasted by another stinker from the offence — an all-too-familiar theme in 2024.

Life doesn’t get any easier, either, as the Bombers welcome the B.C. Lions, fresh off a bye, to town on Thursday. It’s the first of a back-to-back tilts with the top team in the West Division, with the Bombers heading to Vancouver in Week 11 after getting a week break in between.

But let’s not look too far ahead just yet. There’s still plenty still to dissect from Saturday’s loss to the Argos, so let’s get to it in the latest edition of 5 Takeaways.

Front and centre

Taking the lion’s share of criticism when things aren’t going well simply comes with the job of being the starting quarterback and highest-paid player on the roster. But Zach Collaros isn’t the main issue ailing the Bombers attack this season. Not even close.

While Collaros still has room to improve, he had arguably his best effort of the season against the Argos, completing 78 per cent of his passes (25-for-32) for 317 yards. He was moving the ball down-field, sustaining drives and showed some incredible courage hanging in the pocket to deliver a game-tying 55-yard touchdown pass to Ontaria Wilson, who led all receivers with seven catches for 129 yards and the score.

An interception that was returned to the house early in the fourth quarter was definitely a back-breaker, but it could hardly be blamed on Collaros after the ball was tipped in the air twice before being reeled in by Argos defensive back Tarvarus McFadden.

Where the issue lies is on the offensive line. This once-dominant unit has its obvious cracks, and the lack of pass protection this season has left Collaros running for his life, including getting sacked five times against the Argos.

Both Patrick Neufeld and Tui Eli struggled to contain Toronto DL Jake Ceresna, who terrorized the Bombers front for a pair of sacks. Neufeld was forced from the game owing to injury, and he’s expected to miss some practice time, if he’s even able to play at all this week.

Football fundamentals 101

Ball security is a football fundamental you learn on the first day. It’s repeated over and over again playing the game and at the professional level, the importance of protecting the ball is often explained by coaches as the difference between winning and losing.

So, when you give the ball away five times, including three balls lost on fumbles, it’s not really a surprise the Bombers finished where they did. Nic Demski lost his second ball in as many games, while fellow receiver Drew Wolitarsky and running back Brady Oliveira were the other two culprits.

Demski and Oliveira both looked dejected in the locker room afterwards when owning up to their mistakes. While Wolitarsky, who wasn’t made available because of the game-ending injury he suffered on the hit that forced the fumble, surely isn’t too pleased with himself, either. All three fumbles occurred while Bombers were in scoring position.

The hit on Wolitarsky was a serious collision and the veteran receiver likely will be out of the lineup for the foreseeable future. With Kenny Lawler and Dalton Schoen also sidelined, there’s no better time to activate Lucky Whitehead from the practice roster.

There’s also no excuse not to sign Rasheed Bailey, who was issued his surprising release from Toronto late Thursday. The Bombers desperately need some help at receiver, and no matter how many times we hear head coach Mike O’Shea talk about how great the new guys are, only Wilson has proven he’s worthy of staying in the lineup.

Bombers D least of worries

The Bombers defence continues to be a bright spot, with their play against Toronto arguably the best we’ve seen so far in the 2024 campaign. While I don’t have the hard numbers, I imagine the list of teams that give up six offensive points in four quarters and still lose is a short one.

The Argonauts employed a two-quarterback system with Cameron Dukes and Nick Arbuckle combining for just 15 passes and 124 yards, while being sacked twice. Ka’Deem Carey was averaging the most rushing yards in the CFL but was limited to just 62 on 10 carries (Daniel Adeboboye had six rushes for 24 yards).

If there’s any knock against the defence it’s the lack of takeaways, with just one against the Argos – a critical turnover on downs late in the fourth quarter that ended a drive in Winnipeg territory with Toronto already up by a touchdown. Three plays later, Collaros hit Wilson for the TD to tie the game.

That’s just one turnover forced by the defence in the last two games, after generating eight in the three games prior. Against Toronto, Tyrell Ford and Michael Griffin each had a chance to get an interception but were unable to get a good enough grip on the ball to secure it.

Castillo struggles, Grant contained

Kicker Sergio Castillo has been lights out since the chipped ball controversy in the season-opener. Maybe he was due for an off night, but it couldn’t have come at a worse time.

Castillo botched two of his four field-goal attempts. He missed from 43 yards just before halftime that would have given Winnipeg the lead at the break and then again in extra time, shanking a 41-yarder to settle for a single point and ultimately seal the defeat. While a rough night, it’s safe to assume Castillo will regain his form in short order.

It was a good night from the coverage teams. They had their hands full with trying to stop former Bomber Janarion Grant, who had been tearing up the league since signing in Toronto, leading the CFL in punt and kickoff return yards, as well as return touchdowns, with three.

Grant had scored a TD in each of his last three games and a fourth straight tilt with another return score would have set a new CFL record. Instead, Grant was held in check, earning six yards on one punt return, a combined 36 yards on two kickoffs and a 31-yard return following Castillo’s missed field goal.

Questionable calls

Another week, another series of questionable calls to go over.

Let’s begin with the decision to gamble on third-and-one from Toronto’s 22-yard line, tied 13-13 with 57 seconds remaining. O’Shea admitted to the Free Press after the game that he got greedy and should have taken the points.

I get the argument that the Bombers D was playing well enough to stop a last-minute drive by a weak Toronto offence and so Winnipeg should have kicked the field goal. But that’s using the benefit of hindsight, and I have no problem with the choice to go for it.

Not only would it have iced the game, but the Bombers were perfect on all 18 of their previous third-down attempts with Chris Streveler this season, including three tries earlier in the game. In talking with Streveler afterwards, he didn’t love the spot given by the officials – it was reviewed by the league’s command centre but stood, as it was deemed Streveler was down by contact – but lamented not gaining more field, noting you have to make those plays a no-doubter.

What exactly constitutes defensive pass interference is a question several teams have been asking this year. Those screams will only get louder after both sides felt they got a raw deal in this one.

What exactly constitutes defensive pass interference is a question several teams have been asking this year. Those screams will only get louder after both sides felt they got a raw deal in this one.

The Bombers beef was the play that led to the pick-6. Video shows Argos DB DaShaun Amos’ right hand on the right arm of Demski prior to the ball arriving, and once it does, Amos tips it with his other hand, knocking it into the air, where it’s eventually picked off.

This isn’t going to make me very popular with the local fan base, but I don’t see a PI penalty there. Amos is touching the arm but there’s no jerking or ripping motion that would prevent Demski from catching it and he’s saved by the fact he gets first contact on the ball.

Much like later in the game when the Argos were upset after their challenge for PI was also unsuccessful. Bombers DB Deatrick Nichols uses his arm to contact receiver DaVaris Daniels as they run down field but that didn’t stop him from making the catch. I see those as similar actions unworthy of throwing a flag.

Either way, while it’s easy to be frustrated with officiating, the Bombers issues go well beyond the people wearing zebra stripes. Time for general manager Kyle Walters to do what he’s paid to do and address the issues on the roster before anything.

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X: @jeffkhamilton