Winnipeg Blue Bombers
vs
Edmonton Elks
game time 2023-08-11T01:00:00Z
preview - Elks look for first win against Bombers on Thursday night - CFL.ca
tracker - 2023-08-10 Game Tracker - EDMONTON Elks vs. WINNIPEG Blue Bombers (6341) - CFL.ca
Winnipeg Blue Bombers Edmonton Elksfrom PFF:
The Elks haven’t won a single game this season, and on paper there’s little reason to think that will change this week. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are one of the best teams in the CFL and have already beaten Edmonton. But the game still has to be played. Edmonton will need to rely on its defense to slow down the vaunted Bombers offense, starring running back Brady Oliveira (78.9 overall grade, No. 3-ranked RB), WR duo Kenny Lawler (86.9, No. 1 WR) and Dalton Schoen (76.6, No. 2 WR), and top QB Zach Collaros (91.6, No. 1 QB). Edmonton will also be starting young Canadian quarterback Tre Ford in an attempt to spark an offense that has shown very little thus far this season.
As a rookie, Gray has been given the difficult job of starting at cornerback for a struggling defense. While he hasn’t been bottom-of-the-league poor, he hasn’t exactly turned heads, either. Quarterbacks targeting Gray have a passer rating of 130.6, which is the seventh highest in the league. This week will be his toughest matchup yet, as he goes against perhaps the best wide receiver n the CFL right now.
Lawler has been unstoppable in his two games back, averaging a league-high 5.51 yards per route run. His 88.3 receiving grade leads the CFL over that span. Lawler has been virtually unguardable, and his overall stats all rank inside the top 30 already, after just two games. If he continues to play as well as he has been, it’s going to be a long game for the rookie Gray.
This one is a no-brainer. After eight weeks of a struggling Taylor Cornelius and a mixed-bag Jarret Doege, the Elks are finally giving Ford a chance. Ford started two games in 2022 and didn’t exactly show out passing the football. He finished with just a 65.6% adjusted completion rate in those games and threw just two big-time throws compared to four turnover-worthy plays, for a 55.3 passing grade. But Ford’s scrambling ability was apparent as he rushed for six first downs and a 73.8 rushing grade. He’s been buried on the depth chart this season, and the way he plays on Thursday night will show whether that was for a good reason.
One Elks player I’m hoping can have a big game is #82, Vincent Forbes-Mombleau. From what we saw of Ford last season, he’s not the quickest at finding targets and releasing passes. But he is excellent at scrambling out of pressure. Forbes-Mombleau has had some big plays as the outlet guy, so maybe Ford will find him out wide on a few broken plays.
A rookie CB against Lawler. Gray’s going to get waggled right out of his cleats.
I’m here for either the historic upset or for the crap-tastic defeat again in Edmonton!
There is no middle ground tonight!
Get more than your popcorn ready now - BROTHER! (and SISTER!)
Pirate Sports Network
For those of you watching, in the United States, the game will be on Pirate Sports Network tonight as our entire crew is already ready to capture yar signal.
They’re giving me a bunch of grief already, for they like the Blue Bombers a lot and especially the “mowing crew” when they come out in the fourth quarter.
They still don’t understand, and they also have some complaints, as to why the offensive line does not also throw kicks and punches at the defence during such romps, but I’ve given up trying to explain those rules.
The jumbotron at the bow looks glorious already as the grilled meat sizzles and the strong drink is aflow.
Arrggghh ahoy ye matey!
Is this game ever going to start? All the early starts this year have spoiled me.
Kate looks like a bull-fighter
those pants are ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS WHAT IS HAPPENING OH MY GOODNESS
why are they standing up?
So you can see her pants. Give her a cape & a funny hat.
Why did they all dress for a funeral tonight?
Tonight is not the night for somebody to die you know!
Barker is intense like he’s on the sidelines. I like it. It’s a good sign for the Elks.
Or it could be merely a set-up for a higher fall via the hype machine as Barker goes behind the curtain on break to wind it up with that angry Cheshire cat grin on his face.
Maybe they’re going to be bulls for Kate to play toro with. Gotta go, there’s a football game on!
hahahahaha OMG what a run
Going to say WOW before I go!
So… Who picked the Elk for the win
What the heck??!
Maybe watch the draw play.
That’s is a fantastic start for Edmonton.
Well, time for the Offence to help the defence.
