Didn’t see a thread so here goes. Bombers clinched (backing in) 1st in West with the Lions going down as a frightened/confused mob vs. the highly motivated Calgary Stampeders last nite.
Bombers can now go two and out and still finish first - although thats not really what Mountain O’Shea wants. If BC had won last nite O’Shea would have been forced to start all his primary players (other than Dalton Schoen, who’s out for the regular season at least)
Now, O’Shea can start Dru Brown at QB and rest a swock of starters including Adam Bighill, Stan Bryant, Willy Jefferson & others.
But he won’t start Dru Brown! Why? Cuz O’Shea is a stubborn cuss. Always was! Always will be! He’ll start Collaros and expose Zach to injury - but he’ll put in Brown about halfway thru the 2nd quarter or even earlier if something bad happens.
O’Shea & Collaros are high-wire acts of a different mother. Collaros, no doubt wants to play. But is it really necessary?
With Schoen out and a patchwork o-line both guys are asking for trouble, itching for it actually.
OK, you can’t rest Collaros for the next two games, I agree. He’d be a piece of rust for the Western final.
Rest him tonite - play him about a half or so in the season finale vs. Calgary, who will be snorting bullets, trying to secure 3rd place.
Other school of thought is - do all you can to snuff out the Stamps, cuz they might be the ones you face in the West final. If next week’s game means elminating the Stamps, then try to do so. Stamps are now a much bigger threat (regardless of record) than BC or Regina.
Also, give Olivera a few reps off - like half the game vs. letting him chew up yards and risk the nicks trying to get to a new rushing standard for Canuck RBs.
I wouldn’t play Zach at all today but I think you are right and that he will at least start. Hopefully he won’t see the second half. Nothing wrong with resting Brady and seeing lots of Johnny Augustine and Greg McRae who is dressing in place of Schoen who looks to be done for the year. I also don’t think Saskatchewan will win today which makes next week’s game against Calgary meaningless for both. I also don’t think the Bombers care or will do anything to attempt to orchestrate their Western Final opponent. Calgary may be a tougher challenge than Saskatchewan at the moment but only marginally so. Maier still only threw for about 120 yards last night. Plus I think that no matter who finishes third that BC will be coming to Winnipeg in November despite their defecation of the bed last night.
Lyle I’m going to change the title of this thread to be consistent with other game thread titles this year so that it is both easier to find and easier to search for in the future. Several weeks ago I encouraged people to start game threads as on too many occasions one doesn’t exist right up until game time so good on you for doing so.
Todays game against Edmonton isn’t as important as next weeks against Calgary. Several things happened when Calgary beat B.C. Winnipeg took 1st and will host the west final. Calgary proved they can beat B.C. in B.C… They have belief and in the playoffs anything can happen. They are the most dangerous team because nobody will think they can win; but themselves. Look for Calgary to show up in Winnipeg for that west final and scare the Bombers. If Sask wins against the Argos the Bombers should treat that last game against the Stamps like a playoff game. Lest we have a repeat of 1992.
You may be right but I don’t think O’Shea cares very much how the other teams sort themselves out. The Bombers earned the right to sit back and wait.
I don’t think Saskatchewan will win today making this discussion moot although I also didn’t think Calgary would win yesterday.
I also am not afraid of Calgary’s offence in the least with Maier throwing for next to nothing last night even including his Hail Mary completion to Begelton. If good BC and good Vernon shows up then their passing attack is something to be wary of. The funny thing is that this is at least the third blowout loss BC suffered this year and the fact that the last one came in a playoff preparation game with in theory something still on the line and against a supposedly lesser team has to be of considerable concern. But BC’s upside is far greater than that of Calgary and despite what we saw last night from Calgary neither team has had much of a running game this season, which doesn’t bode well for them in the expected frozen tundra of IG Field in November.
I’m on the side of Winnipeg wanting to win both games and send a message(s). That said, start the starters for most of the first half then filter in the next man up (not the meaning of “man up” be brave or tough enough to deal with a difficult or unpleasant situation) but play the backup players late in the 2nd Qt. finish the game. Too many times I’ve seen a dangerous amount of rust (not the move “Rust”, A boy left to fend for himself and his younger brother following their parents’ deaths) but in real life (not the board game “Life” The game simulates a person’s travels through their life, from early adulthood to retirement) re: Bombers starting slow. Injuries are always a risk (not the board game, “Risk” is a strategy board game of diplomacy, conflict and conquest) but the risk of being down two scores in the first half whilst walking into the playoffs usually ends poorly for the Bombers. A fair to decent lead (not just a lead score wise, but “lead” meaning, the initiative in an action; for others to follow). I can’t guess who (not the Winnipeg band “Guess Who”) Winnipeg will face whether it’s the Lions, Stamps or Riders all will be strongly motivated to slay the mighty Blue Bombers.
The reason teams use their designated starter (in this case Collaros) to begin the game and make executive decisions to replace him with the back-ups is he’s working behind a starting o-line. Once you remove Zach you can start giving spares like Eli a taste of o-line action vs. the Elks, who I assume will be deploying their starters for the most part tonite.
Actually I read earlier in another thread that Jones said something to the effect that he will be actively auditioning players at several positions tonight with an eye on the future. So it’s not entirely true that Edmonton will be deploying their starters. Jones didn’t say how many positions that would affect, and I doubt it applies to Tre Ford, but I expect the Elks to operate similar as to how I expect the Bombers to operate with a liberal use of their backups.
Its too bad that 30,000+ brave souls will test the elements tonite at IGF. The schmo who does the mid-day sports show (a sputtering skak or his co-host Jim Toth) said it was only a few tickets short of a sellout but in sports vernacular that could mean anywhere from 500 tix to 5,000. The no-minds at CJOB aren’t exactly filled with specifics.
Suspect a few thousand will toss their tickets away and watch from home, sparing the extra fees associated with parking, weenie dogs, the Bubba Special, $14 beers (or is that what the Jets charge?), etc.
Jets also on TV but not much entertainment value there - other than a cable connection will get you into the game free of charge.
Dollar for dollars - Bombers at least 10x the value for money paid, ignoring the fact a good pair of Jets tickets will set you back around $250-$300 while a great pair of Bomber tickets run around $135-$165.
Listening to the radio I am under the impression that the Bombers are short of a sellout by closer to 500 tickets than 5,000. We’ll see.
Good point about the relative prices of tickets and the relative merits of the two major Winnipeg sports teams, a point I have been making for some time. Except for one occasion every Jets game I have been to since they returned (maybe 30) was on a ticket costing between $165-$250. They were good seats to be sure. Conversely the best Bomber seats go for approximately $1,000 for the season. A family night for four to see the Jets (likely lose) costs about as much as one Bomber season ticket to see the Bombers (likely win). You can also leave the shoehorn you need to fit into your arena seats at home if you’re going to a Bomber game. Beer prices at last Bomber game were $9-10 while Jets games are more. I think people appear to finally be catching on.
Listening to the Bombers home radio station is not exactly the best way to obtain accurate information. Same station was touting the Winnipeg Jets having 12,500 season ticket holders until Jets themselves announced attendances of 11,100 & 11,200 in respective opening games.
The cardinal rule of ticket-grifting is to always pretend the game is on the cusp of a sellout without divulging actual information. That said, Bombers have played their way into sellout country - very rare for a Winnipeg sports franchise to do that for 3 to 5 years (and counting). But the basics of ticket marketing 101 hold - you don’t say your 3,500 seats short of a sellout - especially when its now a nothing game. You say you’re getting close to a sellout - you’re not lying because 30,000 is within 10% of a sellout (close).
Quick math for tickets remaining on Ticketmaster just under 3 hours before kickoff show approximately 145 tickets remaining for a sellout. Not too bad for an October game. When was the last time IG Field sold out for an October game? A decade ago probably. Looking like a pretty good crowd tonight regardless of the remaining tickets selling for an official sellout. I got my tickets already, I’ll be there!
Many don’t know her secret but she actually owns the concession and works there. That’s her in the picture obscured by the Pepsi machine. Lion’s fan my ass!
This could be an epic night to be a Winnipeg sports fan if both the Bombers and the Jets can take out two Edmonton teams tonight in the Elks and Oilers. When was the last time that happened? I’ll be cheering loud and proud at IG Field shortly! Let’s Go Blue!!
