I think I had Wpg. down for 10 or 11 Ws as a pre-season prediction. Lots of folks laughed at me - Don’t you realize they’re been in the last 5 Grey Cups (winning 2), Mike O’Shea is Bud Grant, Zach Collaros is Tom Clements, yada yoda yada.
Right now - Wpg would take 11 wins if it were offered. Given their atrocious o-line and under-powered d-line, the Collaros situation, lack of a legit kick returner. I think 8 or 9 wins is the most likely outcome.
My pre-season predictions, as far as games won/lost also had the BB at 11. To recap
West
BC 13-5
BB 11-7
Elks 9-9
SK 7-11
Cal 6-12
East
Tor 12-6
Als 11-7
Ham 7-11
Ott 5-13
Obviously the win/loss records are terribly skewed especially because of the East dominance to date. As far as rank my East “predictions” are way off. But I got a far better chance to get the standings, if not the win totals, right in the West.
Your Bombers have done well considering the # of injuries & the play of their QB’s. I’m not one to count them out. But you’re seeing what happens when you have too many old players. Bighill 's injured again - 2 years of this now. Kyrie in his usual spot. Bryant, Neufeld - injured. You see what happens when two 33 year olds are the best you got on DL. I still love Willie but…there’s a reason they can’t stop the rush. Not a good sign with the 4 headed rushing monster in Edmonton. That will be a test.
IMO it’s pretty obvious that Streveler isn’t the answer. Don’t blame Pierce for an unimaginative game plan in the 2nd half. That IS the game plan with Chris at the helm. It isn’t like the Bombers don’t know what they have - or their opponents. DC’s are going to play him for the run & let him try to beat you with the pass.
Agreed. People are ripping Pierce for a bad game plan with Streveler. I think the opposite – he called exactly the kind of game suited to Streveler. If he’d tried to open up the playbook, Winnipeg would likely have lost. At this point, if Pierce isn’t calling certain plays for Streveler, it’s not because he’s dumb or he doesn’t know the right call. It’s because he knows what he does and doesn’t have in Streveler.
Any DC in the league is going to load the box against Streveler to stuff the run and RPO and dare you to beat them in the passing game. Those odds favour the other team.
Exactly. He can’t expose Strevler to getting hit to often. Because if he and Colaros are hurt - Winnipeg is dead in the water, with no cap space to bring someone in.
Add to that, Strevler cripples the run game with Olivera because he’s run first so defences are prepared for the run. And everyone saw his playbook in the Ottawa game.
It should be noted Bomber must win 5 of their remaining 6 matches in order to achieve 11 wins. Thats not gonna happen - for many of the reasons already illuminated.
All the remaining teams, other than Calgary are capable of running most or all of the table.
The smart money would have to be on BC achieving first in west and the next smart bet would be Edmonton achieving a playoff spot - either 3rd in West w/ outside shot of 2nd.
Bombers and Sask’n slated to just waddle around in the middle.
We’ll see how Stripper does vs. Regina this weekend in Wpg. That Milligan character (best DB in league imho) will be poised to pounce on any Stripper floater over 12 yards. Milligan will also keep Stripper contained on the edge.
Bomber hopes for a repeat W in Wpg rest on Trevor Harris having a really bad game. I can see an average game - but not a horrid one. An average Harris will take the duke vs. Wpg.
The resident alien computer HAL left over from Kubrick’s classic doesn’t quite see it the same way as you. Winnipeg and BC are predicted to duke it out for first, with Edmonton 3rd and Sask 4th and Calgary with almost no chance. Take it as you wish.
Bombers can get some help this weekend if Montreal (runaway eastern leaders) knocks off BC and Calgary lays a lickin’ on the Elks.
Elks represent far more of a threat than Stampeders so thats that.
BC losing to Montreal is the odd-maker’s choice, but even if the Lions go down to the Als Lions can easily rebound to win 4 or 5 of their last 5 games to get to 10 or 11 Ws.
Bombers would love to sweep the Riders but even if they don’t they’ll prolly go down to the wire as far as a playoff berth is concerned. Bombers hold the edge on BC & Sask for tie-breakers so they’ll definitely be in the mix until Game 16 at the very least.
Of course, if Bombers lose their next 4, all bets are off. That would be a calamity - wouldn’t it?
Yes, absolutely correct analysis. Stamps tried to stop Elks run game and was successful but Mc BT threw for nearly 500 yards, his best game ever for passing 487? Yards. Buck P will counter a run stop defense with quick flare outs, screens, and short passes.