THE CORBETT REPORT 2012-02, August 3, 2012

The Corbett Report – Issue 2012-02 – August 3, 2012

Winnipeg vs. Alouettes

 

THE OPENING SONG

OH BLUE

(Sung to the tune – Oh Boy, by Buddy Holly)

 

Here the tune at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwHrx0r0t2s

 

 

All of them sacks

All of that kickin’

Now we know what Blues been a-missin’

Oh Blue, tonight you’ll see

Oh Blue, a victory

Yes Blue, just win for me

 

All of these years

We’ve been a-waitin’

Tonight there’ll be no…hesitatin’

Oh Blue, the Als you’ll see

Not just, a rivalry

Yes Blue, just win for me

 

Als appear but soon they’ll be falling

When the Bombers Defense comes a-calling

A little bit of noise will make everything right

Cheer on the Bombers to a win tonight

 

All of them sacks

All of that kickin’

Now we know what Blues been a-missin’

Oh Blue, tonight you’ll see

Oh Blue, a victory

Yes Blue, tonight for me

 

 

 

 

Introduction

 

Once upon a time, in a league not so far away and a time not so long ago, the Montreal Alouettes owned the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.  Not REALLY owned of course, no one REALLY owns the Bombers, but you know what I mean, no matter what the Bombers could do, or how hard they tried or how well they played, they just didn’t seem capable of getting past the Alouettes.  2008? Montreal 2&1 vs. the Bombers.  2009? 3&1. 2010? 3-0. Indeed, it seemed that the Bombers were the free space on Montreal’s bingo card. Sort of like Spike and Chester of Bugs Bunny fame. 

 

Chester: (Wpg defense) Can I play Mr. Calvillo? Can I? Can I touch the ball? Huh? Huh? Can I? Can I?

Spike (Anthony Calvillo): Get away from me kid.  (Slap)

 

And so it went.  Sometimes close, most times not. 

 

Not that the Bombers were the sole victims of the Montreal juggernaut (Def’n: A French Argonaut).   In the three years, 2008-2010, Montreal steamrolled their way to a 38-16 record and represented the East in the Grey Cup in all three years, winning twice.

 

That all seemed to be changing in 2011.  Sure AC managed to set the all time pro football passing record, but the dominance seemed to have slipped a notch.  Bombers won the season series in 2011 including a gutsy 1 point victory on October 22^nd that decided the season series and gave the Bombers 1^st.  Montreal started to seem less invincible.  They lost 43 -1 against BC in the final game of the season (a game where a win would have given them 1^st) and gave up 52 points in the East Semi-final to Hamilton.  Yes, at the end of the 2011 season, Montreal looked like a team very much ready to head into rebuilding mode. 

 

Then came week two of 2012.  Just like an aged, wounded shark lying off of a crowded beach waiting for an errand leg to come floating by, Als struck against the Bombers.  Calvillo 31 – 39 passing, 443 yards and 3 TDs in a 41-30 romp.  Now, in week 6, I hear there’s a rush on bingo cards in Montreal.

 

Welcome to the Corbett Report.

 

 

 

 

 

Standings

 

 

West Division
	W	L	Pts	For	Against
Saskatchewan	3	2	6	155	113
Edmonton	3	2	6	111	79
BC	3	2	6	140	110
Calgary	2	3	4	155	154
East Division
	W	L	Pts	For	Against
Hamilton	3	2	6	162	167
Toronto	3	2	6	129	133
Montreal	2	3	4	128	162
Winnipeg	1	4	2	101	163

 

 

Interesting observation:  Although one would think that Bombers defense ranks among the worst in the league, consider this.  113 of those 163 points against were in weeks 1-3 ((38 per game) and 50 were in the last two (25 per game).

 

Another fun fact:  If you throw out the Montreal-Wpg blow out in week two, Montreal has only averaged 22 points for.  Hardly Alouette type numbers.

 

 

The Bombers

 

So the Bomber band wagon got a little more crowded than usual after the 23-20 revenge game against Edmonton last week.  I don’t think the Bombers should be gloating too much though, not when it took a Jyles’  fumble with his team in position for the winning field goal to hand the Bombers the victory.  Indeed, they should be ever so humble.

 

As it’s been since (hmmmmmm maybe the Dunigan days? Or the Brock era? When did we last have a scoring machine?), well a very long time, the strength of the Bombers is on the defensive side of the ball.  This season is proving to be no different.  The Bombers are barely averaging 20 points a game and what with Buck Pierce out of the game, this week should be no different.  That’s not saying that Alex Brink isn’t capable of winning.  His second half performance last week showed flashes of brilliance.  But if the Bombers are going to eek out a win this week, there’re going to need another stellar performance by the D.  That won’t be easy (see week 2).  Anthony Calvillo may just have a thing or two over the Eskimos’ QBs and he has a history of coming up with some of best performances against the Bombers.  The absence of Bryant Turner (family reasons) definitely isn’t going to help.

 

On the offensive side of the ball, the Bombers need to hold onto the ball and help out the D by keeping the ball out of AC’s hands.  Unfortunately, with the injury to Canadian running back Nathan Riva (hamstring), the Bombers are thin in the backfield.  Look for Montreal to try and rattle Brink.

 

 

The Alouettes

 

Week two results not withstanding I do really believe the Als have slipped back to the pack significantly.  Indeed, I’m seeing a 3^rd place, maybe 4^th place team when I see them play.  Going back to 2011 theAls are 3 – 7 in their last 10 games.  Calvillo still shows flashes of brilliance but not with the consistency he once did.  Putting it quite simply, they just don’t seem to strike fear into the hearts of their opponents as they once did.

 

That’s not to say the Als are going to roll over and give up.  They’re not coached by a South Korean Olympic badminton coach after all.  Mark Trestman I’m sure has a plan to deal with the Bomber Defense.  I’d suggest AC and short passes may be the order of the day.  At a 63% completion rate he still leads the league (grant it much of thanks to his week 2 performance) and if the Bombers can’t get any pressure on him, it could be a long night for the Bomber secondary.

 

 

Keys to the game

 

For the Bombers to win

 

• (not to be repetitive from last week but) win the 1^st quarter, allow the fans to get into their rhythm
• win the time of possession
• Turn off the AC! (I know it’s a warm summer but the last thing the Bombers need is AC with a hot hand)
• Score 25 points or more
• Remember to start the music when the cheer team is on the field (just sayin’….last week??)

 

For the Alouettes to win

 

• Sack Brink early and often
• Short passes by AC to Brandon Whitaker coming out of the backfield
• Stop Washington (from getting a big return, its okay if he cuts down a Cherry tree)
• Whyte hits a field goal from 50 yards or better

 

 

 

Game Prediction

 

Going into the bye week this is a key game for both teams.  Montreal doesn’t want to drop to 2 – 4 and Winnipeg sure doesn’t want to go to 1-5.  Right now Bomber fans are still singing the Beatles classic:

 

          Sure we still need Blue

          Sure we still bleed Blue

          When we’re one and four

          (Beatles “when I’m 64”)

 

But drop to 1 and 5 with Montreal going to 3-3?  Well, that’s straying into “season’s on the line” territory.

 

I think the Bombers are up to challenge and I’m sure the crowd will be.

 

Bombers 25 Montreal 21

 

Last game

 

Corbett Report:              Bombers 25 Eskimos 19

Actual:                           Bombers 23 Eskimos 22

 

Season results

 

Bomber games     4 – 1

All CFL games     10 – 10

 

 

This week’s other game

 

Argos over the Lions

 

GO BLUE

 

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