THE CORBETT REPORT 2012-03, August 16, 2012, Winnipeg vs. Hamilton

THE OPENING SONG

In tribute to Burton Cummings who played at Harbourfest last week (and since computers weren’t allowed on the sailboat), the Corbett report is pleased to revisit this favourite, originally presented in the October 11, 2010 report)

 

Opening song (sung to the tune of These Eyes)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRRmSo7-ITY

These eyes cry every night for Blue
This voice longs to cheer you again.
This losing must stop, yeah,
Today let’s break free, oh my Bombers, oh oh
You gave a promise to win yeah but you broke it, you broke it. Oh, oh.

These eyes watched you lose again and again
This heart could not accept and pretend.
The losing must stop, yeah,
Today just break free, oh my Bombers, oh oh
A win you vow today, yeah
Let’s win it, let’s win it, babe.

These eyes are cryin’
These eyes have seen a lot of games
Are they ever gonna see another one where the winner’s Blue 

These eyes are cryin’
These eyes have seen a lot of games
Are they ever gonna see another one where the winner’s Blue

These eyes are cryin’
These eyes have seen a lot of games
Are they ever gonna see another one where the winner’s Blue

These eyes cry every night for Blue
This voice longs this voices longs to cheer you cheer you again.

These eyes are cryin’
These eyes have seen a lot of games
Are they ever gonna see another one where the winner’s Blue

(repeat)

Introduction

It’s a sad commentary on the state of the Bombers when a song dedicated to losing can be recycled into the Corbett Report two years after originally being written.  But that’s how this season is starting to feel, isn’t it? Just when you think the Bombers have got it put together, their decline begins.  A bit of history repeating?

• 2001-make the Grey Cup game with a 14-4 record. 2002, lose in the Western final and the decline is on.
• 2007-make the Grey Cup game with a 10-7-1 record. 2008, go 8 -10 and lose the East Semi Final.
• 2011-make the Grey Cup game with a 10-9 record. 2012, start 1-5.

This year, unlike many others, there seems to parity in the CFL, except alas for the Bombers.  Whether it be injuries, the wacky schedule, a lack of depth, coaching, stale dated deodorant, or the introduction of the male cheer team, something has the Bombers just a little off of their game in 2012.  The first third of the season is in the books and the Bombers look like a Manitoban trapped in the Kenora roundabout: going in the wrong direction, repeatedly. Time to find that turn signal and take an exit to victory.

Welcome to the Corbett Report.

Standings

 

West Division
	W	L	Pts	For	Away
Edmonton	4	2	8	139	99
BC	4	2	8	158	119
Calgary	3	3	6	186	174
Sask	3	3	6	175	141
East Division
	W	L	Pts	For	Away
Hamilton	3	3	6	182	198
Toronto	3	3	6	138	151
Montreal	3	3	6	164	188
Winnipeg	1	5	2	127	199

 

The Bombers

I would be remiss if I didn’t comment on Obby Khan signing with Calgary.  As many expected, his “retirement” from the Bombers wasn’t so much that as it was a firing.  Then, to add insult to injury (pun intended), the Bombers, who haven’t exactly been showing an iron curtain on the offensive line this year, pass on him once again when he becomes ‘unretired”.  Now I’m not one to second-guess Bomber management.  I figure they don’t call me and tell me how to do a bank reconciliation so I’m not going to call them to help out with their personnel moves.   Just sayin’ however, maybe the locker room could use an experienced veteran as it tries to work through this start.  When Odell Willis was released, it was said that sometimes decisions needed to be made for other than simply talent reasons.  You had to look at the player’s character.  Perhaps this would have been a good time to use that strategy in reverse.  An experienced vet in the locker room couldn’t hurt.  In any case, I wish Obby well in Calgary.  A classy individual.

The biggest change this week is of course at quarterback.  After three somewhat disappointing starts, Alex Brink is being asked to step aside.  In at QB is Joey Elliot.  I know Brink is upset at what he calls “being blindsided” but with a 68.7 efficiency rating (worst in the league) and only a 53.5% completion ratio it’s time to make a change.  Perhaps he’ll be better coming off the bench.  In the meantime in comes Joey Elliot, who’s started in a whopping 2 games in his illustrious career.

There is some help on defense as well; the Blue getting some of their injured players back (notably Alex Suber and Ian Logan).

There’s two thirds of the season yet to go, and with everyone else in the East currently at 3-3 the Bombers are only 2 games out of the playoffs.  Now’s the time to turn it around.  Get out of the roundabout boys, and escape with a win. (Some analogies just grow on you).

The Ti-Cats

 

Unlike the Bombers, the Cats played last week.  Prior to that game I’d have thought this game would be akin to a pulling a blank tile in scrabble for the Cats, after last week I’m not so sure.  After the lighting up the league as QB in Hamilton, Henry Burris looked surprisingly ordinary last week.  He completed barely 50% of his passes (21 of 40) and threw for only 257 yards with 1 TD and 1 interception.  The Bombers defense needs to hold him to these kind of numbers if the Bombers are going to have a chance.  They’ll be helped somewhat with Andy Fantuz being out of the Ti-Cats line up.

Keys to the game

For the Bombers to win

 

• Protect Joey Elliot – 0 sacks = Victory
• Score a TD in the first quarter (Bombers have scored 7 points in TOTAL in the 1^st quarters of the first 6 games)
• Go even on the takeaway ratio (Bombers are a league worse -8 on the season)
• Win the toss – take the wind in all four quarters
• Tell Hamilton the IGF (Investors Group Field) is now open and have their bus driver take them there

For the Ti-Cats to win

• Smiling Hank needs to regain his form
• Pressure the newbie at QB
• And as usual score early and take the crowd out of it
• Get the ball to Chevron Walker

Game Prediction

 

Henry Burris vs. Joey Elliott? Sorry faithful followers no contest

Hamilton 32 Bombers 19

Last game

Corbett Report:              Bombers 25 Montreal 21

Actual:                          Montreal 36 Bombers 26

Season results

Bomber games      4 – 2

All CFL games      10 – 14

This week’s other games

Montreal over Edmonton

Toronto over Calgary

BC over Saskatchewan

 

GO BLUE