THE CORBETT REPORT, 2012-06, September 21, Winnipeg vs. Hamilton

The Corbett Report – Issue 2012-06 – September 21, 2012

Winnipeg vs. Hamilton

THE OPENING SONG

 

Satisfaction (by the Rolling Stones)

Here’s the Youtube Link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a7cHPy04s8

They can't get no satisfaction,
They can't get no satisfaction.
Though they try and they try and they try and they try.
Blue can't get no, Blue can't get no.

When they’re playin' on the field
and that coach comes with the sideline show
and he's tellin' them play some more
but it’s useless information
supposed to fire their imagination.
They can't get no, oh no no no.
Hey hey hey, that's what I say.

They can't get no satisfaction,
They can't get no satisfaction.
Though they try and they try and they try and they try.
Blue can't get no, Blue can't get no.

When I'm watchin' on TV
and Milt comes on to tell me
how bad our team must be.
Well he can’t be wrong ‘cause this team can’t win
or so it seems to me.
We can't get no, oh no no no.
Hey hey hey, that's what I say.

We can't get no satisfaction,
We can't get no gut reaction.
Though they try and they try and they try and they try.
We can't get no, we can't get no.

When they’re scambling round the field
And they’re trying this and they’re trying that
but they’re playin like some fools  
I’ll tell ya baby, look away cause this team is so weak
'cause you see, they’re on a losing streak.
We can't get no, oh no no no.

Hey hey hey, that's what I say.
We can't get no, we can't get no,
We can't get no,
satisfaction,
no satisfaction, no satisfaction, no satisfaction.

 

Introduction

Regular readers of the Corbett Report will recognize this redu of Satisfaction.  What you may not know is that the song is from the exact same week in 2010 when the Bombers were coming into the game with a 3 – 8 record!  So is this history repeating?  Looks more like history repeating but worse (see comments below).  Indeed, two years since September 2010 and the Bombers seemed to have taken a step back.  So unfortunately, without so much as changing a word, this week’s song still fits.

In basketball, there’s a term/play called “foul to give”.  Essentially so long as it’s not a shooting foul, then the offended team is not given a free throw, they are instead awarded the ball out of bonds.  For the offending team it’s a way to stop the clock and reset their defense.  I’ve sortof thought that this season for the Bombers was a “season to give”.  Think about it.  A 2011 Grey Cup appearance and a new stadium on the horizon combined to keep the season ticket base strong and the Blue faithful on the band wagon.  Even if they fielded a mediocre team the new stadium appeal would keep attendance strong.  The on field performance was almost incidental to the season. Well, 11 games into the season I’d say all of that goodwill has been burned.  What with the stadium delay, the noise maker debacle and watergate there was enough off field issues to cause the fans to get restless. Throw in the on field performance and YIKES!!!! Just a guess, I’m thinking the Bomber’s sellout streak is about to come to an end. 

About the only positive to come out of this mess of a season, is actually the fans reaction.  Anger, disappointment, frustration but all of it with passion.  The only thing worse than all of the negativity surrounding the team would be if the fans reaction had been one of acceptance or indifference.  If this were Toronto (where I’m writing this at the moment) the city would have responded with a collective yawn.  At least in Winnipeg you know that the fans will still be there once the Bombers emerge from the quagmire (and they will).  But for now, there’s this season to complete.  There’s no mercy rule in the CFL.  Apart from possibly asking the Bisons to complete the season we’re pretty much stuck with what we’ve seen for the first part of the year.  Then the fun will start anew as the offseason unfolds with undoubtedly the search for a new GM, a new coach and more than likely a new QB. Excitement will build again for the new stadium, the season ticket base will stay strong and hope will build for success in the 2013 season.  By then though, the Bombers will be in the penalty.  No foul to give.  No season to give.  2013 they better come to play.

Welcome to the Corbett Report.

Standings

West Division
	W	L	Pts	For	Against
BC	8	3	16	298	204
Calgary	7	4	14	312	257
Sask	5	6	10	284	234
Edmonton	5	6	10	246	256
East Division
	W	L	Pts	For	Against
Montreal	7	4	14	301	327
Toronto	6	5	12	278	280
Hamilton	4	7	8	266	294
Winnipeg	2	9	4	203	365

Fun fact: 2010 Bombers after 11 games 3W 8L PF 291 PA 290 that’s a 163 swing in the points for/against ratio.

 

 

 

The Bombers

Did you catch that last section?  With 203 points for in 11 games and 365 against the math suggests the Bombers, on average, are being outscored 33 – 18.  The problem’s not with the defense in spite of what the score might suggest.  The Bomber’s anemic offense is the issue.  No offensive TD’s in 13 quarters of football.  3 points last game.  0 points two games ago.  So the question now facing the Bombers, in this week in particular, is whether they have the weapons they need.  Or in particular, do they have the QB they need to go forward.  Buck’s been gone since ….whenever…..so now he’s back.  As strange as it may seem, these next 7 games are going to be his audition.  If he fails to spark the offense (and the pre-injury performance hints this might be the case) then the impending Bomber purge may extend to the key payer on a CFL team.  If however, the Bombers light up the score board (last accomplished in the mid 60’s), then perhaps there’s hope.

So for this game, here’s the turmoil the Bombers must deal with

• Replacement head coach is 0-2
• No offensive TD’s since 1954
• Penalty yardage has exceeded offensive yardage for the past 3 games
• Cold weather will ensure attendance stalls at 600
• City of Winnipeg is rumoured to be ticketing Bomber players cars for “objectionable conduct”

  Suffice to say that the Bomber’s young (thanks Joe) team is a damaged, hurt, fragile group.  A victory would of course help repair the damaged physic but whether there’s anything left in this group to rally around remains to be seen.  It’s sort of like standing on the base of Everest and going “Wholly crap, I probably should have trained for this”.

The Ti-Cats

 

Good on paper the Cat’s have been bad on the field, mostly due to the inconsistently of QB Henry Burris.  The good Henry/bad Henry trend has transported itself from Calgary.  Last week though, it was Henry the good as the Cat’s spanked the Eskimos 51 to 8.  Pause.  Reread.  Last week Hamilton wins 51-8, Bombers lose 44-3!  Do you like where this might lead?

Bombers are likely hanging their hat on the fact that their best game was against Hamilton.  Hamilton is likely hanging their hat on the fact that……they’re playing the Bombers.

Even if mediocre Henry shows up, it could be a long night.

Keys to the game

For the Bombers to win

 

• SEE ALL PREVIOUS REPORTS – everything old is the same again

(I know, I’m getting lazy)

• Buck’s back.  A good opening drive would ignite the crowd of 600 and nothing exorcises demons better than a touchdown (I saw this in the movie, really I did)
• Quit joking around.  Either the Bomber players want to be here or they don’t.  Tonight would be a good time to declare
• Henry’s hit and miss on the turnover stat.  Hit him would be good

 

 

For the Ti-Cats to win

 

• Patience, patience, patience.  Give the Bombers enough time and they’ll just beat themselves
• Chris William’s punt returning……seriously? Is this guy for real?5 punt return TD’s in 11 games!
• Good Henry shows up
• Keep it close at the half – Bombers are desperate

 

 

Game Prediction

 

The Bombers might have a chance here.  If the Ti-Cats plane is late.  They won last game against Hamilton when bad-Henry showed up.  Not gonna happen this week.

Ti-Cats 27 Bombers 19

Last game

Corbett Report:              Calgary 39 Bombers 10

Actual:                           Calgary 44 Bombers 3  (and I thought I was being silly)

Season results

Bomber games     7 – 4

All CFL games     23 – 21

This week’s other games

BC over Edmonton (BC’s the class of the league)

Argos over Montreal (Montreal looked anemic on O last week)

Calgary over Sask (Kevin Glenn seems to be reborn)

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