THE CORBETT REPORT, 2012-07, September 29, 2012, Winnipeg vs. Toronto

THE OPENING SONG

 

Then I saw Buck Pierce (Sung to the tune of “I’m a Believer” by the Monkees)

Here’s the Youtube Link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfuBREMXxts

I thought wins would only come in fairy tales

Meant for other teams but not for Blue

Losses were made for us

That’s the way it seemed.

Disappointment haunted all my dreams.

Then I saw Buck Pierce, now I’m a believer

Not a trace of doubt in my mind.

Blue are back, I’m a believer!

Wins will come here, if we try

I thought a loss was more or less a given thing,

Seems the more we tried the less we got.

What was the use in tryin’?

All you got was pain.

But then in the cold victory again

Yeah I saw Buck Pierce, now I’m a believer

Not a trace of doubt in my mind.

Another win, yeah, I’m a believer!

Yeah get ready for a winning ride

 

 

Introduction

Just when you thought it was safe to stretch out on the band wagon, what with all of that extra room, the Bombers do the unthinkable and not only win a game, but dominate a game.  Hello! Climb on board.  Last week we saw glimpses, in fact long stretches, of the potential that we’ve been promised since last year’s Grey Cup devastation.  Nothing chases away the gray skies of a pending lost season than a victory.  Even though it may be fleeting, the euphoria accompanying a Bomber victory at least momentarily gives hope to the faithful.

Last week though, it wasn’t the scoreboard that provided the encouragement for the fans, it was the way that the scoreboard was generated.  For the first time this year, the Bombers played as a cohesive unit.  The defense defended, the offense didn’t offend and the special teams were special.   The effort earned the Bombers two of the four player-of-the-week rewards.  The Bombers looked like a sleek sailing sloop rather than the rusting hulk of the Titanic.

So was it all Buck Pierce???  Certainly Milt and boys thought so, gushing over him ad nauseum throughout the post-game analysis.  Here’s my take on that.  No doubt Buck had a good game  (21-31-288-1-0) and the offense moved the ball, but I think the big difference was simply confidence.  This young team was shattered after the Labour Day Massacre (52-0), the Blown Banjo Bowl (25-24) and the Stampeder Slaughter (44-3).  They seemed more confused than a NFL replacement ref.  So queue Buck Pierce and suddenly the defense can take a break.  It’s not always two and out.  A first down is a possibility.  And HEY ……… A TOUCHDOWN!!!!

That’s the difference Buck brings to the Bombers.  A belief that the team can compete.   Quite simply, they’re a better team with Buck at QB.  He gives them a chance.  He can win one for the gipper… he can carry the team on his shoulders……….insert selective sports clichés at will…………. Welcome back Buck.  I’m a believer.

Welcome to the Corbett Report.

Standings

 

West Division
	W	L	Pts	For	Against
BC	9	3	18	317	222
Calgary	7	5	14	337	287
Sask	6	6	12	314	259
Edmonton	5	7	10	264	275
East Division
	W	L	Pts	For	Against
Montreal	8	4	16	332	337
Toronto	6	6	12	288	311
Hamilton	4	8	8	360	381
Winnipeg	3	9	6	237	377

 

Fun fact.  Were the playoffs to occur today, both Hamilton and Winnipeg would be out.  It’s not Hamilton who the Bombers need to catch, it’s Hamilton and Edmonton.

 

 

The Bombers

 

Yes, certainly last week was an inspiring effort, but let’s not forget, they were playing the Hamilton Ti-Cats.  What’s more, they were playing the Cats with the bad Henry at the helm.  Not to take anything away from the Bombers.  It was a well-deserved result, but let’s see what happens next.

Let’s talk for a moment about Chad Simpson.  As most of you know, Chad replaced Chris Garrett when Garrett went down in the pre-season with a season-ending injury.  Anyone who listened to the post game show after the Banjo Bowl would have gotten a snap shot of the life of an American player playing in Canada.  Chad was brutally honest. Away from family and friends, your NFL dreams fading, you’re truly playing for the love of the game.  At 2-9 going into last week’s game Chad wasn’t feeling the love.  His response?  134 yards rushing, 58 yards pass receiving and a nod as CFL player of the week.  As well as Buck played, Chad was the star of the game.  You’ve gotta feel good about that, and you’ve gotta hope that his performance inspires the team going into this week.

That’s the challenge for the Bombers.  Can they carry last week’s momentum into this week? Fortunately, the game’s at home where the Bombers are actually a respectable 3-3.

The Argos

Then there’s the enigma wrapped in a riddle that is the Argos.  The Argos pulled out all of the stops in trading for Ricky Ray in the off season.  As Grey Cup hosts, the Argos want so desperately to (re?) kindle CFL excitement in Toronto.  With the carryover of a solid defense, Ricky Ray solving the QB woes, Chad Owens racking up the multi-purpose yardage and Cory Boyd busting from the backfield, the Argos figured on having a winning combination that would propel them to the 100^th effortlessly.

Fast forward to today.  With 2/3 of the season gone the Argos sit comfortably in second place.  An accomplishment I suppose, but hardly living up to their hype.  Cory Boyd’s gone, now in Edmonton (because Edmonton feels you need at least 43 running backs on your team), their defense, while still 2^nd in fewest passing yards allowed, is 6^th vs. the run (point this out to Tim Burke if you happen to seem him could you?) and not the fearsome force they were last year.  Then there are the penalties.  Last week vs. Montreal, I think they had as many penalties backwards as they had offensive yards!  And for the Bombers, on this night, there’s this.  Ricky Ray won’t be playing, Jarius Jackson’s in.

Chad Owen’s going to be the key (again) for the Argos tonight.  #1 in the league in combined yards  (2,915 vs. 2^nd place Chris Williams at 1,963) and the leagues leading receiver with 1,025 he’s going to be the key man in the Argo attack.

Keys to the game

For the Bombers to win

 

 

• Translate the momentum from the 2^nd half last week into points in the 1^st quarter this week
• Contain Jarius Jackson (his first start this year but he’s still a dangerous rushing QB)
• As always, win the turnover game (Argos are first in the league at +6, Bombers are -4)
• Washington vs. Owens. (David beat Goliath)
• Our Chad is better than your Chad
• Introduce Toronto to crowd noise.

 

For the Argos to win

 

• Rally behind the back up (JJ ain’t no Ricky Ray but he’s still OK, just say….)
• Don’t leave Chad hangin’ (it is an election year in the US after all)
• Hope for some of them there NFL replacement refs….maybe that’ll help the Argos penalty problems
• An early turnover could rattle the still fragile Bombers
• Rush the ball with the 3rd Chad (Chad Kackert)
• Argos Chad trumps Bombers Chad (getting Chad up with these puns?)

 

 

 

Game Prediction

No Ricky Ray.  Bombers bouyed by recent victory.  Argos on a two game losing streak!  It all adds up to:

 

 

Bombers 27 Argos 15

 

 

Last game

Corbett Report:              Ti-Cats 27  Bombers 19

Actual:                          Bombers 34 Ti-Cats 12

Season results

Bomber games      7 – 5

All CFL games      19 – 21 (OUCH)

This week’s other games

Montreal over Hamilton

Calgary over Edmonton

BC over Sask