THE CORBETT REPORT – 2013-01, June 27, 2013 Winnipeg vs. Montreal

Introduction

 

It was supposed to be a celebration of a rebirth.  A new home, a new logo, new uniforms and a new attitude. The buzz around the Bombers this year was supposed to be all about getting back to Grey Cup.  Breaking the 126 year Grey Cup drought (seems that long).  Instead though, the 2013 off -season has been a tough one for Bomber management and by extension their oh so patient but increasingly cranky fans.  Some of the more notable headlines in Bomberville over the winter?

• BC’s Mike Reilly shuns Bombers – signs with Eskimos (He’ll be their starter this week)
• Bombers release Joey Elliot and Alex Brink, bring in Dieter Brock as back up
• Jonathon Hefney charged with marijuana possession
• Jonathon Hefney released by Bombers (unrelated apparently)
• Bomber mascots to switch names.  Buzz to become Boomer, Boomer to become Buzz
• Traffic woes mar opening night at Investors Group Field
• Vegas posts Bombers odds at winning the Grey Cup at 10 – 1
• Bombers enter 2013 with similar line up to 2012 (which posted an uninspiring 6-12 record)
• Bombers lose 2^nd pre-season game 52-0 (outscored 76-6 in preseason)

. . . and so it goes.

So this week’s regular season home opener will come with much more angst than any game in recent memory.  Interestingly enough, that angst comes both from too much change and too little change.  Too much change with the switch in venue and the growing pains that that process is going through and too little change in that the opening day line up will look remarkably like last year’s closing game line up.

All in all it shapes up to be an intriguing Game One.  The Bombers and their fans need to put all of the negatives behind them and celebrate the start of another football season in their spiffy new home.  Winning doesn’t cure everything but it sure goes a long way to adding a bit of rose-coloured tint to those Bomber viewing glasses.

Welcome to 2013.  Welcome to the Corbett Report.

Standings

 

Both the Bombers and the Alouettes enter the game undefeated in 2013.  In case you’ve forgotten however, here’s how they faired in 2012.

	GP	W	L	T	PTS	F	A	HOME	AWAY	DIV	STREAK
y – BC	18	13	5	0	26	479	354	8 – 1 – 0	5 – 4 – 0	6 – 4 – 0	W1
x – Calgary	18	12	6	0	24	535	430	7 – 2 – 0	5 – 4 – 0	7 – 3 – 0	W4
x – Saskatchewan	18	8	10	0	16	457	409	5 – 4 – 0	3 – 6 – 0	4 – 6 – 0	L4
x – Edmonton	18	7	11	0	14	422	450	5 – 4 – 0	2 – 7 – 0	3 – 7 – 0	L3
East Division
	GP	W	L	T	PTS	F	A	HOME	AWAY	DIV	STREAK
y – Montreal	18	11	7	0	22	478	489	7 – 2 – 0	4 – 5 – 0	5 – 5 – 0	L1
x – Toronto	18	9	9	0	18	445	491	4 – 5 – 0	5 – 4 – 0	6 – 4 – 0	W2
Winnipeg	18	6	12	0	12	376	531	4 – 5 – 0	2 – 7 – 0	5 – 5 – 0	W1
Hamilton	18	6	12	0	12	538	576	5 – 4 – 0	1 – 8 – 0	4 – 6 – 0	L1

Two numbers of note for the Bombers.  Points for:  376 (last in league). Points against:  531 (second worst in league).

In the preseason, both Winnipeg and Montreal went 0 – 2.

The Bombers

Looking at the above standings there was obviously room for improvement for the Bombers.  Yet, they enter the 2013 season substantially unchanged.  Yes there’s a new back up QB in the mix with Max Hall backing up Buck Pierce and Justin Goltz but for the most part the team is essentially the same as the team that ended the 2012 season.  But before you start looking for a soft landing spot to cushion your blow as you leap off the bandwagon, consider this.  It’s also a similar line up to the one that made it to the Grey Cup in 2011.  So whatever you think of Joe Mack and Tim Burke, I think they at least deserve a few games to see what this team truly is made of.

On offense the Bombers continue to have a glut of talent at running back with Chad Simpson and Chris Garrett representing an excellent 1-2 punch (although Garrett is injured heading into the season).  They also have last years rookie of the year Chris Matthews at wide receiver to compliment veteran Terence Edwards. But of course it’s at QB where the verdict as to the off-season moves (or lack thereof) will be delivered.  Buck returns this year, lighter and quicker than ever before.  2013 likely represents his last chance as proving he can be the reliable (read: healthy) quarterback the Bombers so desperately need.

On defense, as suggested by the 531 points allowed last year, there’s need for improvement in the secondary.  With Hefney gone expect second year vet Demond Washington or rookie Marty Markett to see more action.

The Alouettes

 

In Montreal, things are actually not totally dissimilar to what’s happened in Winnipeg.  They’ve essentially kept their 2012 team intact and as it has for around a decade, that team revolves around Anthony Calvillo.  I predicted in 2011 that father time would catch up with AC and they’d start to falter.  I think I was 2 years early; THIS is the year AC loses a step.  If he does, Montreal, who are even thinner than the Bombers in the back up QB position could find themselves outside of the playoffs for the first time since returning to Montreal from Baltimore.

The biggest change in Montreal is at the head coach position.  With Marc Tressman moving onto the NFL the coaching reins have been handed to Dan Hawkins.  With no CFL coaching experience Montreal have definitely rolled the dice on this one.  (Perhaps they should have checked with the Bombers as to how a head coach with no CFL experience works – remember Darryl Rogers?)

The Bombers play their first two games against the Als;  could be 2-0 start if the stars align!

Keys to the game

The Bombers’ faithful deserve something to cheer about after a long, long winter.  If the Bombers score early the pre-game celebration of the grand opening of Investors Group Field could turn into a celebration of the return of the Bombers.  If the Als jump out to a quick start it could get ugly.

As is always the case, the key to beating the Als is to rattle AC.  Not easy of course but it’ll be a good early season test for the Bombers D-Line.  As for the offensive side of the ball, establishing the run early for the Bombers would help take the pressure off of Buck.

The Prediction

Many so-called experts around the league are predicting a miserable season for the Bombers.  Pierce will be injured running onto the field for player introductions. Burke will be fired by the end of July.  Mack will be fired by the end of the season.  They’ll post a 1 – 17 record and parking won’t be a problem by week 10.

Good thing I’m not an expert.

 

Bombers 29   Alouettes 21

 

CHEERS!