THE CORBETT REPORT – July 26, 2013

THE OPENING POEM – Pondering Pierce

 

To play, or not to play, that is the question:

Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The hits and tackles of outrageous linemen

Or take leave upon the gentle sideline

And watch Justin beat them.

To rest, to play

No more – by not playing to say we end

The heartache, and the thousand unnatural shocks

That flesh is heir to.

Tis a consummation

Devoutly to be wished.

To sit, to play –

To play – perchance to win: ay, there’s the rub.

Introduction

 

By George (it should have been James L) nothing makes for a more relaxing evening than a bit of Shakespeare and some football prognostication.

To start, how about a quick recap of last week.  From the opening song to the introduction to the keys to the game it was all about Ricky Ray.  Guess what, so was the game.  Ray completed 19 of 20 passes and set a new CFL completion percentage record!  Suffice to say Ricky looked just fine.

This week, as the opening poem suggests, the game is once again about the quarterbacks.  This could be the first game in 17 years where both starting quarterbacks are starting in their first ever CFL game.  Goltz vs. Bo Levi Mitchell.  Personally, I saw that coming years ago.  It’s as preordained as oh, I dunno, Chris Hadfield hijacking the space station and heading for Mars.

Pierce says he’s healthy enough to play, training staff says – not so much.  You’ve gotta wonder if the coaching staff is quietly saying, thanks for making the decision so easy.  With the season unfolding (or unraveling, if you will) as it is the question is quickly becoming not whether the Bombers can keep Buck upright so they can win but whether an upright Buck can win.

Welcome to week five, welcome to the Corbett Report.

Standings

 

			WEST
Team	Wins	Losses	Pts	For	Against	Streak
Sask	4	0	8	151	67	4 Wins
Calgary	3	1	6	125	109	2 Wins
BC	3	1	6	104	84	3 Wins
Edmonton	1	3	2	72	107	2 Losses
			EAST
Team	Wins	Losses	Pts	For	Against	Streak
Toronto	2	2	4	118	116	1 Win
Hamilton	1	3	2	79	126	1 Loss
Winnipeg	1	3	2	91	109	2 Losses
Montreal	1	3	2	90	112	3 Losses

Glass half full?  Half empty? Bombers are tied for second J Bombers are tied for last L!  Sheesh…..the East SUCKS! (Well, the East and EDMONTON)

The Bombers

 

Last week, the Bombers were holding their own with the Argos until a second quarter interception by Buck Pierce lead to a Toronto touchdown.  Well-documented elsewhere and I agree, the entire team just seemed to go “sigh….oh well” and threw in the towel.  The defense couldn’t stop a walker-aided granny heading to seniors day at Wal-Mart.  The offense treated the end zone like a nuclear ground zero and the special teams became the mediocre team.

Suffice to say all sides of the ball need to respond this week.  With Justin Goltz getting the start Bomber fans will undoubtedly be excited and expecting nothing short of an 80 point offensive outburst.  After all, there’s no one more popular in Winnipeg than the backup quarterback! (How’s that working for you Ryan Dinwiddie?).

On defense, the return of Bryant Turner does give some hope.  Turner was leading the team (and league) in sacks before he was sidelined.  Perhaps he’ll be the must-needed spark to turn the stagger back into a swagger.

And just to round out the trilogy of change, the Bombers have brought in Aaron Woods as a kick returner.  (Fun fact, in the past 12 years there have been 28 kick returns for a touchdown.  Bombers have a ……wait for it….whopping ONE of them).

The Stampeders

 

With both Drew Tate and Kevin Glenn injured, the ball has been turned over to Bo Levi Mitchell.  Seriously, how could any red-blooded American not have ended up playing football with a name like Bo Levi.   Normally you’d expect a team coming in with their third stringer starting to be the underdog.  But Bo came off the Bench last week when Kevin Glenn went down and helped the Stamps overcome a 24-0 first quarter deficit to beat the Alouettes 38 – 27.

The Stamps could be vulnerable however.  They’re not without their share of injuries including star defensive lineman Charleston Hughes.

Keys to the game

Any game that features two newbies as q-bies has to have the poise and confidence of the men behind centre as a key.  Here are a few other keys:

For Winnipeg to win

• Last week their confidence burst like a bouquet of balloons at a porcupine party after Pierce’s 2^nd quarter pick.  If they go down early they need to retain their composure.  Your’re at home after all, it’s your house
• Ditch the happy dance – Goltz needs to show poise in the pocket
• Catch the ball! – the return of Terrance Edwards could be key
• Take the pressure of Goltz – give the ball to Simpson

For Calgary to win

• Bombers’ offense is fragile; in case of fire – break the glass
• Kicker Paredes is 1 kick away from setting a CFL consecutive field goal  (30)
• John Cornish breaking tackles
• As always – score early

Corbett Report Prediction Record

Last week’s record: League 4 – 4, Bombers 1 – 0

Season record: League 8 – 8, Bombers 1 – 3

The Prediction

Last week:   Argos 21 Bombers 6 (happened to be the ½ time score)

Actual:        Argos 35 Bombers 19

So after going 4-0 last week I now understand how this predicting thing works!  (Hint – it’s all random).

Coming into this game, all of the stats, momentum, confidence seems to be well stacked in Calgary’s favour.  The Bombers however have got to be a desperate team.  Not to mention the fact that they held both player-only and player/coach meetings last Monday where (so my sources tell me) they’re rumored to have introduced the team to spreadsheets!

Lots of intrigue in this one.  Stories and side stories.  So here’s my prediction: Goltz starts, plays decently, gets injured in the 3^rd quarter; Buck hobbles off the bench and leads the team to victory with a late game drive to win the game.

(Hey, a boy’s gotta dream doesn’t he?)

 

Bombers 27 Stampeders  25      

CHEERS!