THE CORBETT REPORT – September 20, 2013

The Corbett Report – Issue 2013-06 – September 20, 2013

Winnipeg vs. Edmonton

THE OPENING SONG – A QB to Love (Song to the tune of Somebody to Love by Queen)

 Anybody, find Blue, a QB to love?

Buck was here but just for a little

Justin can only move with his feet

Take a look in the mirror and cry

Bombers what you’re doing to me

I have spent all my years in believing you

But this year can’t get no relief,

Please!

Somebody, somebody

Can anybody find Blue a QB to love?

Defense plays hard every game of the year

They work till they ache their bones

In the end they don’t take home their hard earned pay all on their own –

Offense get off of your knees

Stop the tears running down from my eyes

Please – somebody – somebody

Can anybody find Blue a QB to love?

(They try hard)

Every week – They try and they try and they try –

But every other team wants to put them down

They say our O-line’s getting lazy

They say our QB’s got a lot of water in their brain

Got no common sense

Blues got nobody left to believe

Yeah – yeah yeah yeah

Oh Please

Somebody – somebody

Anybody find Blue a QB to love?

Got no feel, they got no rhythm

They just keep losing the beat

I’m ok, I’m alright

Ain’t gonna face no defeat

But they gotta get out of this losing spell

Someday we’re gonna be free, Please!

Find Blue a QB to love (repeat)

Can anybody find Blue a QB to love?

 

Introduction

 

Last home game the Bombers, in recognition of his passing, paid tribute to the legendary Leo Lewis.  The Lincoln Locomotive is often cited as the best all-around player to ever don a Bomber jersey.  This week, we get the honour of paying tribute, on a happier note, to one of the most exciting players to wear a Bomber jersey in more recent times.  Charles Roberts was inducted into the Bomber Hall of Fame on Wednesday, and it’s a fitting tribute to a player who brought fans to their feet time and time again.  Charles led the league in rushing in 2003, 2005 and 2006 and is the all time team leader in rushing with 9,987 yards.

In this season that is rapidly heading south, it’s nice to recall the accomplishments of some of the many players who have made the trek north to become members of the Bombers.  Indeed, there have been many, many highlights throughout Bomber history, it’s just getting a little hard to remember them of late.  The team though is still 3^rd in overall Grey Cup wins (with 10, Sask has 3, just sayin’) and in spite of the challenges of this season, the Bombers are really only 26 or 27 players away from being a championship team again.

JUST KIDDING, fix the QB problem and go from there.  Oh yeah, and with Chad Simpson out with injury again, maybe Charles wouldn’t mind suiting up. Once more, “Charles Roberts the Ball Carrier”.

Welcome to week 13.  Welcome to the Corbett Report.

Standings

 

			WEST
Team	Wins	Losses	Pts	For	Against	Streak
Calgary	9	2	18	346	268	4 Wins
Sask	8	3	16	354	258	2 Losses
BC	7	4	14	301	280	1 Win
Edmonton	2	9	4	259	301	1 Win
			EAST
Team	Wins	Losses	Pts	For	Against	Streak
Toronto	7	4	14	321	288	2 Wins
Hamilton	5	6	10	288	303	1 Loss
Montreal	4	7	8	259	321	2 Losses
Winnipeg	2	9	4	224	333	1 Loss

 

Since the Bombers have played 11 games, they’ve made the math easy: For 22/game, Against 33/ game.

 

The Bombers

The mid-season Bombers are a shadow of their former self.  And that’s a good thing, because the team that started the season wasn’t very good.  Who knows how this version of the team will perform though.  Get this, the Bombers are starting two import offensive linemen who, gulp, have never seen a CFL game; SEEN, never mind play in.  That really is a reflection on the ineptitude of Joe Mack.  The backbone of any CFL team is the offensive line and in particular a Canadian offensive line.  The fact that mid season the Bombers are airlifting in O-linemen from the States speaks volumes about Mack’s ability to scout, draft and recruit Canadian talent.  Next to fixing the QB problem that’s got to be the focus for the Bombers in the near future.

Other lineup changes include the usual QB rotation, Max Hall to start, Jason Boltus to back up and Justin Goltz to ponder his future. Also changing this week is Cory Watson out, due to injury with newly acquired Akeem Foster to dress, Cauchy Muamba out as safety due to injury to be replaced by Jovon Jonson and as was the case last week, Chad Simpson remains injured, replaced by Will Ford.

Fun fact: Bombers ran an ad on Worktropolis looking for a full time “Roster Database Manager” this week.

With so many changes, it’s impossible to get a read on the Bombers this week.  I am predicting that they won’t be shut out, beyond that, better consult the Ouija board.

The Eskimos

With an identical 9-2 record, one might think the Bombers have a chance this week.  The difference is that the Eskimos have been competitive in most games they’ve played this year while the Bombers have pretty much been the free space on the CFL Bingo card.

With Mike Riley at the helm the Eskimos have some offensive ability and you need only look to last week’s game to see how they can perform defensively.  Still this is hardly an Eskimo dynasty team, and perhaps they’ll be over confident after last week’s performance against the Bombers.

QB Conundrums

 

Fun fact:  Week one starters at QB who are not playing this week:

Anthony Calvillo, Buck Pierce, Ricky Ray, Drew Tate and Travis Lulay

It’s been a rough season for quarterbacks.

So while we’re on the topic of QBs, or as the opening song suggests, the Bombers lack thereof, here’s a thought on how the Bombers might fix that problem.  The upcoming expansion draft in December allows each team to protect only 1 QB.  That means some pretty decent QBs might just be available for the draft.  Why wouldn’t a team trade that QB, to a team that currently has no one they’d likely protect (aka, the Bombers) before the draft when they’d likely lose the player in the draft.  I’m talking here primarily about Calgary who will only be able to protect one of Drew Tate, Bo-Levi Mitchell or Kevin Glenn.  Why not trade, say Mitchell to the Bombers, if you’re likely to lose him anyway.

The Bombers have some significant talent to offer in exchange.  Captain Blue knows how to ride a horse!  The flag boys would look good in red, and seriously, do we need both Buzz AND Boomer?

 Keys to the Game

So here comes the rematch of the two worst teams in the league.

 Here’s what the Bombers need to win:

• Don’t turn the ball over on the first series
• Recognize and embrace the concept of entering the end zone
• Defense finds their Banjo rhythm

For the Eskimos to win:

• Keep the Bomber offense off balance (a gentle nudge should do the trick)
• Protect Reilly
• Score on the first series . . . Bomber fans are getting to be a surly bunch

 

Corbett Report Prediction Record

Last week’s record:      League 3 – 1, Bombers 1 – 0

Season record:             League 26 – 18, Bombers 6 – 5

The Prediction

Last game:           Bombers 35 Riders 32

Actual:                 Bombers 25 Riders 13

A second home victory would be oh so nice a reward for the Bomber faithful.   With all the changes it’s going to be tough but Max Hall to Aaron Kelly in the last minute and Eskies leave stunned.

Bombers 24   Eskimos 23

Elsewhere: Hamilton over Montreal (in Moncton), Calgary over Toronto and Sask over BC,

CHEERS!