THE CORBETT REPORT, Saturday, November 2, 2013

THE OPENING SONG – 2014 Dreamin, Sung to the tune “California Dreamin” by the Moma and Papas

 All the leaves are brown

(All the leaves are brown)

And the sky is gray.

(And the sky is gray).

I’ve been for a walk

(I’ve been for a walk)

This November day.

(This November day).

Next week I’ll be warm

(I’ll be safe and warm)

 Cause the Bombers don’t play

(Cause the Bombers don’t play)

2014 dreamin’

(2014 dreamin’) on this November day.

This seasons going to end, and with the final play

Oh Bombers pretty please

(Bombers pretty please)

Next year come to play

(Next year come to play).

You know this team it has some holes

(team it has some holes)

Changes on the way

(changes on the way).

2014 dreamin’

(2014 dreamin’) on this November day.

(Bridge)

All the leaves are brown

(All the leaves are brown)

And the sky is gray.

(And the sky is gray).

I’ve been for a walk

(I’ve been for a walk)

This November day

(This November day).

Bombers will get better

(Bombers will get better)

Than they are today.

(Than they are today).

2014 dreamin’ (2014 dreamin’) on this November day,

2014 dreamin’ on this November day,

2014 dreamin’ on this November day.

 

 

Introduction

 

A couple of months ago, I had a question for the Bombers.  In particular, why were some people able to park in the lot closest to IGF whereas I couldn’t.  So I emailed the generic Blue Bomber email account, holding out little hope of receiving a reply.  You know the type of email accounts…… the info@blahblahbla.com accounts.  I’ve always assumed those emails went to some black hole of an inbox where a bunch of IT techy types sat around laughing at all of the losers who actually expected to get a response.  My cynicism was erased the next day when my answering machine at home received a voice mail from a Bomber employee.  She left a lengthy voice mail explaining she was calling to answer my question, leaving details as to what her work schedule was, when I could call back, what to do if I didn’t reach her, etc.  So I called back.  She immediately answered my question (the lot closest is reserved for suite holders, and handicapped access) and then engaged me in a 5 minute conversation about things I might consider to increase enjoyment of the new stadium.  She suggested that coming from Kenora, perhaps the University Crescent parking might work better, talked about the ticket relocation plan if I didn’t like my specific seats, talked about upcoming promotions and a few other all Bomber things. As I hung up I thought, wow, here’s an employee who obviously enjoys her job and in a year where the Bombers woeful record has become a lightning rod for criticism of all things Bomber, picking up the phone at the Bomber office probably hasn’t always been a joyous experience.

In some small way, that phone call, left me feeling, that, yah, though this season sucked, the Bombers franchise has always been resilient and in the CFL, change can come quickly.  So keep the faith Bomber fans. As the nice woman on the end of the phone at the Bomber office said “we’re looking forward to next year”!

Amen to that!

Welcome to the November.  Welome to the Corbett Report.

Standings

 

			WEST
Team	Wins	Losses	Pts	For	Against	Streak
Calgary	14	3	28	542	387	5 Wins
Sask	11	6	22	493	368	1 Loss
BC	10	7	20	478	454	1 Win
Edmonton	3	14	6	391	493	5 Losses
			EAST
Team	Wins	Losses	Pts	For	Against	Streak
Toronto	11	6	22	487	435	2 Wins
Hamilton	5	8	10	288	303	1 Win
Montreal	7	10	14	436	451	1 Loss
Winnipeg	3	14	6	354	548	2 Losses

 

Fun Fact:  The worst Bomber record ever was 3 – 15.  SUSPENSE! Can the Bombers tie the record?

Second Fun Fact: Marketing nightmare, not a single game this week has implications in the standings.  It’s all been decided.

 

The Bombers

 

Some time before Christmas, a very good person is going to lose their job.  No, I’m not talking about Rob Ford here, I’m talking about Tim Burke.  Burke’s refreshingly honest comments throughout the year have been one of the few constants throughout the season.  He believed in his players, even though he had little say into who he was given to work with; blamed himself when he felt the blame was warranted; and tried whatever he could to eek out a victory week in and week out even when it became obvious this team was a few snaps short of a touchdown.  At (spoiler alert) 4-14 though, changes need to made.  Gone already is the CEO and the GM (the true orchestrator of this out of tune symphony) and rumour has it that the maître d’ at the Rum Shack is on his way out.  Changes after a season like this are inevitable and unfortunately Tim Burke will be one of those changes.  I say unfortunately because this isn’t a Mike Kelly scenario.  Not only was Winnipeg glad to see the last of Mike Kelly I believe there’s still a warrant out for his arrest.  Something to do with “impersonating a motivator”.  Tim Burke’s departure will be tougher to witness.

They’ll be other changes of course.  In the front office, the question will be whether the “interim” tag is removed from Kyle Walters and Wade Miller.  With the Ottawa expansion draft less than 7 weeks away, chances are they’ve got their jobs.  Any more changes would just lead to more chaos and confusion in the team’s front office.

On the field, resigning Henoc Muamba would send a strong signal to the faithful that the team is serious about building a contender. 

Then of course there’s the quarterback situation.  Joe Mack’s now famous “we will fix the quarterback situation” quote turned into action that looked more akin to the Captain of the Titanic searching for duct tape after hitting the iceberg than it did about seriously addressing any problem.  Surprisingly Max Hall has actually started to show some talent in this regard, but at best he’ll start next year in the number 2 position.  Which still leaves the question as to what to do about number 1.  Fortunately, the upcoming dispersal draft should leave lots of familiar names available; Collaros, Levi-Mitchel, Mat Nichols to name just 3.

There are lots of changes coming.  Stay tuned to the Corbett report during the off season for scintillating analysis and occasionally accurate reports.

But this week there is one more game.   Whether the Bombers will just coast into the sunset on Saturday or rally to try and prove they’re not as bad as their record would indicate remains to be seen. 

The T1-Cats

The Cats will finish 2^nd in the East thanks to last weeks 27-24 victory over the Alouettes.   They vow this week through to start their regular line up of starters.  Hmmmmm……not sure about that strategy.  We’ll see how long they stay in.

 

Keys to the Game

 

The standings are set.  The playoffs are determined.  This for all intent and purposes is a pre-season game.  The Bombers playing only for pride and auditioning for next year and the Cat’s playing a tune up game for the play offs.  Still, once the kick off happens it’ll still be a game.

For the Bombers to win:

• Get engaged early. 
• Defense needs to return to early season form and chase Burris from the game
• Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers – try an experiment.  Let’s see what happens if you don’t have them

For the Ti-Cats to win:

• A 10+ point lead in the 1^st Quarter and the Bomber fans who do show up will be on their way to the exits to catch the Jet’s game at 2pm
• Keep Henry upright
• Force the Bombers to continue to be hospitable hosts and serve up the aforementioned turnovers

Corbett Report Prediction Record

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

Season record:                         League 39 – 29, Bombers 9 – 8

The Prediction

Last home game:                     Bombers 28 Argos 21

Actual:                                                Argos  26 Bombers 20

In what seems from afar to be a disrespectful scheduling decision by the Jets, the Bombers go head to head with a Jets game which starts at the MTS Centre an hour after the Bombers kick it off.  That’s a shame because anyone at MTS is going to miss Aaron Kelly’s 95 yard catch and run play with 15 seconds to go that lifts the Bombers to victory!

Bombers 36 Hamilton 32

Elsewhere, Toronto over Montreal, Calgary over the Lions and Saskatchewan over Edmonton

KEEP READING

 

 

The Closing Song

(cause I didn’t do a song last week)

Sung to the Song – Happy Together by the Turtles

Imagine Blue with Grey,

I do, I thought about it just last night, it’s only right

To think that the Bombers win

On Grey Cup night, so happy together

Next season comes, it’s victory time

Now you’ll say that I seem to be, out of my mind

Imagine how the world could be, so very fine

So happy together

All teams will be stopped by nobody but Blue, it just feels right

When they win it, baby the skies will be Blue on Grey Cup night

Me and Blue and Blue and me

No matter how they toss the dice, its going to be

Next season, just come out and watch, and wait and see

So happy together

All teams will be stopped by nobody but Blue, it just feels right

When they win it, baby the skies will be Blue on Grey Cup night

Me and Blue and Blue and me

No matter how they toss the dice, its goin to be

Next season, just come out and watch, and wait and see

So happy together

So happy together

So happy together

So happy together