The Corbett Report, Friday, August 22, 2014

BELIEVE IN BLUE – ROUND 5

The Corbett Report – Issue 2014-05 – August 22, 2014

Winnipeg vs. Montreal

THE OPENING SONG

(sung to the tune 25 or 6 to 4 by Chicago)

Waiting for the Blue to play

Hope tonight they come to play

Throw some passes cross the sky

And a run from time to time

Last two games were such a bore

They’ve won 5 will they win more?

Let’s run quick to open space

D Line get into Al’s face

Last year turned into a wake

A year like that I just can’t take.

Bombers you can do much more

You’ve won 5 you can win more

Alouettes look mighty weak

But were close again last week

Blue take a stand, have a say

We’ll be victors on this day

You’ve won 5 you will win more

You’ve won 5 you will win more

Introduction

I, like many others, wondered “who the heck is Mark Cohon” when the CFL hired him as their commissioner 8 years ago. At the tender age of 40, he came to the CFL as a relative unknown after toiling away as an assistant to David Stern in the NBA. But after 8 years at the helm, Mark has to go down as one of, if not the best commissioner the CFL has had. A modest unassuming man he has navigated the CFL ship (which never seems far from a reef) through TV deals, through two tough labour negotiations and has overseen the revival of football in Ottawa. Not bad for an 8 year tenure.

I do not know Mark personally but have met him a few times at Grey Cup. What to me singles him out from other past commissoners of the CFL is how much he really got this league. In particular how he really got the fans. Whenever I’ve heard him speak, it seems like 10 minutes didn’t go by without him reverting to the CFL fans and how they’re the backbone of this league. When he first introduced the fan forum on Grey Cup weekend (a chance to meet the commissioner and ask him questions), I thought, yeah right, who wants to go to that! Well, now it’s a standard item on my Grey Cup itinerary. Friday, 11am. Last year, the forum started 45 minutes late. Not because Mark didn’t get there, but because he walked the line of about 300 people waiting to get into the Delta ballroom in Regina and shook every persons hand and engaged them in conversation without regard for the urgency of the clock.

It’s that regard for the fans, and his regard of the history of the league and his passion for it that defined him as a Comissioner.

At 48 I’m sure Mark will have plenty of opportunities ahead regardless of where his career takes him. I’m simply glad he saw fit to serve the CFL for 8 years. Good Luck Mark Cohon, and thanks for your dedicated service to the Canadian Football League.

Welcome to week eight, welcome to the Corbett Report.

The Bombers

I would suspect that there are many among you who would have suggested a 5 – 3 start for the new look Bombers would be a sensational start to 2014! Already two wins ahead of last year and for the time being in a playoff position. Why then, does there seem to be a aura of nervousness hanging over Bomberville . I suppose it’s the way 5 – 3 has been built. 4 wins against the East who have a combined league record of 6 – 23, two losses against Western teams and the dubious distinction of being able to be a team that has served up one of only 3 Western losses to the East. Not to mention back to back loses where some scary trends are starting to develop.

Tonights game is a bit of an eerie one. Lose this one going into the back to backs with Saskatchewan and the Bombers could find themselves in an uphill battle for the rest of the season, with most of their games against Western teams. On paper, it’s a game they should win, but with a running game that seems to have been ran out of town, a defense that’s given up more yards rushing than the Boston Marathon and a rookie QB who may be starting to play like a rookie and this has the makings of a scary result.

Still, let’s assume the glass is half full and that Mike O’Shea and co have some answers, because a loss to the 1-6 Alouettes could create a turning point in the season that, well, let’s just not go there. (have I mentioned 9 – 9 yet?).

The Alouettes

So what’s up with the larks? They’ve fired their offensive co-ordinator in training camp, now they’ve brought in Jeff Garcia as some sort of coach, they’ve brought in Don Matthews as a “consultant”. Seriously? What’s happened to the class of the Eastern division? Surely it wasn’t all just Anthony’s doing that lead them to first place year after year! Or was it? Now that Troy Smith is out of the picture their future seems tied to ex-Bomber QB Alex Brink who’ll be taking advice from ex-Bomber QB Ryan Dinwiddie. Hmmmmmm…..can’t recall, which of those two QB’s lead us to a Grey Cup?

Still, they put in a good effort in last week’s 16 – 11 loss to Saskatchewan and their defense brings on nightmares.

Keys to the game

For the Bombers to win

• Grigsby needs a 100 yard game (he had 66 last week)

• Drew needs to stay grounded, even if that means grounding NO INT!

• Don’t lose the turnover battle

For the Alouettes to win

• Stay close to the end

• Win the turnover battle

• Alex leads them back from the Brink

Game Prediction

I’m a little unsettled about this one. 5-3 vs. 1-6 and at home should be a no-brainer right? In a perfect world yes, but no one said sports was a perfect world. My initial thought was a Montreal win but let’s stay positive and look for the Bombers to rebound from the last two games and squeak out a win tonight to end the first half of the season 6 – 3.

Make the final:

Bombers 28 Alouettes 25

Last home game

Corbett Report: Riders 31 Bombers 28

Actual: Riders 23 Bombers 17

Season results (including road games)

Bomber games 4 – 4 (did I mention 9 -9 yet?)

All CFL games 20 – 13

This week’s other games

Edmonton over Toronto

Calgary over Ottawa

BC over Saskchewan