The Corbett Report – July 7, 2018

Introduction

Thanks to Melanie and Bill Cox for this week’s opening song. Rumour has it she was growing tired of my repeats.

The opening song reflects what was a common refrain last Friday night after the Bombers (who looked so promising the week before in Montreal), were embarrassed 31-17 in Hamilton. A week earlier it wasn’t like that. Chris Steveler completed 22 of 28 passes for 246 yards and 3 TD’s with no pics.  Steveler was being touted as the Bombers QB of the future and whispers of a QB controversy could be heard.  “Even if Nichols comes back Steveler should still be our starter” some were saying.  Well, not so fast Bomber fans.  Two weeks ago they played against the anemic Montreal Alouettes who basically handed the Bombers the victory.  Last week, against a surging Hamilton team lead by hot-handed Jeremiah Masoli, both Steveler and the Bombers were brought crashing back to reality.  Two realities really, reality #1) Steveler is still a rookie who has lots of learning to do, and reality #2) the Bomber’s defense remains the Achilles heel of this team.  Last week they couldn’t catch a 1 week old kitten let alone 12 snarly tiger cats. Jeremiah Masoli completed 31 of 41 passes for 369 yards and shredded the Bomber defense better than a chop-o-matic on a head of lettuce.

Well as we enter week 4, one of those two realities has changed and one remains.

Welcome to week four, welcome to the Corbett Report.

The Bombers

Ritchie Hall, the Bomber defensive co-ordinator suggested this week that it doesn’t matter how many yards a defense gives up, it’s when and where they give them up. HUH??????? I’m mean really???? Take a look at last week, it could be argued that in spite of giving up over 400 yards offense for the second time in three games the Bombers “only” gave up 31 points and that’s a number that the offense should be able to match.  However, there’s another result that comes with giving up that many yards.  How about time of possession?  Hamilton had the ball for 38 minutes compared to 22 for the Bombers.  Heck, the Bomber offense was held off the field so long that they had time to leave Tim Horton’s field and head to Starbucks for a Ice Cap in between drives. The reality of the Bombers defense being porous is the one reality that needs to change if this team is going to compete at the top of the Western division.

The reality that is changing this week however, is the starting Quarterback. Steveler certainly did look sharp in games one and two of the season and certainly should not be blamed solely for the loss in Hamilton.  The reality however is that he is a young, inexperienced player and while he may be a star in the future, he has a lot of learning to do.  Hence, the reason for optimism as reality #1 changes with the return of Matt Nichols.  This is Matt’s team and his return flips the tables in the Bombers favour.

The Lions

The Lion’s had the bye in week two of the season so have played only two games. Game one, they looked solid against Montreal earning a 22-10 victory but then looked rather ordinary against Edmonton giving up 24 second half points enroute to a 41-22 loss.  The Lions place their offensive hopes on the shoulders of their QB Jonathon Jennings.  Jennings career has been up and down as he has dodged various injuries.  Last week he completed only 54.2% of his passes for 199 yards.  That being said, the aforementioned Bomber defense might just be the thing he needs to get on track. The other JJ on the offensive side of the ball for the Lions is Jeremiah Johnson.  Look for the Lions to try and establish a run game and quiet the home town fans in Winnipeg.

Keys to the game

So with all of that said, here are the keys to the game:

For the Bombers to win

• The Corbett Repot predictor-meter suggests another 400 yard against effort on defense will cost Ritchie Hall his job. The defense simply has to be better.
• This is Matt’s season opener. Establish the run and gain some confidence with the offense early
• Win the time of possession

For the Lions to win

• Keep the Bomber offense off the field so JJ and JJ can step up to the Bomber defensive buffet and chow down on some yards
• Get to Nichols early
• Establish the run against that….well, you know, that D thingy

The predictions

It’s early but some teams are already rising to the top. :

• Hamilton over Sask (Masoli could tie a record with his ? 300 yard passing game)
• Ottawa over Montreal (Justin Trudeau is starting at QB for the Al’s I believe)
• Toronto over Edmonton (just a hunch, Edmonton has looked ordinary at times)And of course in our feature game:

The return of Matt Nichols is a game changer for the Bombers offense. I won’t mention the other side of the ball. Home field advantage and the return of Nichols should be enough.

Winnipeg 36  BC 30