The Corbett Report, 2018 Banjo Bowl edition

Introduction

There was a hint of frost in the air earlier this week in Kenora and that’s a sure sign that the CFL schedule is entering its second half.  That and of course the back-to-back series between the Alberta rivals Stamps and Eskies, the QEW rivals Argos and Ti-Cats and of course the Prairie rivalry of the Riders and the Bombers.

The back-to-back prairie games have been played every year since 2004 when the inaugural Banjo Bowl was played.  The origin of that moniker is well known.  Bomber kicker Troy Westwood’s comments before the 2003 West Semi-final that Manitoba’s neighbours in Saskatchewan were a bunch of “banjo-pickin’ inbreds” sparked the creation of the Labour Day rematch a year later which was christened the Banjo Bowl.

It’s not really fair though to suggest that Westwood was attempting to insult the fans of the Riders and citizens of Saskatchewan.  Indeed Westwood would later roll back his comments with an apology, stating that “The vast majority of the people of Saskatchewan have no idea how to play a Banjo”.  GAME ON!!

In the 14 Banjo Bowl games played, the Bombers are 8 – 6.  Hardly the dominating record that the Riders have in Labour Day games.  Recently though that record has been more solid with a 4-1 record in the past 5 years, including a dominating 48-28 victory in 2017.

With one exception (the first Banjo Bowl) this game has been a sellout every year. The crowd is always predominately blue but spattered thoughout with an infestation of green fans that were able to escape the Manitoba border patrol and sneak their way into IGF.  Rumour has it that the Safeway in Fort Richmond locks up their watermelons on this weekend and requests ID from patrons looking to purchase one.  All in the name of keeping the stadium true blue!

It’s all in good fun until of course, the opening kick off.  Welcome to the 2018 edition of the Corbett Report.

The Standings

 

WEST
Team	Wins	Losses	Tie	Pts	For	Against
Calgary	9	1	0	27	295	172
Sask	6	4	0	12	246	246
Edmonton	6	5	0	12	305	270
Winnipeg	5	6	0	10	338	284
BC	3	6	0	6	201	236
EAST
Team	Wins	Losses	Tie	Pts	For	Against
Ottawa	6	4	0	12	255	227
Hamilton	5	5	0	10	271	228
Toronto	3	7	0	6	211	310
Montreal	3	8	0	6	190	339

As much as there’s been talk of doom and gloom amongst Bomber fan base, it’s important to keep things in perspective.  The Bombers are solidly entrenched in a playoff position (albeit a cross over to the East).

The Bombers (5-6)

In 2015 the Bombers went a woeful 5-13 and finished 4^thand out of the playoffs.  In 2016 that improved to 11-7, and a 3^rdplace finish, in 2017, more improvement and a 2^ndplace finish with a 12-6 record.  Suffice to say much is expected of this team in 2018 and their current 5-6 record (with 3 consecutive losses) has lead to much hand wringing. This especially since an analysis of their record shows that they have yet to beat a team with a winning record. So this result has lead to cries to fire O’Shea, bench Nichols, fire Richie Hall etc.  The reality is however there are still plenty of games to play and turning the season around is hardly out of the question.  To do so though, the Bombers need to turn a number of trends around including:

• 2^nddown conversions.Too often in the last 3 games the Bombers have had mediocre production on 1^stdown resulting in 2^ndand long (ish) and a 2 and out.  The Bombers are only 46% on second down conversions over their last 3 games (all losses).  This has to change.
•  Take aways. During the first 7 games of the year the Bombers had 11 interceptions.  During the last 3? Ummmmmm …….1.  Where has the ball hawk defense gone?
• Fourth quarter woes.The Bombers held leads going into the 2^ndhalf in both the Calgary and Saskatchewan games but let those games slip away, particularly in the 4^th They need to learn to finish games if they’re going to turn the plane around.

This is a talented football team and they need to prove it by winning this game. Dropping to 5-7 and losing two in a row to the melon heads would put the season in jeopardy of being another writeoff.

The Riders (6-4)

The Riders started the season at 2-2 but looked rather ordinary in the process,  the low point being a week 3 loss to Montreal. However, with the return of Zach Collaros from injury and the release of Duron Carter this team suddenly finds itself legitimately in second place.  The only team to have beaten the Stamps this year, Saskatchewan is full measure for their 6-4 record (3-0 in the last 3 games) and seem to be on the path that the Bombers thought they’d find themselves on at midseason.

Keys to the game

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

For the Bombers to win

• Regain control of the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Too little pressure on Collaros last week and too much on Nichols
• Receivers have to be receivers. Weston Dressler’s out again this week and the lack of depth in the receiving corps is being exposed
• Special teams play. Last week the Bombers gave up a punt return for a touch down and had a field goal blocked. That’s a 10 point swing in a game they lost by 8
• Score early and utilize the boisterous crowd to your advantage

 For the Riders to win

•  Score early. There’s lots of angst in the Bomber fan base and whether they’ll admit it or not likely some doubts in the Bomber locker room as well
• Pressure Nichols (he’s starting to get “happy – feet” and show some indecision with his throws)
• Hold Harris to less than 100 all purpose yards (even though he had 150 last week the Riders still managed to win)

 

The predictions

 Mostly rematches this week but first it’ll be

• BC over Ottawa (going with the home field here)

Then a tripleheader Saturday with

• Hamilton over Toronto
• Edmonton over Calgary

And of course in our feature game:

Home field advantage is the key to this one.  It won’t be easy though.

Winnipeg 28  Saskatchewan 25