The Corbett Report, August 29, 2021

Introduction

Last week the Winnipeg Blue Bombers did something they hadn’t done for 671 days.  They lost a football game. It was, by their own account, a lacklustre performance.  Offence couldn’t move the ball, defence couldn’t stop the Argos, and their kicker . . . well, let’s just say he couldn’t split a banana let alone the uprights.  The most telling stat, the Argos had the ball for almost two thirds of the game. In reality, the 30-23 score flattered the Bombers.  They walked off the field last week surely sunk by the good ship Argonauts.  Something that just wasn’t supposed to happen, but hey, it’s been that kind of year in the CFL. Heck, the Corbett Report coming into this week has a 5-7 record predicting CFL outcomes, for those who aren’t math wizards, that’s a 42% success rate.  In short, a monkey (or even Molly) could do this job better. 

The Bombers though, are now back at the friendly confines of IG field and with the return of Andrew Harris from injury the team is out to prove that last week was a one-off bad performance.  They’re determined to make the cowboys from Cowtown eat some dirt (metaphorically of course, there’s no dirt to be had at IG field).  Come 9pm on Sunday, the Bombers hope to be looking at the schedule and singing – another one bites the dust.

Welcome to week 4.  Welcome to the Corbett Report.

The Bombers

So as the opening song suggests, the big change in Bomberville this week is the return of Andrew Harris.  Looking at the Bomber season so far this year (2-1), it would be safe to say that the team has been relying too heavily on their defence.  Hold the other team to less than 10 points = victory; D has an off-game and gives up 30 points = defeat.  The Bombers need to become a more balanced team (ie the Offence needs to step up).  Take last week as an example. Collaros hit on only 54.5% of his passes for a paltry 205 yards (of which 51 came on one play) and Harris’ replacement Brady Oliveira could only muster 28 yards on the ground.  Safe to say that Andrew Harris can provide the spark that will allow the Bombers to soar. 

There’s another change on the roster though, and that’s at the kicker’s position.  Out is Tyler Crapigna who struggled last week missing the two field goals he tried (37 and 47 yards).  Reportedly out due to an injury the kicking duties will be taken on by Marc (the Leg) Liegghio.  He’ll be doing both the punting and kicking duties this week.  Hopefully he’ll have a better outing than Crapigna had last week.  So far, all the kicking game has done for Bomber fans is make them realize how much Justin Medlock meant to this team in their championship season.

Harris vows to be “Full of piss and vinegar” on game day.  That could just be the difference maker.  If he has a typical “Harris game” it might be enough. (As an aside what does piss and vinegar even mean? I’m hoping it’s not some kind of kinky salad dressing.)

Stampeders

The Stamps enter the game with a 1-2 record.  After game two, it appeared that Calgary wasn’t the team that they once were.  That without a solid O-Line and after losing some veteran receivers Bo-Levi Mitchell just couldn’t get the job done.  After game two though, it was revealed that the second game was played by Mitchell with a hairline fracture of his fibula.  So, Calgary’s season is over, right? No Mitchell, no chance, right?  Well, rookie Jake Maier had something to say about that last week.  After throwing his first two passes to the opposition (maybe he forgot which team he played on?) he settled into a nice rhythm completing 16 of 29 passes for 304 yards enroute to a 28-22 victory over Montreal.  But Calgary comes into this game very much a team looking to find its identity.  Their defence has given up over 400 yards in each of their first 3 games and their offence has struggled to put up points.  That may be due to Bo-Levi’s injury, or they may just be not so solid of a team (reference the O-Line and receivers as mentioned above).

Keys to the game

Here are the keys to the game:

For the Bombers to win

• A healthy Harris brings the passion and the yards
• Once in a while, make a field goal
• Defence rattles the rookie

For the Stamps to win

• Win the turnover game
• Get ahead early
• Keep Maier upright

The predictions

Picks

Edmonton at Toronto (We’ll talk in October)

Montreal over Hamilton (The Corbett Report is having such a bad season that it can’t predict a correct outcome even after the games been played . . . wtf?)

BC over Ottawa (sorry Matt)

And in our feature game:

Once upon a time, the Bombers could never beat Calgary.  They got that monkey off their back last year with a win in the final regular season game and then the semi-final.  Jake Maier might have had a good game last week, but he wasn’t playing against the aggressive D-Line that the Bombers have.  That’ll be the difference (oh yeah, and then Harris).  Another one bites the dust.

Bombers 27 Stamps 11

CHEERS!

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