The Corbett Report, October 8, 2021

Introduction

The Corbett report last weighed in fully on the Bombers on the Banjo Bowl weekend.  At that time the Bombers were 4-1 and the Elks 2-2.  Fast forward to this week and you find the Bombers at 7-1 and the Elks at 2-5.  For those of you who are math-challenged that means the Bombers are 3-0 in their last 3 starts and the Elks are 0-3 in their last 3.  Talk about teams going in different directions.

It’s not just on the field though, that the Elks, once the model franchise of the CFL, have been struggling.  Take a look at one of the off-field headlines coming out of Edmonton this week.  On Tuesday, the radio station that covers Elks’ games, 630 CHED, fired the colour commentator on the Edmonton broadcasts for criticizing the Elks’ management! You can’t tell me that that wasn’t done with influence from the team itself.  Could you imagine the Bombers exerting pressure on CJOB to fire Bob Irving because he was critical of the Bombers’ management decisions?  There’d be a fan revolt.  And guess what, so there is in Edmonton.  An all-out cry for the firing of Elks GM Brock Sunderland.

I can’t say that a franchise in turmoil is something to celebrate; hey, the Bombers have been there a few times themselves, and I do hope Edmonton gets its front office sorted out.  Meanwhile, the Bombers have become the model franchise in the CFL.  Stable and dedicated management (all Canadian I might add) can do that for you.  A tight locker room and winning record doesn’t hurt either.  It’s been a good couple of years to be a Bomber fan.

Welcome to week 10.  Welcome to the Corbett Report.

Standings (as of October 7, 2021)

WEST DIVISION

Rank	Team	GP	W	L	T	PTS	F	A	HOME	AWAY	DIV
1	Winnipeg	8	7	1	0	14	203	107	4-0-0	3-1-0	5-0-0
2	Saskatchewan	8	5	3	0	10	181	166	4-1-0	1-2-0	2-3-0
3	BC	8	4	4	0	8	189	167	1-3-0	3-1-0	1-4-0
4	Calgary	8	3	5	0	6	165	166	2-3-0	1-2-0	2-3-0
5	Edmonton	7	2	5	0	4	140	185	0-4-0	2-1-0	2-2-0

EAST DIVISION

Rank	Team	GP	W	L	T	PTS	F	A	HOME	AWAY	DIV
1	Toronto	8	5	3	0	10	177	184	4-0-0	1-3-0	3-1-0
2	Hamilton	8	4	4	0	8	156	142	2-1-0	2-3-0	3-2-0
3	Montreal	7	3	4	0	6	181	174	0-2-0	3-2-0	2-2-0
4	Ottawa	8	2	6	0	4	137	238	1-3-0	1-3-0	0-3-0

Bombers

An interesting observation from the above standings.  The Bombers have allowed just over 13 points per game.  Digging deeper you’ll fine they’ve allowed fewer than 10 points per game in 5 of their 8 games.  The Corbett report has always maintained that the defence is the backbone of this team, but hey, look at the points for:  203 total points or 25.4 per game, second only to Montreal’s average of 25.9 per game.  Just an observation but if you’re outscoring your opposition by more than 10 points per game on average, you may just be a pretty good football team.

The Bombers have been solid since the loss to Toronto in week 3.  Dominating both the offensive and defensive lines, the O-line’s been providing Collaros with ample time to throw and the defence has been consistently winning the turnover game and terrorizing opposing QBs.

This week’s lineup adds Kelvin McKnight as a receiver.  A bit of a surprise since the Bombers recently signed Nathan Roosevelt after he was cut by Montreal.  At QB meanwhile, Zach Collaros has quietly moved into #1 in passing yards in the league, leading an offence that broke the 30 point barrier last week for the third consecutive game.  Even the kicking game last week was solid.  In short, this may just be the most well-balanced team the Bombers have fielded in decades.

Elks

Never mind the off-field problems the Elks are having, they’ve looked no better on the field.  Two losses to the Ottawa Redblacks have proven that.  This week, though, they get their starting QB Trevor Harris back. It should make for a different game than the debacle in Ottawa last week. 

The Elks are -13 in the turnover ratio.  Given that they’re going against a defence that’s a league-leading +14, turnovers may just do them in.

Keys to the game

For the Bombers to win

• Don’t be cocky.  Even though on paper this game looks like a free space on the bingo card, you still have to execute.

• Continue to hit those field goals (Ali Mourtada was 3 of 3 last week)

• Pressure Trevor Harris (Willie can make me proud of my new #5 jersey)

For the Elks to win

• Score a TD early to gain some confidence

• Win the turnover game

• O-line needs to stop the Bombers’ pass rush (as if that could be a thing)

The record

Corbett report predictions record this year:

                        CFL                             17-17  (50%)

                        Bombers only             5 – 3 (63%)

The predictions

Picks:

Wednesday I correctly picked Toronto over Ottawa, so there’s that.

Tomorrow, I’m looking at an upset in Regina with Calgary over the Riders

Thanksgiving Monday, Hamilton at home over Toronto and Montreal over Ottawa in Ottawa

As for our feature match up, it would be pretty hard not to pick the Bombers.  Their only undoing would be over-confidence brought about by playing a team on a 4-game losing streak.  Mike O’Shea won’t let that happen.

Bombers 32 Elks 11

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