The Corbett Report, June 25, 2026

Introduction

Interesting that the Bombers traded for Dru Brown this week.  I believe it shows that they don’t have the confidence in Taylor Elgersma to be a solid back up.  Or perhaps they see Dru Brown as their QB of the future!

Whatever the reason for the trade, Brown’s two-year stint in Ottawa has come to an end.  He played in 28 games for the Red Blacks completing 69% of his passes with a TD to Int record of 32-20.  Respectable numbers that beg the question why did the Redblacks feel he was dispensable.  Surely it can’t be because Jake Maier has been lights out for them this year as their starter.  In fact, he’s been pretty dismal.  Ottawa is last in almost every offensive category including passing yards per game (242), pass completion percentage (59.5%) and net offense (303 yards per game).  So what do the Redblacks do? Trade Dru Brown and bring in McLeod Bethel-Thompson who has become the modern era’s version of Kevin Glenn (Glenn as you may recall played for every team in the CFL except one). Clearly, there’s something more here going on.  Ryan Dinwiddie suggests that it was Brown’s reluctance to accept a backup roll that ultimately led to the trade.  Could be, but certainly, at least for now, that will be his position with the Bombers.

It’s a bit of head of a head scratcher, this trade.  Brown won’t dress tonight but we’ll see as the season unfolds whether the trade will ultimately make a difference as to whether 2026 will be a successful year for the Bombers.  Time will tell, as they say.

Welcome to the week 4 edition of the Corbett Report.

Standings

Team	GP	W	L	T	Pts	Pts for	Pts Against
West
Saskatchewan	2	2	0	0	4	71	64
Edmonton	2	2	0	0	4	61	50
Winnipeg	2	1	1	0	2	57	65
BC	2	0	2	0	0	54	72
Calgary	2	0	2	0	0	65	70
East
Montreal	3	2	1	0	4	96	89
Hamilton	3	2	1	0	4	105	84
Toronto	2	1	1	0	2	74	61
Ottawa	2	0	2	0	0	45	73

That’s right folks.  Elks are undefeated coming into tonight’s game.

Bombers

It’s still early in the year to predict where the Bombers will finish the season, but one thing is becoming clear.  The Bombers have flipped the field as to what they do successfully.  In prior years it was the defense that time and time again kept the team in contention until the final whistle.  This year, not so much. It’s the offense that has played solidly and the defence that has been, well, porous at best.

In particular, the Bombers have been woeful against the run, allowing an average of . . . get this . . . 171 yards per game against.  Tonight, they go against the league-rushing leader in Justin Rankin, who has averaged 9.1 yards per carry. THE key to the game will be the Bombers’ ability to stop the run!

Elks

The Elks have struggled mightily over the past number of years, missing the playoffs every season since 2017.  They’ve experimented with coaching changes, QB changes, running backs, well, let’s say they’ve experimented a LOT.  This year though, with Cody Fajardo as their starting QB, Justin Rankin as their running back and a defense that has allowed the fewest points and yards per game so far this year, Edmonton has finally found some stability.  Last week they handed Davis Alexander his first regular season loss (after 13 straight regular season victories).  Whether that stability lasts the full season remains of course to be seen.  Tonight, against the Bombers the Elks can prove that they’re for real.

Keys to the game

For the Bombers to win

• Stop Rankin from rushing for more than 100 yards
• Secondary needs a rebound game
• Give Oliveira the ball

For the Elks to win

• Score early to take the hometown crowd out of it
• Rankin continues his stellar year
• Exploit the Bomber secondary with a couple of long balls

The predictions

Record so far this year: 6-4 (Bomber games 1-1)

Just for fun, let’s go for both the underdogs and the road teams this week.  So let’s pick:

Toronto over Saskatchewan (Riders are due for a letdown)

Calgary (supposedly the road team but they’re playing in Calgary) over BC

And the biggest upset of the week (with only 4% of CFL Pick-em participants picking them to win):

Ottawa over Montreal

And;

Despite the optimism of the opening song this week, the Bombers are going to be in tough against a much-improved Edmonton squad.  So, let’s say Edmonton completes the road team sweep:

Elk 34 Bombers 31

Be sure to check out jcorbettreport.com