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Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Bombers ‘not nearly good enough' in third straight loss
TORONTO — It's hard to imagine a worse sentiment surrounding a team that is .500 this early in the season. After running out of the gates to three straight victories, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers find themselves in a freefall down the CFL standings as losers of three in a row, while the same issues continue to plague the team. Their latest defeat, a 31-17 shellacking at the hands of the Toronto Argonauts at BMO Field on Saturday, was the club's third straight multi-touchdown loss. It's the first time Winnipeg has dropped three in a row since the beginning of the 2024 season, when they opened the campaign 0-4. Toronto Argonauts running back Khalan Laborn (30) breaks a tackle from Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive back Marquise Bridges (9) during first half CFL football action in Toronto on Saturday. (Nathan Denette / The Canadian Press files) Head coach Mike O'Shea said he remains 'very relaxed' about his club's recent stretch because 'the answers are easy.' However, uncovering the solution could prove difficult without the services of the team's starting quarterback, Zach Collaros, who exited the contest early for the second week in a row with an undisclosed injury. Collaros, who was not playing well prior to his injury — he completed five of his 10 passes for 79 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions — emerged from the locker room after halftime without pads on. It's difficult to pinpoint which play he might've sustained an injury on, and O'Shea did not provide an update after the game. It's been the same song and dance over the last three games for the Bombers. The numbers that are most concerning during this stretch: 11 explosive plays allowed on defence; eight interceptions and 17 total turnovers (minus-14 margin); and 18 penalties for 183 yards, several of which have been untimely and proved costly. 'Not nearly good enough. We got to prepare our guys to play smarter, right from the hop. Shouldn't have put ourselves in a bit of a hole early, but it's nothing that's insurmountable,' O'Shea said. 'It's just one of those weird, tough games, and we certainly didn't play well enough to overcome any of the little weird stuff that was going to happen in a game like this.' The Argos (2-5) and Bombers (3-3) will run it back in Winnipeg for the second half of a home-and-home at Princess Auto Stadium on Friday (7:30 p.m.), but before we look ahead, let's put a bow on Week 8 with the latest edition of Five Takeaways. Let's begin with something positive. This was undoubtedly the best performance of the season from the Bombers' pass rush, which entered the week with six sacks collectively, the second-fewest in the league. Toronto Argonauts quarterback Nick Arbuckle (4) gets tackled by Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive back Trey Vaval (23) during the first half. (Nathan Denette / The Canadian Press files) Winnipeg sacked Nick Arbuckle five times and constantly pressured him. Although Arbuckle hung in tough, navigating the pocket and using his legs on three occasions for positive gains, this is something the Bombers can build on. The Argonauts entered the contest allowing the most sacks in the CFL with 16, and the Bombers took full advantage of the offensive line. It was the first time James Vaughters made his presence felt in a Bomber uniform, as he finished a 29-yard scoop-and-score in the first quarter and doubled down on the following drive with his first sack of the campaign. Tony Jones paced all players with two sacks, while Devin Adams and rookie defensive end Jay Person also dropped Arbuckle. The Bombers' defence continues to be susceptible to explosive plays, but the pass rush can help limit those chances by getting home more often. Defensive co-ordinator Jordan Younger had seen enough. After a rough outing against the Calgary Stampeders in Week 7, second-year cornerback Marquise Bridges was once again the culprit on a few big gains for the Argos and found himself on the bench before halftime. Bridges' biggest blip came on Toronto's first offensive play of the game, as the club opened with a trick play that saw Arbuckle lateral to Janarion Grant, who found Damonte Coxie for a 41-yard gain. Bridges was caught looking in the backfield as Coxie ran by him. Frankly, he was fortunate that the ball was severely under thrown, or else Coxie would've scored. He got back into the game in the fourth quarter after Trey Vaval exited with a lower-body injury, but it's the first time this season that the Bombers have shaken up the lineup. With the way this team is playing in all three phases, perhaps the coaching staff will consider a change at other positions in search of different results. However, O'Shea, who said co-ordinators have full control of in-game personnel changes, wasn't interested in that idea. 'Knee-jerk reaction change of personnel doesn't necessarily mean everything changes,' he said. 'I think having faith and trust in coaching and coaching hard and working to get results with young guys is pretty important stuff.' Winnipeg couldn't possibly keep Dillon Mitchell off the field any longer, right? The Bombers will be trying out bodies at slotback for the second time in three weeks after Cody Kase suffered what appeared to be a broken leg in the fourth quarter. Case, who replaced Dalton Schoen (six-game injured list) in the lineup, had one catch for nine yards on Saturday. Rookie Joey Corcoran replaced Case, and based on what the Bombers have practised this season, he is perhaps the favourite to suit up in Week 9. Waiting in the shadows is Mitchell, the 28-year-old receiver who hasn't played in a game since being paid a pretty penny to come to Winnipeg in the off-season. It's been one of the great mysteries of the club's season, so far. If Mitchell can't get on the field now, it's hard to imagine what it will take for him to see time. Offensive co-ordinator Jason Hogan has said he views Mitchell as a wideout, even though he does carry 14 games of experience playing in the slot. However, if Mitchell is the talent the Bombers thought they were getting when they signed him, then now feels like a good time to inject his skill set into the lineup. It seemed like the perfect opportunity for Brady Oliveira to have one of those signature games. The Argos were fielding the CFL's worst run defence, giving up 118 yards per game, while the Bombers were looking to find some consistency on offence. Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira (20) tries to break through the Toronto Argonauts defence. (Nathan Denette / The Canadian Press files) Yet, Olivera ran the ball just 13 times. He was efficient again, as he's been all season, amassing 82 yards (6.3 per carry), but Hogan appeared disinterested in leaning on his bell cow even when backup quarterback Christ Streveler entered the contest. Whether Hogan is trying his best to protect Oliveira, who exited the season-opener and missed two games with a shoulder injury, or the large deficits are preventing him from running the ball as much as he'd like to, is up for debate, but it's odd that the reigning Most Outstanding Player has yet to truly make his impact felt this season. The Bombers need better play from their quarterbacks. Collaros and Streveler have combined for an eye-watering 4:8 touchdown-interception ratio over the last three contests. Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Chris Streveler (17) scrambles to recover the football during the first half. (Nathan Denette / The Canadian Press files) It all starts with the quarterback, and if Winnipeg is going to get back on the winning trail, it will need whoever is under centre to make better decisions moving forward. Streveler, whose two interceptions in Week 7 crippled the Bombers, was better in relief against the Argos, completing 11 of his 18 passes for 148 yards while connecting with Jerreth Sterns on a touchdown in the fourth quarter. However, those numbers still weren't good enough. If it's him at the helm again, the club will need him to drive the offence, much like he did back in Week 2. If it's Collaros, who has thrown two interceptions in four of his five starts this season, protecting the ball must take precedence over looking for the big play. X: @jfreysam Joshua Frey-SamReporter Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He reports primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports. Read more about Josh. Every piece of reporting Josh produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Five Takeaways: Back-to-back beat downs a rarity for Bombers
The last time the Winnipeg Blue Bombers lost consecutive games by 20-plus points, Brady Oliveria was still in high school, Zach Collaros was a third-year pro and Mike O'Shea was a rookie head coach. Oct. 3 and 13, 2014: a 42-20 rout by the Ottawa Redblacks, followed by an embarrassing 41-9 defeat at the hands of the Edmonton Elks. Those results came during some dark days that are fortunately long behind the Blue and Gold, but the club's recent stretch of performances has left reason to revisit those times. JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Brady Oliveira (20) makes the first down against the Calgary Stampeders during first half CFL action in Winnipeg Friday, July 18, 2025. Friday's 41-20 loss to the Calgary Stampeders at Princess Auto Stadium marked the second straight lopsided decision that the Bombers have been on the wrong side of — both against the Stampeders. The first, which came on the road, was a wake-up call for a team that had cruised to a 3-0 record out of the gates. The second has put a spotlight on some of the team's weak points that it had been able to mask in the first month of the season. Of course, there's no hiding an absent starting quarterback, which is what the Bombers could be faced with as Collaros exited the contest in the second quarter after the back of his head smacked the turf following a big hit. Collaros' health will be top priority, but in the meantime, the Bombers are reeling at 3-2 and need to recapture some of their earlier magic. Friday's loss was particularly meaningful in the standings, as Calgary wrapped up the season series with Winnipeg and now owns the regular-season tie-breaker. With both teams expected to be in the thick of the West Division playoff race, this could loom large when it comes to home-field advantage in the postseason. With consecutive matchups against the Stamps now in the rear-view mirror, the Bombers now turn their attention to a home-and-home with the Toronto Argonauts, which begins on the road at BMO Field on Saturday, July 26. Before we turn the page to Week 8, let's revisit the latest contest with a new edition of Five Takeaways. Calgary had already proved they would be a contender in the West, but their latest win has established some clear tier breaks in the division. The Stamps are the class of the West by themselves currently, with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Bombers grouped in a tier behind them. The last three weeks have seen the Stamps own the Bombers at home, then follow with consecutive dominant road performances against both prairie squads. They also own the best record in the CFL, and an argument can be made that they are the best team in the league right now, with Montreal (4-2) dealing with an injured starting quarterback and Hamilton (3-2) fielding a vulnerable defence. This is another good time to remind readers that many pundits pencilled Calgary in as the bottom-dwellers of the West Division. JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros (8) throws as he gets pressure from the Calgary Stampeders during first half CFL action in Winnipeg Friday, July 18, 2025. At the time of writing, they are the league's No. 1 scoring offence and defence, and do not appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Who knows how long the Bombers will be without Collaros? If it's a concussion — O'Shea would not confirm the nature of his QB's injury after the game — he must complete a five-stage protocol to return to play, which does not have a defined length and can vary by severity and the individual. That means backup Chris Streveler could be looking at his second start of the season. The Bombers have already seen the good and the bad of the fan favourite this season. In Week 2, Streveler had what was perhaps the best performance of his career against the B.C. Lions, tossing for three touchdowns and leading the club to a convincing victory. On Friday, it was very much the opposite, as he threw two interceptions — one of which was returned for a touchdown — and the game quickly slipped away from the Bombers. Granted, those performances came in two different situations. Streveler had all of training camp to prepare for his first start, whereas he was thrust into the most recent game. If he needs to go again, perhaps a week of preparation will help his second start look more like his first. The O'Shea-led Bombers are consistently one of the least penalized teams in the three-down loop and have continued to be this season, committing 5.8 infractions per game, the second-fewest entering Week 7. On this night, it wasn't the number of times they were penalized — seven times for 83 yards — but rather the nature and the timeliness of them that made for an uncharacteristically undisciplined performance. The Stampeders' opening drive was made easier by a roughing the passer penalty on Cam Lawson that set them up on the doorstep of the end zone. That was the first of two late hits on Vernon Adams Jr. in the first half, as James Vaughters committed the other. Another flag for unnecessary roughness was thrown on Tanner Cadwallader in the second quarter, but that one only wound up costing Winnipeg field position. JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS Calgary Stampeders' Erik Brooks (87) runs for the first down against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during first half CFL action in Winnipeg Friday, July 18, 2025. In the third quarter, after Calgary had been flagged for unnecessary roughness and put into second-and-17, Deatrick Nichols was called for illegal contact on the very next play to make it second-and-manageable. Calgary promptly picked up the first down and, three plays later, scored on a 42-yard heave from Adams Jr. to Damien Alford to make it a 10-point game. In the fourth quarter, with the game still within reach for Winnipeg (24-13), Willie Jefferson was penalized for spearing receiver Tevin Jones after delivering a hard hit to his head while leading with the crown of his helmet. It was a 15-yard infraction that set Calgary up in the red zone and eventually led to a game-sealing touchdown. It's hard to imagine O'Shea will let that slide for much longer. It hasn't felt like the typical Bombers defence recently. Perhaps this unit is subject to some unfair criticism because of the standard it set by finishing No. 1 in scoring the last four years, but there is a certain level of susceptibility that's been uncovered while playing the hottest team in the league. The Bombers have allowed seven explosive plays in their last two contests. Friday saw Adams Jr. connect with Alford for 37- and 42-yard touchdowns, and nearly another 50-plus-yard major if Dominique Rhymes had maintained possession while falling to the ground. The more concerning part is that there are some clear busted coverages in the secondary that are leading to these gains. Alford's second score saw him alone in the end zone, waiting for the ball to arrive. The cherry on top came in the fourth quarter, when Winnipeg lined up with one defensive back covering two receivers on the goal line — a clear breakdown in communication. Adams Jr. flipped an easy pass to Rhymes for a three-yard touchdown. It's tough to win when you make mistakes like that. It's natural to live and die with every result in football, because it's only played once a week. JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS Calgary Stampeders' Damien Alford (80) catches a touchdown pass against Winnipeg Blue Bombers Terrell Bonds (24) during first half CFL action in Winnipeg Friday, July 18, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods While the Bombers have some clear wrinkles that need to be ironed out, it remains too early to have any definitive feelings about what this team is and what it could be. Winnipeg has been handed an unusual schedule to begin the season, one that saw them open with a bye and then have another week off in the first six weeks of the year. The team has also played more than six quarters without its starting quarterback and lost its star receiver to injury. Those circumstances can make it difficult for any team to establish a rhythm — even one as experienced as the Bombers. Winnipeg has begun a stretch that won't lend another bye week until October. It can take teams several games to truly find their footing, which makes the next few weeks a critical stretch that could reveal what the Bombers are really about in 2025. X: @jfreysam Joshua Frey-SamReporter Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He reports primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports. Read more about Josh. Every piece of reporting Josh produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
