Most teams would be licking their chops looking at Montreal’s depth chart, specifically eyeing up the quarterback position. But it would be foolhardy for Winnipeg to do so. In past years, Winnipeg has struggled with backup and unknown quarterbacks.
Montreal is going to start James Morgan at quarterback against the Bombers. While Dukes has played much more that Morgan, it is clear that Montreal is very unsure with their quarterback position.
James Morgan
Cameron Dukes
How did Montreal get to this point? First off, their starting quarterback, Davis Alexander suffered an hamstring injury and apparently came back too soon as he re-aggravated it. Then on July 31, Montreal started Bethel-Thompson against Saskatchewan and lost 34-6. So what do they do next game vs. Edmonton? They start Caleb Evans. But that was not going so well, so they pull Evans and put Bethel-Thompson in. Montreal drops that game 22-23 against Edmonton.
Week 11 and Montreal is set to face off against BC. Not liking their last two outcomes what does Montreal do…they start their number 4 quarterback, James Morgan. Yet Montreal still loses that game 36-18. Montreal is now clearly scrambling at quarterback and decides that they are going to sign Patterson – the same Patterson that Winnipeg released. I wrote about it then that Winnipeg released Patterson even though they were still in need of a backup quarterback.
But it is not like Winnipeg has been without its own injury challenges,
“Critically important, too, would be to find some roster consistency in a run into the games in the fall. The Blue Bombers have started five different cornerbacks already this season in Terrell Bonds, Marquise Bridges, Trey Vaval, Dexter Lawson, Jr. and Jamal Parker, Jr., three different left tackles in Stanley Bryant, Micah Vanterpool and Eric Lofton, four receivers in the one slotback spot in Dalton Schoen, Kody Case, Joey Corcoran and Dillon Mitchell and have seen offensive workhorses Zach Collaros and Oliveira both miss games.” – source
In case you are wondering where the players are on the injured list here is the breakdown.
1 Game Injured List
*Hallett
*Jones
*Parker
*Vanterpool
6 Game Injured List
*Bonds
*Schoen
*Case
*Lofton
*Makonzo
*Novak.
And with that here is how Winnipeg will line up.
And while Montreal is 4-0 with Alexander and only 1-5 with any other quarterback combination, Winnipeg needs to play good defense and put points on the board on offence. Up until now, Winnipeg has not been good at all in protecting against the long ball, nor have they played good second half football.
What Must Happen For Winnipeg
Run The Ball
Winnipeg needs to run the ball! It is time for the excuses to be done with. I do not care if teams are scheming against the run because Winnipeg does not have an explosive receiving core. You have the MOP in Brady Oliveira…run the ball! This team could run the ball when everyone knew it was going to happen. All the fans, the opposing team, the opposing coaches, and guess what? Winnipeg would run the ball and absolutely demoralize the other team.
Move The Gun Away From Your Foot
This year, and far too often, when it looks like Winnipeg has caught or created a break, they decide to shoot themselves in the foot. Two weeks ago the Bombers were able to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. And they almost did it again last week! While Winnipeg has found numerous ways to do that this year, it is absolutely crucial that Winnipeg simply cannot turn the ball over and especially not for pick-6’s.
Sustain Momentum
All three of these points tie in together and could all be part of one longer point. Having said that, Winnipeg needs to find a way to sustain momentum. Whether that is from half to half, drive to drive, or play to play. Sure, go up 17 or 16 points, but do not let Montreal find a way to climb back in. And some sustained defensive pressure would be great…no just moments or bursts. If BC proved anything, it was that Montreal’s offensive line is susceptible. Before being injured in the second quarter Evans only completed 3 of 4 passes and was sacked 3 times. It would be great to see Willie Jefferson and company disrupt Montreal’s quarterback(s) all night long!
Final Thoughts
Montreal is ripe for the picking…but so are the Bombers. The very thing that makes this a very winnable game for the Bombers also makes it a very losable game for them. Montreal is struggling with quarterbacks. Winnipeg needs to get after Morgan without exposing themselves to the big chunk plays.
If Winnipeg gets ahead in the game, they also need to fight the urge to play a softer coverage leaving everything underneath open…that has not worked for the Bombers. When they do that, they are playing too deep and allowing first down after first down. That is how teams have got back in games against the Bombers. If they are going to go that route on defense (and I hope they do not) then they are going to have to get their first layer of defense up more on the ball – about 8 yards, not 10.
So while the stage is set for Winnipeg to get a W and go 6-4 there is a reason they play every game, and that is because anything can happen.
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