If the Labour Day weekend is the best weekend in the CFL - outside of playoffs, which I agree with - than the Banjo Bowl is the best singular game on the CFL regular season schedule!
What makes the Banjo Bowl the best game on the CFL schedule outside of the playoffs? Two reasons.
First, it is the rematch of the best rivalry in the CFL; Winnipeg and Saskatchewan. Secondly, this game often goes a long way in deterring the standings - especially now that both teams are in the Western Division.
Throw out the result of the Labour Day Classic between these two teams...it means nothing! Regardless of who won that game. What is remarkably different this year than recent years is that Winnipeg lost the Labour Day Classic and is not on the top of the standings. Additionally, and we have seen it a couple of times this year...the Bombers are not holding their lineup close to their chest. On Thursday, they released the names of who is 'out'. For me this signals something to the Bomber players. It tells them, 'We need to get it done in house. It does not matter if the other teams know our lineup early. The problem is not our opponet...it is us.'
Schoen is out!
Most notably, Schoen will not be playing this game. he appeared to injure or reinjure himself on the last play; the failed 2 point conversion in the Labour Day Classic. So let the debate begin! Should the Bombers have kept Lawler?
Look, I am not on that bus that says, "You should have kept Lawler over Schoen." Lawler has had his own injuries to deal with, and you never know if someone is going to stay healthy or be injured in their career. If we follow the logic that 'Schoen is injury prone,' then the Bombers never should have signed Collaros. So everyone saying, "You should have kept Lawler over Schoen," I think they are just disappointed in the Bombers lack of a deep and consistent receiver.
Here is my hot take, if Schoen is done for the rest of the year, and I need to start off by saying this is pure conjecture and I hope I am wrong. But if I am right, I think Schoen's time as a Bomber has come to an end. I think they release him and look for a more consistent available receiver next year. They always say, 'Availability is the best ability,' and Schoen has not been available enough. No doubt, the Bombers will miss the other players not able to go this week, but Schoen is the biggest singular injury for the Bombers. The Bombers did re-sign Ontaria Wilson, and with the injury to Schoen, I fully expect Wilson to play a large role.
Some people will look at the Labour Day Classic and take some solace in the fact that the Bombers made the best team in the CFL work for their win. But I am not of that group! For me, the Bombers left a lot lacking in that game. While the Bombers had moments, their offensive line still looked sub-par; and this is not something that they have fixed yet.
The Bombers have also not found a way to get Brady Oliveira the ball enough! The way is surprisingly simple...give him the ball. Enough with the option plays. Hand the ball off the the 2024 Most Outstanding Player and let him make plays. Wear down the defense and make the opposition team respect the run game and not just pin back their ears and go heavy with a pass rush!
So why are the Bombers not doing that? The Bombers can make all the excuses why there are not running the ball, but I believe it comes down to the fact that they lack an identity.
Bombers Depth Chart
Of interesting note is that Demerio Houston has still yet to crack the lineup. In a secondary that has been burnt often and long, one would think that he would be inserted sooner than later. It is not like Houston is new to the Bombers, "The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have added two defensive backs to the practice roster in Demerio Houston and Russell Dandy. Houston returns to the Blue Bombers after spending the first three years of his career in Winnipeg (2021-2023), appearing in 30 games while recording 84 defensive tackles and adding nine interceptions, including one for a touchdown. The 28-year-old was a member of Winnipeg's 2021 Grey Cup championship team and earned West All-CFL honours in 2023 before signing with the Calgary Stampeders as a free agent. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound defender spent the 2024 season in Calgary, registering a team-high five interceptions and 74 defensive tackles, while adding a sack." - source
Saskatchewan Depth Chart
As for Saskatchewan, there are not many changes in their lineup. So the Bombers know what they are facing...they just have to get the job done this week.
For A W The Bombers Need To...
I will start with the obvious.
1) The Bombers need to protect the football and stay away from senseless penalties. Many did not like the Jefferson offside, but I do not believe that had a substantial impact on the outcome of the game.
2) The Bombers need to protect Zach. If Collaros is going to find Wilson - or any other receive downfield -he needs time. And if the Bombers are going to make a run in the post-season, Zach needs to stay healthy.
3) Better play calling.
It has been questionable many times this year and Winnipeg needs to know what they are trying to accomplish. They need to know the outcome that they are going for and stick to that, whereas last week it seemed like they changed their mind on the desired outcome. Here is what I said last week, "What are the Bombers doing close to the goal line putting Streveler in? I actually do not mind if they have Streveler in for the first down attempt. That makes the defense not sure if Streveler is going to run or if Brady is going to run…because being honest here, when Streveler is in it is a run play. However, when that does not work then you have to go back to your number one offence on second down. What about third down? I do not mind the Bombers going for the short field goal as opposed to gambling. If the Bombers had been stopped on third down it would be massively deflating for Winnipeg and a huge momentum boost for Saskatchewan. Watching the game with my son I told him, “The Bombers just need to stick around.” By keeping Streveler in for the 2nd down, the Bombers seemed content for a field goal before they got to the 3rd down.
What do you think the Bombers need to do to win this game?
Let me know in the comments section wherever you are reading this!
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