The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are set to face the Edmonton Elks this Friday at 9 PM EST in a rematch that gives the Elks an opportunity to perhaps save face after their massive 30-3 loss to the Bombers last week.
But as weโve reported, the Bombers are doing everything they can defensively, but the team is pretty hard on itself in statements made to the press in recent days following that game; they humbly stated that their offense needs some work for sure.
Placekicker, Ali Mourtada, is the one mentioned most in the supposed departments that need some work, he missing quite a few attempts over the last few games.
rget="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bluebombers.com, Ali admits to needing some work, making a few other statements as well. He said:โThere really isnโt too much I can sayโฆIt didnโt go the way I wanted. Not many words can describe thatโฆNow itโs just a matter of moving forward and making sure I improve and let it be backed by action as opposed to words. Things Iโve learned from, yes. But definitely moving forward Iโve definitely got to put the words into actionโฆItโs grace. Itโs having amazing teammates, amazing coaches that see it within you and know your work ethic. Even with that the case with some guys thatโs not always the way with kickers. It was Thanksgiving here in Canada and thatโs something for sure I was thanking God for: that there is some grace here and they still have some faith in me to do itโฆโ
via bluebombers.com
Head coach, Mike OโShea finally opened up a wee bit more than last time, speaking on what the issues might be with Mourtada right now. His comments last time were defensive of the placekicker, but with these comments we see that he now perhaps knows a little more than before that Mourtada is open to direction, thus his openness about what the problem may be:
โThe thing Iโve remarked about him from the time weโve worked him out is he hits the same ball every time in terms of how he strikes it, how clean the ball fliesโฆThe ball flight is the same every time. Thereโs no hook, thereโs no slice, thereโs no duffโฆ thereโs none of those inconsistencies you see sometimes from other kickers. He kicks the same ball pretty well dead-straight every timeโฆNow he needs to work on his angles and the hashes and thatโs what heโs focused on, reaffirming the view from the different hashes and the different angles. It is a process, but I see a guy very committed to the process.ย Heโs not an excuse maker. He understands he needs to keep working and thatโs what heโs doingโฆย I do think the correction is slightโฆ we just have to land on the right correctionโฆItโs very simple to just judge it as โmade it or didnโt make itโฆIf you look beyond that and look at all the aspects around kicking, heโs a good kicker.ย My job is to coach and make sure Iโm giving him everything I can and try to give him exactly what he needs for him to find that spot again because heโs had it before. Itโs my job to help make him more successful. Thatโs what Iโll focus on.โ
via bluebombers.com
Judging by the abysmal performance from the Elks last week, there arenโt many out there thinking that the game on Friday can go any differentโฆespecially if the Bombers step up their offence like theyโre clearly hoping for.
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But in sports, like in anything else, we can say: Never say never, dear readers.
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