Usually a Saskatchewan Roughriders vs Winnipeg Blue Bombers game is one that is ready to boil over at any point. The fans and the players engage in a (usually) healthy rivalry where both teams wants to beat the other badly.

Yet when we talk about a pre-season game the same passion can be missing as often the starters only play for a portion of the game. As for Winnipeg, we already know that Zach Collaros will not be playing. Starting for Winnipeg at the Quarterback position will be newcomer Tyrell Pigrome. Some may find it interesting that Pigrome is listed ahead of current Bomber quarterback Dru Brown, but I think that Winnipeg really wants to see what Pigrome can do and then make their decision on who is their number two and three quarterback.

That did not stop Dru Brown from doing his job lobbying for himself, however.

Interestingly enough the club also released this tweet 4 hours prior to the other tweet:

Coincidence? I do not think so.

However with the absence of Lawler, Brandan O’Leary Orange will draw into the lineup.

Coming off the suspended list, Janarion Grant will be suiting up for the Bombers.

Depth Charts

What I Am Watching For

Saskatchewan

When it comes to the Saskatchewan Roughriders I am watching for the on and off-field production. Much was made about the Roughriders 2022 season and the lack of firing of coaches due to the coaches cap. The 2023 Saskatchewan Roughriders better come out of the gates with a bang or else we may see some coaches without a job come Labour Day weekend (a time when teams tend to reevaluate who they have) yet a time of the year where the Labour Day Classic and the Banjo Bowl take place.

In terms of on-field performance I want to see if Saskatchewan’s Trevor Harris is able to reignite his career. While he has been in the league since 2012, Trevor Harris has not yet found a long term home…and may be starting the “Kevin Glenn Tour.” He has bounced around with up and down seasons and I have to think that it he is going to become a bona fide number one starter for the rest of his career, it must start this year. If not, he is likely to continue to bounce around and be a number two guy or an “insurance quarterback,” that bounces around near the trade deadline year after year.

In 11 season this will be Trevor Harris’ fifth team.

Winnipeg

While it will be fun to watch how Tyrell Pigrome fairs with more playing time, really I will be watching for the same thing many people will be looking for…kicking.

I have to believe that the Bombers are likely to keep both kickers Marc Liegghio and Sergio Castillo. I just do not see how Chandler Staton sticks around. What will be interesting to me is how Liegghio or Castillo swallow their pride and play “supporter,” all the while hoping to get their own shot sometime this season.

But will the decision making be that easy?

He got his first NFL look from the Denver Broncos at age 28 back in 2015 and had looks from the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Get this: his last game action before the preseason game in Edmonton came while with the Bucs on a Monday Night Football preseason game on August 24^th, 2015.

Ed Tait Winnipeg Sun

However the for the last number of seasons Winnipeg has used one player to handle all their kicking duties. Kyle Walters did promise a legit kicking competition in the 2023 training camp…could this be the year we see the Bombers employ a different kicker for the punting duties than they do for kickoffs?

What are you looking for and wanting to see in this Bomber’s pre-season game? Let me know in the comments.

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