In this segment we are going to drop some truth bombs looking back to the Calgary game and drop some more truth bombs looking forward to the Saskatchewan game.

Truth Bombs Looking Back To the Calgary Game

*Winnipeg should have beat Calgary more handily!

Without taking the time to fully breaking down the 2 interceptions in the end zone, suffice to say that Winnipeg conceivably should have had at least 6 more points – and I think way more!

Interception 1:

The first interception was thrown from Calgary’s 17 yard line. Previous to the play the Bombers called a time out, so with 10 seconds remaining the play clock would start on the snap of the ball. There should have been a solid play called in that timeout that resulted in a touchdown. An interception after a timeout is inexcusable.  

Options on the play:

Zach Collaros was scrambling and had a couple of options. The first option was that Zach ran the ball, slid, and left 3-4 seconds on the clock, then either went for a touchdown from wherever he slid or kicked a field goal. The second option was that Zach threw the ball away and then tried a second time for a touchdown from the 17 yard line, or kicked a field goal. The third option, which he took, was to throw the ball into tight coverage. Unfortunately that choice ended up in an interception and no points.

Interception 2:

The second interception in the end zone was from Calgary’s 19 yard line with 2:26 left in the 3^rd quarter. This time Collaros threw to his first read, McCrae and the ball was intercepted. If you ask me, it was an underthrown ball.

Similarities:

On both plays the intended target for Collaros was McCrae and Muhammad was the defender that intercepted the ball. You might ask yourself why McCrae – a 5’9” receiver – was the first read against a larger defender on that type of route. However, do you recall who caught the first touchdown for the Bombers this game? That is right, it was McCrae! And he was blanketed so much so that there was a pass interference penalty call. Guess who the defender was. It was Muhammad. If McCrae can catch that ball – with one hand – while being egregiously interfered with by Muhammad, he can catch the 3^rd quarter pass if it is not underthrown.

*Allowing the single was a complete mistake and almost cost the Bombers the game!

If the Bombers would have lost, the jock was going to Winnipeg, but not to Collaros. No. Rather it would have gone to a coach or a returner – Taylor – both, if it was a called play to let the ball go in the end zone for a single. 

I’m going to 100% disagree with the coach (if it was a called play). With five minutes left in the game you do not make it a 2 point game knowing that the kicker for the other team is the best in the league!

Yes, Winnipeg may have started from deep in their own end if they did not allow the single. However, even that is debatable. It appeared the Bomber returner could have caught the ball on the 10 yard line and returned it up to at least the 20 yard line.

Nevertheless, Winnipeg was moving the ball down the field all game long. There is no reason to believe that trend would have stopped if Winnipeg started deep in their own end.

Additionally, Calgary’s kicker had hit from outside of 50 yard line this season on multiple occasions.

Do you really want to give the best kicker in the CFL a chance to win the game with a field goal because you gave up a single? No way!

Yet the Bombers almost did! If it were not for a holding call the Bombers would have lost the game on the foot of Paredes. Some call it a ‘phantom call,’ others call it a make up call for the very weak pass interference call earlier on Willie Jefferson. Call it whatever you want, the fact remains that Winnipeg gave Calgary a chance to win the game with a field goal. Would those saying conceding the single was the right idea still hold to that if Winnipeg lost on a field goal? I highly doubt it!

Is the Bomber’s decision a gamble either way? No doubt!

However, the better gamble is to realize that your team has also been moving the ball at will, taking whatever the field position is and not making it a 2 point game.

I just can’t be talked off that.

Truth Bombs Looking Forward to the Saskatchewan Game

I get it, this game has not been played yet! But there are still some truth bombs to drop.

*Winnipeg needs to watch out for Garret Marino!

This guy only knows one way to play football and that is not the way the CFL wants the game played! Regarding his actions, CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie said, “This behaviour has no place in our league.”

Serving the longest consecutive suspension of 4 games (broken down into 3 separate suspensions) Garrett Marino came back into action without learning his lesson!

Before we look at his return, let us revisit the suspensions. Since the longest suspension the CFL can hand out is 2 games, the league handed Marino multiple suspension: A 2 game suspension for the low/dangerous/illegal hit on Masoli – which ended Masoli’s season; a 1 game suspension for verbal comments made about a player’s heritage; a 1 game suspension for Marino’s illegal tackle on an Ottawa offensive lineman.

The first game back what does Marino do? He tries to take off Lucky Whitehead’s head with a flying helmet to helmet hit. Fortunately Lucky Whitehead avoided contact or he too might be out for the season.

What else? After his first game back from suspension Marino gets another fine! What was it for? Another unnecessary hit to an offensive lineman.

*Saskatchewan is an organizational mess – but that might not matter, read the truth bomb below

Right now Saskatchewan is an organizational mess!

They have a head coach that publically backs players like Marino. I get it, what is he supposed to say? Maybe just say that we have discussed the matter and we are looking to move past it. But please Craig Dickenson, do not tell us that Marino is a great guy and then he comes back from suspension and acts like he did (see above).

Also there seems to have been a mistake last week when Marino was not listed as a starter. Marino was ticked, Dickenson says it was an accidental mistake. How does that even happen?!

Ok, and then Saskatchewan releases Na’Ty Rodgers and cites discipline issues?! Come on! Apparently he was cut because he had 14 penalties in 9 games. Alright, release the guy. While you are at it, release Marino.

*Oliveira leads the league in rushing yards!

Wait! What? Who saw that coming?

Would you believe me if I told you he was leading the league in rushing yards? If I did not look at the statistics I would not believe it. Yet it is true! Brady Oliveira leads the league with 604 yards rushing! Hey, where did all the Oliveira haters go? Let me know in the comments where you went.

*Saskatchewan has owned the Bombers in the Labour Day Classic

If you are reading this then you are likely a Bomber fan. Throw all the stats, win/loses out the window when you are looking at who will win the Labour Day Classic in Regina! They mean about as much as a preseason game does in predicating a team’s regular season success. However, Saskatchewan does have the edge in the complete history of this rivalry game. However, in the last 17 years Saskatchewan has owned the Bombers in the Labour Day Classic!

However, the Bombers are the only team to get a rival fan to take off their home colors!

The Bombers’ win in 2021 was only the second time the Bombers won that game in 16 years!

Since 1950 Saskatchewan has a 37-96 record in the Labour Day Classic. Saskatchewan has also scored more points in the Labour Day Classic with 1,193 points to Winnipeg’s 933 points. Saskatchewan is also the team that has scored the most points in a Labour Day Classic game scoring 56 points both in 1991 and 1995.

Sure right now Winnipeg is 10-1 and Saskatchewan is at 6-5 looking at a crossover spot. But a Winnipeg win is anything but guaranteed in the Labour Day Classic. The Bombers play the Riders 3 of their next four games. Winnipeg needs to win 2 of their 3 games against Saskatchewan to put to bed any hope Saskatchewan has of catching Winnipeg in the standings!

Yet none of that matters in the Labour Day Classic! And the Labour Day Classic is a blast for both team’s fans!

What did I get right? What did you disagree with? Let me know in the comments.

Find all my articles here.

Written by a Bomber fan, for the Bomber fans.

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