The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have been wildly inconsistent this year, at times even within the same game.
So the question arises, is it the players or the coaching?
I am not sure if the Bombers themselves know the answer to that question. What I can tell you is that they are actively bringing in new players.
Before their game against Toronto, the Bombers brought in 3 players, "global offensive lineman Nouredin Nouili, American receiver Matt Henry, and Thiadric Hansen" were all added to the practice roster.
And then this week after the Bombers lost at home to Toronto, they made 5 more additions on Monday. "The Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced on Monday that the club had signed offensive linemen Tunde Fatukasi and Jeremiah Crawford, defensive backs DJ Harvey Jr. and Tamon Lynum, and wide receiver Jerand Bradley to the practice roster. All players are American."
The Bombers certainly need an upgrade at the offensive lineman position, their pass blocking is terrible - and that is putting it mildly.
What this means
Do not ask the Bombers' head coach Mike O'Shea what this means and expect a straight and direct answer. What you probably would receive is something like this, "Well I think all teams are always looking at their roster and looking for ways to improve. Whether that is coaching up guys, or bringing in more competition you never want to remain at the level you are at." "No, I don't think so. I do not think that this means that we are under-skilled at any position. We like all the guys we have and believe that they are great players, that's why they are here. But when you are making a push for the playoffs you always want to get the best out of any position."
Yep, a whole bunch of word salad is what I would expect from O'Shea.
But these signings have to mean something.
They have to mean that, whatever the Bombers say publicly, that they are not happy with where they are. And that would actually be good news. The Bombers, and head coach Mike O'Shea are fairly criticized for being too loyal to players...even after the players are past their prime and a replacement would be helpful.
Of course the Hansen signing is interesting as he had previously been with the Bombers.
And Hansen showed his desire to come and play for the Bombers as he dropped his holiday plans to make the trip to Winnipeg.
Hansen is also a three-time Grey Cup champion and global defensive end - which helps Winnipeg's ratio.
Final Thoughts:
Will these changes help the Winnipeg Blue Bombers be more competitive than I think they will be in the playoffs?
The short answer is this, it cannot hurt. (Even if they are starting new offensive linemen that need to learn the system, it simply cannot be worse than a currently very porous Bombers' offensive line.) Consider this. Apparently the Bombers had a run play called on 2nd and 4 - you know that play that everyone is criticizing the Bombers for throwing the ball. But when they saw how Toronto lined up defensively
And even if it does not help the Bombers in the 2026 playoffs, these changes should provide the Bombers with a better line of sight regarding the changes they need to make in the off-season.
But I started this article by asking, "So the question arises, is it the players or the coaching?" While I am not convinced that the issue is only players, an upgrade at offensive linemen should help. It should help whoever is in for the Bombers at quarterback to have more time, which theoretically should lead to less injuries and less interceptions.
But I say 'theoretically,' because quarterback injury and interceptions for the Bombers does not just fall on the offensive line. Some of it falls on the Bombers' quarterbacks (both Collaros and Brown) throwing bad balls. Some of it also rests on the play calling. When Collaros got injured, I was literally yelling before that play, "Run the ball, run the ball."
And when Brown threw an interception last game I was thoroughly perplexed why on 2nd and 4 at their own 47 yard line (after Brady Oliveira ripped off a 6 yard run) that the Bombers decided a pass play was the best option. "Head coach Mike O'Shea said on his CJOB Coach's Show Monday night the club had called run and checked out of it based on the look the Argos had given them defensively.
And as Condell pointed out on Tuesday, the offence had seven-man protection up front and yet still gave up a sack.
... I'm not going to the whole process of it from a schematic type of thing and what was called but at the ending of it we didn't execute it and we had another sack with seven-man protection. So, that's not good enough," said Condell."
So while I believe that changes for the Bombers would be helpful, I am not convinced that it would be enough to solve the reoccurring self-destructive problems that the Bombers have been creating for themselves this year.
The CFL trade deadline is set for this Wednesday at 4:59pm EDT. Will the Bombers make a move, I guess we will find out.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments section wherever you are reading this. Catch all my articles here.