There are fans out there that are loving it that the Bombers have lost 3 straight Grey Cups; and I get it. I remember when Calgary was often in the Grey Cup and the team I was cheering for was not. There was a bit of joy seeing Calgary lose. I found the memes that others posted amusing. There is just something irritating about another team, other than yours, continuing to make it to the big game.
But for all the CFL fans poking fun at the Bombers, where was your team? Were they competitive? Did they make the playoffs? How did they do in the playoffs? Unless you are a Toronto fan, the Bombers did better than your team this year. And unless you are a Montreal fan, the Bombers did better than your team the last 5 years.
So continue to poke fun, it is ok, I get it. But you have to admit that it takes something special to be in the Grey Cup 5 years in a row. Wait, I can hear it starting already, “Yah, but it is only a 9 team league.” Yet that argument falls short, as the other teams are not making the Grey Cup 5 straight years in a row.
Ok, not that I have ruffled some feathers, it is time for Bomber fans to have a reality check.
Bomber’s Reality Check
The Bombers’ outcomes are not good enough in the Grey Cups. Yes, starting 0-4; then moving to 2-6, and then hosting the Western Final and being in the Grey Cup is massive. But that is not good enough. Losing 3 straight Grey Cups, and the last one in particular was horrific.
While you cannot hang the lose on one player, you can hang it on a group. Many want to hang the lose on the offense, but I am going higher. I blame the loss on the Bomber’s coaches.
The Bomber’s offensive coaches (with the assumed blessing of O’Shea) thought too hard, changed the game plan going into the game, and outcoached themselves. Look, they were right in those 2 regular season losses against Toronto. They lost each game by 1 point. In one of the games Toronto called a time out that they did not have, and were not penalized…that could have changed the outcome. In the other game, Collaros arguably scrambled for a first down…which also could have changed the outcome of that game.
So, Winnipeg did not need to change their game plan that much. They only needed to protect Collaros better, and execute just a little bit better. Instead, they decided to do something completely different. And when Collaros came back in the Grey Cup game, he only had 6 completions…the same amount he had at half time!
I actually do not mind the Bombers being aggressive and going deep at the beginning of the game to back off Toronto’s pass rush. But when Wilson comes in at quarterback, to not give Oliveira the ball (the MOP and Most Outstanding Canadian) is unthinkable! Instead to stick with the game plan and have Wilson throw the ball was a terrible idea – the Bombers were already in field goal range!
The Blue Bombers trailed 17-13 in the fourth quarter when Terry Wilson entered the game in relief of Zach Collaros for one series and the team settled for a field goal after a Willie Jefferson interception. The Argos then scored on an ensuing drive to go up 24-16. On why they didn’t lean more on Oliveira at that point in the game…
“You put Terry in, and (the Argos) rode the box, they had 10 guys in the box. The play gets changed because of the structure of the defence. If I was the defensive coach, as soon as you put a backup quarterback in, we’re loading the box because we’re going to hand it to Brady. We had Kenny (Lawler) in the end zone and just missed him. Then we got Keric (Wheatfall) open in the end zone, and it doesn’t work out, either – source.
And that mistake of sticking to the game plan was compounded when Collaros came back into the game. Getting 5 stitches, and having the coaches tell Zach to keep going long was ridiculous! If not at ant time before, that is exactly when you rely on the league’s MOP!
Maybe coach O’Shea left the decision in the hands of Pierce. Maybe coach O’Shea left the decision in the hands of Collaros – no pun intended. But in the biggest game of the season, the head coach must interject and say, “Look, this is not working.” It does not matter if you are the kind of coach that releases other coaches to do their job and do not micromanage. But there needed to be some micromanaging in that game, unless O’Shea truly believed they were on the right path…which apparently he did.
Here is O’Shea’s entire interview.
It is also rumored that twice on defense the Bombers only had 11 players, and one of those times Toronto scored a touchdown! Again, a coaching mistake.
Absolutely terrible coaching led to the Bombers losing the Grey Cup. And that is your reality check!
Maybe you agree. Maybe you disagree.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments section wherever you are reading this!
I could not agree more with every single word. As a Bombers fan this was a surreal and terrible loss. Special teams mistakes, offensive penalties and turnovers and leaving lucky whitehead as the teams returner even after a less than stellar season for him cost us in the end. This is not hind sight this was a common sentiment all year in Winnipeg. Also terrible clock management to end halves this year was glaring and was a factor in this loss. With 2 timeouts and Toronto kicking a fg with around 35 seconds left we should have used a Time out. Kneeling from the 40 yard line in the cfl is a defeatist attitude. Would have had enough time for a drive to atleast get 3, but instead we kneel. Still hurts! Oshea is a legend at building culture but his tunnel vision and unused timeouts in the first half have cost us a few games over the years. Go Bombers! And thank you for an insightful article.
I am a major major Bomber fan, been a season ticket holder since 1978. There is not a doubt in my mind, we were significantly outclassed 9 days ago. This all is on Mike O’Shea, with lots of assistance from Younger and Pierce. The biggest job of a head coach, just like any manager is putting their staff/players in a position to succeed.
We have now been outcoached in the last 4 Grey Cups, we only won in 2021 because of having the wind in the 4th quarter and a fingertip pass knocking.
In absolutely each case the opposition was significantly more prepared to play then the Blue. You have to admit it, unfortunately the proof is overwhelming.
I still think O’Shea is a great coach that attracts great players that work very hard for him but his stubbornness has to change or he will never win the big game.
I totally agree with everything you said. The defenseive coorinator used match defense which did not work. Every time Arbuckle went back to pass I counted a minimum of 4 to 5 seconds he had to throw without being challenged.The offense had a crappy game plan and did not use Oliviera to the full extent. When thins are not working in the first half you need to change your game plan for the second half. O’Sheas decision to keep Collaros in the game throwing long was abolutely ridiculous. While I agree Zack has earned the right to be there, when you are longer effective or are costing your team the game with interceptions you need to come out. The bottom line was we got out coached.
Kyle Walters, Blue Bombers GM, has stated that the team will likely purposely violate the salary cap to increase their chances of making it to the Grey Cup during their host year, 2025. The Roughriders should take note and grant Chase Claypool a heafty marketing bonus to become more competitive. The marketing bonus does not count against the salary cap and the Roughriders currently don’t have the guns in the receiving corps to go toe-to-toe with Winnipeg. If the Roughriders don’t intend to make Claypool an offer they should trade his rights.
Shaun Thiessen
November 25, 2024 at 8:53 pm
I could not agree more with every single word. As a Bombers fan this was a surreal and terrible loss. Special teams mistakes, offensive penalties and turnovers and leaving lucky whitehead as the teams returner even after a less than stellar season for him cost us in the end. This is not hind sight this was a common sentiment all year in Winnipeg. Also terrible clock management to end halves this year was glaring and was a factor in this loss. With 2 timeouts and Toronto kicking a fg with around 35 seconds left we should have used a Time out. Kneeling from the 40 yard line in the cfl is a defeatist attitude. Would have had enough time for a drive to atleast get 3, but instead we kneel. Still hurts! Oshea is a legend at building culture but his tunnel vision and unused timeouts in the first half have cost us a few games over the years. Go Bombers! And thank you for an insightful article.
Gerry
November 26, 2024 at 8:03 pm
I am a major major Bomber fan, been a season ticket holder since 1978. There is not a doubt in my mind, we were significantly outclassed 9 days ago. This all is on Mike O’Shea, with lots of assistance from Younger and Pierce. The biggest job of a head coach, just like any manager is putting their staff/players in a position to succeed.
We have now been outcoached in the last 4 Grey Cups, we only won in 2021 because of having the wind in the 4th quarter and a fingertip pass knocking.
In absolutely each case the opposition was significantly more prepared to play then the Blue. You have to admit it, unfortunately the proof is overwhelming.
I still think O’Shea is a great coach that attracts great players that work very hard for him but his stubbornness has to change or he will never win the big game.
Sally Hamilton
November 27, 2024 at 10:57 pm
I totally agree with everything you said. The defenseive coorinator used match defense which did not work. Every time Arbuckle went back to pass I counted a minimum of 4 to 5 seconds he had to throw without being challenged.The offense had a crappy game plan and did not use Oliviera to the full extent. When thins are not working in the first half you need to change your game plan for the second half. O’Sheas decision to keep Collaros in the game throwing long was abolutely ridiculous. While I agree Zack has earned the right to be there, when you are longer effective or are costing your team the game with interceptions you need to come out. The bottom line was we got out coached.
David Tress
November 28, 2024 at 10:43 am
Kyle Walters, Blue Bombers GM, has stated that the team will likely purposely violate the salary cap to increase their chances of making it to the Grey Cup during their host year, 2025. The Roughriders should take note and grant Chase Claypool a heafty marketing bonus to become more competitive. The marketing bonus does not count against the salary cap and the Roughriders currently don’t have the guns in the receiving corps to go toe-to-toe with Winnipeg. If the Roughriders don’t intend to make Claypool an offer they should trade his rights.