It’s
a date many football fans circle on their calendar even before the schedule is
even out. It’s one of the most anticipated dates on the regular season
schedule. It’s a holiday from work that ironically celebrates labour… It’s the
Annual Labour Day Classic.
As
is tradition here on the blog I will open with some facts about our neighbours
to the East given that many will be loading up their station wagons and making
the trek to Regina.
Fact: The Manitoba Coat of Arms is actually
an accurate portrayal of the province’s most famous beauty contest, featuring
the top 4.
Fact: Based on the sucktitude of their
sports franchises the city is in danger of having an injunction remove the
reference to “win” in their city name. That would leave them with the option of
just going with Nipeg or the more literarily correct Loserpeg.
Fact: Most adults from Manitoba were in
elementary school when the Bombers last won the cup.
Fact: Many of those adults are still in
elementary school
Fact: In spite of the rampant inbreeding
and rock bottom intelligence levels of Manitoba residents, they would have been
better off the hire someone internal to the province to run the Bombers than
the gong show they have created for themselves.
Onto
the game…
As
much of an event as Labour Day is for Rider fans, it has certainly gone
downhill over the past few years for those outside of Rider Nations… in
particular Bomber fans. In ’07 we were treated to the last true game deserving
of the title “Classic”. In ’08 we started Michael Bishop (enough said). In ’09
they started Michael Bishop which should be “enough said” but there was also
the whole Mike Kelly/Pacman Jones/White Boards/Barrin Simpson botching the coin
toss fiasco. In 2011, the Bombers got a glimmer of hope with them having a
successful team and us having an embarrassing one… but we still ended up
embarrassing them. Well at least until last year when we redefined the meaning
of embarrassing them.
Since
2005, the Labour Day Classic has meant guaranteed win day for the Riders. And
the Bombers generally seem to roll in in some ridiculous form of disarray as a
franchise and this year his no different. They fired their CEO, GM and OC. They
will likely be firing their current HC at the end of the season. They have
declared no less than 3 different QBs as “their starter for the year” and now
brought in a 4th guy (who will likely also be dubbed “the starter
for the year” at some point). And that is without even getting into their
issues at OL, ineptitude on defense, struggles in kicking and general
terribleness.
The
Bombers have the worst passing defense in the CFL and are allowing opposing QBs
to complete a mind blowing 71% of their passes. Honestly the could likely
improve their pass D by just forgoing coverages and just standing there idle and
praying the ball accidentally bounces off of one of them. The only redeeming
aspect of their defense is the D-line which leads the league in sacks.
Also,
for reasons I can’t really explain they have the best run defense in the CFL. I
assume that’s because teams find them easier to pass than Go in Monopoly (or
Edna Krabappoly if that’s more your thing).
Offensive keys will be blocking upfront to keep Durant upright and give
him time to pick apart their abysmal secondary. I expect Sheets to be stuffed
early but break out late in the game (as per normal). Running a couple screens
early will help slow down the pass rush and neutralize the only part of the
Bomber D that is of concern.
And
if you thought I was critical of their defense, just wait until I break down
their offense… which I hesitate to even call an offense because that would
imply they have the ability to score. They have 5… 5! Passing TDs this entire
season. They have also amassed more penalty yards than rushing yards. Early
signs point to Justin Goltz getting the start but I expect to see at least one
other QB during the game. I secretly hope its Pierce so we can play the
traditional Buck Pierce Injury Pool game. Either way our D should be able to
manhandle whatever they throw at us. Their OL is about as good at protecting
the WB as their DBs are at protecting against the pass. So our front 4 should
have a big game. The only thing that concerns me about the Bombers O is word
that Cory Watson may be back from injury and he at least brings some talent and
physicality to compliment Edwards. But good receivers are about as useless as
shampoo to a bald man when the QB is terrible (or on his back, or then
stretcher)
Get
lead early, force them to attempt to pass and be aggressive… basically just
play our game and don’t let up in any phases and this should be our 8th
win without too much trouble. I know we proved in ’11 that records don’t matter
on Labour Day but honestly I just don’t see a way the Bombers can win this one (short
of mafia intervention).
Riders
by 18
See
you in the stands. Let’s rock the stadium 45K strong.
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