Plenty of intrigue in Bombers-Lions tilt

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This article was published 07/07/2022 (903 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

VANCOUVER — It’s the most intriguing game of this young CFL season.

It’s a battle of two undefeated West Division teams, with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-0) in Vancouver to take on the red-hot B.C. Lions (3-0).

The back-to-back Grey Cup champs are perfect in the standings, but the only thing people are talking about is how far from perfect the Bombers look on the field. They’ve caught numerous breaks in games this year, none bigger than on Monday when Toronto Argonauts kicker Boris Bede botched an extra point to give the Blue and Gold a 23-22 road victory.

As for the Lions and their young Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke, you can easily argue they’ve been not only the best story in the league this season, but also the most entertaining. The Leos beat the Ottawa Redblacks 34-31 last week at TD Place Stadium.

Here’s five storylines to get you ready for tonight’s game.

OH CANADA

Speaking with Nathan Rourke after Friday’s walkthrough practice in Surrey, it’s obvious he’s already tired of talking about being a professional quarterback with a Canadian passport.

Well, too bad kid. We haven’t seen someone from the Great White North sling the ball like this in more than 50 years.

That’s great for the league and Canadian football in general, but not so great for the Bombers as Rourke and the Lions’ offence is by far their toughest test.

Rourke has completed 83.8 per cent of his passes this year which is the highest completion percentage ever recorded by a quarterback in three consecutive games. Funny enough, Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros previously held the record at 82.3 per cent from three weeks between Sept. 11-Oct. 1, 2021.

Rourke also leads the league in passer rating (135.3), touchdown passes (nine), and is third in passing yards (1,077) despite B.C. having had a bye in Week 2.

The Lions have been incredibly efficient on offence, scoring 16 touchdowns on 39 possessions for a 41 per cent success rate. The rest of the league combined is at 14 per cent. Star receiver Bryan Burnham is out with broken ribs, but this offence is still loaded with pass catchers Lucky Whitehead and Keon Hatcher, and James Butler at tailback.

But if anyone can slow these guys down, it’s the Bombers. They’re holding teams to an average of 15.8 points per game and have only surrendered three touchdowns in four contests.

BOMBERS’ OFFENCE NEEDS A NEW FLAVOUR

I asked Lions defensive back Marcus Sayles for his opinion on the Blue Bombers’ offence. Sayles, a West Division all-star as a member of the Bombers in 2019, wasn’t shy with his response.

“Right now they look like they’re a little vanilla,” he said.

He’s not wrong.

The Bombers continue to downplay the situation, but they can’t run the ball. Brady Oliveira has been ineffective, rushing 46 times (which is tied for second most in the CFL) for a measly 3.2 yards per carry average. The passing game has been a bit better, but far from great. Greg Ellingson, Rasheed Bailey, Drew Wolitarsky and Dalton Schoen are all capable receivers, but the Bombers are missing a deep ball threat.

The Lions are averaging a whopping 45.7 points per game. As for the Bombers, they’re at 17.8.

Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros completed 14 passes in a row against the Argos, but unless they make some explosive plays, there’s no way they’ll be able to hang with B.C.

SHORT WEEK

The Bombers won’t admit it, but this is a brutal week for them.

This is their second game and third different time zone in six days.

Instead of three full practice days to prepare, the Blue and Gold only had time for one.

“We haven’t talked much about it. It’s not an excuse,” said Collaros shortly after landing in Vancouver. “That’s just kind of how the season goes. We prepared this week as we prepare every week. We had to maximize our time and be more efficient, but again, it is what it is.”

Lions head coach Rick Campbell didn’t want to hear it, either. The Lions were in the exact same position last week as they beat the Ottawa Redblacks 34-31 on the road Thursday, five days after they demolished the Argos 44-3 at B.C. Place.

“We’re not falling for that one… We just know we’re playing a good football team,” Campbell said Friday.

“We’re trying to stay out of that world of bye weeks and short weeks. I understand it and I get the storylines and I know that is exists, but it doesn’t do you any good to think about it much.”

Regardless of what anyone says, if the Bombers look flat Saturday night, the short week will have definitely played a role.

NEXT MAN UP

Win or lose tonight, the Bombers need to return home healthy.

Every week they’ve lost someone to injury and Monday’s victim was a big one in linebacker Kyrie Wilson. The fifth-year defender is done for the season with a torn Achilles tendon.

The defence is already without dimeback Mercy Maston (Achilles) and safety Brandon Alexander (recovering from off-season knee surgery). They manage to keep rolling along, but you have to wonder how many more injuries can they take.

Keep an eye out for Wilson’s replacement, Malik Clements. The 25-year-old University of Cincinnati product played seven games for the Edmonton Elks in 2021 and had six tackles and a sack on Monday after Wilson went down.

LUCKY TO BE HERE

Lucky Whitehead played for the Bombers in 2019, but was deactivated down the stretch and watched them win the Grey Cup in street clothes.

He signed with the Lions ahead of the 2021 campaign and looked like a Most Outstanding Player candidate until he broke his hand against the Bombers in Week 9. He ended up missing the rematch three weeks later when the Bombers embarrassed the Lions 45-0.

“(We had) a tough time because I was out,” Whitehead said Friday.

An ankle injury forced Whitehead to miss some practice time this week, but he’ll be starting Saturday. You’d have to think there’s nothing he’d love more than to have a big game and make the Bombers look silly for letting him go. The 30-year-old Whitehead has 20 catches for 237 yards this season.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31