Buying Time
by: Tony “Tee” Martin
A lot of people were talking this week about how this was a do or die game for the Bombers. If the Boys in Blue won, Coach K. would buy himself another week to tinker with his antiquated offensive schemes, scour some more video tape of QB prospects hoping to find the next “chosen one”, keep the team in the playoff hunt and prevent fans from firing off angry emails to every news outlet calling for Bauer to fire the rookie coach. If they lost, it could bring the team the team’s moral to a new low, keep casual fans away from the next home game and make it difficult impossible for Kelly (or the team for that matter) to go out in public. You probably would have also seen a bunch of Angrybomberfans.ca t-shirts and beer koozies for sale on this site and at the next home game.
The Bombers managed grind out a win. It might not have been pretty, but that really doesn’t matter. Michael Bishop was finally able to put together some offense. The fact that none of these receivers or the QB were in training camp this year shows how this season has been unfolding. Back in May, my buddy H.F. Salsbury made a comment about how we have the best receiving corp (3 1000+ yard players) and all we need is a quarterback to get them the ball. You all know what Kelly has done with the quaterback position. Coach K. has worked through nearly a dozen QBs and is currently putting his faith in a inconsistent veteran and two backups who have barely any CFL experience. As for the receivers, only Edwards is left. The other guys are so new that their names are written in masking tape above their lockers and they don’t even know the names of their favorite Earl’s girls yet.
Lucky for Bomber faithful that Bishop argueably had his best game of the season (23-32 for 310 yards), the “what’s-that-guys-name” receivers made some big plays and Toronto’s league leading (tied with Montreal) run defence didn’t totally shut down Reid (15 carries for 60 yards). The boys in Blue played smashmouth football for the first time this year and looked hungry for a win. Lead by Bishop, they were scrappy, a little pissed off and in-your-face. The Bombers are always best when they take a few penalties, play a bit chippy and finish their hits. Not only did it fire up the crowd, but it seemed to give the team the momentum they needed with Toronto railing late in the fourth.
Obviously it’s too early to do the W.C.L.C money dance and worry about the playoffs. The Boys in Blue just need to focus on the next game against Edmonton. Nothing more, nothing less. Thanks to a gritty effort from his team (especially his veteran QQ) Kelly has bought some time and can breath a sigh of relief that his Monday Coach’s show on CJOB will be a bit easier this week. Maybe he should tell his girls to tune in.
