5 Things - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
by Tony “Tee” Martin
5 Things I Like About the Blue & Gold After Two Games
1. Buck Pierce - After two games, Pierce is the team’s leading rusher and looks solid in the pocket. Even though he coughed up the ball twice last game, he has been consistent with his throws and is making quick reads. These are two things Bishop had trouble with last year. He has also picked up the Offence Player of the Week after both games. Keep in mind the last time the Bombers had a QB who could run was 16 years ago with Matt Dunigan. Ace of Base “The Sign” was the #1 song of the year and O.J. Simpson dropped a leather glove in Brentwood.
2. Terence Jeffers-Harris - So far, Jeffers-Harris has been the best rookie on the field. He hauled down seven passes and racked up 152 yards for two TDs against the Argos. A product of University of Connecticut, and Vanderbilt University, he could be a great find for the Blue if he keeps this up.
3. Paul LaPolice - The rookie head coach has done a good job distancing himself from last year’s regime. He has been positive, but not cocky. He has been tough, but not hotheaded. He has embraced the 80 years of Bomber tradition, but is still making his own mark. Maybe the ghost of Mike Kelly is almost exercised.
4. The new Popcorn Machines - Finally people in the upper deck don’t have to eat Styrofoam style popcorn that tastes like it was left over from the Jets.
5. The Section S Beer Snake - Already a two game tradition, it is only a matter of time before the meathead security dudes and the suits on Maroons Road shut this down. Doesn’t really jive with the whole “we are trying to cut back on drinking at games” theme the team has been boasting about in the media this year. Does make for great viral marketing on YouTube for Labatts though.
5 Things I Am Not Impressed With After Two Games
1. Special Teams Coverage - 3 run backs in 2 games is almost unheard of in the CFL. Hopefully LaPolice and his coaching staff can make some adjustments or Safeway is going to be giving away a lot of cars and cash this season. You may want to sign up here just in case.
2. Fred Reid - Reid has been largely ineffective over two games and hasn’t really broken any big plays. Last year we all thought it was Mike Kelly’s outdated offence schemes that were hurting the team, hopefully there is not more to it. Let’s pray Reid can turn things up against the Ticats this week. The Blue need a strong running game if they are going to be able to open up the field. It’s not a good sign when your injury prone QB is the leading rusher.
3. Alexis Serna - After missing 3 kicks in the home opener (and the coaching staff blaming it on the long snapper), Serna missed a key forty five yard kick that resulted in a ten point swing in the game and was likely the final nail in the Blue & Gold’s coffin on Friday.
4. Not enough pressure on the QB - Although the D have been solid, they need to put more pressure on the QB and land a few more sacks. The run defence has also been suspect. Cory Boyd lit them up for 109 yards on 19 carries. That’s an average of 6 yards a carry! Reid wishes he could have those type of numbers right now.
5. The basics - Tackling, covering and blocking. While the defence have managed to hold their own, there were way too many missed tackles and blown coverage schemes against Toronto. The Bombers play best when they are dishing out smashmouth football, they haven’t been doing that…yet.
Go Blue!
