The Winnipeg Blue Bombers constantly preach the importance of playing three-phase football.
On Friday night, they went 0-for-3.
Their offence, defence, and special teams all played a significant role in losing 52-30 to the visiting Calgary Stampeders.
The team that erased a 17-point deficit to beat Ottawa last Sunday was nowhere to be found.
“I think coming out of a short week, we didn’t have much time to prepare, and we didn’t execute the way we wanted to, or execute the way we did in the fourth quarter against Ottawa,” said defensive end Nuer Gatkuoth.
“We just gotta learn from the film and get better next week.”
The Bombers (4-3) will try to flush this one and regroup in time to host the B.C. Lions on Thursday. But before we look ahead, let’s dive into what went wrong against the Stamps with the latest edition of 5 Takeaways.
BAD NEWS BROWN
That was not an encouraging performance by Bombers quarterback Dru Brown.
He was intercepted four times – with three of those going to Canadian defensive back Ben Labrosse who entered the night with zero career INTs – and almost threw a fifth at the end of the fourth quarter but linebacker Kyle Wilson dropped it.
While Brown technically didn’t turn the ball over last week in Ottawa, he did have four passes that should’ve been picked but the incompetent Redblacks dropped them all.
He has flashed at times, but there’s no way the Bombers can consistently win if he keeps handing out gifts.
“It was tough. I’m disappointed in how I took care of the football tonight, so, I’ll wear that,” said Brown.
“I didn’t feel like I gave us quite a chance there.”
The Bombers lost the turnover battle 6-3 on Friday – they also turned the ball over on downs on their final two possessions – and now own a minus-six turnover ratio on the year.
To put that number into perspective, the Edmonton Elks have the best ratio at plus-10.
O-LINE WOES
Those interceptions aren’t all on Brown’s shoulders, however.
He was under duress all night long and things got even worse when their best offensive lineman, right tackle Jarell Broxton, left the game before halftime after a Stampeders defender rolled up on him from behind.
Broxton was down on the turf for several minutes before slowly walking back to the locker room.
JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Quarterback Dru Brown gets sacked by Stampeders’ Clarence Hicks during the second half of CFL football action at Princess Auto Stadium.
With or without him, this O-line is already looking shaky and one of the reasons for that is left tackle Stanley Bryant is starting to show signs of his age.
The 40-year-old had two holding penalties in Ottawa that were both declined. Then against Calgary, he had a difficult time staying in front of standout defensive end Clarence Hicks – especially on Brown’s fourth interception. Hicks steamrolled him before chasing down Brown which ultimately led to the poor throw.
Bryant is the greatest offensive lineman in CFL history, but Father Time is undefeated.
OLIVEIRA CALLS IT HOW IT IS
Brady Oliveira became the fifth Canadian running back in league history to reach 6,000 career rushing yards on Friday, but he was in no mood to celebrate afterward.
While being interviewed on CJOB’s post-game show, the star was open about his frustrations.
JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Brady Oliveira runs in for the touchdown against the Calgary Stampeders during the second half of CFL football action in Winnipeg on Friday.
“I don’t know who we are right now as an offence, or who we want to be,” he said.
“What is it that we do well? Or what are we great at, and can we really do more? Then, things we have to improve on, let’s improve on it.
“When it comes to an identity, the identity of a team and especially an offence, you gotta lean on that. I really don’t know what our identity is right now on offence. I think we’re still trying to find that.”
It’s hard to argue with that assessment.
Oliveira was brilliant against Calgary, taking 14 carries for 128 yards and two touchdowns.
And yet, he should’ve had more but the Bombers didn’t use him in the fourth quarter until the final minute of the game when it was far too late.
Oliveira is the highest paid tailback in the league. Offensive co-ordinator Tommy Condell needs to do a better job at making sure the Bombers are getting their money’s worth.
CAN’T STOP MCALLISTER
If there’s a football equivalent of hitting for the cycle, Tyreik McAllister certainly came close.
He ran for a touchdown, caught a touchdown, and returned a missed field goal 118 yards to the house – all in the first half.
McAllister became the first player in CFL history to score in those three ways all in the same game.
His TD grab was inexcusable as he was somehow left all alone for a 56-yard scoring play.
“That dude is dynamic,” said Bombers corner Jonathan Moxey.
No kidding.
While McAllister came out of the gates firing on all cylinders, the Bombers, once again, did not. They started the contest with three consecutive punts and then Brown threw an interception on their fourth drive when he tossed a wildly underthrown ball to the end zone to Ontaria Wilson.
GO GATKUOTH GO
One of the few positives for the Bombers was the breakout of rookie defensive end Nuer Gatkuoth.
On the final play of the third, he wrapped up Stamps running back Dedrick Mills for a tackle for a loss. Then on the next play, he strip-sacked quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. and defensive tackle Michael Fletcher pounced on the loose ball.
JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Calgary quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. gets sacked by Winnipeg Blue Bombers David Reese (45) and Nuer Gatkuoth (40) during second-half CFL football action in Winnipeg.
It led to the Bombers kicking a field goal to cut Calgary’s advantage to 39-30, but that’s as close as they would get.
Gatkuoth was chosen fourth overall by the Bombers out of Wake Forest. The 24-year-old from Edmonton has been relatively quiet this season, but he showed his potential this week.
“It feels like I got the monkey off my back, finally,” said Gatkuoth.
winnipegfreepress.com/taylorallen
Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.
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