{"id":230985,"date":"2025-10-22T04:06:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T04:06:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/230985\/"},"modified":"2025-10-22T04:06:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T04:06:09","slug":"offence-under-the-microscope-defence-in-the-spotlight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/230985\/","title":{"rendered":"Offence under the microscope\/defence in the spotlight"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let\u2019s push away from the microscope for a moment and take a break from the ongoing and intense examination of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers offence and focus our attention on the other side of the ball \u2014 the defence \u2014 and embark in a session about a unit which has emerged as this team\u2019s backbone.<\/p>\n

Yes, while the offence is the talk of Bomberland over the last few weeks and under the microscope for all the wrong reasons, it should be said the guys on defence are in the spotlight as a still-emerging force in the Canadian Football League. And as the playoffs approach after Saturday\u2019s regular-season finale against the Montreal Alouettes, there\u2019s the hope the offence can find some traction while the defence continues to do its brick-wall act.<\/p>\n

Both units \u2014 heck, this entire team \u2014 has enormous expectations after five straight Grey Cup appearances and the two championships followed by three losses. And so, while there were curse words being spit out by the offensive group following last Friday\u2019s 17-16 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the praise was almost universal for the defence\u2019s handiwork.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s true, the Riders rested a ton of regulars on offence last Friday, but there\u2019s no disputing what Winnipeg\u2019s defence did in limiting Saskatchewan\u2019s attack to 169 yards net offence. Even with that, some Blue Bomber defensive regulars were lamenting their whiffs on defence, including getting caught on a first-play flea-flicker that led to a pass interference call in the end zone, to dropped potential interceptions to one 30-yard explosion play against.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the gift and the curse of having such a high standard,\u201d said defensive coordinator Jordan Younger of the mixed reaction of his troops after the game. \u201cYou\u2019re talking about what amounts to being .500 or just above .500. I\u2019ve been in locker room where we would have loved to have been .500. But the standard here is so high, that\u2019s just not enough. We accept that.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe try to embrace that and it\u2019s a challenge to find that balance between giving yourself some grace and keeping your foot on the gas pedal and heading toward your ultimate goal.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Winnipeg\u2019s defence heads into the final week of the CFL regular season ranked first in fewest offensive points allowed (22.1), second in fewest passing yards against (266.1), third against the run (95.9 yards per game), first in lowest completion percentage against (63.0), fifth in average yards per play (6.65) but also last in forced interceptions (12).<\/p>\n

All that with a ton of changes in the secondary, including three different cornerbacks on both sides of the field, three different safeties and three different dime backs. Consider that in the first half of the season\u00a0Winnipeg\u2019s defence was surrendering 292.2 yards passing per game, but over the last eight\u00a0that number has dropped significantly to 236.6.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been a part of some statistically gaudy defences and those are fun to be a part of,\u201d Younger said. \u201cUltimately, the goal is to give up the least amount of points possible and that puts you in the conversation as one of the better defences in the league.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been chipping away at that \u2014 not giving up the explosive plays and getting even just a little bit better at stopping the run. As a defence, we want that challenge, we accept that challenge of trying to push the team through if we have to.\u201d<\/p>\n

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And now back to the offence \u2014 a unit which cranked out 514 net yards of offence against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats less than a month ago, but in the last two games has 604 net yards combined.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought we did some good things \u2014 a couple good, long drives \u2014 and then we just had some inconsistencies at bad times,\u201d said offensive coordinator Jason Hogan of the win over the Roughriders. \u201cWe had a couple of mistakes here and there by different people \u2014 those are the inconsistencies we\u2019ve got to fight through and be better at.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody wants to peak at this time of year, but every team has its share of mistakes. We\u2019ve just got to stop making them when they count, or middle of the game when we don\u2019t need them and just keep building off the first half which was a good start.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked to weigh in on the level of frustration with everyone on offence after the last couple of games, he added:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe put a lot of time in. The coaches put a lot of time in, and the players put as much time in as we do. That\u2019s not to count the time that once they leave the building or are going home the first thing when they\u2019re the first ones on a flight looking at it on an I-pad or on the phone \u2014 it\u2019s a little disappointing when you put all that time in and it doesn\u2019t go your way.\u201d<\/p>\n

One more from Hogan, when asked why people believe this offence can turn things around:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy? We have some pretty explosive players. We\u2019ve shown numerous times to ourselves that we can do it, we\u2019ve just got to do it consistently for 60 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n

OUCH REPORT: Blue Bombers head coach Mike O\u2019Shea essentially ruled out SB Nic Demski for Saturday after practice today but is hopeful he\u2019ll be available for the first round of the playoffs. Also of note from Tuesday\u2019s practice \u2014 the workload of the starters altered, leading to some speculation the club could approach Saturday\u2019s game against the Alouettes differently, knowing that whether it\u2019s third in the West or fourth and the crossover team through the East, the result doesn\u2019t really impact the playoffs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not set on what we\u2019re doing just yet. We\u2019ll figure it out,\u201d said O\u2019Shea. \u201cZach (Collaros) is taking reps and at a certain point of the year, he doesn\u2019t need to hand the ball off at practice, he really doesn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

Injury Report: October 21, 2025#ForTheW<\/a> | @DoctorsManitoba<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/p1xSemD1sz<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers) October 21, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Of note, after being limited on Monday, RB Brady Oliveira was back in full gear a day later.<\/p>\n

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ICYMI: We had another excellent sit-down with future hall of famer Willie Jefferson in the latest episode of The Huddle where spoke about a ton of topics, including the transformation of the defence this year, his shout-out to the fans as the club attempts to sell out every game this year, being Road Warriors for the playoffs, his bucket list vacation spot, the story behind \u2018White Boy Wednesday\u2019 in the Blue Bombers locker room and the musical choices that come with it \u2014 among other things.<\/p>\n

In case you missed it, check it out here:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

FYI: The CFL announced some of the details for CFL Awards night, to be held during Grey Cup week here in Winnipeg at Club Regent Casino. For more information, check out the press release below:<\/p>\n

From the Field to the Spotlight: CFL Awards heading to Winnipeg<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n