CFL Preview: Pressure on Bombers to improve

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers enter the 2016 season with pressure on GM Kyle Walters and head coach Mike O'Shea to improve on last year's performance.

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Harris’ homecoming The Blue Bombers signing of Andrew Harris this off-season was a good one based off his credentials, the former BC Lions running back is a proven 1,000-yard producer; and his passport, the Canadian is one of just a couple ratio busters at the position. But the signing is extra special for Bombers fans – and Harris – because it represents a homecoming for the Winnipeg-born player. When it was clear Harris’ six-year tenure with BC was over, the move made sense to a team looking to add in free agency and with a need at the position.

Pressure’s on Two surprise but ultimately unsuccessful Grey Cup runs have broken up an otherwise miserable dozen years for the Blue Bombers. GM Walters and then handpicked head coach O’Shea were brought in two years ago as the latest regime to truy and turn things around in Winnipeg but the results have thus far been mixed. This could be a make or break season for the two, with the team now five years removed from their last winning season and playoff game. To help in their plight, veteran coach Paul LaPolice was brought in as the team’s new offensive coordinator.

Bring in the cavalry LaPo wasn’t the only reinforcement brought to Winnipeg this winter. Alongside Harris, the team went on a free agent spending spree to bolster their roster that included receivers Weston Dressler and Ryan Smith, defensive linemen Keith Shologan and Euclid Cummings, and kicker/punter Justin Medlock. There’s little excuse for the Bombers not to improve on their five-win mark of a season ago.

Additions and Subtractions

+ OC Paul LaPolice LaPolice joined the Bombers as offensive coordinator in December and immediately asked for a wish list of offensive weapons and got them.

- DBs Demond Washington and Craig Newman Washington and Newman left in the off-season hurting the Bombers secondary and their Canadian content.

Canadian Content

The Blue Bombers took major strides towards upgrading their Canadian talent last season with the drafting of guard Sukh Chungh and free agent signing of defensive end Jamaal Westerman, with the latter emerging as the club’s Most Outstanding Player nominee. The repairs to what has been one of the club’s most glaring weaknesses for years continued through the offseason with the free agent additions of running back Andrew Harris, defensive tackle Keith Shologan, and centre Jeff Keeping.

The acquisitions of Harris and Shologan are of particular significance because both will start at positions where the Bombers had most recently employed International players. As a result, they will supply their new team with some much needed ratio flexibility. To illustrate, Winnipeg opened last season with Westerman, middle linebacker Sam Hurl, and field corner Matt Bucknor as their homegrown starters on defence; while the club typically started four Canadians on offence (three linemen and one receiver, or two and two). The club lacked both the talent and depth required to deploy any other combination of seven National starters.

With the arrivals of Shologan and Harris, head coach Mike O’Shea now has the option of playing five Americans in the secondary, or three International linebackers, or both, with Westerman and Shologan as the lone Canadian starters on D, which seems to be the plan.

On offence, youngsters Chungh and Matthias Goossen are slated to start at right guard and centre respectively, with Pat Neufeld at right tackle. Neufeld’s continued health could be a key, as long-term his ability to play tackle could eventually allow the team to play four Canadian O-Linemen, with Keeping (once he returns from injury) or rookie Michael Couture playing centre and bumping Goossen to left guard. Harris at RB and dependable receiver Rory Kohlert round out the starting contingent.

Former BC Lion Pascal Lochard can back up Harris but will mostly see time on special teams and at fullback in certain packages, while receivers Addison Richards (once he's healthy), Julian Feoli-Gudino, and Kris Bastien jockey for roster spots and playing time. Other key backups and special teamers include DT Jake Thomas, rookie DE Trent Corney, versatile DB/LB Teague Sherman, and CB Derek Jones.

Impact Imports

Every year and in every league, there’s a team that goes above and beyond in free agency to “win” the off-season. This year it was the Blue Bombers with their free agent haul adding significantly to their import talent, at least on paper.

The Dressler and Smith signings stole most of the headlines, partly because they arrive via the hated Roughriders, but also because the two can still contribute in major ways. Smith had a breakout 2015 despite a hodgepodge of QBs throwing him the ball. And we all know what Dressler is capable of, his latest season also just falling short of his usual 1,000 yards while dealing with the same quarterback uncertainty.

The team also spent big money on Medlock to solidify their kicking game. A solid signing considering Medlock owns the best field goal percentage in CFL history (87.5%), despite playing three years in Hamilton’s unpredictable wind.

And perhaps the most underrated signing was defensive lineman Cummings, who brings his eight sacks with him from Toronto after a look down south in the NFL.

The additions are exciting for the Bombers but the team still needs to translate off-season wins to regular season success. Remember who won the 2015 off-season? These same Bombers, and it was good for five wins.

That total figures to hinge mostly on QB Drew Willy’s health. Willy won’t be confused with a league All-Star, but he gives the Bombers a chance to win when he’s on the field.

Other positions of import strength include linebacker, with Khalil Bass, Maurice Leggett, and potentially Ian Wild; secondary, with Chris Randle and Johnny Adams; and left tackle, with Stanley Bryant.

Who to Watch: Drew Willy is getting paid like a complete quarterback and it’s time for him to move from a guy with potential to a guy who puts together a winning season. The big thing for Willy to accomplish early is getting rid of the ball quickly and making the right reads in LaPolice’s offence.

Season Outlook

The Bombers need to win games early and keep the heat off O’Shea. If they start out slowly, pressure on the entire organization could have an adverse effect on the product. If fans stop coming to games, CEO Wade Miller might have to react and that’s not the way an organization wants to operate. No one is saying the Bombers must win the Grey Cup this year (although fans in Manitoba wouldn’t gripe about such a result) but they have to look like they’re getting closer to being a contender. Starting slow just isn’t an option for the Blue Bombers.