Is Winnipeg Grey Cup bound? Yes.
"My advice for the other seven teams in the CFL: Don't even try to beat Winnipeg, they are too good."
Look out CFL, Winnipeg may be a force to be reckoned with this season.
One of the most shocking results in the CFL’s opening week of regular season play was Winnipeg’s 34-10 trouncing of the Montreal Alouettes, the defending Grey Cup champions. The game was never close. It wasn’t just a blowout, it was a massacre. Winnipeg devoured Montreal and then used their carcasses to sweep the floor of the dressing room.
All the question marks for Winnipeg seem to have been answered after week 1.
Those who had faith that Buck Pierce could be the starting quarterback were definitely rewarded. Pierce went 6/10 for 105 yards and a touchdown. He also led Winnipeg on a 11-play, 104-yard touchdown drive. After the first quarter, Pierce either was tired or the Bombers felt so comfortable with their lead that they decided to play three other quarterbacks for the remainder of the game.
A genius move, as it turns out. These three quarterbacks, Steven Jyles, Adam DiMichele and Alex Brink combined for 20 points.
Winnipeg’s defence, meanwhile, stymied a usually potent Montreal offence. They limited the Alouettes to 202 yards passing, 34 rushing yards and only one touchdown. Last season, Montreal averaged 288 passing yards a game, 120 rushing yards and 33 points.
Kavis Reed, the new defensive coordinator and assistant head coach, is a defensive genius!
Winnipeg’s success could have something to do with Montreal’s head coach Marc Trestman’s foolish decision to bench almost his entire starting roster. Trestman, who was named coach of the year last season, decided not to play quarterback Anthony Calvillo, running back Avon Cobourne, slotback’s Jamel Richardson and Ben Cahoon, wide receiver Kerry Watkins and countess other offensive and defensive starters.
Is Trestman’s success getting to his head? Will he go out in equipment and face the next team all by himself?
Oddly enough, Winnipeg seemed to bench a fair number of starters as well. This decision, however, was almost certainly made because the Bombers were so confident about a victory.
This game will surely be the first chapter in Winnipeg’s eventual Grey Cup winning season. It is time to plan the parade. For a team that hasn’t won the Grey Cup since 1990, it is long overdue. Because of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Grey Cup victory in 2007, Winnipeg is now the team that has gone the longest without winning the Grey Cup.
That should change this season. Just look at the logic. If Winnipeg beat Montreal, who won the Grey Cup last season, it means the Bombers should win it this season.
Oh and is it too early to name Paul LaPolice the Coach of the Year? Definitely not. LaPolice, who served as the offensive coordinator for the Riders the last two seasons, has already improved the team greatly.
Under the leadership of former head coach Mike Kelly last season, Winnipeg averaged 200 passing yards a game, 119 rushing yards and 21 points. This season, under LaPolice, Winnipeg is on pace to average 238 passing yards a game, 187 rushing yards and 34 points.
And it is only week 1!
My advice for the other seven teams in the CFL: Don’t even try to beat Winnipeg, they are too good.
Oh crap, my bad… that was a pre-season game.
Better postpone the Grey Cup parade. In fact, why don’t you just go ahead and disregard everything just said in this article.
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About the Author
An aspiring journalist who has a freelance contract with the Regina Leader-Post and is a veteran online CFL columnist. Hamelin currently attends the University of Regina and is enrolled in the pre-journalism program. After this year, he will apply for the school of journalism. Hamelin has had work published in his highschool paper, university paper, Regina's paper and a number of online sites. For a look at all of his work, visit http://jonathansjournalismportfolio.webs.com/View Author Profile
Hilarious! Pretty sure it will be a different ball game in the regular season. A win is a win, and Winnipeg should be congratualted for putting the boots to the Grey Cup Champs, but it is only pre-season.
THanks Gizzie,
Couldn't resist. It seemed like such a big deal was being made about the game. Did Montreal even play any starters?
I didn't check, but by the looks of it, if they did, it wasn't many.