West-final host Bombers anything but complacent during bye week

West-final host Bombers anything but complacent during bye week

This isn’t your average bye week.

No one is jetting off to a warmer destination or at home kicking up their feet.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are hard at work trying their best to stay sharp for their upcoming post-season push while also making time for some rest.

The No. 1 seeded Bombers (14-4) host the West Final Nov. 11 at IG Field against the winner of Saturday’s tilt in Vancouver between the B.C. Lions (12-6) and Calgary Stampeders (6-12).

It’s the third year in a row the Bombers have earned themselves a bye to the CFL’s final four weekend.

“I don’t want to come out and sound cocky, but I guess it seems a little routine,” said receiver Nic Demski, who was named a West all-star on Thursday.

“A lot of us have been here before, so to go through this with the same group of guys, everybody has a good grasp on how we handle these things.”

It’s hard to knock the Bombers as they did win the past two division title games on home turf. With that said, they weren’t at their best in either of those victories.

In 2021, they played their worst game of the year and committed a whopping six turnovers. Somehow, someway, they still managed to pull it off and prevail 21-17 over the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

It was nowehere near as ugly last season in a 28-20 win over the Lions, but it still wasn’t great. Running back Brady Oliveira stole the show with 20 carries for 130 rushing yards, but quarterback Zach Collaros – who went 14-of-20 passing for 178 yards, with one touchdown and one interception in the end zone – wasn’t particularly sharp. Returner Janarion Grant also had an early fumble that led to a free touchdown for the Leos.

In both instances, the Bombers clinched the division with three regular season games remaining and were able to coast, to some extent, down the stretch. They secured the top spot in 2023 with two games remaining.

They gave the night off to a long list of starters in last week’s 36-13 regular season finale win in Calgary.

“I’m not gonna blame the weather, but it is different playing in the extremities like that. When it’s so frigid, the ball is a rock, and everything’s slick and slippery,” said receiver Drew Wolitarsky.

“I think it probably has to do with rest, maybe too much rest. And I think we learned from that.”

Wolitarsky said it was evident at Thursday’s closed practice that guys were going harder than they were at this time of year in both 2021 and 2022.

The Bombers averaged 33 points per game this season and they don’t want to see a drop off from that in a week and a half.

“We’re practising this week and really emphasizing full speed, strength and intensity. We need to come out and do that because we’re not playing a game this week. Having game reps is really good for your brain so we’ve got to replicate that the best we can,” said Wolitarsky.

No one’s complaining about a bye and homefield advantage, but it doesn’t guarantee anything. Dating back to 1972, the home side in the West Final is 29-20, and the last five have all been one score games.

Whether it’s B.C. or Calgary, they’ll be arriving in Winnipeg with some momentum.

“The team that we’re gonna play is gonna be coming here to play their best game and this is our opportunity to get one leg up,” said defensive end Willie Jefferson. “They’re gonna have to play a physical game this week to come in here to play another physical game and that’s hard for teams, especially in this weather.”

This week’s docket for the Blue and Gold also includes more trips to the treatment room, cold tub, hot tub and sauna. The team also organized a yoga session for the players on Thursday which is something they don’t schedule in an average week.

“We have a good plan. Obviously, this organization has been in this position quite a few times,” said centre Chris Kolankowski.

“Osh (head coach Mike O’Shea) has been through it a lot, our O-line coach has been through it a lot, our strength coach and therapists have a good plan, so, really, it’s just trusting them. They give us recommendations of what we should do and our strength coach gives us a workout on the board. Earlier in the season, I kinda do my own thing the day after a game. I like to do a heavy upper-body and lower-body (workout), but at this point in the season, I’m just full on trusting the people around me taking that off my plate and it’s been great so far.”

As for Saturday, most players are planning to get together to watch both semifinals (Montreal Alouettes host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at 2 p.m. in the East Final, followed by the Lions taking on the Stamps at 5:30 p.m.). Kolankowski and the O-line will gather at Geoff Gray’s house for a day of football and good eats. The starting left guard is celebrated for his cooking skills and hosts the fellow blockers for a weekly dinner throughout the season.

“This is the big day where he makes all the highlights of the year. So, this is one of our favourite days of the year. He makes the stuff that we like the most and asks what we want. All of our favourites get made by Geoff which is something we really appreciate he does,” said Kolankowski. “We’re hanging out at Geoff’s for eight t0 12 hours, just the guys getting together, and usually the quarterbacks come. It’s just a good day where we get to spend some time together before it’s the final drive to where we want to go.”

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