Leos/Bombers West Final Keys to the Game

[Blitz]

LEOS/BOMBERS WEST FINAL KEYS TO THE GAME

Its ‘Do or die”, Bang a Gong, Get It On”, “When the Going Gets Tough the Tough Get Going, and “There is No Tomorrow”.

The CFL West Final between our beloved B.C. Lions and those butt ugly Winnipeg Blue Bombers will soon be played on the cold playing field in Bomberland. The weather report calls for sunny clear skies with a high of 2 degrees and a low of 0.

The CFL Simulator says the Bombers have a 91.12% chance of winning this game, which for all you Lionbackers math wizards out there, that means CFL Simulator gives our Leos an 8.8% chance of winning this contest. It’s a miserable looking outlook, made even worse by the fact that the CFL simulator gave the Montreal Alouttetes a 29.65% chance of winning the East Final. CFL Simulator does not view our Leos squad as a CFL top tier team, giving us only a 3.39% chance of holding the Grey Cup above our heads at the Big Dance this season.

But that outlook is even sunny compared to our own Lionbackers Cromartie who emphatically posted “The Lions aren’t winning this game” but did give himself an out on his urn inscription.

So why the projected mismatch? There are some good reasons why this game should be hard to pick. The Leos and Bombers played three games against each other this season and the Bombers won the rubber match with an OT victory at B.C. Place. Offensively, both teams led the CFL in passing yards with the CFL’s best two quarterbacks in terms of passing yards.

Both teams have talented receiving corps. Keon Hatcher and Alexander Hollins both had over 1,000 yd. receiving seasons as CFL Topp 5 receivers. Jevon Cottoy was the CFL’s most reliable possession receiver. The Bombers had three receivers in the Top 15 this season with Dalton Shoen, Kenny Lawler, and Nic Demski all having an ability to get open and make plays.

Defensively, both our Leos and the Bombers can get pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Mathieu Betts led the CFL in sacks and Teuhuma and Baron can get after a quarterback too. The Bombers front four can also disrupt a passing attack with pressure, as Willie Jefferson and Jackson Jeffcoat create matchup problems. Our Leos had 55 sacks this season and the Bombers had 53 of them.

But the following areas provide support to the notion that the Bombers will prevail on Saturday. They are also my keys to this game. We look forward on Lionbackers to reading your 'keys to the West Final'

RUSHING

Winnipeg led the CFL in rushing first downs (165) while our Leos finished dead last in this category with 95. The Bombers running attack was tough to stop all season long with Olivera rushing for a CFL leading 1,534 yds. – an impressive number. Meanwhile our Leos, with the worst rushing attack in the CFL with Taquan “Lots of Smoke, No Fire Mizzell, we have a dynamic passing attack but its a one dimensional offence, which creates greater challenges, especially against a top tier defense.

EXPERIENCE

The Bombers have been in the Grey Cup the past three seasons and won two and almost had three in a row, if not for the last minute heroics of Chad Kelly coming off the bench in last year’s exciting Grey Cup finish. The Bombers have so many of those clutch playoff performers back this season from Collaros to Demski to Willie Jefferson and Adam Bighill. They know how to win big pressure games.

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE

Our Leos took the season series to overtime before losing to the Bombers but our Leos were decimated by the Bombers when we played them the only time as visitors this season. The Bombers are very, very tough to play at home.

So, what will it take for our Leos to have a chance at the upset?

1. CREATE SECOND AND LONG SITUATIONS

Our Leos will lose if we allow the Bombers to have a lot of second and short situations, where our defense will not know if they are going to run or pass and where play action means our defensive line has to play both run and pass ( and where play action freezes linebackers and creates larger openings for receivers underneath).

In order to do that we need to play the run better than we have all season. Perhaps Woods at middle linebacker will be a difference maker. He had a heck of a game against Calgary. We may not be able to shut the run down completely but if we can find a way to shut down a running play for a small gain on first down, then it will help our pass rush on second down, knowing the Bombers are passing.

The Bombers only gave up 33 sacks this year, in part because they pass block well, in part because Collaros is shifty in the pocket and rolls out effectively, but also in part because opposing defenses have to guess run or pass too often for second down situations.

2. FIND NEW WAYS TO RUN THE FOOTBALL

Lets face facts. The Stamps rushed three defensive linemen who were pinning their ears back to try to get some pressure on Adams and we were able to triple team Calgary’s nose tackle on run plays and still Tiquon (All Smoke, No Fire) Mizzell could not find a hole, averaging 2 yards per carry on 11 carries. He could not find a hole even when we went Wildcat. Our starting tailback has an incredible ability to run into a would be tackler…its like he seeks to be tackled!!

But there are other ways to skin a cat. Adams ran incredibly against Calgary. That will be tougher to do against the Bombers and one can bet Bighill will spy Adams at times. But we need to find ways to reduce the Bombers pass rush. Adams running the football, with the occasional fly sweep tossed in will at least help with balance.

Being a one-dimensional offence against the Bombers and winning is a very difficult task. We also will need to include some quick passing plays, hot reads, dump offs, wide screens, etc. to help reduce the Bombers notion that they can just pin their ears back to shut down our medium threat passing attack.

3. MAKE SPLASH PLAYS, ELIMINATE OUR OWN MISTAKES.

When a team is an underdog, as our Leos are, going into Winnipeg, the best chance of victory is to eliminate mistakes while also causing the other team to turn the football over.

We will need some splash plays to win this game – a fumble recovery, an interception, a big return,, a big play on special teams. In other words, we have to play hard, not take penalties and play a very disciplined brand of football and at a very high level of performance, while causing the Bombers to be the team that turns the football over or is the team making the mental error or showing a lack of discipline. That will not be easy to do but in order to change the odds in our favor, we will need some special plays.

WRAP

The Bombers have had a two week layoff. They haven't played a meaningful game for a while. They have had a lot of time to watch tape and game plan and prepare for us. But they also may have some rust. An early lead would be huge, as it was for us in the Calgary game, where we lead after the first quarter and then never looked back.

But we also cannot afford to do what we did against Calgary - give up big plays early and turn the football over early either. Its playoff football - where you not only have to play smart but also play with incredible heart and as a team in order to win!!

Oh yeah, and one more thing...root, toot, we just gotta execute!!

Go Leos!!

[DanoT]

The Lions should "spy" Bighill by having a blocker on him on almost every play.

[Toppy Vann]

I just posted on the other thread that the biggest risk to the Bombers (and the Argos) is that collective, imperceptible letdown when your team is firing on all cylinders and knocking off all opponents then faces a team not expected to have a chance at winning. Let's hope the Bombers are reading the stats and the odds but I'd not bank on it as they're a veteran team.

Bombers saw BC lose to the Riders and Stamps at home then beat a Calgary team in the semi-final who helped beat themselves despite fantastic QB and Receiver play. If I were the Bombers coaching staff, I'd be carefully monitoring the conversations players are having at practice listening for the kind of talk that says their opponent is crap. That collective thought leads to a loss or at worst having to come back.

Dano: I feel the Bombers are more vulnerable in all games when Adam Bighill is forced into pass coverage at depth, not lateral like in screens but when the Bombers get spread out and that middle opens up for a Vernon Adams 25 yard run unscathed. lol

[B.C.FAN]

These teams were so close in the regular season that it took overtime in their third and final meeting to settle which team would win the season series and finish first in the West. If the Lions had converted on a QB sneak in the dying minutes of that game or if Dominique Rhymes had gone down after making the final catch in regulation time, the Lions would likely have won and would be hosting this game.

When looking at the season series, it's important to note that Vernon Adams played in only 2 of those 3 games, and that the Lions led those 2 games almost the entire way. Winnipeg led for only 3 of 120 minutes in regulation time. Adams was on the injured list for the other game. Dane Evans and Dom Davis shared QB duties (Evans started and was hurt in the first half), and completed a combined 20 of 39 passes for 189 yards, with no TDs and 2 interceptions, while Zach Collaros and Dru Brown torched the B.C. secondary for 447 passing yards, including bombs of 71, 64, 57 and 34 yards. Those circumstances are not likely to repeat themselves, especially with several Winnipeg receivers hurting.

The Bombers rushed for an average of 112 yards in those 3 games, which was 27 yards below their season average. This game will not be won or lost by rushing alone. The team that makes the most big plays through the air will go to the Grey Cup. If Adams plays the entire game and avoids costly turnovers, I like the Lions' chances.

[Blitz]

Well, it seems that Adam Bighill and his Bombers teammates are hoping for cold weather as an advantage for the West Final. He thinks the Bombers hold a big advantage for a November football game against an indoor team like the Lions.

“For us, everything is routine,” Bighill said in the Winnipeg Sun “You become very comfortable in this weather, out here. You don’t even have to think about it.
When I was in B.C., it was more difficult because we didn’t practice with any cold gear. We didn’t have any on, didn’t have any speciality cleats, didn’t have any backup shoes, never even talked about it".

“You would get to a place like Winnipeg, get out there and feel how cold it was, and you had to figure out what you were going to do, right then and there. Not saying that the equipment staff is not capable, because they totally are, but they’re just not as equipped and used to having to plan for these things for an entire roster of guys.”

While it doesn’t seem at the moment like weather will be a factor on Saturday, this is Manitoba, and everyone knows the forecast can change quickly. The Bombers like the fact that they are ready for anything.

Brady Olivera, who would love a cold weather game so he can carry the rock as often as possible.

“We have the mindset that it’s never cold enough, it can always be colder,” Bombers running back Brady Oliveira said, after his team practiced on a near-freezing Tuesday morning at IG Field. “I’m still hoping that maybe the weather gods can change and make it a little bit colder, but I do think, come the second half, the temperature will drop, regardless, and we’ll be good.”

[Blitz]

Last night the TSN panel was discussing the upcoming West Final. Davis Sanchez commented that he believed our Leos were going to have to run some, in order to beat the Bombers. He believed our Leos should start Hardy at tailback and not Mizzell. Sanchez thought our offence needed to rush for around 70 yards or so to keep the Bombers defense honest.

The panel also reiterated my thoughts on the Bombers offence. in terms that our Leos had to do a decent job of containing the Bombers run game and if we didn't, we would be in trouble because Bombers play action was so deadly.

[Blitz]

A key personnel change for this game will likely be Josh Woods lined up at middle linebacker, with the assignment of attempting to keep Brady Olivera, the CFL's leading rusher, contained.

Don Landry, of CFL.ca wrote"

And just like his personal battle with Carey, Woods may be asked to lock in and take on another hard runner again and again and again. After all, it’s very likely that the Bombers will rely pretty heavily on their sensational running back, Brady Oliveira, to power the offence as they go in search of a fourth straight Grey Cup appearance.

“They’ve got a great, veteran offensive line and all those playmakers,” said Woods of the Bombers’ offence. “And, of course, Brady’s had a hell of a year.” So has Woods, in this, his second full season with the Lions after signing with the team late in the 2021 campaign. As a back-up and a special teams tackler, he has been emerging more and more as this year has progressed, capped by his stunning display of tackling after getting the nod to start at weak side linebacker for the Lions in the Western Semi. It was the first time he’d been made the ‘chosen one,’ if you will.

Woods has certainly played very well when inserted into the lineup at weakside backer and then at middle backer against Calgary. Through the first thirteen weeks of the regular season, Woods was a reserve at middle linebacker, behind star Ben Hladik. When weak side starter Bo Lokombo was injured and placed on the six-game injured list prior to Week 15, Woods started in Lokombo’s place, but was bumped to back-up once again when Lokombo returned for the final two games of the regular season.

Over his four starts – including a seven tackle performance against the Bombers the last time we played them, Woods totalled 21 defensive tackles. All tolled in 2023, he amassed 45 tackles, 9 more on special teams, and two interceptions.

Leos Head Coach Rick Campbell on Josh Woods.

“Good player” “He’s a CFL-type linebacker in that he can handle himself in the box and he’s big enough to play the run and do all those things. But he can be rangy from sideline to sideline. You can drop him in coverage, do different things with him. He’s gotten better and better since he’s been here.” Whether Woods remains at weak side or is shifted inside to the middle for the Western Final (Hladik injured his knee early during the Semi-Final and Campbell has said he seems doubtful for Saturday), a huge part of the mission will be to try to derail the Brady train as much as humanly possible.

It’s a tall order, considering the 1,534 rushing yards and nearly 500 receiving yards Oliveira piled up on the way to being named the West’s Most Outstanding Player. “He does a great job of finding the holes,” said Woods of Winnipeg’s battering ram running back. “There’s times when it seems like it’s all covered up and then he bangs off somebody and hits a gap.” “We know it’s gonna be cold so you know they want to run the ball. So we have to stop the run and not let them have any deep shots.”

TACTICS AND TOUGHNESS

Woods take on the West Final comes down to two main areas - tactics and toughness. Woods is anticipating a very physical game within the strategies employed by both clubs.

Woods is looking forward to whatever challenges the Winnipeg offence designs for him and the Lions and he has enjoyed the ebb and flow of the ever-changing strategies that have been employed in the teams’ three regular season meetings. “It’s like those heavyweight matchups where you’re literally fighting round for round,” he said. “Seeing what moves they’re gonna make. What counters they’re gonna make. And they’re also reading us.”

“The way we attacked them in the first game, they countered in that second game with some looks that we hadn’t seen before. And we countered again in the third game. And they countered in that second half.”

Looking ahead to the Western Final, Woods has no doubt that whatever tactics the game reveals, it will do so with a physical, bruising personality. “It’s gonna be one of those games where we need to bring our pads,” he said.

[Toppy Vann]

Well, it seems that Adam Bighill and his Bombers teammates are hoping for cold weather as an advantage for the West Final. He thinks the Bombers hold a big advantage for a November football game against an indoor team like the Lions.

“For us, everything is routine,” Bighill said in the Winnipeg Sun “You become very comfortable in this weather, out here. You don’t even have to think about it.
When I was in B.C., it was more difficult because we didn’t practice with any cold gear. We didn’t have any on, didn’t have any speciality cleats, didn’t have any backup shoes, never even talked about it".

“You would get to a place like Winnipeg, get out there and feel how cold it was, and you had to figure out what you were going to do, right then and there. Not saying that the equipment staff is not capable, because they totally are, but they’re just not as equipped and used to having to plan for these things for an entire roster of guys.”

While it doesn’t seem at the moment like weather will be a factor on Saturday, this is Manitoba, and everyone knows the forecast can change quickly. The Bombers like the fact that they are ready for anything.

Brady Olivera, who would love a cold weather game so he can carry the rock as often as possible.

“We have the mindset that it’s never cold enough, it can always be colder,” Bombers running back Brady Oliveira said, after his team practiced on a near-freezing Tuesday morning at IG Field. “I’m still hoping that maybe the weather gods can change and make it a little bit colder, but I do think, come the second half, the temperature will drop, regardless, and we’ll be good.”

Bighill is right on that.

Even if BC practiced outside this week (they did Monday only) it doesn't duplicate the conditions of a Winnipeg cold.

I'm more familiar with acclimatizing to heat or altitude where unless you're in that location for a period of time (that doesn't come to mind now) where you have time to acclimate to the heat/humidity or altitude, your team is best to get in the day ahead as BC will do and chances are it might be less of a factor unless it's insanely cold and wintery.

I'd be less concerned about the cold than any wind gusts which show Saturday might be up to 30 KPH as it can degrade QB passing success.

How cold weather changes the game for football players
By Jennifer Fabiano, AccuWeather staff writer
Cold acclimatization has not proven as effective for preparing athlete’s bodies for playing in cold weather.

Most importantly, athletes should not let their muscles get cold.

“Athletes should bear in mind that the halftime period, or any break, is an opportunity for the muscles to cool down,” Carter said. “Trying to keep active during these periods of downtime is going to be beneficial to keep the muscle temperature elevated before they go back on the field to play.”

Some teams go as far as to have exercise bikes on the sidelines for athletes who are not on the field. Other teams invest in warming technologies such as heated benches or “hot pants,” which are pants with built-in heating elements.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather- ... s-2/433233

https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ca/we ... a/winnipeg

If you're looking for pre-game analysis some sites:

This guy has NFL statistics based on reconstructing wind stats with passing etc.
https://www.pff.com/news/fantasy-footba ... ek-14-2017

Montreal won't play in snow and I'm not sure if they could have gone indoors but they practiced in snow! Not sure who has no shirt on but that's idiotic!
https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/video/alouettes- ... en~2804287


I too heard Davis Sanchez suggest going from Taquan to Jaquan Hardie but given the BC coaching philosophy on running in the CFL I can't see that would make any difference. The only successful running I foresee is Vernon Adams despite the risks.

[B.C.FAN]

The Bombers are a veteran team that has shown an impressive resilience under Mike O'Shea's coaching. With Zach Collaros at QB, they have an unparalleled ability to overcome adversity. They won a league-best 6 games when trailing after the first quarter, and were a league-best 3-3 when trailing after the third quarter. In the rubber match with the Lions last month at B.C. Place, the Bombers never led the game until the overtime period. Zach Collaros twice fumbled the ball away in scoring position while trailing in the fourth quarter. They still bounced back to score 10 points in the final 2:20 of regulation time, and followed up with the winning TD in overtime.

The Lions can't afford to take their foot off the gas, even if they have a solid lead in the second half. They need to sustain drives and keep the ball out of the hands of Collaros, even if that means continuing to attack the Bomber defence through the air when conventional wisdom would suggest they run the football. The Lions are not a running team, and will not become one at this point of the season.

[DanoT]

Hardy might be harder to tackle than Mizzell (Mizzell seemed to almost always go down upon first contact) but Hardy didn't run with authority or have any better success carrying the ball.

I have *beeotch* all season about the Lions decision to not re-sign James Butler in free agency. Butler, if memory serves, was the second leading rusher in 2022 with the Lions and I think third in rushing in 2023 with the TiCats. If the game is close, the Lions non existent running game will be their undoing, as a result, I have no confidence in a Lions victory.

[Blitz]

Toppy wrote:

Even if BC practiced outside this week (they did Monday only) it doesn't duplicate the conditions of a Winnipeg cold.
I'm more familiar with acclimatizing to heat or altitude where unless you're in that location for a period of time (that doesn't come to mind now) where you have time to acclimate to the heat/humidity or altitude, your team is best to get in the day ahead as BC will do and chances are it might be less of a factor unless it's insanely cold and wintery.

I'd be less concerned about the cold than any wind gusts which show Saturday might be up to 30 KPH as it can degrade QB passing success.

I believe its more difficult to acclimatize to heat and altitude than to cold but that does not minimize the impact of cold weather, especially for teams who like to throw the football, for dome teams, and for teams who don’t practice in cold weather conditions. It’s easier to run the football in cold weather than it is to pass the football, especially when the offence has been on the field for a while. They can stick hand warmers inside their gloves these days, which helps but the fingers can get cold anyways.

Toppy added:

I too heard Davis Sanchez suggest going from Taquan to Jaquan Hardie but given the BC coaching philosophy on running in the CFL I can't see that would make any difference. The only successful running I foresee is Vernon Adams despite the risks.

You are probably right Toppy but then again, with your kicking abilities, perhaps our Leos running attack needs a kick in the backside from you! Hardy did not impress in the regular season either, for his two games, so there is likely not much difference in terms of running the football other than the following:

1. On a hard field, with more straight ahead running, Hardy is likely the better runner than the ever juking Mizzell but even if that does not hold true this does:
2. Hardy was better out of the backfield than Mizzell on swing passes as shown in the two games he played and
3. Most importantly, our tailback blocks more than runs the football or is used as a receiver and Hardy is a much, much better pass blocker than Mizzell.

Other than those points I like that Hardy is 225 pounds. Hardy is least 40 pounds heavier than Mizzell (makes a huge difference when blocking a charging defensive end) and is just as fast, with a 40 yd time of 4.56 whereas Mizzell has run it in 4.55 seconds.

B. C. Fan wrote:

The Bombers are a veteran team that has shown an impressive resilience under Mike O'Shea's coaching. With Zach Collaros at QB, they have an unparalleled ability to overcome adversity.

Experience is not always an advantage but successful experience usually is. The Bombers won’t rattle and they have a lot of confidence. Plus they are hungrier and much more motivated that some sports analysts seem to realize. The sting of the last minute Grey Cup loss and their chance to three-peat stung deeply and they are driven by a powerful desire to be a CFL dynasty.

Dano T posted:

If the game is close, the Lions non existent running game will be their undoing, as a result, I have no confidence in a Lions victory.

Well, by game time, I hope, that while the odds are against us, you will be a little more hopeful Dano. It ain't over just cause the banjo's are being played in Bomberville. BTW, what do you call a Bomber fan with three teeth and a lazy eye? Names!!

We’ve seen many West Finals in which the home team was heavily favored and lost. We saw that a few times under Buono and Company. Will we see that under Mike O’Shea? Less likely in that O’Shea will not be preparing his Bombers with a mindset of cutting down the playbook and just saying “Here we are. It doesn’t matter if are predictable on offence and defense. We are better than you and all we need to do is execute. O’Shea and Richie Hall will focus on taking away Keon Hatcher, put pressure on Adams and treat him as though he is the only Leo on offence who can run the football.

On offence Buck Pierce and the Bombers will attempt to exploit our light defensive ends with their running attack, with offensive tackles Stanley Bryant and Jemarcus Hardrick (a former Leo that we stupidly released) leading Olivera towards open pastures in our defense. On special teams, one can anticipate that O’Shea will have at least one special team play prepared to exploit a weakness in our special teams play and he will have been looking hard.
Hopefully we are not standing pat either.

The Bombers wont' rush three or four most of the game like Calgary did. They are not going to let Adams just sit back there and pick them apart and run like no tomorrow either. So we had better be prepared for more pressure on Adams than the Stamps, who chose a strategy of dropping nine or 8 in zone coverage and got it wrong.

[Blitz]

B.C.FAN

Re: Leos/Bombers West Final Keys to the Game
WED NOV 08, 2023 3:11 PM

These teams were so close in the regular season that it took overtime in their third and final meeting to settle which team would win the season series and finish first in the West. If the Lions had converted on a QB sneak in the dying minutes of that game or if Dominique Rhymes had gone down after making the final catch in regulation time, the Lions would likely have won and would be hosting this game.

When looking at the season series, it's important to note that Vernon Adams played in only 2 of those 3 games, and that the Lions led those 2 games almost the entire way. Winnipeg led for only 3 of 120 minutes in regulation time. Adams was on the injured list for the other game. Dane Evans and Dom Davis shared QB duties (Evans started and was hurt in the first half), and completed a combined 20 of 39 passes for 189 yards, with no TDs and 2 interceptions, while Zach Collaros and Dru Brown torched the B.C. secondary for 447 passing yards, including bombs of 71, 64, 57 and 34 yards. Those circumstances are not likely to repeat themselves, especially with several Winnipeg receivers hurting.

The Bombers rushed for an average of 112 yards in those 3 games, which was 27 yards below their season average. This game will not be won or lost by rushing alone. The team that makes the most big plays through the air will go to the Grey Cup. If Adams plays the entire game and avoids costly turnovers, I like the Lions' chances.

Adams will face his toughest test this Saturday...this is Adams first ever Division Final and the Bombers had the CFL's best regular season pass defence. The Bombers led the league, allowing less than 230 passing yards per game with opponents completing less than 60% of their passes.

[PGSSS74]

In cold weather in Winterpeg, I can not see Fullback David Mackie doing any worse than Mizell or Hardy. Coaches, huh?

[squishy35]

In cold weather in Winterpeg, I can not see Fullback David Mackie doing any worse than Mizell or Hardy. Coaches, huh?

It is forecasted to be sunny and 0 degrees in Winnipeg tomorrow. Much better conditions compared to last year.

[Blitz]

by squishy35

PGSSS74 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 10, 2023 8:38 am
In cold weather in Winterpeg, I can not see Fullback David Mackie doing any worse than Mizell or Hardy. Coaches, huh?

squishy35 posted:

It is forecasted to be sunny and 0 degrees in Winnipeg tomorrow. Much better conditions compared to last year.

I think the best situation would be a rotation of Hardy and Mackie.

Mackie has only been given one handoff this season for a loss. But last year, when he was given the rock to carry 19 times, he averaged 4. 9 yards per carry, even though most of those carries were obvious running situations. That average is better than Mizzell or Hardy's average (I also realize Hardy's work was only over 2 games with a lot of rust on him).

GIVE US A BIG BOY BACKFIELD FOR A BIG GAME IN THE COLD

Hardy is 225 pounds. Mackie is 252 pounds. Both are athletic backs. Starting Hardy, rotating Mackie, and using a power formation, with a two back system with both Mackie and Hardy in there on occasion, with Cottoy lined up at tight end could pay dividends. Its would not only be a good power formation for a running play but also be a great formation for play action pass plays.

You get solid pass blocking with Mackie and Hardie if you keep them both in (you could also release one to the flat on some offensive plays to the flat and keep Cottoy in to block) With Hatcher, Hollins, and Rhymes as our receivers and Cottoy as our possession receiver underneath, with good pass blocking backs, it would give our offence a different look than the constant five or six receiver spread, enable us to to a better job with our running attack, potentially set up better play action, give Adams better protection, and utilize our personnel better.

The formation would also be an excellent formation to screen to Mackie on the backside of a pass play or to Hardy on the front side. It also sets up a tight end screen to Cottoy.

On a cold day in Winnipeg, its not only the threat to run successfully on occasion but also to keep the Bombers defensive lineman in check to help our passing attack. Having a Mackie or a Hardy blocking or double teaming a Jefferson or Jeffcoat than a scatback like Mizzell trying to dance with one of them on pass protection and getting swatted makes more sense. Mackie and Hardy also have good hands and in the open field are a load once they can get motoring. Both have better catch and run stats out of the backfield than Mizzell.

PLAYOFF FOOTBALL IS DIFFERENT

Playoff football in the outdoors in November in the opposing teams stadium is very different than an August evening in the Dome. Saturday will be a war of attrition and a game most likely determined in the pits and also with turnovers. Its a time for warriors more than dancers.

But I don't see our Leos changing at this point, if ever. Its interesting that our offence appears to be just another spread offence but in reality its a West Coast Trestman style offence that has been revised to also include some spread offence concepts. Maksymic has done a very good job schematically with our passing attack and developing quarterbacks too. However, our running game has basically been zone read, zone read, zone read, with an occasional fly sweep since forever - since the days of Angus Reid.

A BLAST FROM THE PAST

The last time we actually had a well designed running attack was for a short time in 2013, when we had both Harris and Stefan Logan in the backfield for the latter part of that season, rotating them in, went to a man blocking system,, and also used a two back system at times too. We actually rushed for over 200 yards a game a few times that year. The only other time we had a well designed running attack was in 2007, when we used Joe Smith and Ian Smart in the backfield, rotating them too and sometimes linung up Smith as the fullback and Smart as the tailback.

With that strong running attack, our Leos finished first in the West with third string quarterback at the helm for most of that season. Hufnagel was hired as an offensive consultant that year and Steve Kruck called the plays. But next season Hufnagel was gone, Kruck's excellent work was rewarded by Wally by Kruck getting his walking papers, the repetitive inside zone run was back exclusively and Andrew Harris was one very frustrated tailback for quite a long time.

THE CHARLIE BROWN FUTILITY AWARD

So, for our Leos, it will likely be back to Mizzell and something that doesn't work. When something doesn't work, why change it. When something doesn''t work try, try, try again and then try some more, and then try some more after that. Don't let failure stop you from continuing to do what doesn't work ad nauseum. With our running game, in Leo Land that has been the case for our running game for a very long time, with some exceptions. As Forest Gump said "Stupid is as Stupid Does" and the Charlie Brown scenario of Charlie kicking the football and falling on his ass while Nancy pulls it away will likely continue. Last game, Mizzell had a two yard per carry average on 11 carries, mostly against a 3 man Calgary defensive line that was pinning its ears back to pass rush Adams, who was slicing Calgary's D apart. Still Mizzell could not find a hole. Embarrassing!!

We will likely once again, on the occasional running play, see a puff of Smoke hit the line of scrimmage, the smoke will quicky dissipate on the cold Winnipeg tundra of a football field, and Smoke Mizzell will pull himself out under a maze of bodies for a half yard gain or a one yard loss.

I would love to be pleasantly surprised with our run game on Saturday but I will do anything other than hold my breath.