Next Game
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ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
It is amazing what can transpire in a week in the Canadian Football League. Last Friday, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers played three quarterbacks in their loss to Toronto and neither starter Stefan LeFors nor backups Brian Randall or Richie Williams could move the ball on offence.
Fast forward less than a week later and you will find that Williams has since been released, LeFors’ starting spot is more than in jeopardy and a former Argos quarterback is now in the fold and projected to be the long term solution for the Bombers offensive woes.
Enter Michael Bishop – a veteran QB with practically unseen arm strength that spent the majority of his CFL career in Double Blue before being traded last season to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Bishop arrived in Winnipeg on Sunday night and hit the practice field for Monday morning, just three days after the Bombers failed to put up more than 66 yards passing against an Argos defence that forced four turnovers.
Head Coach Mike Kelly has yet to confirm whether or not Bishop will get the start or if he will give LeFors one more shot to lead the Bombers offence but one thing seems to be pretty evident – if last week is any indication, Kelly should have no reservations to pull his starter if the Bomber offence falters again.
On the other side of the ball, the Blue and Gold defence seems to be rounding into one of the league’s best. Linebacker Barrin Simpson looks like he has not missed a beat since missing most of last season with an injury. The ‘Minister of Defence’ currently leads all CFL players in defensive tackles with 36 and only 5 spots behind him on the list sits Siddeeq Shabazz who is also having a career year in the Bomber defensive backfield. Newcomer Dorion Smith should also receive special consideration by the offensive line since he sacked Kerry Joseph three times last week.
Combine Simpson and Shabazz with dominant defensive line, led by veterans Doug Brown and Gavin Walls, and the Bombers defence may be their saving grace as they try to climb back into things in the East.
The Bombers will face the Argos at Rogers Centre this Saturday at 1:00 p.m. For tickets, please call 416-872-5000 or click here to purchase online.
Players to watch
QB Stefon LeFors
RB Fred Reid
QB Michael Bishop
DB Siddeeq Shabazz
LB Barrin Simpson
DL Dorion Smith
Story Lines
– Who will start at QB for the Bombers?
– Can their defence continue to dominate opposing offences?