Blue Bombers Blog

Well I hate to say it, but we have opened the door for Pinball and boys out east in Toronto.

When you break down the game most people would say it was maybe four or five plays that determined the outcome, but it was tale of two halfs.

We scored 15 points in the first half and put up a goose egg in the second.

Now I think it’s safe to say that if a defence can hold a team to 18 points, there’s a good chance of that team winning. Unfortunately we could not.

I thought our defence played a pretty good game. Yea, they gave up a few big plays, but to hold Toronto, a team with so many weapons on offence, to 18 points is big.

Offensively we didn’t play that bad of a game. Now I know you are saying: “What you talking about Willis?”

OK, we were not spectacular, but besides the two costly turnovers, we didn’t do anything to put our team in any bad situations, and sometimes with a good defence that’s enough.

To all you critics who have been second guessing the signing of ALBERT JOHSON, you can put your foot in your mouth now. If I’m correct, he is leading the CFL in all-purpose yards. So now you can jump on the Flight 87 band wagon.

So now we go into the Labour Day Classic five up and five down, going against a team from Regina that has a little momentum on its side. But all that means nothing when the lights come on and the first kickoff happens.

So see you in the big city of Regina. And I hope the two young men coming off the injury list play well, because I am tired of hearing about them. Remember this is a team sport, it’s not won by indivduals, but a total team effort.

GOD bless.

Milt Stegall

1960 Sun - … defensive honors, while Saskatchewan defensive lineman Fred Perry garnered lineman accolades and Winnipeg … Johnson had a total of 242 kick return yards in the Blue Bombers’ 18-15 setback to Toronto. His long of the game was a …

Well so much has happen since the last time I’ve spoken to you guys.

First of all I went home for our first off week and had a great time with my beautiful wife and son. It seems no matter how little time I go without seeing my son, he seems to be growing and developing a personality of his own.

He is also up to 20 push ups and 30 sit ups, but we are working on that. His debating skills are also improving.

Now I know you are asking yourself, why is a 21-month-old child working on his debating skills? Well for all you fans who do not know, my son is destined to be the first black president of the United States, so he is trying to get a leg up on the competition.

So I am advising you all to stay in touch with me when my football career ends, because in 45 years my wife and I will be the First Parents of the United States.

Now on to football matters. Why was the out spoken GM fired from that team west of us in Regina? Was it something he said to the board members? Was it the fact that the board wanted him to fire the head coach, and he refused? Or was this firing going to happen regardless?

Well I guess only the old GM, the new GM, and the board members know what went down. If the old GM wants to vent his frustrations, just give me a call.

Well matters here in Bomberland have been like a rollercoaster. The last two games have seen us going into the tunnel and not seeing anything on the rollercoaster ride, but we are a very postive team, and we see the light and are about to make our way out of the tunnel, and make our full throttle down hill, last night’s game aside.

With Montreal losing their last three contest, first place in the East is not that far off. But Toronto is also in the hunt, winning their last two contests, which put them two points behind us before Friday night. Now they are tied with us.

And you may say this sounds crazy, but don’t count out Hamilton.

Eds note: This was written before Friday’s loss to the Argos.

This evening’s contest will be a challenge for us. For one, we have some injuries, but I feel the guys replacing the injuried players will do a fabulous job. And secondly, like I said before, Pinball and the boys are riding a two-game winning streak. As long as we execute, and keep the mistakes to a minimal, I’m more than confident that we can come away with a victory. See you at the game.

Food for thought. They say sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. Try getting hit by a dictionary, and see what happens.

GOD Bless,
Milt Stegall

Question: can the Winnipeg Blue Bombers really miss Kevin Glenn and Milt Stegall THAT much?
If you watched tonight’s 18-15 Toronto Argonaut victory over the Bombers and the Bomb Squad’s offensive ineptitude in the second half you have to think Glenn and Stegall are the team’s MVPs. Folks, they look absolutely lost without them.
Charles Roberts did his thing — although he only had nine touches in the second half and they were not creative enough getting him the ball — and the defence was steady, but the offence was anemic in the second half.
All that said, this is a team that simply needs to start making more plays when it matters. There were dropped passes again, missed throws, potential interceptions not squeezed, blown assignments, bad tackling and a field-goal attempt that clanged off an upright. In other words, it was far from the kind of effort the Bombers needed if they were going to knock off the surging Argos.
Your thoughts? Post them here and let’s get a discussion going…
Cheers

The boys are back in town, refreshed and revitalized after a much needed bye last week.

The season is hard on the body and the mind,
so a break from the routine of football life is like gold.
Guys came back with a new sparkle in their eye
and a hop in their step.

After a couple days of reverse culture shock, the locker room returned to normal. Most everyone came back with lazy stories of sleeping in past 10 a.m. and having a second helping of late night ice cream.

With the inactivity of the bye, a few guys tend to come back a little on the heavier side. These guys are given the “Fat Daddy” label.

This bye week, the title goes to none other than Baron Simpson.

Some guys came back with a pot bellies and others with new ligaments. Dan Goodspeed had successful surgery done on his knee and has been walking around unassisted. I want to wish him a speedy recovery and can’t wait to bash heads with him when he’s fully heeled.

I went back home to Cali for bye.

 

 

I had to take care of some buisness in Berkeley so I spent the first half in the San Francisco Bay area. The weather was great and it was awesome to see the city and smell the Pacific Ocean air.
Thought I’d share a few photos from my trip.
As much as it was nice to have a break and go home, it’s great to be back on the Prairie.

We have the Argos at home this week. It’s a big game for us, so make sure to be there.

Pura Vida
TC#44

Kicking myself today for predicting in our weekly Huddle page that Danny Barrett would be bumped upstairs in Saskatchewan in the wake of the Roy Shivers’ firing. I guessed that Eric Tillman would re-surface in Ottawa this fall but it makes more sense for him to take the job in Regina. And that announcement is imminent.

Tillman was actually the first choice of the Rider board in 1999 but balked at taking the gig. But now, having seen how Shivers spent much of the year in the US scouting, Tillman can take the Rider position knowing there is a suitable template for him. A caring family man, Tillman is close to his friends and family in Mississippi and is now a father of two. He’ll be able to keep the Riders stocked with talent and keep his family commitments under the arrangement in Saskatchewan.

I will say this about Shivers’ departure: he rankled a lot of folks for his candid manner, but he’ll be missed by us hacks in the press because he was a great quote and was never short of speaking his mind. A team like the Hamilton Tiger-Cats — or any CFL outfit, for that matter — would be wise to tap into his knowledge.

Finally, I’ve got to say this about what I saw from Brad Banks at Bomber practice this week: where have you been, Mr. Banks? He often looked bamboozled by Doug Berry’s offence this season but he zoned in over the past few days as the starting QB job was dangled in front of his eyes this week. He likely won’t start this Friday against the Argos — Mike Quinn will get another crack — but don’t be surprised if Berry has a quick hook.

Cheers

Bombers QB: “I won’t be playing this game but I’m shooting to get back as fast as I can”

The Blue Bombers will have at least one veteran back in the line-up this week

The first taping of five Cats on Cable episodes will take place this Wednesday at 7:30 PM at The End Zone Bar and Grill

The Toronto Sun says the Argos success on Saturday masked their lack of an adequate backup quarterback

Riders tackle Gene Mackowsky: “Winning is obviously the first priority but if you’re able to play a big part in it and get the running game going, that’s definitely a lot of fun”

The Edmonton Sun recaps the Eskimos first half of the 2006 CFL season

Damon Allen could surpass Warren Moon’s passing yardage record on Labour Day at Ivor Wynne Stadium

Esks head coach defends decision to let clock tick down to zero with chance to win game

Road warrior Cahoon hops home for the birth of his fourth child