Stamps -Winnipeg

[Sonny]

The Stamps got a boost this week with the return of left guard Shane Bergman to the active roster.

The offensive lineman missed last weekend?s game against the Eskimos due to an undisclosed, ongoing issue, but will be back at it against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday night .

?Shane is, in my opinion, our best offensive lineman this year as far as consistency,? Dickenson said. ?I do think there?s multiple challenges blocking the Winnipeg front. Their ends are as good as anybody.?
With Bergman back, Ryan Sceviour shifted from left-guard to right-guard, where Justin Lawrence will be backing him up.?

STEPPING UP

Nate Holley has been one of the standout newcomers on the Stampeders roster so far this season, and he?ll get his first start at weakside linebacker on Thursday.

The Stamps are making the move because Wynton McManis was moved off the active roster and onto the six-game injured list, but it?s a big opportunity for Holley.

?Just want him to be himself and just let the game come to him,? Dickenson said. ?He?s probably pretty excited. We were ready to at least activate (Dwayne Norman) and get Riley (Jones) back on the roster.

?We think he?s ready. A lot of challenges, a lot of misdirections ? just trust his eyes.?

NOTES

It is relatively absurd that the Stampeders are playing their second game in five nights on Thursday night, and it?s completely insane that it?s the second of three times they?ll have to do that this season. The team is being careful not to complain too much about it, but it doesn?t feel right for any team to have to put their players through that much ? Thursday will mark the first time the Stampeders have started the exact same group of defensive backs for two games in a row this year.

 

[Sonny]

After humbling loss, Bombers look to rebound against Grey Cup champion Stampeders



WEATHER REPORT: Mainly Sunny, 23 C, Wind NW 22


FIVE THINGS TO WATCH


Bombers running back Andrew Harris is back in the league rushing lead (54 yards ahead of Montreal?s William Stanback) after he ran for 152 yards last week in a loss at Toronto. Usually, when Harris runs for 100-plus you can put a win in the bank for the Bombers. As long as he gets a bit of air support this time, Harris can carry the Bombers to victory.

SPECIAL DELIVERY

Last week the Stampeders won despite deficits in time of possession, net offence, first downs and big plays. They were helped immensely by the terrific special teams work of Terry Williams, who ran back a kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown and had 241 total return yards. He?ll be a handful for the Bombers to contend with.

RUSH TO JUDGEMENT

The Bombers have the best rush defence in the CFL (67.9 yards per game), while the Stamps have the eighth best rushing attack (70.3 yards per game). That could make life miserable for the visitors and is likely to put quarterback Nick Arbuckle into passing mode for much of the game. The Bombers defensive line, led by end Willie Jefferson, will look to feast.

KEEP FOOT ON GAS

The Bombers blew a 20-point lead last week in Toronto and lost 28-27. It tied a team record for the largest lead blown. The Bombers need to keep their focus and keep their foot on the gas for 60 minutes. If they can lose focus and lose to the worst team in the league, imagine what can happen against a team like the Stamps.

TURNOVER MACHINES

The Stampeders and Bombers are No. 1 and No. 2 in the CFL in takeaways, with Calgary forcing 22 turnovers so far and Winnipeg forcing 20. Calgary has scored 74 points off turnovers, while the Bombers have scored just 34. Individually, the big stars in the takeaway department have been Calgary DB Tre Roberson and Winnipeg CB Winston Rose. Both have five interceptions this season and are tied for the league lead and both have one touchdown.

INSIDE THE GAME

This is the first time Winnipeg and Calgary will play for sole possession of first place this deep into the season since 1982 ? The Bombers have won six straight home games and are looking to make it seven, which is is something they haven?t done since 2002-03 ? This is the seventh consecutive season in which the Stamps have won at least five of their first seven games ? The Bombers are the least penalized team in the CFL with 54 penalties through seven games. The Stampeders are third in the league with 60 penalties ? This is the Bombers first game against a West Division opponent in 42 days ? Winnipeg has won two of the last three meetings with the Stampeders. Before that, Calgary went 14-1 between 2011 and 2017 ? The Bombers will be without starting defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat and have added four new players to the lineup: Kick returner Janarion Grant, national receiver Malcolm Williams, halfback Mercy Maston and linebacker Korey Jones ? The Stamps will have Nate Holley making his first start at weak-side linebacker with Winton McManis out with injury. Left guard Shane Bergman returns to the lineup after missing last week?s game.

THE KEY MATCHUP

Bombers QB Matt Nichols vs. Stamps QB Nick Arbuckle

Despite playing all but two games without 2019 MOP Bo Levi Mitchell, the Stamps have the third most passing yards in the CFL. That?s thanks to the strong performance of backup Arbuckle at quarterback. However, the Bombers have a veteran presence in Nichols, who leads the league with 14 touchdown passes but rarely puts up big yardage totals (just one 300-yard passing game in his last 26 starts). This is a case where Nichols absolutely needs to be the better quarterback if the Bombers want to have a chance to win. He has a 1-8 record all-time against Calgary.


The Bombers are determined to use home-field advantage to re-establish themselves as the team to beat in the West. They have the weapons to do it, leading Calgary in most statistical categories, but will have to play their best game of the season against the charging Stampeders.