Rest of the season is a hell of a test. Away to Calgary which has been a graveyard, at home to Edmonton, and then home and home clashes with BC and Ottawa. Still not sure if the Bombers are legitimate contenders or just an average team that has been getting it done vs. other average/bad teams, we'll soon find out.
In the end though, they essentially just need one more win to seal a playoff berth.
It's going to be tough. Calgary is a write off but Edmonton is a game they should win (and would probably pretty much clinch a playoff spot in the west). The home and home against BC might be for home field playoff game. I couldn't imagine how crazy IGF would be for a home playoff game. Ottawa is in free fall though, that is two games Winnipeg should win. I can honestly see 12 wins as a realistic goal (EDM, BC (1), OTT (2)). Would probably not be enough for 2nd place though. Likely need 13 wins to finish in 2nd (or at very least win both BC games at get to 12).
The thing is we still need to be better on offense, IMO. Now I only listened to the game as I was at work, but we are still not taking advantage of the chances given to us all too often, IMO. Nichols needs to be better. It's that last remaining piece between Bombers and a true top end contender.
Best thing for me this season has been the development of that offensive line. Keep that core of Bryant, Bond, Goossen and Chungh together, and you've got a line that figures to be in the top half of the CFL for a long time.
Gotta love the makeup of that. The smart positional center to anchor the line with two nasty guards on either side. The anchor star tackle to protect the QB's back. Lots has been said about Bond coming in, we all know about big free agent splash Bryant and his ups and downs, and Chung was the story last year as a great rookie. The guy I'd like to point out in Goossen. Much maligned as he was drafted very young in a high draft spot (#2?) and clearly not ready for big time he is really coming into his own, IMO. He is not a mean nasty guy so he tends to get overlooked (or attacked) but he is really solid positionally and does a good job. Center is traditionally where you need a smart lineman to identify defensive formations and communicate to the rest of the line and Goossen fills that role well, IMO.
