The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will enter the 2016 CFL season under pressure as they look to improve on last year’s disappointing 5-13 record. Winnipeg will have an uphill climb to compete with the Edmonton Eskimos, Calgary Stampeders, B.C Lions. and Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West division. This is arguably the harder of the two divisions, which is why the Blue Bombers are probably missing the days when they were in the East. Nobody understands what is at stake more than head coach Mike O’Shea and G.M. Kyle Walters, and they’re going to need to deliver at least a playoff appearance to save their jobs.
Team Strengths
The Blue Bombers made a blockbuster deal when they signed star running back and Winnipeg-native Andrew Harris away from the Lions. Harris is a special player that can provide a spark for their offense at the position and suddenly the Blue Bombers are very sound at the running back spot. This was a big weakness on the team last year as the team’s top rusher was Cameron Marshall. He only had 614 yards in 18 games with just five rushing touchdowns. Harris has averaged 950.3 rushing yards and 6.3 touchdowns over the last four seasons, but keep in mind that he only played in 12 games in the 2014 season.
Wide receiver should also be a position of strength after the Blue Bombers brought in Weston Dressler and Ryan Smith in free agency. Winnipeg’s offseason focus wasn’t limited to the offensive side of the football either as they took measures to improve their defensive line. Defensive tackles Keith Shologan and Euclid Cummings represent significant upgrades at the position and should solidify the interior of the Blue Bombers defensive line.
Team Weaknesses
Drew Willy will be paid like a true franchise quarterback this season but he needs to prove that he can step up and play a complete season at a high level in order to make him worth the investment. The arrival of offensive coordinator Paul LaPolice is expected to help but Winnipeg is thin at the quarterback position so it will be on Willy to stay healthy and prove that he can lead the way under center. The Blue Bombers improved their defensive line n the offseason but they still have holes at linebacker and in their defensive secondary. It will be interesting to see how they come together this season and whether or not the improvements made up front on the defensive line can help take some pressure off of the defensive backs this season.
Team X-Factor
Willy will need to step up at the quarterback position but no player will be more important than Harris, who was brought in to take some of the pressure off of the Winnipeg passing attack. The Blue Bombers need Harris to play to his potential after watching him finish second in the CFL in rushing yards last year with 1,039 while also picking up 484 receiving yards and nine total touchdowns. The Winnipeg-born running back has the potential to become one of the faces of the franchise this season and there is no doubt he will be the biggest X-Factor for the Blue Bombers.
Outlook
A fast start could be the key to Winnipeg improving on last year’s 5-13 mark but even if they do that, they will be in tough to climb over Edmonton, Calgary and B.C. in the Western division. It will be important for the Blue Bombers to be that much more competitive against their division rivals as well as at home where they went just 3-6 last season. Only one team had a worse home record than that (the 3-15 Saskatchewan Roughriders).
Winnipeg has the weapons to deliver a better on-field product this season but everything will have to come together in order for O’Shea to get this team back to the playoffs. The Blue Bombers will be in tough to make the postseason and ultimately how far they go will depend on Willy and Messam as they attempt to take another step forward in the right direction this season.
Pick: Fourth in Western Division. Fail to make playoffs for the fifth straight season and sixth time in seven years.
