As every CFL fan knows, the coming 2015 season will end in Winnipeg as the gateway to the west will play host to the 2015 Grey Cup.
From 2011 to 2013 the CFL city that was awarded the Grey Cup not only played in it, they were victorious and hoisted the coveted trophy on home field. For three consecutive seasons we as fans witnessed the glory of a team playing on true home field in the big game win it all.
Last season how ever we saw that the hosting city ultimately will feel mass pressure to win the championship at home, anything less will be viewed as failure.
Vancouver won the rights to host the 2014 Grey Cup consequently the B.C. Lions would feel the pressure all season long based on the fact that the previous three seasons the home side won it all. Wewe all know how that played out, B.C. making the playoffs via the cross over and ultimately getting pounded in Montreal, the rest is history. The majority of the B.C. coaching staff were let go as general manager Wally Buono felt changes were necessary.
In 2015, every team will start over. This time the pressure will fall squarely on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
We saw flashes of brilliance in the Manitoba capital last year early on as the Blue and Gold raced out to a 5-1 record. They won many of those games in the last minutes, always finding a way to win. However, we ultimately saw what this team really was: just not good enough. First year starting quartback Drew Willy looked great when he had time in the pocket, but that time was often short lived. The young pivot was constantly under pressure and would made crucial mistakes because of it.
Enter a major signing in the form of not only pass protection but also run blocking: offensive lineman Dominic Picard. Picard will definitely have a positive effect on the Bomber line, helping to provide the pocket-passing Willy more time to make better decisions.
The Blue Bombers certainly made a big splash in the off-season with Picard, but don’t expect that to be the only acquisition they will make. The Bombers still have a couple of holes to fill in order to play for the prize at home. A second big threat to play opposite of Clarence Denmark would be a major signing for Winnipeg, and with talk of S.J. Green and Montreal parting ways, one would have to think that that will be their priority on offence.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Bombers have one glaring problem from last season: stopping the run. With their porous run defence, even if the Bombers had made the playoffs, they would have been beaten up late in games and would have fallen short.
Hosting the Grey Cup brings a whole new meaning to word win for Winnipeg – who is currently holding the longest drought with out a title. (Bill Ranford of the Stanley Cup winning Edmonton Oilers was the Conn Smythe winner in 1990.) What better way to end this drought than at home in their new digs at IGF.
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