Eskimos too much for Blue Bombers

[allvol]

Eskimos too much for Blue Bombers


Canadian Press
6/16/2005 11:49:43 PM

WINNIPEG (CP) - With veteran quarterbacks Ricky Ray, Jason Maas and Khari Jones at his disposal, Edmonton head coach Danny Maciocia will have a tough time deciding who will start.

"I think I've got 1-A, 1-B and 1-C," Maciocia said after his Eskimos downed the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23-9 in their final CFL pre-season game Thursday night.

"And then's there's Jason Johnson in the equation. He's been unbelievable."

Maas ran five yards for a touchdown and Jones tossed a 22-yard TD strike to Trevor Gaylord Thursday night. Johnson led the team to Winnipeg's four-yard line in four minutes of play, but couldn't cross the goal-line and Sean Fleming ended up booting the last of his three field goals to end the scoring at 12:43.

"I'm sleeping comfortably. I'm not losing any sleep over that position," Maciocia said.





Ray didn't dress because of a hyperextended knee he suffered in last week's pre-season game versus Winnipeg. Maciocia said Ray should be ready to go for Edmonton's season-opener at home June 24 against Ottawa.

Maas was playing his first game after undergoing shoulder surgery in December. He completed nine of 11 pass attempts for 120 yards, plus four carries for 14 yards.

"Overall, my body felt great," Maas said. "It was my first pre-season game so there were things that I didn't do so well in my mind, but that's more because of the limited reps I've had in camp and because it was my first game."

As for who will be handed the No. 1 job, Maas is leaving it up to the boss.

"He'll go with the guy who he feels is going to give us the best opportunity to win," he said. "In my opinion, you could probably win with all three of us so it's not like it's a really hard decision. He just has to pick one and go with it."

Jones, who was traded by Winnipeg to Calgary last September, replaced Maas with 7:47 left in the second quarter. He was greeted by a mix of cheers and boos from the 28,013 fans at Canad Inns Stadium. He finished 11-of-18 for 151 yards and one interception and was sacked five times.

Troy Westwood notched one field goal for Winnipeg, while Jon Ryan, the Bomber punter who was splitting duties with Westwood in the pre-season, kicked a 30-yarder. Westwood added a single.

Winnipeg also picked up two points for a safety when Jones was sacked in the end zone.

Bomber head coach Jim Daley said he was happy with his kickers' versatility and running back Charles Roberts' "urgency', even though he only had nine carries for 12 yards. However, Winnipeg's offensive line wasn't very effective and the team's overall effort was lacking.

"I thought our level of intensity and urgency was not there," Daley said. "I thought a huge problem in the game, if you take the first half, we had 42 defensive plays and 20 offensive plays. You can't be competitive in a football game when your defence can't get the offence of the other team off the field and your offence can't stay on."

Edmonton had possession of the ball for 21:35 in the first half, compared to Winnipeg's 8:25.

Winnipeg quarterback Kevin Glenn played the first half. He was 6-of-12 for 90 yards and one interception.

Maas' touchdown came off a Bomber turnover when Winnipeg Glenn was intercepted by Eskimos defensive back Donny Brady after intended receiver Wane McGarity fell on the way to the ball. Maas ran into the end zone on a fake handoff to take a 10-0 lead with just under three minutes remaining.

"We have to get more consistent as an offence. That's the biggest thing," Glenn said. "Everybody's out there fighting, but one little mistake can cost you a turnover or a loss of downs."

Spergon Wynn, Tee Martin and Russ Michna also took turns at the Bomber quarterback spot.

Winnipeg's season-opener is June 25 in Regina.

 

[allvol]

Before somebody asks why Tee is not the starting quarterback... read this article:

by Paul Friesen -- Winnipeg Sun

He got the starting job without so much as breaking a training-camp sweat, head coach Jim Daley handing it to him, along with his playbook and hotel room key, the moment he got into town.

The fact he came into the season as the least experienced starting quarterback in the CFL West didn't matter.

Neither did the presence of two pretty good prospects behind him, in Spergon Wynn and Tee Martin.

And when he turned in a yawner of a performance in the pre-season opener in Edmonton, nothing changed.

No, come hell or high water -- an apt description of our spring weather, don't you think? -- Kevin Glenn would be the starting quarterback when the Bombers opened their 75th season in Saskatchewan, June 25.

We know this because Daley told us. And he made sure we didn't forget it, repeating it like a mantra through training camp.

The last thing this team needed was a quarterback controversy, the Bomber boss explained.

Seems to me a quarterback controversy worked out just fine for the B.C. Lions last season, but we digress.

Daley's approach was well thought-out, designed to give Glenn every chance to succeed.

Still young for a starter, at 26, Glenn didn't need to look over his shoulder, the thinking went. That would allow him to concentrate on learning a new offence.

That philosophy is all well and good, but there comes a time when philosophy takes a back seat to performance. Bomber fans were waiting for it last night, in the pre-season finale against the Eskimos.

JUSTIFIED

It's likely even Daley was hoping to see signs his faith in Glenn was justified, that the Detroit native would put some wheels under the Bomber attack.

Based on Glenn's 30-minute appearance in a 23-9 loss, this machine still needs a little service before Daley rolls it out for regular-season competition.

And the driver has some brushing up to do, too.

With Glenn at the controls for the first half, guiding mostly the No. 1 unit, the Winnipeg offence managed to score three, measly points.

From his first drive, in which he was nearly picked off, to his last, which ended with a fumble, Glenn did little to stir the juices of the 28,000-plus in the stands.

OK, there was one shining moment, a deep fade pass, thrown with a perfect touch to Milt Stegall in the first quarter and resulting in a 41-yard gain. That was about half of Glenn's production on the night, as he finished with just 90 yards through the air.

It's not like he was directing a scintillating ground attack, either.

Winnipeg's total offence in the half: 92 yards, five first downs and a time of possession of just 8:25, compared to Edmonton's 21:35.

We should point out Martin and Wynn didn't fair much better. [?] In fact, don't be surprised if one of them is gone, after newcomer Russ Michna was the best of the bunch for the second straight week.

Glenn wasn't awful -- he showed his quick release and ability to get away from the rush a few times.

He was also victimized by receivers' mistakes, including a slip by Wane McGarity that led to an interception. McGarity dropped a pass, too, killing a Bomber drive.

But on a first-quarter swing pass to Roberts that had potential, No. 5 missed by a mile. And his decision to throw deep to McGarity into double-coverage was questionable.

Glenn still had a chance to redeem himself, given a chance to operate the two-minute offence to end the half.

That's when, under pressure from the Edmonton defence, he fumbled his last snap.

No, Kevin Glenn didn't reach out and grab the starting quarterback's job with both hands last night.

Then again, he didn't have to.

I'm not sure about the philosophy, but I know one thing. From now on, it's all about performance.

 

[allvol]

alot of words in the above 2 articles.... one even said that Martin did not play well.... but no mention of stats or the particulars of how he did.... you make your own judgements based on this excerpt from another Winnipeg Sun article (by Kirk Penton):

Martin's first act in a Bomber uniform, which came a minute and a half into the third quarter behind the backup offensive line, was an eight-yard run. Three plays later, on second-and-10 he hooked up with second-year receiver Gilles Colon for a 10-yard reception and a first down.

Then he hit Keith Stokes with a 25-yard strike to Edmonton's 24-yard line, and the fans were pumped.

The drive stalled, however, and Troy Westwood missed a 27-yard field goal that resulted in a single.

Martin completed three of five passes for 39 yards and Spergon Wynn was good on two of six attempts for 23 yards. Michna, however, was the best of the backups, completing six of 12 throws for 64 yards, although a 15-yard touchdown toss to Vinny Sutherland was called back due to a holding penalty.