Winnipeg @ Montreal Pre-game

[Tecno]

Prefer this plan even if they go with Cobb, nothing worse than trotting Demski out for the ESF and finding out he really can't run.

Even if without him it's 1 & done?  Beating MTL will be a tall ask if we are fully healthy.  Beating MTL with no Demski would make almost all of us say WPG loses (a win would require a miracle).

So if Demski's hammy can last at least until the 3rd or 4th Q, why not play him?  Even if it blows, he'll have all off-season to recover, which is more than enough time.  MTL/Alexander did this in that game earlier in the year because they thought they needed that win to stop the bleeding.  Is this moment not even more important & critical for the Bombers?

[Tecno]

Not only is the game Sat, but for those with kids, it is only around 18 hours after Halloween... making wives angry if you bail on 1 or 2 kids before around 8pm Friday!

Who schedules a playoff game for the morning after Halloween?!  Ugh.

[gobombersgo]

Bombers sure like to do things differently.

Thursday they aren't practicing but are traveling to Montreal a day earlier than normal.

[Tecno]

Thursday they aren't practicing but are traveling to Montreal a day earlier than normal.

Are you sure that's different when it comes to playoff games?  Remember, they are on Sat instead of Sun these days.  Could also be the move up to the very early 1pm start... maybe too hectic if you get in Fri evening?

However, leaving the boys to wander MTL alone for lots of Fri isn't always the best way to get a good performance the next day!  Can someone say "curfew"...

[gobombersgo]

Are you sure that's different when it comes to playoff games?  Remember, they are on Sat instead of Sun these days.  Could also be the move up to the very early 1pm start... maybe too hectic if you get in Fri evening?

However, leaving the boys to wander MTL alone for lots of Fri isn't always the best way to get a good performance the next day!  Can someone say "curfew"...

I dont think it's normal. Most teams would practice 3 days and fly out Friday.

The last time the Bombers played in a Semi-Final they flew out the day before the game (Game was on Sunday)

This was their schedule:

Wednesday, November 6
Practice: 11:50 a.m. - 1:05 p.m.

Thursday, November 7 (assistant coaches available, quarterbacks not available)
Practice: 11:55 a.m. - 1:10 p.m.

Friday, November 8
Closed practice

Saturday, November 9
Travel to Calgary
Head Coach Mike O'Shea and selected players available to media at McMahon Stadium in Calgary at approximately 3:15 p.m. MT.

Sunday, November 10
WESTERN SEMI-FINAL
Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Calgary Stampeders, 2:30 p.m. MT, McMahon Stadium, Calgary, AB
TV: TSN, ESPN2
Radio: 680 CJOB - Blue Bombers radio network

[Jesse]

Even if without him it's 1 & done?  Beating MTL will be a tall ask if we are fully healthy.  Beating MTL with no Demski would make almost all of us say WPG loses (a win would require a miracle).

So if Demski's hammy can last at least until the 3rd or 4th Q, why not play him?  Even if it blows, he'll have all off-season to recover, which is more than enough time.  MTL/Alexander did this in that game earlier in the year because they thought they needed that win to stop the bleeding.  Is this moment not even more important & critical for the Bombers?

I think we've seen this movie play out in the last few Grey Cup. If you play an injured player, you're not getting the full version of them with a higher chance of injury, you're getting a limping shell of the player that hampers the rest of the team.

Either way, it sucks that this is what we're getting.

[Blue In BC]

It does seem like a short practice week. That has both pros and cons. Check back on Sunday to see how it worked out.

Demski is the only real question I think. Streveler is obviously finished for 2025. Aside from that we may have a few choices to make but not based on injuries as far as I can tell.

We're about as healthy as we could hope for at this time of year. Montreal has some injuries to deal with as well.

[Waffler]

We have been doing short practice weeks all year. I don't think it's anything new for us.

If Demski is not full on Wednesday he should not dress. The rule for hammies is wait one more week AFTER you think you are 100%.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Bombers sure like to do things differently.

Thursday they aren't practicing but are traveling to Montreal a day earlier than normal.

I don't really have any thoughts on what's the best approach for travel and rest, think they would know best, but it's clear that this coaching staff does things their own way which is often unconventional.

I think the jury is out on that and if you judge this group on the past two seasons (and you probably should) it's only slightly above .500.   

We have arrived at the tough questions part of the process.

[Pete]

It does seem like a short practice week. That has both pros and cons. Check back on Sunday to see how it worked out.

Demski is the only real question I think. Streveler is obviously finished for 2025. Aside from that we may have a few choices to make but not based on injuries as far as I can tell.

We're about as healthy as we could hope for at this time of year. Montreal has some injuries to deal with as well.

May help that we just played them, also being an early sat game that could play into traveling day earlier

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Even if without him it's 1 & done?  Beating MTL will be a tall ask if we are fully healthy.  Beating MTL with no Demski would make almost all of us say WPG loses (a win would require a miracle).

So if Demski's hammy can last at least until the 3rd or 4th Q, why not play him?  Even if it blows, he'll have all off-season to recover, which is more than enough time.  MTL/Alexander did this in that game earlier in the year because they thought they needed that win to stop the bleeding.  Is this moment not even more important & critical for the Bombers?

You have a pretty cavalier attitude towards other people's health and well-being, try not to view pro athletes as expendable commodities. If your kids played competitive sports would you push them to play while still injured?

The Bomber doctors have done enough damage this season and may have ended the careers of Schoen and Streveler by letting them play before they were fully recovered.  If Schoen was managed properly he might have come back 2 or 3 games ago and been ready for the playoffs. 

Hopefully they revise their medical assessment process in the off-season or bring in new staff that doesn't  kowtow to the players or O'Shea's optimistic medical opinions.  Notice how these miraculous recovery time-frames never play out in a positive way.

[dd]

Are you sure that's different when it comes to playoff games?  Remember, they are on Sat instead of Sun these days.  Could also be the move up to the very early 1pm start... maybe too hectic if you get in Fri evening?

However, leaving the boys to wander MTL alone for lots of Fri isn't always the best way to get a good performance the next day!  Can someone say "curfew"...

St Catherine's Ave has been responsible for more than its fair share of losses in Montreal for visiting teams.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Derek Taylor🏈

Joey Corcoran is with the starters at wide receiver in place of Kevens Clercius. Clercius is here and dressed.

Looks like Kemari Munier-Bailey will be staying on the roster for this game.
Mike O'Shea was full of praise for his work on D and Specials on the weekend.

Haven't seen DT Cam Lawson yet today. Collin Kornelson taking his reps

Lawson is on the sideline in street clothes.

Ed Tait
@EdTaitWFC

Nic Demski in uniform but without a helmet as @Wpg_BlueBombers practice begins

[Blue In BC]

Derek Taylor🏈

Joey Corcoran is with the starters at wide receiver in place of Kevens Clercius. Clercius is here and dressed.

Looks like Kemari Munier-Bailey will be staying on the roster for this game.
Mike O'Shea was full of praise for his work on D and Specials on the weekend.

Haven't seen DT Cam Lawson yet today. Collin Kornelson taking his reps

Lawson is on the sideline in street clothes.

Ed Tait
@EdTaitWFC

Nic Demski in uniform but without a helmet as @Wpg_BlueBombers practice begins

Hmmm. I wonder if Corcoran has bumped Clercius for this week.

I liked what Munier-Bailey did last week. The only question is which Canadian doesn't get back on after moving to 1 game IR. That could mean it's perceived Demski won't be on the roster.

Kornelson instead of Lawson would be a downgrade against Alexander.

Again. This a 1 practice week and then a walk through so I would expect decisions to be made as a result of today info.

[gobombersgo]

There are 2 practices this week. The walkthrough isn't listed but I'm sure they will just have it at their hotel in Montreal.