Edmonton at Winnipeg

[Blue In BC]

Demski and Pokey if healthy will be effective, they are our stars

The heavy negativity on Younger isn't warranted imo, while we have issues on D and it's ok to be critical, the pot seams to be boiling a little early

D and coaches need to step up, won't be an easy game by any stretch after laying a couple eggs on D.  Doesn't mean the chickens won't hatch this time LOL

Maybe the hens needed to sit on them a little longer
pass on Peterson, BBB all day baby, yes sprinkle in a little Demski

If Brady gassed sure give Peterson a couple touches

We'd have to take another Canadian off the roster to get Peterson on. It's possible as a choice but I doubt it happens for now. Those are the players that are used extensively on ST's.

Peterson wouldn't get too many reps on offence so it's a counter productive choice. OTOH Chris-Ike is faster and possibly a choice to be used in this fashion 2 or 3 times a game even if it's not totally successful. He's on the field as a FB at times and could be used in draws or sweeps just to add a wrinkle to what the defence has to plan against.

[Blue In BC]

If we keep Jones @ WILL and Griffin @ SAM this will be a superb test of whether it's a better combo for stopping the run.  Rankin is a speed-around-the-edge or outer gap scat/speed back.  My theory is this is exactly what we "upgraded" at both positions.

I'm cautiously optimistic.

And anyone notice the power backs (Brady, Mills, Oullette) are having a tough go this season so far and the speed backs are having a field day?  Is there something changing on the D's / schemes causing this?  Or did just everyone figure out the edges are more vulnerable in a CFL D?

Sucks we have a power back if so...

For poops and giggles, let's try a couple of snaps with Demski @ tailback or get Peterson in for a series where we test the edge.  Both are infinitely faster than Brady.  Or go 2-tail looks where it's 50/50 whether it's gut with Brady or edge with Demski.  Both backs immediately attack their spot and no one knows which has the ball.  Then later run that set and throw to a wide open Daniels.

It's certainly a big test early in the season. We also need our newbies on the DL to become more effective. I've noticed them being caught inside too often. Ceresna can't do everything.

[Pete]

It will be something of a role reversal , we will/need to focus on stopping the run and forcing elks to beat us through the air.
 Edmon strengths
  Much more physical defense than us
  Rankin and Fajardo running game is more diversified , we basically run off tackle with Olivera
  Younger and faster more aggressive secondary

 Winnipeg strengths
Receiving core
Collaros is better than Fajardo
Specialty teams
Dline has potential to be more impactful if Willie comes to play
Should be a good one.

[Blueforlife]

We'd have to take another Canadian off the roster to get Peterson on. It's possible as a choice but I doubt it happens for now. Those are the players that are used extensively on ST's.

Peterson wouldn't get too many reps on offence so it's a counter productive choice. OTOH Chris-Ike is faster and possibly a choice to be used in this fashion 2 or 3 times a game even if it's not totally successful. He's on the field as a FB at times and could be used in draws or sweeps just to add a wrinkle to what the defence has to plan against.

I was still in last seasons AR mode.  You are 100% about Peterson.  Great point.  Agree on Chris-Ike.

[3rdand1.5]

Faj like's to get outside and Rankin excels outside tackle and bouncing plays outside, contain is going to be very important this game, our DE's and/or LB's need to really focus on keeping Cody between the tackles and in the pocket while also trying to force Ranking up the middle due to edges being sealed off.

[Blueforlife]

Faj like's to get outside and Rankin excels outside tackle and bouncing plays outside, contain is going to be very important this game, our DE's and/or LB's need to really focus on keeping Cody between the tackles and in the pocket while also trying to force Ranking up the middle due to edges being sealed off.

Excellent keys to the game

[Stats Junkie]

Justin Rankin is a feast or famine type of back. He has explosive speed and can break away for huge gains. He also gets dropped for a loss more than any other RB. Reminds me of Fred Reid in that regard.

Rankin was tackled for a loss 41 times in 2025 and 8 times in 2026.

By comparison, Oliveira was tackled for a loss 12 times in 2025 & 0 times this far in 2026.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

It's certainly a big test early in the season. We also need our newbies on the DL to become more effective. I've noticed them being caught inside too often. Ceresna can't do everything.

Agree, I think a few members of the D-line were guilty of "playing young" against the Ti-Cats, abandoning their assignments in pursuit of BLM. Of the 7 starting only 3 have CFL experience, with that many rookies it's going to take awhile for Coach Jake to sort things out.

As for Rankin the Bombers did pretty well containing him last season, if you can ignore the 64 yd. run in game #19. The Bombers lost that game 25-20 but even late in the season they were still fighting for a playoff berth, so they didn't field their B-squad.

Wk. #4   7   30   0   4.3   11
Wk. #19  18   138   1   7.7   64

[Blueforlife]

Justin Rankin is a feast or famine type of back. He has explosive speed and can break away for huge gains. He also gets dropped for a loss more than any other RB. Reminds me of Fred Reid in that regard.

Rankin was tackled for a loss 41 times in 2025 and 8 times in 2026.

By comparison, Oliveira was tackled for a loss 12 times in 2025 & 0 times this far in 2026.

Some interesting facts there, if he is like Fred Reid, other teams are in trouble!

Agree, I think a few members of the D-line were guilty of "playing young" against the Ti-Cats, abandoning their assignments in pursuit of BLM. Of the 7 starting only 3 had CFL experience, with that many rookies it's going to take awhile for Coach Jake to sort things out.

As for Rankin the Bombers did pretty well containing him last season, if you can ignore the 64 yd. run in game #19. The Bombers lost that game 25-20 but even late in the season they were still fighting for a playoff berth, so they didn't field their B-squad.

Wk. #4   7   30   0   4.3   11
Wk. #19  18   138   1   7.7   64

hope

[blue_or_die]

Not really sure what to say at this point other than I myself and probably many others here are nervous about the D. It's entirely possible that we adjust our biggest mistakes from last game on both plan/system and maybe some individual errors (not that I noticed anything in-game) and we bounce back and can hold off CoFaj and Rankin. That would be a sigh of relief.

Or we have another repeat of last week and see them rolling over us. If you thought a mostly civil discussion in a Jordan Younger-dedicated thread was bad last game, it will be much much worse if it happens that way again and I don't expect there to be much grace.

I don't really know what to expect though. Sure hoping it's the first one obvs.

[gobombersgo]

[Blueforlife]

Not really sure what to say at this point other than I myself and probably many others here are nervous about the D. It's entirely possible that we adjust our biggest mistakes from last game on both plan/system and maybe some individual errors (not that I noticed anything in-game) and we bounce back and can hold off CoFaj and Rankin. That would be a sigh of relief.

Or we have another repeat of last week and see them rolling over us. If you thought a mostly civil discussion in a Jordan Younger-dedicated thread was bad last game, it will be much much worse if it happens that way again and I don't expect there to be much grace.

I don't really know what to expect though. Sure hoping it's the first one obvs.

O if we lay another egg on D, the forum will come close to the pre mini dynasty run level of worry.

I enjoyed your take here.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Elsbury took an extra day on bye week to get married, seems like bad planning on his part, maybe he never expected to make the team?  Hope he's at least bringing his poor wife back to Wpg. with him, not much of a honeymoon for her.

[dd]

what is the injury status of Demski and Wilson?? Are they out for this game?

[Blueforlife]

what is the injury status of Demski and Wilson?? Are they out for this game?

Both practiced today