Bombers Fall Flat Against Dru Brown and the Redblacks

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are 0-2 after falling to the Ottawa Redblacks 23-19. The rain fell early and only picked up throughout the game causing issues for the Blue Bombers on offense.

Zach Collaros and the Blue Bombers struggled early, to say the least, gaining just 18 passing yards and 5 yards rushing in the first quarter. On the day Collaros completed 15 of 31 passes with 2 interceptions. On the season Collaros has 0 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.

Dru Brown came out hot in his Redblacks debut with a solid four quarters. The Redblacks were up 10-0 after the first quarter and Brown was hitting his targets. Brown finished the day completing 20 of 33 passes for 238 yards and a touchdown.

Dru Brown was a backup for the Blue Bombers for several years, first signing with the team in 2020. In 2 starts in 2023 Brown completed 62 of 89 passes (69.7%) for 9 touchdowns with 0 interceptions.

Brown had plenty of support on the ground as Ryquell Armstead picked up 95 yards on 16 carries.

The Bombers had less help on the ground as Johnny Augustine was only given 7 carries for 31 yards during which he scored a touchdown. He had 2 receptions for 27 yards. Chris Streveler had 6 carries on the day for 7 yards and a touchdown.

The Bombers came into the game without Brady Oliveira, out one game, and also without Kenny Lawler who is expected to miss 6 games with an injury he took in the season opener.

Keric Wheatfall led the team with 111 yards on 3 receptions, targeted 5 times. His longest reception on the day went 76 yards.

Dalton Schoen was targeted 9 times, making 4 receptions for 43 yards. Nic Demski had 3 receptions for 58 yards on 5 targets and Drew Wolitarsky made 3 receptions for 46 yards on 6 targets.

Collaros was simply off target. A large part of his struggle was similar to what we saw in week one: a weak offensive line. It feels to early to panic but if the Blue Bombers are unable to protect their quarterback it doesn’t matter who is back there. No quarterback can win a game when he’s on his back on the field.

After being down 13-0 The Bombers clawed back to 16-10 by halftime.

After a slow first half the Bombers came out of the half with a different energy. A 73-yard drive ended with a Johnny Augustine touchdown from 4 yards out. Collaros went 3 of 4 on that drive after a slow start.

Celestin Haba went down in obvious pain on the first Redblacks drive of the game. Devin Adams, who filled in for Haba, dragged Brown down in the backfield soon after stepping in. On the day Adams had 3 tackles.

Evan Holm led the team in tackles with 8 while fellow cornerback Redha Kramdi had 7. In his first game of the season Adam Bighill made 4 tackles.

In the fourth quarter, in the last 3 minutes, the Blue Bombers started getting some momentum on offence. With 2:09 left in the 4th quarter when the Blue Bombers had some real momentum the game was paused for a lightning delay.

After an hour-long delay, reaching the limit of what the league allows before calling a game, the Blue Bombers and the Redblacks returned to the field to play out the fourth.

The Blue Bombers started from the Ottawa 42 yard line. Collaros went 2 for 2 to get the Bombers inside the 10 yard line. The Blue Bombers had 3 plays from inside the 10 but couldn’t make anything of it, going 0 for 3 passing. Ottawa shut them down on what was nearly the game winning drive. A hail Mary pass on the final play fell incomplete, sealing the deal for Ottawa.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are off to their worst start since 2016. It might be a good slice of humble pie, or it could be the beginning of the end for the once unstoppable Blue Bombers. Time will tell.