Will the Bombers be able to get their offensive line in order Monday against the Eskimos?
The Edmonton Eskimos are adding legendary offensive linemen Bill Stevenson and Hector Pothier to their Wall of Honour at halftime during Monday's game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4:30 p.m. Eastern, TSN/ESPN3), and the performance of the teams' current offensive lines might be a huge factor in this one. Interestingly enough, and unexpectedly for those who remember the incredible struggles the Edmonton line had last year, they're not the side in this game with major issues right now. That would be the Bombers, whose line had allowed a CFL-high 54 sacks heading into this week, and who will be starting second-year man Jarvis Jones at left tackle thanks to veteran Glenn January's bad back. That has Eskimos' defensive end (and former Bomber) Odell Willis excited, as Paul Wiecek writes:
Edmonton Eskimos pass rusher Odell Willis couldn’t believe his good fortune here Sunday morning when he was informed by reporters that the Winnipeg Blue Bombers had just announced that their starting left tackle Glenn January will not play against the Eskimos here Monday afternoon at Commonwealth Stadium.
"Stop pulling my leg," Willis replied.
Informed that their was no leg-pulling involved and that January had been taken off the 46-man roster today because of a bad back, Willis was asked what he knew about January’s replacement at the critical left tackle position -- Jarvis Jones.
"I never heard of him," said Willis. "It’s going to be interesting without January because he’s one of the guys who keeps it together and he keeps them going. He keeps them motivated up front, even when things are good or bad.
"If he’s out, that’s a big blow for them out front... With him being out, it might be a little tough."...
Put it altogether and Willis was asked if he was drooling at the prospect of facing the Bombers tomorrow. "Yeah, I kind of am," said Willis. "It might be special."
Willis has certainly never been shy about bold proclamations; in fact, he's already somewhat lobbying for himself as defensive player of the year. This is also the guy who was the Mayor of Swaggerville, after all, and a key part of that dominant, trash-talking Winnipeg defence in 2011 (but also so talkative that the Bombers traded him away that offseason to Saskatchewan despite him tying for the CFL's sack lead, and the Roughriders let him leave for Edmonton in free agency after 2012). Still, even if you adjust for his propensity to talk, he's got a point here. The Bombers' line has been brutal even with January holding the fort at the most crucial position, and the Eskimos' pass rush has been great, recording 46 sacks heading into this week, the league's second-highest total. Willis has 11 of those, plus 25 tackles, a fumble recovery and two interceptions, so he's backing up the talk too.
This is going to be a tough test for Jones, but at least he has some high-level experience. He was a backup lineman on LSU's 2007 national championship team, and after transferring to Oklahoma, was named an all-Big 12 honourable mention by the Associated Press. He hasn't seen a ton of playing time since joining the Bombers last September, so this will see him being thrown into the fire. Will he and the rest of the Winnipeg line be able to gel quickly and stop the Edmonton rush? Or will Willis be able to back up his talk with a dominant performance? We'll find out Monday afternoon.
