Bombers’ season ends on sour note with 37-7 loss to the Tiger-Cats Saturday

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers' annus horribilis has come to an end, and in fitting fashion. The Bombers were plastered 37-7 at home by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Saturday, leaving their fans with little to celebrate except the possible acquisition of the top pick in the 2014 CFL draft. Of course, the season did have a couple of bright spots for Winnipeg, including the opening of Investors Group Field and the Banjo Bowl win over fierce rivals Saskatchewan, but by and large, it was a miserable failure. Thus, a blowout loss to a team that didn't even have playoff positioning to play for is an appropriate way to close it out.

There wasn't a lot of hope for the Bombers on Saturday, even from figures who once looked promising. Quarterback Max Hall, who seemed at times this year like he might have a chance to be a decent CFL starter down the road? He completed just 18 of 35 passes (51.4 per cent) for 160 yards with an interception. Running back Will Ford, who had impressed in the backfield and on special teams down the stretch? He didn't shine in either area Saturday, carrying the ball just seven times for 23 yards (3.3 yards per carry) with a fumble and not being called upon as a returner. An at-times-promising defence? It conceded 37 points and was torched both through the air (Henry Burris threw for 135 yards and two touchdowns with a 75 per cent completion rate, while Dan LeFevour added 83 yards with a 90 per cent completion rate) and on the ground (Chevon Walker ran 11 times for 116 yards and a touchdown, an average of 10.5 yards per carry, while LeFevour added 47 rushing yards on seven carries and Burris had 18 on two). It's hard for Winnipeg to be too happy about anything that happened here.

Where do the Bombers go from here? Well, there's going to have to be a substantial makeover. Changes in at least the assistant coaching ranks seem inevitable, particularly with defensive coordinator Casey Creehan (whose hiring was odd enough in the first place) but perhaps beyond that. Head coach Tim Burke sure doesn't have a lot to hang his hat on either after this 3-15 season; it wasn't all his fault, to be sure, and part of the blame is on former GM Joe Mack and former CEO Garth Buchko, but Burke's uberconservative decisions (such as infamously taking a knee) and inability to get the most out of his roster don't speak well for him. Interim GM Kyle Walters might have the best case to keep his job, as he inherited a bad situation and has made some smart future-focused moves, but even his tenure should be looked at carefully. A dreadful season has come to the end for the Bombers, but the changes in Winnipeg may be just beginning. Significant offseason moves may be necessary to prevent another awful season like this one.