Can the Eskimos’ offensive line stand up to Winnipeg’s pass rush in a hostile environment?

Given that the Edmonton Eskimos thumped the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 25-7 last week, is there anything intriguing about Friday's rematch between the teams (8 p.m. Eastern, TSN/ESPN2) even if we don't get another crazy kickaround? In a word, yes. For one thing, both teams are 2-9, so it's not like Edmonton has been consistently dominant on the year. Beyond that, though, this game's being played at Winnipeg's Investor's Group Field, and the massive crowd noise it has the potential to present could dramatically impact perhaps this game's most important matchup; the Bombers' dominant pass rush against the Eskimos' vulnerable offensive line.

While the Winnipeg defence hasn't been great in most respects this year, allowing a league-high 30.3 points per game through 12 weeks, a second-worst 67.9 per cent completion mark and a middle-of-the-pack 353.4 total offensive yards against per game, they're tied for the CFL lead in quarterback sacks with 41. That's not surprising, considering that the Bombers' defensive coordinator is the much-maligned Casey Creehan, whose Hamilton defence last season focused incessantly on being aggressive but produced league-worst results in most categories along the way. Creehan's approach hasn't been quite as much of an unmitigated disaster in Winnipeg, but it certainly hasn't led to impressive statistics in most categories. However, against an Edmonton team with so many offensive line problems that their starting right guard is a guy the general manager said he'd be happy to see never start again, the blitz-heavy Creehan strategy may well pay off.

Eskimos' quarterback Mike Reilly has proven to be an extremely promising quarterback this year, and he's been playing very well lately. Last week, he led all CFL players with 113 rushing yards on nine carries and also posted an efficient 196-yard, three-touchdown passing performance, earning our First Star nod and the league's Gibson's Finest offensive player of the week award. If Reilly is given time, there's an excellent chance he can pick apart this Winnipeg defence. However, he may not have time. The Bombers have an incredible group of pass-rushers on the line, and they're always ready to bring extra blitzers as well. If the Edmonton line plays the way it has during most of their struggles, it may be a very long day for Reilly and the offence.

It's the venue that could really elevate this matchup to even greater importance. Investor's Group Field is constructed in such a way that crowd noise is trapped in the stadium by the end-zone stands, making it much louder than your typical open-ended CFL stadium and producing incredible volumes both in the stands (it was tough to even think there during the season opener) and on the field. That kind of noise can make it exceptionally hard for offences, as they often have to go to silent counts and sometimes can't even get a playcall sorted out properly. The crowd was a massive factor in Winnipeg's Banjo Bowl win over Saskatchewan, and there's a good chance it could play an important role Friday. Of course, a great defensive performance alone won't solve everything, as the Bombers' offence has endless question marks (including at quarterback, where neither Max Hall nor Justin Goltz has particularly impressed), and there's even no guarantee there will be that supportive of a crowd there Friday given the Bombers' play this season. If the fans do show up and do get loud, though, this game could be anything but a walkover win for Reilly and the Eskimos' offence.