{"id":146948,"date":"2026-07-28T18:01:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T18:01:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/146948\/"},"modified":"2026-07-28T18:01:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T18:01:09","slug":"tommy-condell-defends-winnipegs-lack-of-late-game-carries-for-brady-oliveira","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/146948\/","title":{"rendered":"Tommy Condell defends Winnipeg’s lack of late-game carries for Brady Oliveira"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSamantha Keen\/3DownNation. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers went away from their best player when their recent game against the Calgary Stampeders was on the line, a decision offensive coordinator Tommy Condell doesn\u2019t appear to regret.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m always trying to make the best decisions I can during the game, and I thought that was the best decision for the team in order to\u00a0get back into the game,\u201d Condell told the media on Monday<\/a>. \u201cI make a decision what\u2019s best for the team and how we\u2019re going to win that game, and that\u2019s what I did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brady Oliveira recorded a 45-yard touchdown run near the end of the third quarter on Friday night, setting a new career-long in the process. The play invigorated the crowd at Princess Auto Stadium and narrowed the deficit to 39-27, drawing the Blue Bombers within two scores of the lead.<\/p>\n

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Oliveira didn\u2019t touch the ball again until the final minute of the fourth quarter, after the Stampeders had built a 52-30 lead to ice the game.<\/p>\n

This wouldn\u2019t have been a problem if Winnipeg\u2019s passing game had dominated throughout the fourth quarter. Instead, the opposite was true.<\/p>\n

Dru Brown had already thrown two interceptions prior to Oliveira\u2019s long touchdown run. In the fourth quarter, he went four-of-thirteen for 37 yards and two more interceptions. One of his incompletions should have been intercepted and returned for a touchdown by linebacker Kyle Wilson, though the defender dropped the ball.<\/p>\n

Jarell Broxton, Winnipeg\u2019s best offensive lineman, left the game with a knee injury in the second quarter. Gabe Wallace took over at right tackle and struggled in pass protection at times against Clarence Hicks and Folarin Orimolade, two of the best defensive ends in the CFL.<\/p>\n

One could argue that calling more run plays would have helped a player playing out of position. The Blue Bombers allowed three sacks against Calgary, one of which came in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n

Oliveira seemed frustrated with the offence postgame, questioning whether or not the unit had an identity<\/a> in an interview with 680 CJOB. He also declined to answer a question regarding his lack of fourth-quarter touches.<\/p>\n

Condell was complimentary of Oliveira\u2019s play overall, but also seemed insistent that his 45-yard touchdown run came mostly as a result of the players around him.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the game structure, I think\u00a0why he got that long run is from the up front. He was able to kind of get through that second level, but most importantly, you get a chance to watch the receivers trying to transition and get up there. That\u2019s what\u00a0happened,\u201d said Condell.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt takes everyone. It\u2019s a team. It\u2019s not just one guy running the ball. There\u2019s another eleven. It\u2018s always\u00a0a \u2018we over me\u2019 mentality in that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though he doesn\u2019t seem to be second-guessing his late-game play-calling from Friday night, the veteran offensive coordinator isn\u2019t above contrition. Condell indicated he\u2019s quick to admit mistakes to his players, though he prefers to do so behind closed doors.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you have to self-actualize every single time,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m always striving to try to be great for those players and put them in the best possible situation, and at times, I have to own some of the things that I didn\u2019t do correctly, and I certainly do that with the team.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do that in there, and they understand from an accountability situation\u00a0that I\u2019m going to make mistakes, and I\u2019m going to make sure that they know it.\u00a0I don\u2019t hide out behind that, but we do that in a team setting, in a private setting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Winnipeg\u2019s offence has been relatively poor this season. On a per-game basis, it ranks seventh in points, seventh in net yardage, sixth in rushing, and eighth in passing.<\/p>\n

The unit\u2019s biggest challenge has been protecting the football.<\/p>\n

The Blue Bombers have turned the ball over 16 times this year, the second-most in the CFL. The team has thrown eight interceptions, which is one shy of the league lead, and lost five fumbles, which is tied for the league lead.<\/p>\n

Condell recognizes the problem, and hopes to address it in practice.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to improve on\u00a0ball security,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to coach it better, and those are the things that can be intentional during practice. The explosive (plays), we\u2019re moving along, and I think that we\u2019re doing a good job of that. Those are the things that we need to improve upon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Winnipeg has been without franchise quarterback Zach Collaros for most of July, which has undoubtedly hindered the offence\u2019s production.<\/p>\n

With that said, the unit hasn\u2019t shown much improvement from last season, which culminated in the demotion of then-offensive coordinator Jason Hogan.<\/p>\n

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-3) will host the B.C. Lions (1-5) at Princess Auto Stadium on Thursday, July 30 with kickoff scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EDT. The Lions lost a one-sided game to the Toronto Argonauts last week, while the Blue Bombers suffered a blowout defeat to the Calgary Stampeders.<\/p>\n

The weather forecast in Winnipeg calls for a high of 30 degrees and a mix of sun and cloud. The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS in Canada and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune in on 730 CKNW (English) or Sher-E-Punjab Radio AM 600 (Punjabi) in Vancouver or 680 CJOB in Winnipeg.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

John Hodge is a longtime Canadian football reporter, insider, and podcaster for 3DownNation. Based in Winnipeg, Hodge is also a freelance television and radio broadcaster and curling reporter for Rock Channel.<\/p>\n

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