The 2016 Winnipeg Blue Bombers season was the 59th season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 84th season overall. The Blue Bombers finished in third place in the West Division and finished with an 11–7 record; their first winning season since 2011.
The Blue Bombers successfully improved upon their 5–13 record from 2015, after defeating the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Labour Day Classic on September 4. It was their first win in the Classic since 2004.
The Blue Bombers qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2011 with a week 16 victory over the BC Lions followed by losses by the Toronto Argonauts and Montreal Alouettes two days afterward.Bombers clinch playoff berth In the Playoffs the Blue Bombers ended up losing 32–31, ending their season.
Offseason CFL draft The 2016 CFL draft took place on May 10, 2016. The Blue Bombers had eight selections in the eight-round draft. The team forfeited the second overall selection after selecting Garrett Waggoner in the 2015 Supplemental Draft. However, the Blue Bombers were able to get back into the top nine when they acquired the ninth overall selection after trading Chris Greaves to the Edmonton Eskimos.
Round Pick Player Position School/club team 2 9 Trent Corney DL Virginia 2 10 Michael Couture OL Simon Fraser 3 19 Taylor Loffler DB British Columbia 4 28 Shayne Gauthier LB Laval 5 37 Zachary Intzandt OL McMaster 6 46 Rupert Butcher DL Western Ontario 7 55 Alex Vitt SB Manitoba 8 63 Frank Renaud LB Windsor
Preseason
Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results TV Venue Attendance Summary Score Record A Wed, June 8 7:00 p.m. CDT vs. Montreal Alouettes W 36–13 1–0 TSN/RDS Investors Group Field 23,334 Recap A Mon, June 13 6:00 p.m. CDT at Ottawa Redblacks L 14–18 1–1 TSN TD Place Stadium 17,947 Recap B Bye 2016 Schedule
Regular season Standings
Schedule Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results TV Venue Attendance Summary Score Record 1 Fri, June 24 7:30 p.m. CDT vs. Montreal Alouettes L 14–22 0–1 TSN/RDS/ESPN2 Investors Group Field 26,433 Recap 2 Fri, July 1 9:00 p.m. CDT at Calgary Stampeders L 22–36 0–2 TSN/ESPN2 McMahon Stadium 26,815 Recap 3 Thurs, July 7 6:00 p.m. CDT at Hamilton Tiger-Cats W 28–24 1–2 TSN/ESPN2 Tim Hortons Field 23,846 Recap 4 Thurs, July 14 7:30 p.m. CDT vs. Edmonton Eskimos L 16–20 1–3 TSN/RDS Investors Group Field 24,007 Recap 5 Thurs, July 21 6:00 p.m. CDT vs. Calgary Stampeders L 18–33 1–4 TSN Investors Group Field 24,677 Recap 6 Thurs, July 28 7:30 p.m. CDT at Edmonton Eskimos W 30–23 2–4 TSN/RDS2/ESPN2 Commonwealth Stadium 25,902 Recap 7 Wed, Aug 3 7:30 p.m. CDT vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats W 37–11 3–4 TSN Investors Group Field 24,041 Recap 8 Fri, Aug 12 6:30 p.m. CDT at Toronto Argonauts W 34–17 4–4 TSN BMO Field 15,063 Recap 9 Bye 10 Fri, Aug 26 6:00 p.m. CDT at Montreal Alouettes W 32–18 5–4 TSN/RDS Molson Stadium 19,026 Recap 11 Sun, Sept 4 2:00 p.m. CDT at Saskatchewan Roughriders W 28–25 6–4 TSN Mosaic Stadium 33,427 Recap 12 Sat, Sept 10 3:00 p.m. CDT vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders W 17–10 7–4 TSN Investors Group Field 33,234 Recap 13 Sat, Sept 17 1:00 p.m. CDT vs. Toronto Argonauts W 46–29 8–4 TSN Investors Group Field 25,943 Recap 14 Sat, Sept 24 3:00 p.m. CDT at Calgary Stampeders L 34–36 8–5 TSN/RDS2 McMahon Stadium 27,159 Recap 15 Fri, Sept 30 7:30 p.m. CDT vs. Edmonton Eskimos L 26–40 8–6 TSN/RDS2 Investors Group Field 24,706 Recap 16 Sat, Oct 8 3:00 p.m. CDT vs. BC Lions W 37–35 9–6 TSN Investors Group Field 24,284 Recap 17 Fri, Oct 14 9:00 p.m. CDT at BC Lions W 35–32 10–6 TSN BC Place 19,520 Recap 18 Bye 19 Sat, Oct 29 3:00 p.m. CDT vs. Ottawa Redblacks L 10–23 10–7 TSN/RDS2 Investors Group Field 26,097 Recap 20 Fri, Nov 4 6:00 p.m. CDT at Ottawa Redblacks W 33–20 11–7 TSN/RDS2 TD Place Stadium 24,432 Recap
Post-season Schedule Game Date Kickoff Opponent Results TV Venue Attendance Summary Score Record West Semi-Final Sun, Nov 13 3:30 p.m. CST at BC Lions L 31–32 0–1 TSN/RDS/ESPN3 BC Place 19,176 Recap
Roster 2016 Winnipeg Blue Bombers final roster Quarterbacks
Running backs
Receivers
Offensive linemen G T G C C T/G T/G
Defensive linemen DE DE DT DT DT DT DE Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams K/P LS
Practice roster QB DB SB DB DT DB
Injured list RB DB T DE WR DB C RB DB DB SB Italics indicate International players
Coaching staff Winnipeg Blue Bombers Staff Front office Owner – Community owned (non-profit corporation owned by members) Chairperson of the board of governors – Brock Bulbuck President/CEO – Wade Miller General manager of football operations – Kyle Walters Assistant General Manager / Director of U.S. Scouting – Danny McManus Assistant general manager / director of player personnel – Ted Goveia National Scout –Craig Smith Director of Football Operations - Dave Siddall Head equipment manager – Brad Fotty Assistant equipment manager – Kevin Todd Assistant equipment manager – Jared Cronk Video coordinator – Kent Anderson Assistant video coordinator – Colin Thurston
Head coaches Head coach – Mike O'Shea
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Paul LaPolice Quarterbacks – Buck Pierce Wide receivers – Paul LaPolice Running backs – Avon Cobourne Offensive line – Bob Wylie Assistant Offensive Line - Marty Costello Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Richie Hall Linebackers – Glen Young Defensive line – Todd Howard Defensive backs – Tony Missick
Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Mike O'Shea Special teams assistant – Paul Boudreau
→ Coaching staff
References