Don't be surprised to see the forecast for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' offence to call for a little more Thunder and Lightning in the coming weeks.

While the offence seems to be taking some strides forward through four weeks of the season, it's become apparent that the one aspect of it that needs to find another level is the running game, which is currently ranks seventh in the CFL at 90.8 yards per game.

“We'd like to get it going better, but I think it's going to happen,” said Blue Bombers quarterback Drew Willy. “We're close on a lot of different things. We feel confident that we have the guys to be able to do it.”

Willy is moving the ball efficiently through the air, but Paris Cotton has only hit the century mark on the ground once so far, that coming in the season opener when he had 108 yards on 13 carries against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

“You see signs on some plays where 'wow it looks great' and then when you scrutinize the film, it's a different thing on a lot of plays,” said Blue Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea. “But it's one thing and it sometimes doesn't allow you to get the run started. We're committed to running the ball, but we also understand that we're going to do whatever it takes in any certain game or in any one game to win the game and if the running game isn't going in that game, we'll have to find another way to win.”

Cotton has shown flashes of the guy who took over the starting tailback job last season and managed a pair of 100-yard games, including a season-high 131 yards against the B.C. Lions in October.

Last week, Cotton rushed 10 times for 56 yards (including a 29-yard run) and has 42 carries for 230 yards this season, for an average of 5.5 yards per carry with one touchdown.

Cotton has been a threat out of the backfield in the passing game though, with 12 catches for 125 yards and one touchdown.

So, what's it going to take for the Blue Bombers to find another level in the rushing game?

“Execution, that's all,” said Cotton. “Everybody doing their job to the best of their abilities and it's going to turn out the way we want it to turn out. It's the pros, you see holes and they close up fast. It's normal.

“It's only a matter of time. With this offensive line and with this offence, with all of us going, we'll be fine. We're a good offence and we're striving to be a great offence. Once we get to that level, we're going to be unstoppable.”

Cameron Marshall brings more of a powerful running style and is tied for the league lead with three touchdowns this season, two coming on the ground and another through the air.

But he has only 14 carries for 45 yards to go along with a 3.2 yards per carry average.

“We've done a lot of good things, but there's still some things we need to work on,” said Marshall. “I'm happy with our progress and I see what we're capable of doing. I'm excited to reach our potential. We've just got to make plays and that's everywhere. The pass helps the run and the run helps the pass. If we make plays an offence, then we won't have anything to worry about.

“It's easy to say that we want to rush for 100 yards every week, but these guys on the other team get paid too. There are good players everywhere. We're looking forward to building on what we've put out so far and keep moving forward.”

One thing is certain.

For the Blue Bombers to be a threat in the West Division, they'll need the offensive line to open up some more holes and the duo of Cotton and Marshall to burst through them.

“We also understand what division we're in and how much these outdoor games in November require the running game, so we're committed to it,” said O'Shea, who was then asked if he sees progress in the running game. “Oh yeah. Not as much as we'd like, not as fast as we'd like. We'd like more production, more consistent production.”

Once that production is there on a more consistent basis, the Blue Bombers offence will be that much more difficult to defend.

ken.wiebe@sunmedia.ca

Twitter.com/WiebeSunSports

________________________________________