Courtesy of TSN

TORONTO - There’s no secret to what will be the top priority for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ defence in the Grey Cup game - stop Kerry Joseph, the CFL’s outstanding player.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback is as dangerous on the run as he is in firing passes to ace receivers like Andy Fantuz and D.J. Flick.

And with backup Ryan Dinwiddie starting for Winnipeg in place of No. 1 quarterback Kevin Glenn, limiting the Roughriders’ scoring may be essential in the CFL championship game on Sunday at the Rogers Centre.

Joseph was named the league’s outstanding player this week after leading the Roughriders to a 12-6 record with 4,002 passing yards and 24 touchdowns, as well as rushing for 737 yards and a remarkable 13 TDs on his own. He is the first Saskatchewan player to win the award since Ron Lancaster in 1976.

”He’s probably the most dynamic quarterback in the league in that he can make plays all over the field,” Blue Bombers defensive tackle Doug Brown said Friday. ”You have to be careful with him because sometimes you don’t want him scrambling out of the pocket because he’s just as dangerous downfield.

”You’ve got to be disciplined in your lanes rushing him and if you have a chance to take him down, you can’t miss. There have been too many times when people had a chance for a sack and he’s eluded them and made a play downfield.”

The Roughriders are hurting at running back. Wes Cates played the West Division final with his broken foot heavily taped and used kick returner Corey Homes as well. But Brown said veteran back-up Josh Ranek, who did not dress last week, is a more than able replacement.

”Our mandate on defence, first and foremost, is to stop the run,” said Brown. ”We want to make them a one-dimensional offence.

”We don’t want any multi-pronged attack against us and we want to discourage that idea in the first quarter. Then we try to attack and put on pressure.”

That includes stopping Joseph, who is multi-dimensional on his own.

”We have to be very disciplined in our rush, but at the same time we have to be relentless in our attempts to get there,” said Bombers coach Doug Berry. ”It’s an interesting situation we have to put our defence in.”

The Bombers’ ground defence starts with a line of Brown and Jerome Haywood at tackle and Tom Canada and Gavin Walls on the ends that stuffed the Montreal Alouettes on a key third-and-inches play late in the East Division semifinal two weeks ago. And there’s star middle linebacker Barrin Simpson.

The pass defence will miss former NFL cornerback Juran Bolden, who injured a hamstring in the East final in Toronto last Sunday and has not practised this week.

Berry said Bolden won’t play and that his spot will be taken by either Davin Bush, who will return from an injury, or Greg Moss. Either way, the Bombers will be missing a leader.

”It’s truly a loss in that he leads the charge,” said defensive back Kelly Malveaux. ”Mostly the loss is of a physical presence, the vocal leader who knows how to corral the guys and get them on board.

”But the most emotional I’ve seen him was last week when he got injured, knowing that it could be that he can’t play in the Grey Cup game. But guys will rise up this week. It’s a big stage, a big venue and a big game for us all.”

If Bush gets the nod, as it appeared at practice, Malveaux joked that they would trade a ”dread for dread.” But then, Malveaux sports impressive dreadlocks himself.

The Bombers have moved their back five around often this season, so losing Bolden shouldn’t leave anyone in an unfamiliar position.

Late in the season and through the playoffs, the middle section has been stable with Kyries Hebert at safety and Malveaux and Anthony Marbrough as the DBs, with Robert Bean on the right corner.

The Roughriders defence has a much different challenge - figuring out Dinwiddie, who has looked good in limited action as Glenn’s backup this season.

Dinwiddie will have plenty of go-to players, including elusive little running back Charles Roberts and one of the league’s best group of receivers, which includes veteran Milt Stegall and the rangy Terrence Edwards.

It is assumed the Roughriders will go after Dinwiddie to see how he reacts to pressure, but veteran Reggie Hunt makes no assumptions.

”Every quarterback here is up here for a reason,” Hunt said. ”We’re not going to take anyone lightly, especially when he has excellent receivers to throw the ball to and a great running back.”