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Winnipeg Free Press > Sports > Bishop not the solution

Sports

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Bishop not the solution

Mediocre, short-term fix at best -- Bombers need more options at QB

By: Ed Tait

Posted: 8/09/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 21

It was almost a year ago to the day when yours truly wrote a piece that had Kevin Glenn boiling over and ready to poke my eyes out with a sharp stick.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers were 2-8 at the time and the quarterback, one year removed from being named an East Division all-star, was mired in a season-long slump that had seen him benched and, at that point of the campaign, with three times as many interceptions as touchdowns. Using our finely-honed journalistic training we came to the conclusion the Bombers were about to see their season flushed down the drain because the starting QB was awful.

Not surprisingly, Glenn didn't ask for a copy of the story to have framed for his rec-room wall.

We bring this up today in the wake of the Bombers' 29-14 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the annual Labour Day Classic because while the pieces may have changed over the past 12 months, the most glaring weakness of this franchise certainly has not: It does not have a championship-calibre QB in its employ.

Now, all of this isn't meant to slag Michael Bishop, even though he is an obvious target after throwing three interceptions Sunday in Regina. Truth be told, the veteran pivot has come exactly as advertised when he was summoned from the football scrap heap: he throws hard, sometimes to the right team, and his best skill is his ability to parachute into a club and fit in quickly with his new teammates.

But he is a Band-Aid fix to the problem. And the notion that the Bombers could squeeze more out of his skill set than the other coaches and teams before is either naive, arrogant or both. And if management figures he is the man who can lead the organization to its first championship since 1990 they are positively certifiable.

All of which has put the club in an intriguing position as the second half of the season approaches. The goofiness of the CFL playoff format -- where six of eight teams qualify for the Grey Cup derby -- means you have to be absolutely putrid to be eliminated this early. The Bombers know that and still believe Bishop is their best option for a run to the post-season.

Fair enough.

Our question, however, is this: Where is the long-term upside in continuing to hitch your wagon to a 33-year-old vagabond QB -- besides qualifying for the playoffs with likely little payoff at the end? More importantly, we ask should they sacrifice the rest of the season in an attempt to find a clear-cut answer to this most-critical question?

Hey, we're just throwing it out there...

Problem is, what are the Bombers' current options?

The anointed starter when the curtain lifted on the season, Stefan LeFors, has not only lost the confidence of head coach Mike Kelly, rumour has it the team will have an MRI done on his non-throwing shoulder sometime this week. And the book on third-stringer Bryan Randall is that he is an excellent student in the film room, but that knowledge isn't transferring to the field in practice every day.

A few things, then, that should be tossed out as we debate all this, especially after watching Riders QB Darian Durant make one mistake in Sunday's victory but call an effective game to improve his career won-lost record to 9-4.

"ö Before the Bombers toss them aside, shouldn't the club try to get a clearer answer on LeFors and, in particular, on Randall in game action? And if they choose not to, what's the point of having them just fill spots on the depth chart?

"ö Why aren't there more prospects in town already? The Riders, for example, have five QBs -- Durant, Steven Jyles and Dalton Bell, all on the active roster, while Graham Harrell and Cole Bergquist are getting a season-long look-see. As well, their neg list is dotted with a number of big-time CFL prospects including Chase Daniel and D.J. Shockley (signed to the Atlanta Falcons practice squad on Monday).

If the Bombers aren't convinced LeFors and Randall are the future, it's our suggestion there be a rotation of newcomers every other week until they find an answer. Among those believed to be on their neg list are Andre Woodson, the former Kentucky starter now on the Washington Redskins practice roster; former Clemson star Cullen Harper, currently a free agent, as well as Brian Johnson and Quinn Gray -- both headed for the UFL.

And if they aren't available, isn't it worth finding somebody who is?

And, finally, one more thing while we're discussing the Bishop-as-a-quick-fix idea: Would it be so wrong right now to reconsider Casey Printers, warts and all, given he is five years younger than their current starter and a former CFL Most Outstanding Player?

Really, what does a 3-6 outfit obviously spinning its wheels have to lose at this point? Another season without a championship? Been there, done that... 18 years and counting.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 8, 2009 C1

21 Commentscomment icon

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I think Kelly should start taking our (meaning the fans') advice seriously now. I'm all for giving someone a fair chance and all, but it's now half-way through the season and we're still not playoff contenders. It's obvious he does not know how to coach and does not know how to run an offence. Please, hire an offensive co-ordinator!

HARFINABAG ... it almost sounds like you've only seen Bishop play 1 game... yeah, the O-line sucked but we have seen plenty of instances in his previous games where he had 2 to 3 Mississippi's and overthrown WIDE OPEN receivers. And I mean WIDE OPEN......sailed it over their heads like he was trying to kill a bird or something.

Bishop has looked damn good on some plays but cannot seem to string together a series of them.

I haven't written Bishop off yet but I don't think he has progressed one iota forward from his 3 INT playoff game as a Roughrider.

Exactly. Well written.

Can't believe I'm saying this...but I think i'm ready for Printers. He's been saying on facebook that he's working out hard...

Hmmm...I wonder why?

Milt stegal was right bishop was not the answer to the bombers football team. If they would just get rid of mike kelly the bombers would actually be a better team.

Let's see what the new kid can do!

Why are we not talking about the struggles the defence had in the first half? The offence was barely on the field in the first quarter due to 2 long drives by the Riders. HArd to establish an offence from the bench! Not saying the offence played great, but I believe Bishop was close to 300 yards and the picks came late in the game when I am sure he felt like he had to force it. Hate to say it cause I do love that defence, but they had an off game.

Kelly sucks. Bishop should be running dump passes and swing passes along with play action (occassionally). Then use the run and the long ball. The ORDER they try plays is screwed up.

They try to run and gun too much with Bishop. Look at the Alouettes and the Riders. They have BALL CONTROL OFFENSES. Ball control offense wins games (as does having a Kick Returner to take the ball to the 45 or 50 yard line rather than starting at the 20 to 30 yard line).

HALF of football is about FIELD POSITION. The other HALF is ball control offense, tight defense, and accurate kicking/coverage special teams. We have 2/3 of one half (the tight defense and accurate kicking/coverage special teams). That's 1/2 x 2/3 = 1/3 of a good team. That is interesting, since at the beginning of the season I predicted 6-12 which is 6/18 or 1/3. Right now we are 3-6 which is also 3/9 or 1/3. So we are on pace for my prediction with our 1/3 team.

Great coaches create great teams. Out of the original Bomber team that started the pre-season, a great coach would have molded a winning championship caliber team. A great coach would have developed a system that favored his players' skills. A great coach would have devised effective plays and strategies difficult to defend and then drilled his players to execute them flawlessly. A great coach would have filled his offensive playbook with numerous ways to allow his playmakers to make plays. A great coach would have inspired his defense to play with a take no prisoners attitude, and to consider any score against them as an insult to their pride, and as a reason to play harder. A great coach would have motivated his team to play with heart, skill, intelligence and determination. A great coach would never have given up on his QB, or any other good player for that matter. A great coach would never have forced his QB to take a 40% pay cut after playing poorly while injured. A great coach would have endeared himself to his team and his community with his coaching savvy, his wisdom, his humour, and his commitment. And a great coach would never make excuses. The problem with the Blue Bombers is that they do not have a great coach. Period. It's obvious with every snap and every failure on the field, and with every decision made, on and off the field. Leadership skills and football intelligence are essential. This coach has neither.

This is a well-written, though-provoking column. Well done in all aspects.

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