18°c A few clouds
Blue Bomber Report Record: 6–12–0
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
LaPolice reminds Bomber rookies now's the time to compete at a high level
Chris Matthews at a Bomber practice earlier this month. (BORIS MINKEVICH / FREE PRESS ARCHIVES)
Related Items
MONTREAL — Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice had a message for his team as they landed here this afternoon in advance of their first pre-season game of 2012, Thursday night at Stade Molson against the Montreal Alouettes.
"I want them to compete at a high level, be excited and when you get an opportunity to make a play, make a play," LaPolice told reporters today. "If they want to be somebody who's going to stay with us, you've got to start standing out from everybody else."
With many of the Bombers veteran starters still back in Winnipeg, Thursday night will be LaPolice's first opportunity to see many of his rookies in game action, while also getting his first look at a revamped Montreal squad that has new offensive and defensive coordinators this season.
The Als new defensive coordinator is former Bombers head coach Jeff Reinebold but LaPolice said he's not expecting Reinebold to do a full unveiling of his 2012 defence tomorrow night. "You might see some of their base stuff," said LaPolice, "but certainly I don't think a lot of teams put a lot of value in that first pre-season game of anybody's."
Among the rookies looking to stand out on Thursday evening will be wide receiver Chris Matthews, who is attempting to win the vacant fifth starting receiver job during this camp.
"I feel like I've been doing a good job, but I feel like I can do better too," said Matthews, an imposing 6-foot-5, 220-pound pass catcher out of Kentucky. "I don't know (if he can win a job on Thursday). I'm just going to work as hard as I can and play as hard as I can..."
Also on the bubble Thursday night will be QB Justin Goltz. Goltz had success in the very limited game action he saw in 2011, but is fourth on the depth chart at QB right now behind starter Buck Pierce and backups Joey Elliott and Alex Brink.
LaPolice said Brink will start tomorrow night and will be relieved by Elliott. Goltz will get into the game sometime after that and he said he knows he needs to make the most of his opportunity if he's going to beat out either Brink or Elliott for a spot on the roster as a backup. Goltz was cut coming out of training camp last year, but soon afterward rejoined the squad after Elliott suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 3.
"It's a chance for me to continue to build on a resume. I'm a young player and I feel like I've done well in this league with the chances that I've had," said Goltz, who got into a game in Toronto last September after both Pierce and Brink got hurt and promptly threw an 18-yard touchdown strike to Clarence Denmark.
"Whatever comes, comes. But tomorrow is the one small chance that I have control over. And I'm going to go make the most of it."
History
Updated on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 3:55 PM CDT: corrects spelling of Reinebold
More Bomber Report
- Back to Top
- Return to Bomber Report
-oct24.jpg)
Poll
Most Popular Bomber Report
- Buck 'goes long' for Winnipeg
- Bombers cut Green, Yenga, Matechuk
- Big Blue will have one helluva punter
- New Blue stadium lives up to the hype; now it's up to you
- Goodbye phone call upended QB's plans
- Argos release ex-Bomber Brink
- Bombers training camp opens June 2
- Man with no plan tries again
- Buck's No. 1, aims to prove durability
- Blue sign draft picks Fitzgerald, Pavlopoulos
- New Blue stadium lives up to the hype; now it's up to you
- Big Blue will have one helluva punter
- Argos release ex-Bomber Brink
- Buck 'goes long' for Winnipeg
- Bombers training camp opens June 2
- Bombers cut Green, Yenga, Matechuk
- Blue sign draft picks Fitzgerald, Pavlopoulos
- Goodbye phone call upended QB's plans
- CFL gains when draft picks go south
- Man with no plan tries again
- Bombers detail parking plan for new stadium
- Bomber boozers will change or they 'won't be here': GM Mack
- Hall turning heads at Bomber mini-camp
- Bombers are watching you
- CFL draft pick Mulumba would be proud to be a Bomber
- Bomber security to wave wands this season
- New Blue stadium lives up to the hype; now it's up to you
- Bomber GM silent on Tebow's CFL prospects
- Packers prospect a risky pick
- Hall makes good first impression
- Buck 'goes long' for Winnipeg
- New Blue stadium lives up to the hype; now it's up to you
- Argos release ex-Bomber Brink
- Bombers detail parking plan for new stadium
- Buck 'goes long' for Winnipeg
- Bombers tackle parking issue
- Game ball to tour communities before grand opening of new Bomber stadium
- Hall, Clement go to school
- Blue Bombers board of directors accepting nominations
- Bomber security to wave wands this season
- Bombers handing off opening-day ball to fans
- New Blue stadium lives up to the hype; now it's up to you
- Bombers GM agrees with coach: players need to act like pros
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.