Winnipeg Free Press > Sports > Football > Bomber Report > Bombers looking for a new direction: LaPolice

Blue Bomber Report Record: 0–0–0

Bomber Report

Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Bombers looking for a new direction: LaPolice

Club fires offensive co-ordinator Jamie Barresi

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 11/29/2011 11:35 PM | Comments: 0 (including replies) | Last Modified: 11/30/2011 3:09 PM | Updates

Jamie Barresi

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES Enlarge Image

Jamie Barresi

A day after firing his offensive co-ordinator, Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice told reporters the club was simply looking for a new direction.

Where that new direction is headed is a little grey right now.

Related Items

  1. Polls

"I felt at that position we needed to go in another direction, to help our structure in how we do things here," LaPolice said Wednesday, less than 24 hours after letting Jamie Barresi go. "Jamie is a very good man, he’s a good guy, I appreciate all he’s done for this club, but I just felt we will be a stronger unit going forward with a change there at that spot."

Barresi spent the last two seasons working with Bombers after coming over from the Saskatchewan Roughriders, where he had worked alongside LaPolice as assistant coaches for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Barresi also has experience with the B.C. Lions and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Winnipeg’s offence struggled for most of the 2011 season, ranking fifth in the CFL this season in net yards and points scored. Those struggles were never more evident than in the Grey Cup, when the offence could only manage a handful of first downs and three field goals through three quarters of play.

The on-field results weren't why Barresi was fired, LaPolice insisted.

"The Grey Cup had no bearing on my decision," the head coach said.

"The reason I did it quickly was so that Jamie would know what to do next, so he could get (another) job and move on. That’s the fairest thing I could do for the guy."

The coach said the move to fire Barresi was based on the process of how the Bombers offence was put together each week and how Barresi worked within the current coaching structure. LaPolice is unsure where the club will turn to find a new offensive co-ordinator, indicating a promotion to an existing staff member could be a possibility.

Either way, though, it doesn’t sound like LaPolice will be relinquishing the play-calling duties.

"I don’t think play calling is our biggest concern," he said.

Names that have surfaced as possible candidates for the O.C. position are Hamilton’s Khari Jones and Saskatchewan’s Bobby Dyce. Both have ties to LaPolice and the Bombers.

Related video:

video player to use on WFP
video player to use on WFP
History

Updated on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at 11:51 PM CST: Adds information

12:09 AM: Confirms firing

November 30, 2011 at 3:09 PM: Updates with full write-thru, comments from LaPolice

(You must be logged in to post your reaction)

Your reaction?

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.

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; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

Scoreboard

Poll

Who do you hope ends up playing L.A. Kings in Stanley Cup final?

View Results

Proudly brought to you by:

Winnipeg Hyundai

1-877-478-9311

Our Communities

Canstar Community News

Click here to view all Community News

Uptown Magazine

Roll over the region tabs at the top to see which neighbourhoods are included. Click on the map to view news specific to that region and its neighbourhoods.