25°c Partly cloudy
18°c Cloudy periods
Blue Bomber Report Record: 0–0–0
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Crowton back to operate offence
LOST amid the drama on Thursday was the news that another critical piece of the Blue Bombers brain trust will also return in 2013 -- offensive co-ordinator Gary Crowton.
Burke offered Crowton the job for next season even before Burke had signed a new contract Thursday morning, testimony to how much faith he has in Crowton.
Related Items
-
Articles
-
Columns
"He's got an excellent mind," Burke said Thursday, ticking off the highlights of Crowton's resumé -- offensive co-ordinator in the NFL; offensive co-ordinator of a NCAA national champion; NCAA head coach. "He's one of the brightest minds in football. I have tremendous respect for him...
"I make this prediction. He's going to do a great job and he'll be a head coach in this league, if he wants to be."
While the Bombers offence struggled through the first half of the season as the revolving door at quarterback spun, Crowton's scheme gained traction in the latter half of the season and was, by several different measures, the leading offence in the CFL in the five games prior to the loss in Hamilton last weekend that eliminated the Bombers from the playoffs.
"I want to come back. We've got some things going," Crowton said this week. "And I feel like, especially the latter part of the season, we've been starting to get things going in the right direction. I'd like to continue to finish what we started.
"That's what our goal is. That was my goal from the beginning, to get there by the end of the year. I wished I'd got there sooner, but right now I feel like we're going in the right direction."
Asked what the turning point was, Crowton pointed directly to the moment in late August when the club fired head coach Paul LaPolice, who players and coaches have since said was meddling in the offence.
"When I first took over after coach LaPolice left, I made a decision to change some things that I felt might take some time... Obviously we didn't look very good in a couple of those early games, but I believed in what we were doing."
The Bombers lost the first three games after LaPolice was fired -- twice in embarrassing blowouts -- but Crowton said he felt like the series of what he described as "subtle changes" he implemented began to take root after that.
"I think probably every game got a little bit better. The first game against Saskatchewan was terrible, the next one was a little better... I just felt the more I was working on things, the more I was watching, the more the players were seeing what I wanted to do.
"They're just subtle changes -- angles of routes, whether we stay on the route or break it off -- stuff like that. I gave the quarterbacks a few more options at the line of scrimmage. With Buck, I could do that. And the young guys were starting to get it too."
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 2, 2012 C3
More Bomber Report
- Back to Top
- Return to Bomber Report
More Bomber Report
(1 of 6 articles for today)
Burke keeps mum on which starting jobs still to be won
1:33 PM 0
Poll
Most Popular Bomber Report
- QB Goltz plays game of thrones
- Burke reaches out to his veterans
- Burke keeps mum on which starting jobs still to be won
- Forewarned is forearmed, Blue fans
- Blue offence must make teams pay for blitzing Buck
- Mack, Burke give each other room to do their jobs
- 5 storylines
- Bombers leaving veterans at home for game against Ticats
- For Hef, the play's the thing
- Blue Bombers Notebook
- Bombers admit a lot of work to do
- CFL tells Bombers to fix press box
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers release Jonathan Hefney
- Hefney decision is mine: Burke
- Bombers lose 24-6 to Argos in Investors Group Field debut
- Brett Cameron among Bomber cuts
- New era begins with errors
- Etienne grabs a clue
- QB Hall discovers three less than four
- Bombers receive no love from oddsmakers
- Bombers admit a lot of work to do
- CFL tells Bombers to fix press box
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers release Jonathan Hefney
- Burke cracks down after tempers flare at Bomber practice
- Hefney decision is mine: Burke
- Bombers' Hefney charged with marijuana possession in S.C.
- Bombers lose 24-6 to Argos in Investors Group Field debut
- Don't count out former NFLer as QBs battle for backup position
- Brett Cameron among Bomber cuts
- No Kumbaya at this camp
- Bombers admit a lot of work to do
- New era begins with errors
- Burke picks up pieces of pre-season pummeling
- 5 storylines
- Is Hefney worth the gamble?
- Critical numbers
- CFL tells Bombers to fix press box
- Big Blue 10-1 dogs to win Grey Cup
- A kicker play football? Don't make me laugh
- Blue write Parker into Will
- Buck 'goes long' for Winnipeg
- The Burke identity
- Freight train at fullback
- Bombers admit a lot of work to do
- Bomber greats to adorn gates
- Don't count out former NFLer as QBs battle for backup position
- Not enough gates to honour Blue greats
- Bombers' Hefney charged with marijuana possession in S.C.
- New era begins with errors
- Burke picks up pieces of pre-season pummeling
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 be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe 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.