Down the road a bit, when the Bombers hire a new offensive co-ordinator, we'll know whether this was a scapegoat move or the clearing out of old stock to make room for new and improved product.

Let's hope it was the latter.

Who the Bombers hire to replace outgoing O.C. Jamie Barresi will tell us what pre-empted this move -- the need to place blame on someone or the decision to hire a qualified football man to run the offence with autonomy.

Let's be clear about one thing and that's whether or not Barresi was qualified. The answer is we'll never know because he wasn't given the chance. This was head coach Paul LaPolice's offence and he called the plays. What Barresi actually did is a little unclear but it got him fired on Wednesday.

To argue the model being used in Winnipeg, where the head coach runs both the team and offence, works in fancy places such as Green Bay or New Orleans is specious.

Winnipeg's offence tanked this season and it likely cost them a championship last Sunday. The model didn't work this season or last, for that matter. So clipping Barresi and plugging in another behind-the-scenes type is a wasted exercise.

It's time to re-evaluate and give LaPolice some help. It takes a big man to admit he needs help. Sometimes those looking out for us need to step in and take control. That is GM Joe Mack's job in this instance. He's LaPolice's boss and he answers for the good of the entire football club.

Can Mack assuredly say the status quo is what's best for the Bombers? Doubtful.

Future

So what happens next is what Bombers fans should really be paying attention to as it will have a major effect on the future of the franchise.

If Mack and LaPolice stand up in a few weeks and introduce a qualified man, say a Khari Jones or a Bobby Dyce, we'll know what happened.

Mack and LaPolice analyzed the season and the coaching staff looking for strengths and weaknesses and determined a change was needed in running the offence.

Legitimate co-ordinators, men like Winnipeg's defensive co-ordinator Tim Burke, don't take jobs where they don't have control of the situation. That's a good way to get fired for someone else's mistakes. Just ask Barresi.

If the Bombers are serious about getting the best coach for the job, the first thing they'll need to do is change the job description from silent caddy to shot caller.

No coach worth hiring is coming here to hand LaPolice the club and get out of the way while he makes the shots. For that, you can rent a pull cart at your local muni.

If the Bombers offer up a yes-man candidate when they announce this hire, they'll have missed a chance to upgrade and improve the club.

The Bombers came close this year and could very well get over the top next season.

But improvements have to be made and the offence is the big sore thumb obvious to all.

Making the hard decisions and moves to achieve the next step is what Mack and LaPolice are charged with and trusted to do.

Mack wouldn't take a pass on a chance to upgrade the talent on his playing roster. Why should he allow it to happen on his coaching staff? The answer is simple. He shouldn't.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @garylawless

Gary Lawless, Winnipeg Free Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 1, 2011 C1