Butterfingers plague Blue

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This article was published 22/08/2010 (5724 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As you might expect, Paul LaPolice’s bye week started with some film study.

The first-year head coach of the Blue Bombers spent a good chunk of his Saturday examining every turnover his club committed through the first eight weeks of the season. Winnipeg has turned the ball over 21 times, with 10 of those coming as fumbles (the most in the CFL). A good chunk of those loose balls have come from the quarterback position, and that has LaPolice frustrated and looking for answers.

"The thing we have to do better at the quarterback position is we have to protect the football," he said. "Actually we’re one of the best in the CFL in interceptions. We’ve only had five in all those games, but we’ve turned the ball over in pressure situations."

Those words fall directly to Steven Jyles, who is developing a disconcerting habit of putting the football on the carpet when coming into a serious pass rush. Jyles has just two interceptions in his four starts and mop-up duty thus far — a number that is remarkable when you consider the lack of experience he had coming into the season — but the problem has been his butterfingers.

The 27-year-old has fumbled the ball five times, gaffes that have crippled Winnipeg drives and forced fans to hold their breath when the QB scrambles out of the pocket.

Conventional thinking would suggest the coach would give his young starter the benefit of the doubt. After all, he’s been thrown into a tough situation, right?

"I’ve been through it last year with Darian (Durant) and I’ve had that scenario," said LaPolice, recalling his days as the offensive co-ordinator in Saskatchewan and the patience he needed with their young quarterback. "You bounce yourself between that scenario of ‘Yes, you can give him that grace period’ but also, we have to win football games."

If you’re wondering, Edmonton ‘leads’ the CFL with 24 turnovers.

NO PRESSURE: LaPolice was asked about his comfort level these days. After all, given the amount of changeover in the coaching position over the last two seasons (LaPolice is the third head coach in the last three years), and knowing another firing isn’t the most desirable move within the organization, he must have a sense of some job security, no?

"I don’t think this is a comfortable profession," he said. "My comfort level is based not on outside influences; it’s based on my performance and what we have to do."

The coach said he can’t get caught up in the recent instability the franchise has gone through, either. "I’m not part of that; I’m part of this season, I’m responsible for where we are right now," he said. "I can’t let those things factor in."

INJURY UPDATE: The Bombers were left with a few casualties from the massacre in Montreal Thursday.

A timetable for offensive lineman Luke Fritz (hamstring) won’t be determined until next week and receiver Cory Watson has a first-degree MCL sprain, but it’s believed he’s going to be fine. All other Bomber injuries will be updated when the team returns to work a week from today.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca