Max Hall may QB for Bombers’ next game

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This article was published 30/07/2013 (4824 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers may be dipping into their bullpen again for another live arm to quarterback the team’s next game against the B.C. Lions.

Head coach Tim Burke said Tuesday during a press briefing that Justin Goltz, who made his first start in last week’s loss to Calgary, is still recovering from an ankle injury. Meanwhile, Buck Pierce is “still listed as injured so, heck, you might see Max Hall this week.

“Goltz is hurt more than what we originally thought.”

Just to further compound matters for a 1-4 club looking to stop the bleeding of a three-game losing streak, cornerback Jovon Johnson will also be doubtful.

The good news from the infirmary? Both Desia Dunn and Jeremy McGee should be back to help a pass defence that has been simply atrocious over the last few games. To quote Burke when asked about the defence: “It sucked.”

Burke said that when the team returns to practice on Thursday he will be more hands-on with the defence, particularly the defensive backs.

“Over the last couple of days I’ve had a lot of time to think about things. I’ve seen some areas where I can be a more positive influence, I think,” he said. “I think I’ll probably consult a little more on the defensive side. Maybe a little more direction… I may actually go hands on with the DBs a little bit since they’re not playing very well. I could screw ’em up even more.”

‘Jobs in jeopardy’

Burke wouldn’t name the culprits for some ‘egregious mistakes’ in the secondary, but did say there were made by veterans. Asked if the team may bring in new faces to pressure those already here, he added:

“That would be up to (GM) Joe (Mack) who he would want to bring in but certainly there’s a couple of guys whose jobs are in jeopardy… and I’m not going to mention who. We’re not going to stand for that kind of play.

“If it was a young guy making a mistake you would probably be patient. But if it’s a veteran making a mistake and they’ve been through this… then you can’t let it go. I don’t want to get into why it’s going on because I don’t know why it’s going on and I’ll ask them why. But we’re just not going to stand for it.

“We’re at a point where we shouldn’t be having these mental errors, certainly not in the coverage we’ve played the most and the one we put in during training camp,” Burke added.

“That’s where my patience is pretty thin. As a coach and a teacher you still have to maintain a positive approach and you still have to inspire and not tear down. It becomes more business. You’ve just got to say, ‘If we continue to do this then we’re going to have to make some changes.’ It’s just business. If you can’t, then we’ve got to find somebody else who can.”

Ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPEdTait