‘Finding an identity’ key to Bombers’ new offensive coordinator’s plans

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This article was published 19/08/2013 (4483 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Marcel Bellefeuille can’t — and won’t — make any promises for a quick turnaround for the anemic Winnipeg Blue Bombers offence.

But the club’s new offensive coordinator, who spoke to the media Monday after his promotion from consultant became official Sunday following the firing of Gary Crowton, did vow to make the attack simpler and more suited to the Canadian Football League.

“There are some excellent elements to this offence, but there are some elements that — I guess the simplest way to say it — have been adjusted to fit the CFL field but not necessarily the style of CFL defences,” Bellefeuille said.

“The biggest thing is finding an identity and calling the game to your identity. I feel overall we haven’t necessarily had an identity. It started out as a run team, but defences wise up.”

Bellefeuille and the rest of the offensive coaching staff will meet through Monday and consult with head coach Tim Burke as to who they recommend will be the starting quarterback this weekend in Guelph against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

The Bombers have already started three different QBs through their 1-6 start in Buck Pierce, Justin Goltz and Max Hall and are walking the same fine line they have been for the last few years: the need to win now vs. developing a prospect.

“We still have an opportunity to compete this season, there’s still playoff positions that can be made,” said Bellefeuille. “That’s important, too. But it’s also important to find out exactly what you have under a certain evaluation tool that we’re going to put in place now with a regular CFL -style offence to see if the long-term answers are in house or not. We have to balance those two things.”

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Bellefeuille, who was the Ticats’ head coach from 2009-2011 and was a coordinator in Saskatchewan, Hamilton and Montreal, also said he will call the plays going forward.

“I didn’t want to do this position when I came here,” he admitted. “This is not the reason I came here, I wanted to consult the rest of the season and try and help and make things better.

“It’s always a challenge coming in midstream, but I did say when I came in I would do whatever I could to help the organization. So this is ‘whatever.’ I’m fond of Tim and I want to do whatever I can to help the organization. If you’re asking me if this is an ideal situation professionally to step into, not necessarily. But I’m excited to be a Blue Bomber and excited to be a part of this organization. Whatever they need, I’m there to do it.”

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPEdTait