Season isn’t getting easier for O’Shea

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This article was published 24/09/2015 (3990 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE Winnipeg Blue Bombers may be struggling, but the coach isn’t worrying about his future.

With a 4-8 record and just six games remaining, head coach Mike O’Shea was asked if his job may be in danger.

“I don’t think about that,” said O’Shea, who has an 11-19 record. “I think about getting up every day, and getting to work and making sure I put something together for the players to sink their teeth into and give us a chance to be successful.”

O’Shea added: “There are a lot of other things that are more important on a daily basis to think about. If you cloud your mind with stuff that’s not important on that day, you’re going to miss an opportunity to coach.”

Things aren’t getting easier for O’Shea as the Bombers prepare to host the defending Grey Cup Champions, the 9-3 Calgary Stampeders, Friday night.

On the injury front, receiver Nick Moore was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice and is good to go Friday after missing Sunday’s loss in Montreal with a nagging leg injury.

“I’m feeling good, a lot better,” said Moore. “Thought I was ready last week but just wasn’t ready last minute and didn’t want to put myself and the team in that situation, but I’m ready to go this week.”

Tough

Moore said it was tough to watch his team lose against the Alouettes, especially after a much-needed win over Saskatchewan the week before in the annual Banjo Bowl, when he earned his first 100-yard receiving game this season, hauling in three catches for 103 yards.

Receiver Julian Feoli-Gudino has been placed on the six-game injured list. O’Shea called it an upper-body issue. Taking his spot in the offence Wednesday was Kris Bastien.

Ian Wild had his first practice, a day after the team announced they had signed the import linebacker through 2017. Wild was taking reps on special teams as well as middle linebacker in the second-team defence.

“It felt good,” said Wild, who started all 18 games with the Bombers last season before taking his talents to the NFL. He was recently released by the Pittsburgh Steelers. “I was a little worried about my legs. I mean I’ve been running and stuff but haven’t played in over three weeks, but I was fine.”

Newly acquired import receiver Kevin Cone (6-2, 215, Georgia Tech) was also working out with the team. He talked about his opportunity with the Bombers after spending the last three seasons in the NFL.

“When I was at home I was kind of getting ready for the next phase, but I got this opportunity,” he said. “It’s a breath of fresh life and I’m ready to make the most of it.”

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca twitter: @jeffkhamilton

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton joined the Free Press newsroom in 2015, reporting on the sports and investigative beats until he left the Free Press in July 2026.

Every piece of reporting Jeff produced was reviewed by an editing team before it was posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.