Blue need offensive fixes

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/06/2016 (3458 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

By now, Winnipeg Blue Bomber fans know the countdown: eight days remaining before the home opener against the Montreal Alouettes, the beginning of the 2016 regular season.

And if we’re to judge the first-team offence displayed in the first quarter of pre-season game No. 1, and the first half of pre-season game No. 2, there’s much to be done before June 24.

How much stock should be put into pre-season games is anyone’s guess. The stats suggest a sluggish offence, one where a slew of projected starters only managed three first downs (one by penalty) in the first half of Monday’s 18-14 loss to the Ottawa Redblacks. The same offence netted just 75 yards through two quarters, and starting pivot Drew Willy failed to find the end zone in three-plus quarters of pre-season action.

Offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice lamented penalty troubles that put the Bombers in several second-and-long spots at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa. Head coach Mike O’Shea said it changes the way the game is called based on where and when those infractions happen in the game. It’s an area LaPolice addressed with his squad Tuesday.

Still, LaPolice is confident his first-team squad will be competitive come Week 1 of the regular season, despite any perceived shortcomings.

“If you take away some of those things, you’re moving the ball better,” LaPolice said.

In the words of O’Shea, losing stinks, even in pre-season where games have no meaning in the grand picture. LaPolice was pleased with Willy’s 73.3 per cent completion number.

“Part of the process with him is making quick decisions and getting the ball out of his hands and I think he did that,” he said. “We’re just trying to make sure he sees what he’s looking for and, if it’s not there, goes for other spots and makes decisions quickly to get the ball out of his hands.”

Willy came out of Monday’s loss frustrated, not by the numbers his offence produced, but the lack of points on the board. He’s overseen just 10 points over three-plus quarters of work and the Bombers’ offence was stalled three times on third down in Monday’s game.

Still, the third-year starter feels he’s got a grasp on the offence. He said they’re well on their way, close even, to where they want to be.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Thursdays

Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.

Sign up for Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

“We’re doing good. I think we’re enjoying the process,” he said. “Every single day is important — walkthrough, meetings. It’s still training camp mode here right now. We’re going to be here all night going through things. For us, each rep is important in a new offence.”

As far as play selection, what we’ve seen at this point has been vanilla ice cream as opposed to the Neapolitan variety. Opening the playbook will come in time, June 24 precisely, and the weeks that follow.

LaPolice is not losing sleep over a couple of pre-season games. After spending years in the CFL as both an offensive co-ordinator and a head coach, he knows anxiety tags along with the job.

“I worry about everything. I worry about everything every single day,” he said. “To say that I’m happy every day — I’m never happy.”

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @scottbilleck

Scott Billeck
Reporter

Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade’s worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024.  Read more about Scott.

Every piece of reporting Scott produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is 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.