QB Bishop to get the start for foreseeable future

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This article was published 02/08/2009 (5916 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Michael Bishop had better get his aches and pains healed up quickly because he’s got an offence to run again this week.

In what could hardly be called an earth-shattering development but is newsworthy nonetheless, Winnipeg Blue Bomber head coach Mike Kelly said Sunday Bishop’s work in Saturday’s 13-12 victory over the Toronto Argonauts means he’ll continue to take the first snap from centre for the foreseeable future.

As a result, the 33-year-old who arrived from Texas just a week ago will get the start this Saturday in Calgary against the Stampeders.

“He did some things improvisationally that not a lot of people can do,” said Kelly.

“He kept drives alive for us because he was able to do that. Did he turn the wrong way a couple of times? Yes. Did he call a play and then execute something else? Sure. But he finds a way to get the ball down the field and when you have a big, strong athlete like that you want him to be an athlete and not be a robot. Sometimes you just have to live with some of those things.

“Maybe this will be a thing where Michael says, ‘OK, I’ve got that under my belt. I know where my conditioning is and I’m back to an understanding of game speed’ and hopefully we’ll see another step forward.”

Working with just four practices under his belt and a streamlined playbook, Bishop completed 16 of 30 passes for 213 yards with one TD and one interception in the win over the Argos, but was especially effective in the first half as the Bombers jumped to a 10-0 lead. In the second half his body — not accustomed to game-like conditions — began to cramp and seize up considerably.

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That said, it was his ability to throw the ball deep that changed the complexion of the Bomber offence, but it was the play of the defence — forcing six turnovers — that was the key to the victory.

“It’s not that hard to figure out if we had been averaging 21 points, which isn’t a great average, we would have been 4-0 going into that game (Saturday) and everybody would have just been giddy but we’re not,” said Kelly.

“If we can just get this offence to function marginally and we’re not even functionally marginally yet… we’re simply not good enough right now offensively. But I see too many glimmers of hope to give up and just trash things and try to start things all over again. I know we’re very, very close.

“If we can turn into an average to just-above average offence, with the way our defence and special teams plays I think we can be as competitive as anybody.”

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca