Coach fights winds of change

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/08/2010 (5749 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Sorry, folks — don’t expect a boatload of changes for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers this week.

On the heels of a 39-28 defeat to the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats Friday night, Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice told reporters there will not be a large shipment of new players at practice today. He doesn’t want to move players on and off the roster when results don’t turn the way the club wants.

The last thing he needs is players looking over their shoulders, wondering when their time is up, he said.

"I have to have some level of patience; there are some guys who haven’t played a lot of football," LaPolice said. "That doesn’t sit well with me, because some of the mistakes are from veteran guys, too. We have to keep harping on ’em on what we expect, what we want, and get them to do it.

Trying to put a good spin on the mood within the team, LaPolice pointed out that the Bombers (2-5) are just a win back of the Tiger-Cats (3-4) and still in playoff contention, as Edmonton and B.C. continue to struggle through bad stretches of their own.

"I know there’s a lot of doom and gloom, but my job is to define the reality and give hope," he said. "We also have to play better. I don’t care what the hope is — we have to play better football."

TARGETED: Phillip Hunt wants to know what he’s supposed to do in that situation.

The Bombers defensive end was flagged for a 15-yard roughing-the-passer call after he hit Hamilton QB Kevin Glenn around the knees in the fourth quarter. The flag is an automatic call as the CFL tries to prevent low hits on quarterbacks.

Listen to Hunt, though, and there’s nothing he could have done to avoid the call.

"The guy tripped me at the line and all I could do was try to grab his legs," said Hunt, who picked up 60 yards worth of penalties Friday. "What am I supposed to do there? I don’t like the call, but it happened and there’s nothing I can do or say about it that will change it."

PUMP IT UP: The Bombers found themselves in a 14-0 hole early Friday, thanks to a pair of long plays by the Ticats offence. The Winnipeg secondary fell victim to a double move — where the receiver and quarterback fake the pass, only to head up field to open space.

"We have to train our eyes on some of those, as it’s a matter of your feet following your eyes," said DB Jovon Johnson, taking responsibility for the 50-yard reception by Maurice Mann on the first play from scrimmage.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca

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ANOTHER week, another uncertainty regarding Buck Pierce and his health.

After watching his starting quarterback labour Friday night, head coach Paul LaPolice was frank when asked about the status of Pierce’s knee.

"I know he came in for treatment," LaPolice said Saturday. "If he can’t perform at (a better) level then we’ll go with Steven (Jyles)."

The coach said he was going to take Pierce out earlier, when it became apparent that the pivot was unable to move around the field effectively. Pierce delayed that decision with a TD drive at the end of the first quarter, LaPolice said.

Pierce was 7-of-12 for 63 yards and one TD against one pick; Jyles went 14-of-22 for 227 yards and two TDs. Look for Jyles to start Thursday.