For all the armchair coaches…

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/07/2012 (4834 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG Blue Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice was delighted on Monday to explain his decision to gamble on third down from the Montreal Alouettes’ six-yard line in the fourth quarter of the Bombers’ 41-30 loss Friday night.

“This is a good one — I’m excited to talk about this,” LaPolice said when questioned about the call, which ended with QB Buck Pierce getting sacked and the Bombers getting nothing for their efforts.

This is a slightly condensed version of what LaPolice had to say about why he didn’t kick the field goal with his team down 11 points with five minutes left to play:

“I know in the textbook when you’re down 11, you kick the field goal. But sometimes there are other factors and I’ll go into that. The first thing is — at the 9, 10, 11, 12 (yard-lines), anything farther back you kick a field goal. At the six, then you can make a decision on whether you have a play and you can score.

“That being said, if I just take the three points at that spot, we hadn’t stopped them very much on defence. And the next series we were missing two starting defensive backs (halfback Alex Suber and SAM linebacker Brandon Stewart, both injured). (Backup defensive back) Dan West was playing SAM linebacker.

“So after talks and thoughts, if I get three points, we’re down eight, they’re going to take the ball at the 35, get a couple of first downs, I figured, and kick a field goal and put me down 11 again. Where if we can get the touchdown and the two points and they get a field goal, we’re still down within a one-score game. Even if we miss the two-points, it’s an eight-point game.

“I just felt we wouldn’t be able to stop them. And that’s what happened — they drove 100 yards for a touchdown. And then it doesn’t matter what you did. But I felt we could at least hold them to a field goal…

“I know people said that’s the wrong call. I think with more information, it’s the right call.”

LaPolice added he was happy to have the chance to explain his decision “for the people who have all the answers.”

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Sick bay

Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice said DB Alex Suber, SAM Brandon Stewart, LB Marcellus Bowman, DE Kenny Mainor, SB Cory Watson and RB Anthony Woodson are all injured and will not be in the lineup when the Bombers play in Edmonton on Friday. LaPolice said OL Andre Douglas — who practised for part of Monday’s session — is questionable, while RB Chad Simpson — who was running sprints — is doubtful.

New guy

With non-import RB Anthony Woodson injured Friday, the Bombers on Monday signed non-import RB Nathan Riva to the practice roster. Riva played four seasons for Western and had 10 TDs during the 2009 season. He was undrafted, but went to training camp this year with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.