LaPo likes what Nichols is doing on offence

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This article was published 10/08/2016 (3624 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Paul LaPolice is impressed with the man at the controls of his suddenly effective offensive attack and he doesn’t care if everybody knows.

“First and foremost, he’s protected the ball — done a good job of that,” the Blue Bombers’ offensive co-ordinator said Tuesday, referring to quarterback Matt Nichols, who is a perfect 2-0 since relieving Drew Willy three weeks ago.

“But he’s certainly been efficient with the football, led us on drives and created a lot of first downs and put points on the board.”

Reading between the lines, it would seem Nichols is giving LaPolice precisely what Willy couldn’t as the starter in the club’s first five games.

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On Friday, both LaPolice and head coach Mike O’Shea return to the city where their coaching careers began, when the Blue and Gold take on the Argonauts in Toronto.

O’Shea played down the fuzzy, nostalgic feelings of years gone by as both a player and coach with the Argos, preferring to focus on his team and the task ahead.

“I’m a Winnipegger and I’m a Blue Bomber. This feels right,” O’Shea said Tuesday.

O’Shea said he still has a lot of friends on the Argos, and he holds Toronto head coach Scott Milanovich in the highest regard.

“He’s a very good coach. He’s managed his teams through some very tough times,” O’Shea said. “You want to believe that when you’re going against someone who is at the top of their game, it brings out a lot of good things in you.”

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Justin Cole would like nothing more than to replicate his two-sack performance in the Bombers’ win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last week, as long as it comes with the same result — a win.

“The individual stats are nice but overall we won two in a row, which is important,” he said. “We played well overall as a defence. A lot of guys made plays — DBs, linebackers, guys on the defensive line. If we can continue that trend, I’ll be ecstatic.

“I don’t remember the last time we got three in a row around here. That’s the biggest thing and getting sacks helps that. I’m going to try and get some more.”

Cole said it’s been a lone time since he got two sacks in a game, taking a stab that it was likely in college at San Jose State University.

“It’s a good feeling,” he said. “You’re getting a little bit of an award for your hard work and dedication, fighting through injuries and a myriad of other things (you’re) going through.”

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If the Winnipeg Blue Bombers pull off a hat trick of wins with a victory Friday, their head coach still won’t be satisfied with being .500 heading into their first bye week of the season.

“Unfortunately, a win there puts us at .500, which then puts us at ground zero again and when you look at that, we’re not satisfied with that,” said O’Shea. “We’re not going to be jumping for joy during the bye week that we’re 4-4.”

O’Shea said he will give his assistants time off next week. When they reconvene, they’ll watch some film.

“We’ll do a recap of the season during that bye week and watch the games again and figure out where we’re at and what we have to do going forward,” O’Shea said.

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.

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