O’Shea has no regrets for getting greedy on late third-and-short

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This article was published 30/07/2024 (459 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Mike O’Shea hasn’t changed his position that he got greedy by going for it on third and one with just under a minute to go in regulation time on Saturday.

The head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers also made it crystal clear that he doesn’t regret the decision and he wouldn’t hesitate to do it again, even if it didn’t work in the 16-14 overtime loss to the Toronto Argonauts.

“I’d probably be greedy again, though,” O’Shea said on Tuesday afternoon. “It’s greedy, yeah. I like being greedy. Here’s the point. If you have a choice of keeping the football or giving it back to Janarion Grant and an offence with time, you’re going to always bet on (Chris) Streveler and the O-line, something that’s been perfect. And I would make that decision again. But there is another option.”

That other option was to take the points and trust the defence to come up with a stop to prevent the Argos from either tying the game with a field goal or having the opportunity to win it with a touchdown.

That same Blue Bombers defence surrendered just six points in the defeat, since the major came on a pick-6.

Clearly, O’Shea’s respect for Grant in the return game was also a consideration and while the Blue Bombers did a great job of keeping him in check on Saturday, he’s a threat to find the end zone every time he touches the ball.

How much of the decision was based on coaching instincts (feel) versus the numbers (Streveler and the Blue Bombers were 18-for-18 on third-down conversions prior to being stopped on the play in question?

“It’s more based on the clock, and what you can do with it,” said O’Shea. “Anytime your team can not have to give the ball back to the opposition you’re going to probably choose that. Add in those other numbers and you’re going to definitely choose that.”

The decision is a sound one when taking those factors into the equation, but would a team’s record ever factor into the considerations (for example, if the Blue Bombers were 6-1 instead of being 2-5 like they were when the choice was made)?

“I’ve never thought of it that way, so I’d say no,” said O’Shea. “I mean, you’re trying to win the football game and you’re trying to do it the way we know how and what makes sense with this team.”

O’Shea wasn’t willing to provide any injury updates or shed any insight on the availability for either offensive lineman Patrick Neufeld or receiver Drew Wolitarsky, both of whom left Saturday’s game with injuries.

It would be a surprise if Wolitarsky was available to play Thursday, which opened the door for Whitehead to be activated from the practice roster. On Tuesday night, according to the CFL transactions wire, Whitehead was moved to the game roster. Defensive backs Tyrique McGhee and Marquise Bridges were moved to the practice roster.

Since Tuesday’s workout was a closed practice, there won’t be any confirmation of the depth chart coming until Wednesday afternoon leading into Thursday’s matchup with the West Division leading B.C. Lions.

There’s also been plenty of buzz about the potential return of receiver Rasheed Bailey, who was unexpectedly released by the Argos last week.

“You know what, I talk to Sheed. He’s in a place where he’s trying to figure it out right now. I don’t really know where his head’s at,” said Blue Bombers receiver Nic Demski. “I know he wants to play football. I also know that he has a lot of figuring out to do. I’m going to give him space. But at the same time, it would be sweet to see him put the jersey over the pads again.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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