Mack reflects on Bombers’ lost season

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This article was published 09/11/2010 (5647 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

By all accounts, Joe Mack would rather be a wallflower, all things considered.

It’s not that the Bombers GM isn’t comfortable in the limelight, he just prefers others do the talking while he oversees the operation.

There’s those in sports management who wear their heart on their sleeve. That’s not Mack, either.

His arm’s-length management style can be unfortunate on occasions, because it can be misunderstood. Where was Mack when the season went into the tank? Shouldn’t he have been more visibly distraught, rattling some cages?

The Bombers would be wise to trot out the reluctant GM more often. Because the man does have one undisputable ability, and that’s to evoke a certain level of serenity into the proceedings, no matter how dire.

On Monday, the Bombers GM delivered his post-mortem on a 2010 season that by the strictest standards was an utter disaster. A 4-14 record, out of the playoffs again, and no definitive, long-term answer at quarterback. How do you put a positive spin on that mess?

Well, for starters you mention right off the Bombers began the season with an entirely new coaching staff, a completely new stable of quarterbacks, and a roster littered with CFL rookies. You point out that on the last game of the season, your offence included two rookie tackles, four rookie receivers, a rookie running back and fourth-string quarterback — yet put up 32 points in a 35-32 loss to the Calgary Stampeders.

Mack stressed that, say what you want about his young team, they never quit. “In that aspect,” he noted, “they showed a certain courage to battle through things.”

No argument

No argument there.

Neither did Mack get over-defensive about questions involving his head coach, in particular about LaPolice’s play-calling. “Obviously, there was a learning curve for Paul,” Mack said. “I’m sure he’d be the first one to tell you there’s some things he wishes he could have back or do differently.”

For what it’s worth, there are no shortage of instances this past season where LaPolice has been second-guessed. Your humble agent included. But LaPolice called the plays for the Saskatchewan Roughriders just one year ago and they’d be wearing Grey Cup rings if someone on the Riders special teams could count to 12.

So let’s all agree that play-calling or devising offensive schemes should be the least of LaPolice’s shortcomings. Let’s focus on the big picture, folks, and that’s sifting through the wreckage to determine if the Bombers’ woeful season was worth, well, anything.

Mack views nine losses by four points or less with a rose-coloured-glasses-half-full perspective. Said Mack: “I think we’re real close.”

Oh, they’re real close, all right. Have been for some time now. And according to the GM, the plan — at least until it changes — is to open the 2011 training camp with both Buck Pierce and Steven Jyles at quarterback. “A healthy Buck Pierce and Steven Jyles,” Mack reasoned, “some other teams would certainly swap with us.”

This is where Mack’s post-mortem gets a little hazy. Everybody loves the gritty Pierce, but if you’re the GM of the Bombers — coming off a disastrous season and citing quarterback health as a key priority — how could you possibly bank the future on an injury-prone pivot who couldn’t make it through August? Again.

The Bombers would never admit it, but don’t be surprised if Joey Elliott, who shone in a couple late, meaningless games, just may be closer to the No. 1 spot right now (long term) than either Pierce or Jyles. Just you watch.

Which brings us back to Mack, whose first year at the helm must have been gut-wrenchingly awful. After all, fans and media watch losses. Mack and LaPolice live with them, stew over them, regurgitate them.

Yet there was Mack, rationally explaining how that exuberant, improving youth is about to pay dividends.

It all sounds quite reasonable, at least out of Mack’s mouth, given the intestinal fortitude displayed by his youth-heavy club to the end.

Or perhaps Mack’s words only seem soothing because there’s a long winter ahead, and a hard summer in the rear-view mirror. What a shame if it had all been for nothing.

randy.turner@freepress.mb.ca

Randy Turner
Reporter

Randy Turner spent much of his journalistic career on the road. A lot of roads. Dirt roads, snow-packed roads, U.S. interstates and foreign highways. In other words, he got a lot of kilometres on the odometer, if you know what we mean.

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