Winning ain’t everything, but it helps everything

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This article was published 07/06/2016 (3467 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winning, even in exhibition games, trumps all else for Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea.

Of course, evaluation follows in close proximity, but O’Shea made it clear Tuesday after his team’s pre-game walkthrough winning helps everything, including evaluating and correcting mistakes.

“There are a lot of good things that come out of winning,” O’Shea said. “(When) you get in that room after a win, it’s far easier to correct mistakes after a win than after a loss. There’s something about confidence and guys believing in each other that’s very important.

“I wouldn’t say you’re sacrificing one for the other.”

Drew Willy gets the start at quarterback tonight. If he had his way, he’d play the whole game, but time will be given to the other three in camp, including Dominique Davis and Bryan Bennett, both of whom are battling for the No. 3 spot holding the clipboard.

The Bombers will be without the services of DB Johnny Adams, REC Jace Davis, LB Sam Hurl and LB, with the latter expected to miss both pre-season games. REC Weston Dressler is still a game-time decision. He took part in the walkthrough.

Others on the mend include DB Johnny Patrick, LB Shayne Gauthier, DE Louie Richardson, DE Sam Scott, DE Darrell Johnson, REC Alex Vitt, REC Kris Adams and RB Pascal Lochard.

With all the injuries, chances for to step up and stand out are there for the taking.

Former Atlanta Falcons receiver Kevin Cone knows the drill. The Georgia native bounced around between five NFL teams before he signed with the Bombers in the middle of the 2015 season. With Jace Davis out, Cone expects an increase in reps at wideout.

“We got a nice rotation set up,” Cone said. “I’m just ready to get out there and put this hard work to the test. I have to show I can grasp the offence and grasp what we are trying to do as an offensive unit. I got to play fast and confident, be in the playbook and know what I’m doing.”

Every opportunity afforded to a player to make a play is paramount in terms of what O’Shea is looking for, so he will be honing in on execution from his squad.

“You put plays in at camp and you run them and run them and run them to death and they go out there and they’re supposed to be able to execute them at a high level … at 100 per cent speed,” O’Shea said. “We’ll see how close we are to that.”

That’s not to say that a guy needs to show anything extra.

“They have to make plays,” he said. “They have to go out there and do their job. When it’s their opportunity to make a play, they got to make it. You don’t want guys running around thinking they have to do extra. You expect them to be giving 100 per cent effort the entire game. We expect nothing less than that. If they got extra to give, they’re probably not doing it right in the first place.”

From the other side

If the Montreal Alouettes can’t find a few good quarterbacks to start the season, it won’t be for lack of trying.

Their positional chart lists no less than eight quarterbacks on it – seven who will be in town Wednesday – including former Bomber Kevin Glenn, who is listed as the team’s No.1 and will, barring injury, begin the season there. 

Als head coach and general manager Jim Popp told media on Tuesday that the team scrapped their playbook from 2015 and started new, right down to the terminology used.

“We gave (offensive coordinator) Anthony (Calvillo) a chance to start from scratch,” Popp said. “(Receivers coach and special advisor to the offensive coordinator) Jacques Chapdelaine was heavily involved. The entire offensive coaching staff was involved building this playbook.”

Glenn will start at quarterback tonight and could see an increased role as the team tries to nail down the new playbook. 

The Bombers-Als pre-season matchup has a little extra meaning given that both teams will square off against each other in Week 1 of the regular season in a couple weeks’ time.

“It is different, not a first, it happens,” Popp said. “For us, I’m not talking about personnel changes, but when we’re talking about philosophies, the defence is pretty much the same as we’ve been doing, we’ve had success with it. Offensively, we’ve changed a lot.

“But no one is going to show everything they’re doing in the pre-season.”

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @scottbileck

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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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