Buck ready to ride as Bomber OC

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/01/2020 (2055 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Buck Pierce spent six seasons as a key but low-profile contributor to the Blue Bombers as an assistant coach.

On Tuesday, the CFL club confirmed weeks of speculation when they elevated the 38-year-old from Crescent City, Calif., to the hot seat of offensive co-ordinator, replacing Paul LaPolice.

Pierce will be a multi-tasker in 2020, staying put as Winnipeg’s quarterbacks coach, a position he has held for four years under LaPolice, who was recently hired as head coach of the Ottawa Redblacks.

Pierce’s new job comes with intense public scrutiny, where fan assessments of your work can vary from “genius” to “incompetent.” Pierce, a year-round Winnipeg resident, said he can take the heat.

“That’s the job,” said Pierce at an afternoon news conference. “I’ve lived this profession my whole life. Nine years as a player, six as a coach now. I understand that responsibility.”

Pierce, who quarterbacked the Blue Bombers from 2009 to 2013, said he has learned a lot working under LaPolice, renowned as one of the CFL’s most creative offensive minds.

“Your first time doing it, there’s probably some unexpected things that are going to come up,” said Pierce, who was one of head coach Mike O’Shea’s first hires in 2014. “But it’s important we have good people around us. I’ve been on this side for a number of years now and learned from a lot of good people. It’s important you have good people on your staff.

“You trust your process. And you attack it like you attack anything else. I’m a confident guy, and I understand the demands. And I’m excited and ready for it.”

The Blue Bombers also revealed Kevin Bourgoin will move from running backs to receivers coach, while Pete Costanza, who spent the last 12 seasons with the Calgary Stampeders as their receivers coach, has been named the running backs coach.

Marty Costello, meanwhile, will return as the team’s offensive line coach in 2020, his fifth season in Winnipeg.

Preparations for next season are being impacted by uncertainty over the club’s quarterback personnel.

Zach Collaros, who engineered a late-season run to a Grey Cup win, Matt Nichols, whose fifth year in Winnipeg was cut short by injury, and Chris Streveler, who played a crucial support role in the title run, are all pending free agents.

Pierce was asked about a report from Three Down Nation suggesting the Blue Bombers had made signing Collaros their top priority.

“We’re not going to comment on any reports out there,” he said. “Listen, all three guys, all our quarterbacks, have the ability to win football games. They’ve proven that. It’s an ongoing process. Everybody would like to have all three back.”

Streveler’s unique skill set appears to have generated serious NFL interest.

“We’ll see what happens with that,” said Pierce. “Obviously, I wish Chris Streveler the best and hope he’ll be back with us but I also want the best for the individual.”

‘You trust your process. And you attack it like you attack anything else. I’m a confident guy, and I understand the demands’– new Bombers offensive co-ordinator Buck Pierce

Who fills the quarterback position and how the rest of the offensive personnel is assembled will impact the style and look of Pierce’s offence.

“The players will dictate that,” said Pierce. “Obviously we have some things we want to look at, evaluate from the last couple of years, what we do well (and) build on that. And also add some things. But ultimately it’s up to the players, the guys we have in the building and the pieces we put in place. Players like to be challenged.

“We’re going to be physical. When you put the tape on you’re going to see people competing. And we’re going to continue to push the boundaries of letting our players play. Continue to build on that football IQ, and be as creative as our players allow us to be.

Winnipeg’s offensive attack, based heavily on the a run game featuring all-star tailback Andrew Harris, made life miserable for opposing defences. The return of Harris and with all but pending free agent Michael Couture signed on the offensive line, Winnipeg should have a similar look in 2020.

“Offence is always evolving,” said Pierce. “… I keeping going back to this, I’m going to get questions about, ‘What are you going to look like?’ Players will dictate it. We’re going to do our best to put them in the right situations to be successful. If we’ve gotta throw it, we throw it. If we can run it, we’ll run it.”

With their offensive crew now in place, the Blue Bombers have yet to finalize their remainder of their coaching staff.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14