Serna’s miss-takes have Blue concerned

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/08/2010 (5888 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NO name will likely be waved off, no candidate instantly rejected.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are, officially, not saying much on the status of placekicker Alexis Serna. But that obviously doesn’t mean they aren’t sniffing around for a possible replacement and/or challenger to the third-year pro.

Said assistant GM Ross Hodgkinson in a text Sunday afternoon after Serna missed on two field goals in the 29-22 loss to Hamilton:

"We are and will continue to monitor our kicking situation at this time. After every game all aspects of the game are reviewed."

Asked specifically if a new kicker was en route, Hodgkinson replied: ‘No one is coming at this time.’

But in the heat of the moment late Saturday, the frustration with Serna — he’s 8 of 14 this year and has missed four from the 40-yard-line and in — was clearly evident on head coach Paul LaPolice’s face.

"Yeah, absolutely," LaPolice said when asked if he wanted to have somebody in to challenge Serna. "We have to have faith… we’ll research all those issues. But, as usual, every week we evaluate every position and if we can make a change to make things better we will.

"Those kicks… you gotta come away with points. It’s hard to move a 110-yard field and get touchdowns consistently. You gotta be able to get field goals."

The Bombers are said to have former Toronto Argonaut Justin Medlock atop their wish list. He connected on 40 of 46 field goals last year and parlayed those numbers into tryouts with the Washington Redskins and Detroit Lions. It’s believed the Bombers have contacted the agent of the former UCLA star, but Medlock is said to still be waiting for an NFL opportunity.

Two other candidates likely aren’t available right now, either. Former Ticat Nick Setta now works as a trainer for kickers trying to land NFL work while ex-Saskatchewan Roughrider Louie Sakoda is said to be headed to the UFL.

Other possibilities include Canadians Sean Whyte and Derek Schiavone, currently on the reserve lists in B.C. and Edmonton, although to pry those two prospects loose the Bombers would have to come up with draft picks or players via trade.

The club may also be interested in any number of NFL cast-offs and GM Joe Mack recently scouted both the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills while director of player personnel Ken Moll is also down south.

OUCH: Titus Ryan, the Bomber receiver currently in the camp of the Dallas Cowboys, broke his thumb Sunday during pre-season action and will likely be out for a while.

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BAD BLOOD? Here’s what Ticat receiver Arland Bruce III told reporters after the game, a comment that will undoubtedly have the gentlemen in the Bomber secondary all fired up for Friday — aside from being torched by AB III for 11 catches for 197 yards and a touchdown:

""There was a little hostility out there, but we get to play them next week in their house so it feels good to get the win. They played dirty on me a little bit, a couple times, they had a couple guys trying to get a little extra hit on me coming across the middle, trying to take me out of the game, But you know what? I expect that. I’m looking forward to it next week. I’m going to get my big-boy pads out next week.

"A couple of them got aggressive and played dirty."

JUICY NUMBERS: In the last two weeks, both losses, Bombers QB Steven Jyles has passed for 576 yards and three TDs against zero interceptions.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca