Blank paper a challenge for Bombers

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/09/2010 (5533 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Head coach Paul LaPolice revealed his game plan to his players earlier this week, handing members of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers a single sheet of paper.

Crisp, white office stock, with nary a word to be found.

The intended message was to wipe the slate clean for the coming game with the Toronto Argonauts at Rogers Centre Sunday (noon, TSN/CJOB), to erase the memory banks containing those good feelings from the Banjo Bowl and re-configure them towards the challenges Toronto brings as the Bombers attempt to win back-to-back games for the first time this year.

Not all the players understood the motivational aspect of the strange memo.

“It was interesting,” a perplexed Jovon Johnson said after practice Thursday. “I think he just wanted us to realize that nothing is done until we write something on it. We haven’t accomplished anything yet, right? We have to put our names on that piece of paper and write our story for this season.

“At least that’s what I got out of it.”

Linebacker Joe Lobendahn lowered his shoulder and took his own blind shot in the dark.

“I don’t know. It was just a blank paper,” he said, not wanting to speculate on why the photocopier tray at the Bombers offices is a little lighter. “I guess he’s just trying to get us to think about things.”

Or not think about things, it turns out.

LaPolice wanted to imprint the clean- slate idea on his players, but though little has been accomplished by the Blue and Gold following two impressive outings against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, wouldn’t the 3-7 Bombers be better served by holding this feeling of victory and accompanying sense of high self-esteem and use that as inspiration heading into an important game with the struggling Argos?

“We talked about the effort, but there’s no entitlement from last week to this week,” cautioned LaPolice, trading the coach’s whistle for the psychologist’s couch. “We want to play hard like we did last week; we want to do a lot of the things we did last week that were very good. Just because they did that last week doesn’t mean they’re entitled that they can just show up and it will happen (again).”

There could be another explanation for the unmarked paper. Fans who saw the Bombers play on Sunday hope the blank page is a message not to change a thing, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Winnipeg’s defence has been a hungry, physical unit the last two weeks. The front line has forced its way into the backfield and the secondary has found a formula to shut down opposition receivers.

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The possible explanations for the turnaround in play are numerous, ranging from Johnson moving inside to halfback so Deon Beasley can feel more comfortable in the cornerback spot, to Lobendahn returning from the bye week rested and in better health.

The biggest reason for the improved play, however, is a consistent and healthy lineup on defence two games in a row, and with the exception of an injury replacement for backup safety Brady Browne, who went down in the Banjo Bowl with an ankle injury, the Bombers expect to pencil in the exact same roster for the Argos (5-5).

“It took a little while, but we finally got things in place,” Johnson explained. “We had a lot of new guys and it took some time to build up some chemistry, plus we had a few injuries. We’re just starting to get it together and even though we’re into the second half of the season, we’re starting to build an identity for ourselves.”

Winnipeg is back at practice today before heading to Toronto Saturday morning.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca