Can’t use youth as an excuse: LaPolice

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/11/2010 (5787 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PAUL LAPOLICE isn’t interested in ‘what ifs’ or silver linings. And the Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach takes absolutely zero consolation in the fact his squad finished the season with a new CFL record for ‘almosts.’ And so the 2010 season ended Friday night with the same scene playing out again for LaPolice & Co: another close loss — this time a 35-32 setback to the Calgary Stampeders — and a broken­record speech from the boss to the troops afterward.

“I told the players the effort is there, but the result isn’t there,” LaPolice said. “That’s kinda how it’s been all year and we’ve got to correct that.”

The difference now is, LaPolice will have the next seven or eight months to come up with some answers, not seven days. He’ll have to wonder about the roster makeup, about questions regarding leadership, the short- and long-term questions about quarter­backing, about the Canadian depth… all the concerns that come with a 4-14 record, the worst in these parts since the Jeff Reinebold era. Granted, Friday’s loss came with fourth-string QB Joey Elliott at the controls, with rookie Merril Johnson at middle linebacker and with Chris Garrett handling most of the running back chores after Fred Reid exited late in the first quarter after twisting an ankle.

But LaPolice refused to use youth as an excuse afterward.

“They’re a young crew, but they’re not entitled to anything because they’re young,” LaPolice said. “Next year we have to be better. You can’t just say, ‘Oh, next year we’ll be better.’ We have to get better and that’s what we’ll talk about (Saturday).”

LaPolice applauded the work of El­liott — 13 of 29 for 241 yards with TD strikes to Cory Watson and Terence Jeffers-Harris and with two intercep­tions — in his second start as a pro.

“I thought he managed the game well,” he said.

“He scrambled, he was able to see cover zero (man-to-man coverage) and get the ball into the playmakers’ hands on several occasions.

“So, for a guy that didn’t go to training camp with us and in Week 1 nobody would have known who he is, he’s performed pretty well.”

At the same time, LaPolice admon­ished Jeffers-Harris after he took an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for goofing around with the end-zone can­non after his TD.

“That’s not a very intelligent deci­sion. We talked about that in training camp, we went through it and every­one of our players understands that,” said LaPolice. “That’s not a very good penalty.”

But it might just perfectly represent the 2010 season.

Big play, followed by a dumb deci­sion. Been there, seen that.

Finally, LaPolice was asked if there was any relief his first year as a head coach was over, especially given the frustration and heartache.

“No. No. No,” he said. “I’d much rather be preparing for a team next week.”

Instead, there will be no playoff foot­ball in River City for a second straight

season.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca