LaPolice expects a few new wrinkles

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/09/2011 (5487 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SO how do you prepare for an opponent that fired its head coach and offensive co-ordinator since the last time they played?

That’s the situation Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice finds himself in these days as he tries to prepare for a Saskatchewan Roughriders team that will have Ken Miller as head coach and a de facto offensive co-ordinator this Sunday instead of Greg Marshall and Doug Berry, who were fired Aug. 19.

“I know some of the things that they’re comfortable with,” said LaPolice, who coached in Saskatchewan for three years prior to taking the Bombers job. “But they’re going to have some wrinkles and we’re going to just have to know our assignments and handle their wrinkles… These guys have to play the game on the field. It’s not about coach Miller being on the field.”

Poblah update: WR Kito Poblah continued on Thursday to practise with the Bombers first-team offence and there remains every indication the Bombers’ top prospect will play on Sunday for the first time since he injured his knee in Week 1.

Not that LaPolice will admit it, however. “I don’t want to speculate. I have to sit down with Mr. Mack (Bombers GM Joe Mack) and go through all the scenarios.”

The Bombers would have to take Poblah off the nine-game injury list early for him to play this Sunday and that would mean his salary for the last seven games would be counted against the salary cap. LaPolice was asked if monetary considerations will factor into the Poblah decision this week. “It always factors in if there’s a salary cap. You certainly don’t want to be over the cap.”

Injury update: Bombers DB Jovon Johnson (ankle) returned to the practice field as expected Thursday, but LB Clint Kent sat out. LaPolice said Kent reported shoulder soreness after practice on Wednesday.

LaPolice said he expects Kent to play Sunday. “Yep. He’s a tough kid,” he said.

In Regina, meanwhile, injured Riders linebacker Barrin Simpson worked with the first-team defence on Thursday and is now expected to play Sunday after being described as doubtful earlier in the week. The Riders are also sounding a bit fired up — OL Dan Goodspeed and Shawn Lemon got into a minor scrap during practice Thursday afternoon.

— Wiecek