Bombers turn up the pressure on Renaud

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This article was published 04/10/2011 (5094 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE Blue Bombers are calling on someone else to get Mike Renaud’s punting house in order.

That’s the message the club is sending the 28-year-old from Ottawa, after bringing in another leg to provide a little competition for the position. Monday’s arrival of veteran punter Jamie Boreham, acquired from the Saskatchewan Roughriders for future considerations, didn’t come to a shock to Renaud, but rather an acceptance that the possibility of a trip to the nearest employment office is now real.

Ladies and gentlemen: Welcome to a punting contest that ends with a spot on the active roster for the coming game in Hamilton Friday.

“I knew what was coming and it was only a matter of time,” Renaud said. “You need to excel and you need to perform at a certain level and if that’s not getting done, then these things happen. That’s the nature of our business.

“There (are) 10 DBs competing for a job every day — why should I be any different?”

As expected, Boreham, the former Manitoba Bisons kicker who’s spent eight seasons in the CFL with six different teams (including a 2003 stint with the Bombers on the practice roster), is wide-open to a little friendly competition. He’s been working out in Regina, on-deck should the Riders require some kicking help, and was thrilled to hear he was getting an opportunity back in Winnipeg.

“Kickers have struggles every now and then; if I can help him, then I’ll help him. If he can help me, then he’ll help me,” he said. “It’s what’s best for the team. It’s not me and Mike fighting each other in the parking lot or anything like that.

“It’s a friendly place — that’s what the license plates say, right?

To say Renaud has struggled of late would be an understatement. In recent weeks, he hasn’t been able to consistently punt with direction or for distance, often shanking balls or hitting flat lobs that provided no hang time for coverage teams. The club even summoned former Bomber punter Bob Cameron to have a chat with him last week — in hopes he could blast through the mental block that Renaud has put up in front of his punts.

The Concordia product has punted a league-high 106 times for a 42.1 yard average, but has seen that second number fall with every ball that flies out of bounds. Last Friday against Montreal, he punted seven times for a 39.7 yard average.

At practice Monday, Renaud was taking turns punting with Boreham. “I play best under pressure, to be perfectly honest,” he said. “I can’t wait to get out there in Hamilton Friday and let loose.”

He might not get that chance, according to the Bombers brass.

“We’ve shown that we’re willing to give people a chance to — for lack of a better term, redeem themselves — but if they don’t we have to take the whole team picture into account,” GM Joe Mack told reporters Monday. “If you’re having a tough time executing your job, then we have to look at alternatives. Mike’s going to have a competition… whoever punts best this week will probably be the punter going into Friday.

“Obviously, we thought Mike had a chance to be an elite punter in the league. He’s going through a little bit of a funk phase right now and hopefully he’ll come out of it. I think we’ve been fairly patient.”

Mack added that Boreham could add “7-10 yards” on kickoffs for the Bombers, though that seems like a stretch. The 33-year-old couldn’t beat out Chris Milo (56.4 yards per kickoff) in Saskatchewan, so it’s unlikely he’d take time away from current kicker Justin Palardy (57.3 yards).

Boreham has a career punting average of 41 yards per boot.

Winnipeg head coach Paul LaPolice said the club still views Renaud as the long-term option at the position. Right now, though, things have to be better, and the coach is hopeful the arrival of a new leg and increased adversity will bring back some much needed confidence to the incumbent.

“If you can’t respond with confidence, you better not be in this life of football,” LaPolice said. “You get hit and knocked down every day in this game, but the worst thing possible is knocking yourself down.”

The Bombers are back on the practice field this morning.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @wazoowazny