A ‘consultant,’ not a threat

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This article was published 13/08/2013 (4487 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Marcel Bellefeuille has been invited to join the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Whether he becomes a welcome guest will be up to the rest of the coaching staff.

Bellefeuille is an experienced CFL coach with three years as a head coach with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and numerous other positions along the way.

Bombers acting CEO Wade Miller called him on the weekend and asked him to join head coach Tim Burke’s staff as an offensive consultant.

Immediately, people are tempted to leap to the conclusion Bellefeuille is set to become the Bombers next offensive co-ordinator and Gary Crowton is on the way out.

Maybe. Maybe not. No one was speaking that way on Monday.

“I’m just a consultant, to observe, to be a resource and offer suggestions,” said Bellefeuille.

Crowton was asked about Bellefeuille’s role and simply stated, “he’s here to help me.”

Burke was a little more expansive on the new coach’s role.

“We had him in mind in the respect that he’s got 18 years of CFL experience. He’s coached almost every position… and he’s been a co-ordinator in the CFL,” said Burke. “The main thing is to give advice to the offensive staff. The thing I’ve asked the offensive staff is look at this play, what we’re doing, what could we do to enhance this play? Just things like, ‘You’ve gone against this defensive co-ordinator, what do you expect from him? What do you see him trying to do against us? In your mind, how should we attack this defence?’ Using his expertise and seeking his advice. As he walks around in practice, he’s writing down things that he feels are important and then he’ll bring them up with those guys. It’s up to Gary particularly: ‘Am I going to go with that suggestion, or can I modify it to fit what I’m doing?’ “

Crowton must determine if he’s going to accept Bellefeuille’s help or keep him on the outside. Bellefeuille understands how this could be a tricky relationship.

“It is complex. It comes down to trust, willingness and desire and hopefully can we develop that,” said Bellefeuille. “This can be one of two things. I know when I was a head coach I welcomed every resource.”

Burke said Bellefeuille would be in the press box on Friday night and would communicate with the sideline via headset.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @garylawless