Old Bomber Fan

I would only suggest that the Bombers forget about the last game and focus on this one. Yes they beat Hamilton last game however as many have said on this forum it wasn't so much that the Bombers won but that the Tigercats didn't want to win. Last week they played well. Now it is up to the coaching staff to come up with a good game plan and for the players to put their egos aside and concentrate on execution. Should they in the slightest look back or think that because of last game they will be better this game, they will lose yet again. I was concerned listening to the coach's show last night that MOS didn't seem to suggest he was going to hold their feet to the fire but rather they, the players, know how to motivate themselves. Well we know full well how that works. Good luck to them tonight, I will be watching on TV and I hope I am being more cautious than need be.

for my two cents glad Denmark is back. He played in a bad offensive system but more times than not, anything close to him that was catchable, he caught. He may not be the fastest any longer but a dependable receiver is what I remember. Then again MOS is still the head coach so let's wait and see - oh and yes I know LaPO is the OC

thank you as I enjoy reading and commenting on this forum

J5V I appreciate your comment however if there was a loyal Bomber fan, I believe I can be counted in that group. I am 70yrs old and have been an avid fan since I was 8, think that makes it 62 years. I have had season tickets for many years and when not employed in Winnipeg watched and listened to them on radio and cheered in every town, city I was in. It isn't that I am not loyal but when you have followed them as long as I have and have witnessed the worst run in perhaps the history of the team, save for the few short years Reinbolt was here, there comes a time when you just can't see the logic in continually beating your head against the wall. I still watch and cheer on TV but my time and money are better spent doing something else like not wasting 3 hours of the day commuting to IGF to watch a less than entertaining event with a very stubborn coach who in my humble opinion believes loyalty to his players take precedent over loyalty to those who pay their and his salary. I'm sorry if you feel I jumped ship before it sank but I would rather swim than get taken down by the undertow. That is if I read your post correctly.

It sure sounds like a lot of people are frustrated with the product, however developed, we have been witnessing here in Winnipeg for too long a number of years. They have every right to be however I think, we, the fans see the symptoms but not necessary the solutions nor the problems. This is an organization that has a lot more problems than we see. The signing of Willy to a huge contract for 2016 with little justification from his past play is an example. That signing alone suggests that from the top down and that includes the BOD either cannot evaluate performance, are blind or do not assess and take definitive action when someone suggests such a signing whomever it might be. The play of the players, even though we have signed what, 8 CFL allstars in the past 2 years of free agency, do not play up to expectations or again to past performances, then that would suggest I think that they are not held accountable, there is no consequence to poor play and they are comfortable with playing at that level rather than striving to up the quality of their game. The actual style of play has not changed in what 5 or 6 years on either side of the ball. Our defense in the past were always hung out to dry because they were on the field too long and by the 4th quarter were a beaten group. The time of possession was always tilted in a large way and not in their favour. The offense could not or would not generate a running game, a long passing game and relied on YAC. This while incorporated in the other two aspects would certainly be helpful, it is not the end all to be all in making an offense productive. And frankly this type of dink and dunk offense has been in Winnipeg for a number of years - we could but am not certain, go back to the Berry days were at least we threw the ball downfield. The special teams remains a question mark even though we are supposed to have the best ST coordinator in MOS. For half a year it was something however for the remaining time of his tenure it isn't great. Now I realize he hasn't taken over but I am pretty sure he is most influential in this area of the game. The defense and this bend and break philosophy doesn't work any longer in the CFL. This has been proven time and time again not only with our team but others who try to implement it. Far too often the give on the receiver is far too wide especially when it is second and long for the opposition. They are not passionate or energized and if they are they certainly don't play like it. Coaching, players, scouting, management, all play a part in developing a successful team. When one component doesn't do it's job the other factors are also hurt and consequently defeat becomes a recurring theme. Unfortunately this is the Bombers. How to change? I don't have an answer but I do believe you cannot keep blowing the entire thing up every 2 years to make it better. But one thing that might help is to get our collective heads out of the sand and realize what we have, analyze what we have to do to make it better in all aspects and get on with it. I wish them luck but as I have said before, I am certainly glad I did not renew my season tickets. This team is not moving forward or for that matter treading water, it is slowing sinking yet again with no life vests in site.

If he is canned it will be either during the bye week or at the end of the season regardless of his record. They will not disrupt the team with a firing with only 3 or 4 days between games. That would be suicide!

add Tom Clements and Indian Jack Jacobs to the no boos. I doubt Willy will light up anyone considering he is dinking and dunking 3 yards down the field each pass. He won't have enough time to blow anyone out because he will use up the clock and not even know it!

great article thank you. Regarding Oshea and Walters, I always thought that when a HC was hired it was his to hire his assistant. Well if that is correct, MOS has fired all but one of them and he left to assume another position elsewhere. What does that say about his ability to recognize good assistants and coaches, moreover what does it say about his ability to coach as well. I agree that our talent level isn't where is should be not after 9 years of rebuilding. Can it be said that is Walter's fault or a combination of Walter and the scouting staff! I don't see our scouts bringing in a lot of better than average players. Yes there have been some but nothing like our competitors. Then we resort to picking up other's castoffs under the guise that some players play better under a different coach or scheme. Perhaps that might be true to a degree as can be exampled with the likes of Bowman and Watson or Sorensen to name a few. Then again one looks at the what 6 CFL allstars we have acquired over the past 2 years and unlike the others mentioned they underachieve! What does that say? In any event I believe we have the talent we don't have the coaching to bring out the talent of other and showcase the talent of our allstars.

A great choice for not only Canadian talent but CFL talent as well. A superb two professional sport athlete who wasn't just playing each sport but was a huge contributor in both. Well done. Let's see if some of the other stars of yesteryear are acknowledged as well IE Jack Jacobs, Leo Lewis, Bud Tinsley, Herb Gray to mention only a few and let's not forget Fritzy Hanson who introduced the forward pass to the CFL. Milt will be there and considering he is new news per say he will be inducted on a special day, let's not forget because perhaps we weren't born yet the other greats who made the Bombers a franchise to be feared. Congratulations Gerry!

your right goalie just a figure of speech. don't like doing it but in this instance I'm afraid I had to. sorry

perhaps the threat to release or bench some actual players might strike a cord with the starters??? Maybe benching a particular QB so he can see someone else do it might benefit him? Not a chance as long as MOS is HC he is too head strong and stubborn.

I do not want to be an "I told you so" but on several topics this spring I had commented on two aspects of the Blue Bombers aka off season signings; one was the number of "all stars" we were able to acquire and the other the signing of LaPolice as our new offensive coordinator. It is hard to believe that we have virtually 6 CFL allstars on our roster, and a new, newly minted OC who according to him has learned a lot since his coaching days and we continue to be abysmal on offense. Two factors in my mind and yes there is a third in the inability of the Oline to do anything HOWEVER let's look at it from the top down. I believe the stat was made that it has been over 10 yrs since any QB in the CFL has completed 30 passes or more in a game and has failed to gain over 300 yards passing. Call it poor execution, not really; call it poor play calling perhaps; or call it poor offensive design more than likely. We seldom throw the ball downfield which has been identified by more knowledgeable football people than myself but seems to be unrecognized by the individual who is designing the offense and further by the head coach who is responsible for the entire operation! The other aspect is the play of the QB. As has been stated many times and as I stated back in the spring Willy does not have the ability to be an elite QB in this league. He is not accurate to put it lightly on deep throws. They are either way overthrown or underthrown. He does not read the defense well and seems to be able to only go to either the first choice or Harris in or out of the backfield, almost as if here you take it I don't want it! This is not the qualities of an elite QB. I look at "rookie" Jennings in BC - my word he has been thrown into the fire and is surviving. I look at Harris in Ottawa again somewhat of a rookie but nonetheless in his first year was able to move an offense in Toronto that was questionable and now able to move an Ottawa offense with only a training camp under his belt. Look at Gale in Sask this past weekend were he too was able to move an offense unlike our incumbent. Willy's numbers are great statistically only because he throws 3-5 yard passes and plays most games in garbage time. So in a nutshell we have a QB running an offense that is not imaginative, not stretching the field because he can't do it anyway and as a result the defense can confidently move up to the line of scrimmage and stop the run knowing the only other weapon is the short dink and dunk of LaPo. Get use to it I guess because this will not change unless someone higher up tells a stubborn HC that change has to happen. Until then I will go back to my prediction in the spring 6-12 at best 4-14 at worse. Glad I got rid of my season tickets yet again.

bad coaching bad execution bad clock management and bad game awareness - some on the coach most on the QB but I will give you the D did not play well at all. Willy is the the QB everyone thought he was in Sask. He has yet over three years to show or prove he can consistently move this team. Why even last year at the beginning of the season when he couldn't do anything and the third string QB forgot his name but the young guy, there seemed to be more enthusiasm from everyone. They moved the ball he ran with it and made some good throws downfield. He didn't turn out in the end and frankly neither has Willy. We will see Thursday.

I agree with the comment people will try to beat the traffic. Only problem is if they took the shuttle they are stuck to witness what?????? Poor them.

I missed the coach's show but from the remarks I am reading it was the same old same old. That is the problem with this team. While I believe a coach has to have his players back he also has to be brutally honest about their performance as well. Not only the players but the coaches as well. To date I don't see that at all. And I'm beginning to see a resort clubhouse type of mannerism from everyone; no one appears remotely p.... o... about the past two games; no one is holding anyone accountable for the multiple mistakes that are made; see very little emotion on the sidelines which all add up to we will play the game as the coaches tell us and if we lose se la vie! We get paid and will go at it again next wee,. It is about time someone, anyone lit a fire under the butts of these guys. Motivate them, kick them in the you know where if need be, bench them for poor execution or play, make them accountable! I have a distinct feeling that in BC for example, that Buono, who if you watch him on the sidelines, doesn't normally get upset with a missed assignment or whatever but look closer and you can see his assistants with a great deal of emotion and talking to players when they come off, hence a team that was projected to be near the bottom is all of a sudden 2-0 and leading the west. Call it coincidence or call it good coaching and accountability. OShea will never hold his players accountable as he believes their peers will do that job - wrong! If the staff don't do it the players won't either because each and every one of them are looking after themselves. Gone are the days or Ritchie or Murphy or Grant or Riley. This is the day to coddle the players and play personnel manager rather than taskmaster and leader. God help us when we wake up and our record is now 0-6. That by the way is only 4 weeks away.

And while he is running is oblivious to the time clock ticking down to negate a field goal and 3 point opportunity!

I do agree however I still believe he probably played the best games of his career at this time.

I believe that Glenn was let go because the famous Mike Kelly came to town and declared that the 3rd string QB from Edmonton the past year was anointed as his starting QB. I stand to be corrected but I believe that is how that went down. As for the threads title, I agree I ran out of patience last year. Get rid of the country club atmosphere and put someone who will hold them accountable for their actions in place. MOS is a players coach but he doesn't know how to hold people responsible for their play.

sorry hit the wrong button. Yes we have brought in 4 allstars from other teams in order to boost the offensive production. One was and one would assume still is a shut down guard. The others are proven offensive threats providing they get the ball. To date that hasn't happened. Many point the finger at Willy, very few point the finger at LaPo. How about a lot of both and a poor HC. Willy hasn't been able to be anywhere close to a productive QB and as has been stated here previously the offense on the field starts with him. Secondly a poorly designed offense often leaves the QB open to the desires of the defense. No alternatives in the case of blitzes etc. And finally a HC who doesn't obviously understand the offensive side of the ball nor does he understand momentum and confidence building other than not throwing a player under the bus. Now this is not considering poor time management by all three, poor execution by the QB, poor play calling by the OC. Will the players lose confidence in not only the QB but also the scheme-most definitely. Personally I think Willy is not a good QB. I could go back three years since his arrival and only the first 6 games of his first year was he anywhere as advertised or better yet a "good" QB in this league. Yes he has had a flash now and then but the norm is terrible. As has been stated before he compiles his stats in garbage time. When the pressure is on to lead his team he disappears and if you watch the players walk off the field you can see the disenchantment in their body language and facial expressions. What bothers me is MOS. He shows no emotion say at the end of the first half last game where the cameras caught him swearing at someone. His team in fact have taken his nonchalant manner and show little or no emotion hence a "what the heck I messed up there but that's okay" attitude. Now I'm sure they don't really feel that way but it sure looks like it. Further to MOS he is stubborn and will not sit a non effective QB to not only give him a different perspective but also perhaps to give the offense a much needed boost. I told those who watched the game with me that regardless of Willy's performance, he will remain in the game till the end. How sad a mere fan can read a professional coach so easy. And finally on MOS he doesn't understand how to build momentum for his team. They hire the most accurate kicker in CFL history and he fails to give him not one but two opportunities to put points on the board. Oh and yes Will took part in that second take away due to his lack of clock awareness. That does not build confidence or momentum and the other coach and team just smile. Football is a violent game, an emotional game, and one that has to be played that way. When you come up short instead of simply walking of the field you should be stomping off the field really p..... that you didn't get it done and will make damn sure next time we will! I frankly don't see that in the Bombers. I will say I feel sorry for LaPo as I'm sure he came here thinking with all the talent I have at my disposal, all my "new" offensive schemes should be a slam dunk. Little did he realize that he didn't have a QB who could throw for more than 5 yards. Little did he realize that his QB doesn't have any game sense or presence. These last two performances simply confirm not renewing my season tickets was the best saving I ever made. I will still cheer but will be less invested in a country club loser atmosphere that has become the Bombers.

There has as been a lot of comments regarding Willy and the offensive line. I kinder back to someone who correctly pointed out that we have brought in 4 ALLSTARS

topic title are we capable of change? I somehow think that given his area of expertise MOS will change out defensive players as per his attitude toward defense and his example of play. On offense, no. He is stubborn in this regard and it might well be the opposite from above as he doesn't know the offense, and won't change unless directed to in a very forceful manner from his coordinator and I doubt anyone will suggest that during a game. Just my opinion.

wbbfan I understand your comment regarding garbage time and point well taken. I guess what I am saying and believe I said it earlier is simply that the other QBs we have seem to be able to get rid of the ball before being sacked regardless of whether they are playing behind our #1 OL or not and if they were not playing behind the #1 unit but say the number 2 and against the oppositions #2 they are still getting rid of it much quicker. I realize that playing against another team's #2 or 3 players is not a fair judgement however with that said they also play with our #2 or 3 players so that does equal out somewhat I believe.

I'm sorry but I don't understand your post. If you are referring to the 4th quarter when the game was pretty much out of reach even though this is the CFL Willy had one good play; I think it was a 63 yard TD and a 2 point conversion. Take those yards along with the others he accumulated with the short dinky passes I think he had close to 80 yards in that quarter. Compare that to when the game was really on the line and you can see I think what is meant by garbage time. As for the pre season I don't know. I only know that in preseason he couldn't do diddly whereas the other QBs could move the team somewhat respectfully. I don't believe there is a comparison at all when you compare preseason to regular season unless you want to compare productivity of the Bombers offense and if so then you could certainly compare the two in that both were terribly ineffective. That's all sorry.

Unfortunately MOS will not sit Willy during any game unless hurt. He fails to see the benefits of sitting him for a few series so he can get a different perspective of the opposition's defense. Until he is willing to take a QB out for poor performance for either the reason above or simply to change the pace in the hopes it will jump start the offense we will see the same game in game out and frankly that is regardless of what the OL does. It just seems strange to me that many will argue that it isn't Willy that is the problem but the OL. I heard our OL coach explain the issues with sacks so if you take that it isn't just the OL but everyone on offense. With that said it is strange yet and still that the back up QBs can get rid of the ball on target on time whereas Willy cannot seem to do that. Go figure!?

I have watched Willy for 2 seasons now and what I'm seeing is not good. He came into the starting position and was quick with his decisions, precise with his throws, mixed his throw between bullets (as much as he can) and touch passes. Since that time and up to Friday night, he has become hesitant, his throws never or seldom seem to catch the receiver in full flight but standing still instead or overthrowing them by 5 yards or more most of the time, and he has no touch with the football. He has become unsure of what to do, who to throw it to and his reads are terrible. Now with that said the offense he has been given was to have been imaginative and dynamic (those are not my words but MOS and LaPo) but in fact was nowhere close to that. Now with that said I'm sure we are going to hear the naysayers say it was only the first game and with a new offense etc etc. Well we spent an entire mini camp with only the offense on the field. We have had two exhibition games in which in my opinion our offense went downhill, and an entire training camp, not unlike the other teams in the CFL who have had the EXACT same amount of time to "gel" and what do we get? We get a second rate offense not unlike that which we have seen in the past number of years. There really is no excuse in saying we have a new OC or we have a new offensive game plan; many of the other teams have the same with several with new OCs as well. Did they flounder? Perhaps but nothing like what we saw on Friday. I have stated earlier in another thread that I would be satisfied if our offense got 300+ yards in this game and it was entertaining and close regardless of whether we win or lose. Well they did get 303 in total yards however the other two aspects were sorely missing. And when one looks at the 4th quarter stats and deducts them from the totals, it was yet again another pitiful performance no matter what way you want to look at it. Now many will start to find reasons (I'll say excuses) as to why the offense didn't play well. They will say we lost Dressler in the 1st quarter; yes we did but we didn't utilize Smith at all for the remainder of the game - why? They will say Willy didn't have much time to make decisions before he throws; really- he had much more time than Glenn only difference is Glenn can make a decision a lot faster that Willy. Notice Glenn wasn't dancing in the pocket whereas Willy was doing the polka on most down. They will say the receivers didn't run the correct routes - perhaps on occasion that might have been the case but if the receiver did run the wrong route what is wrong with checking down to the other receivers or the running back out of the backfield if in fact he did that rather than being stuck in the blocking scheme. And then there will some who will say the line didn't do a good job. Fair statement maybe they didn't but I would offer that they gave Willy as much time as Glenn had and the results speak for themselves. Finally I couldn't help but notice that when Montreal was on offense, other than those reverses and running plays, Glenn threw the ball for 8-10 yards or more most of the time. Willy threw it for 3-5 yards in plays designed to take the receiver to a place on the field where there were few teammates to block for him. In fact on two plays I believe in the first quarter they ran the wide receiver screen on two consecutive plays. The first went well as there were 3 other receivers their to block and for the most part did their jobs. However on the second, there were only 2 receivers and they didn't block well against 4 defenders. What does all this say: well in my humble opinion it says LaPo hasn't learned a lot about offense in his what 2+ years on TV; it says we have a QB who has lost HIS confidence; it says our QB cannot complete, at least on a consistent basis, any passes 15 yards or longer; and last but not least, little has changed from last year or subsequent years. Unless something drastic changes the defense will be blamed for inflated opposition numbers even though they will spend 2/3 or the game on the field; the team will continue to lack excitement, and the loyal season ticket holders will continue to become disillusioned and eventually give up their seats in the stadium which will mean there will be less revenue and less revenue leads to you know what! So here's hoping that I am totally wrong in my observations. I hope they will turn this around. I hope that the fan base will return and this franchise will return to the proud dynamic one is once was. There are efforts in my opinion that are being made to return it to that status however the product on the field, be it the players or the coaches are hindering any major movement forward. As I said here's hoping! Sorry for the long rant.