voodoochylde

Some Sheffield highlights: Some Sampson highlights:

Nice feature Rich.

Marcel Bellefeuille joins Blue Bombers’ Offensive Coaching Staff Head Coach Tim Burke has announced today the appointment of longtime CFL coach Marcel Bellefeuille to the team’s offensive coaching staff. “Marcel is a very experienced coach who has had lots of success on the offensive side of the ball as a position coach, a coordinator and a head coach,” said Burke. “He will add experience to our staff and will be another voice in our offensive meetings who we can lean on to provide us with new insights and ideas thanks to his wealth of knowledge at the CFL level.” Bellefeuille returns to the CFL where he spent three seasons as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ head coach from 2009-2011. After taking over the job on an interim basis midway through the 2008 season, he guided his team to the playoffs in each of his three full seasons at the helm, including an appearance in the East Final in 2011. Bellefeuille was originally hired by the Tiger-Cats to be their offensive coordinator in 2008 after successful stints in the same capacity with the Montreal Alouettes and Saskatchewan Roughriders. He began his CFL coaching career in 2001 with the Roughriders. Prior to joining the CFL, Bellefeuille won a Vanier Cup as head coach of the Ottawa Gee-Gee’s in 2000. He spent last season with the United Football League’s Omaha Nighthawks as the team’s receivers coach.

Couldn't agree more. There is no sense in trading for a 'franchise quarterback' or a 'quaterback of the future' if you aren't going to be able to protect him and put that player in the best possible position to succeed. Offense starts and ends on the line. Without protection, a quarterback can't throw the ball. Without being able to open running lanes a running back is going nowhere and won't be able to take pressure off a young, developing quarterback. The key for future success (offensively) is to rebuild the offensive line.

This is a concern I have as well. Mack burned a lot of political capital and good will sticking to his plan .. stock piling draft picks and replenishing our non-import depth. One can argue that the top end talent isn't there (yet) but the overall depth of that talent has certainly been improved. We are now in the best position we have been for years when it comes to the draft and it allows us to draft for immediate needs (to push incumbents and guys who've been on the PR for a season or two) and for the future (taking the odd flier on a guy who may spend time down south). I'm hoping the new staff won't be short sighted and look for the quick fix.

Riders are going to make it interesting. Wonder how the bandwagon is holding up ..

It's been all Cornish tonight .. Calgary's line is dominating the Rider front 7

Really hard to judge the talent of our receivers when the QB who had been throwing them the ball couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.

Remnicent of 2009 to be honest. Clinging to hope til the last game of the season.

I'll take that with a grain of salt...

To take false start penalties in an effort to run down the clock? ;-) (I kid I kid - I think this is a good move)

Buchko got canned as well?!? Is that correct (not listening to the conference)?

This whole things flies in the face of everything that's been communicated the last week or so .. that the team needs to turn the page on Buck .. that they need continuity and stability at the position .. what a giant clusterfuck .. honestly .. I like Burke .. but if he *IS* driving that decision .. the flip flop .. the mixed messages ... it's killing this team.

Bob Irving ‏@BobIrvingCJOB 26s Joe mack has been officially informed that he has been fired

Just out of curiousity .. who is going to be calling the plays on offense?

Just when you think we're moving on .. making strides toward the future .. they F it up ..

Yep .. just misread that (and thanks for correcting). Still trying to get a decent level of caffiene into my system ..

I would hope that Mack at least has a sense of which way the wind is blowing now .. but .. given the fact that nobody from the organization had even touched base with Mack after all this came out yesterday .. it wouldn't exactly shock me if he's learning his fate through the media today .. just the way things are with this Mickey Mouse outfit.

I advocated doing this when Bauer left .. like I said in another thread .. the current structure simply has too many competing agendas .. many of which aren't directly aligned with bettering the club.

Looks like the Bombers are holding a press conference for 11am. I'm guessing this is to announce the dismissal of Joe Mack. CFL Official Feed ‏@CFL 55s The @WPG_BlueBombers will hold a news conference at 11am ET. Details to come. #CFL

Thanks for posting this!

BTW great discussion everyone.

The fans are a large reason why the team reached and fell flat .. the organization caved to howling masses who demanded an end to the drought .. not down playing the terrible hires and fires .. but the fans here in Winnipeg can't wait to build a strong viable franchise .. they demand instant gratification ..

I'd say it's impatience .. the club traded picks .. mortgaged its future in an attempt to win now .. a large part of why we are here today is because we fell short .. were prone to knee jer reactions and left our cupboards bare.

You mean the one that required taxpayer's cash in addition to Ledohowski coming up with 90 million in financing himself and involved a gift of 35 acres of land? Also proposed a 265M covered stadium which wasn't feasible due to the arrangement in place with True North. It wasn't doable.