The throng of cameras and media types gathered around Paul LaPolice first, then Richie Hall.
And as is customary daily, Mike O’Shea slipped behind the podium in the media room at Investors Group Field to answer all kinds of questions about what ails the Winnipeg Blue Bombers through the first two weeks of the Canadian Football League season.
Let’s just say the Spanish Inquisition, it was not. But the men overseeing the Bombers’ offence, defence, and the whole outfit were quizzed about everything from offensive and defensive strategy to the enthusiasm shown at practice on Tuesday.
Given more time, they likely would have been faced with answering questions about Britain’s decision to leave the European Union to the possible impact of a mail strike.
The point here is that any team that stumbles to an 0-2 start to a season is going to be under the magnifying glass. Even more so here, where the team loaded up in free agency to try and end a four-year absence from the playoffs.
Here are the best bits from LaPolice, Hall and O’Shea on Tuesday, presented straight up:
- LaPolice, when asked what areas the offence needs to improve on to be more consistent.
“It’s staying on the field. We execute a couple things well and then they beat you on a counter and you lose five yards and you’re second and 13 and we get 10 on the next play. If we can stay on schedule on first down and put us in a good position to be second medium and second and short.”
- LaPolice, asked if it was execution – throwing more accurately, catching better, blocking better:
“Every game you go through you can say, ‘We should have done this better or that better.’ But we’re completing 73 per cent of our passes and doing some things well. We need to put together drives and score touchdowns sooner.”
- LaPolice, on the possibility of using more ‘up-tempo’ (no huddle) in their offensive packages:
“It doesn’t matter what tempo you’re in, you’ve got to execute and do it well. We certainly have tempo and have built it in a number of ways. We actually went into it in the second quarter (against Calgary) a little bit. We’ll always try to mix in tempo as we go and try and help us keep them off balance.”
- And LaPolice, when asked if Drew Willy was underperforming:
“We are underperforming as an offence. I don’t point out Drew, I don’t point out anyone else. The offence, all of us, have to perform better.”
- Hall, when asked how much better he had hoped his defence would be through two weeks:
“The biggest thing is we’ve been inconsistent. I thought we played pretty well in the first game against Montreal and then we laid an egg last week.”
- Hall, on what areas are most concerning:
“The overall. We’ve all taken our turns for the worse, whether it’s the coaches, whether it’s the D-line, whether it’s the linebackers or whether it’s the back end. In order for us to be successful, we’ve all got to gel together and consistently. We haven’t done that in the first two games.”
- Hall, when asked about the energy level:
“Good. I think we have a good locker room, a good football team. Even though we didn’t play well last week, there’s a certain amount of belief in each other and they’re not looking for excuses. They talked during the week of taking it upon themselves. It’s not trying to find the problem, it’s trying to come up with a solution. When you think like that, everyone is headed in the right way, especially early in the season.”
- Hall, on whether he wanted to blitz more with his defence:
“We’ve brought them a lot so far. Blitzing… I want to get off the field. And whatever it takes to get off the field, whether it’s pressure, whether it’s coverage. Our objective is as soon as we get on the field, how quick can we get off the field and to get the quarterback out of his comfort zone. The other thing we have to do a better job at, which we sucked at the other day – excuse my language – is stopping the run. We gave up 200 yards rushing on major plays. Everything starts with taking care of the run. You make a team one dimensional, now you can get after their quarterback with coverage and pressure.”
- O’Shea, on the topic of whether he would sit Drew Willy for a series or two for Matt Nichols during a game:
“No, I’ve not considered it. I believe our guy is playing at a pretty good clip. Now, the next thing you’re going to say is, ‘Well, not to start a game…’ He’s working through his progressions quickly, he’s making throws, he’s thrown some balls into some really tight windows for good completions. He’s got to grow in this offence, also, but the only way he’s going to grow is if he keeps playing.”
- O’Shea, on the subject of whether there was more energy at practice on Tuesday:
“The players are going to have some fun. It’s nothing I say or do. There were times through camp (when the volume was up). If it’s a quiet practice you can’t judge them because they still came out and worked hard, it’s just the volume was down. But there were several times in training camp when it was loud. Honestly, if I go back and think about my time… on a cloudier day when it’s not so hot, you get more energy. It’s simple. Sometimes it’s just the weather.”
BLUE ON THE FYI…
Game 3 of the 2016 season has the Bombers in Hamilton to face the Tiger-Cats. Three things you need to know after the club finished up its last full practice before the game on Tuesday…
Weston Dressler is back…
The veteran receiver returns after missing most of the first two games. He had three receptions on the first eight offensive snaps of the season before his exit.
A new face in the secondary…
Nothing has been officially confirmed yet, but newcomer Travis Hawkins – who started 16 games for Toronto last year before being released in camp this June – was working in the place of Bruce Johnson, who injured his hand last week in Calgary.
More changes…
Who replaces Bruce Johnson won’t be the only alteration to the roster. Rookie defensive end Trent Corney, who registered his first career sack last week, will also not be available for Hamilton. Adrian Hubbard and Shayon Green also split the workload at defensive end with the No. 1 unit on Tuesday.
