Bombers report | October 16

It’s been a widely held belief across the Canadian Football League for the better part of three decades and from the first time Richie Hall crossed the border to begin his long-time association with the three-down game.

The CFL annually conducts a MOP vote – for Most Outstanding Player – but if they awarded a Most Outstanding Person award the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive coordinator would have his name scribbled on a ton of ballots.

And so when Hall returned to his post this week after being absent for a couple of games following the sudden death of his younger brother in Denver, Co. earlier this month, he did so amidst countless hugs and handshakes and following a number of texts, e-mails and calls of condolences from all over this league and beyond.

Yes, Hall has touched that many people in the CFL, dating back to his days as a player in the 1980s through to his work as a coach.

Michael Hall, Sr. was 18 months younger than Richie. He was a retired police officer who also worked at an elementary school in a resource capacity. And the two were very close.

“He went in the hospital on a Sunday and they pronounced him dead on a Wednesday (October 2),” Hall explained while meeting with the media following practice on Wednesday. “So, a lot of things happen in a very short amount of time. He was up here for the Banjo Bowl and less than a month later I’m saying goodbye to him.

“It was something unexpected, but you find a way to get through it. That’s life. What happened to our family is no different from what happens to every family.”

The Bombers managed in Hall’s absence, with the defensive assistant coaches – Glen Young, Jordan Younger, James Stanley, with an assist from injured linebacker Jesse Briggs – calling the gameplan without him.

Hall’s return coincides with a critical stretch of the Bombers’ schedule, with a home-and-home doubleheader with the Calgary Stampeders up next before the playoffs.

“It takes your mind away from it, but at the same time it’s still a challenge because it still creeps back into it because that’s the reality of life,” said Hall of the return to work. “It makes you appreciate life just a little bit more just because you never know when it’s going to happen. We talked after the Hamilton game on the phone. Then 48 hours later you’re saying goodbye to him. Life is very precious.

“It makes it somewhat easier just because you have something else to do. You can’t spend your time moping and feeling sorry for yourself because you’ve still got to pick yourself up and you’ve still got to go forward. But at the same time you do still take a step back and you reflect on what has happened. I guess one of the challenges is it’s something you can never be prepared for.”

“It’s an emotional thing because it kind of comes and goes. I’m not the first one it’s happened to and I’m not the last one… we all experience it and we all find a way to get through with it. I found a way to get through with it… I’m finding a way to get through with it. Great help from the Bomber family, the players, texts and calls just showing their appreciation and condolences and stuff. It’s more than I could ever ask for and that makes it hard, too, because you see the love that they’ve shown to me and in my wildest dreams I would have never imagined it.”

Hall has earned the immense respect of everyone with the Bombers, from players to the coaching staff on both sides of the ball. Earlier this week head coach Mike O’Shea indicated he enjoyed visiting Hall’s office regularly to just talk football.

And he has that same impact on his defensive charges.

“He’s able to effectively communicate things to the DBs (defensive backs), to the D-line, to the linebackers, to everybody,” said defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat. “I love coach. He’s given me a lot of great advice. He’s very smart and I learn a lot from him daily. It’s just the little things and he’s always critiquing me to make me better and that’s what I appreciate.

“Growing up in household with a coach as a dad you want to be coached, you want to get better, you want to improve your game.”

Hall has watched the film of the loss to Saskatchewan and the win over Montreal and said the different perspective taught him a few things about his defence. He’s also come to appreciate his unit, too.

“We have a challenge,” he said of the games ahead against the Stamps. “I thought we’ve done a good job the last couple of weeks.

“We have a good football team. It’s going to be a heckuva game and we just have to go out there and play Bomber-style football. The biggest thing is we can’t beat ourselves. We’ve got to go out there and, as Coach O’Shea always talks about, play a clean game.  If we play a clean game, then everything else will take care of itself.”

QB WATCH:

Chris Streveler continues to get the bulk of the reps with the Bombers No. 1 offence along with Sean McGuire and Zach Collaros. Wednesday marked the second full practice day for Collaros since last week’s trade with Toronto.

“I still think it’s early,” said O’Shea when asked for a take on the new pivot. “He’s a pro. He’s prepared. He’s learning the playbook very quickly. He’s working his arm back into shape… I don’t think it’s that far out of shape, really. Having a veteran guy in here is different because they know how to learn a new system very quickly.”

Bombers offensive coordinator Paul LaPolice held his weekly session with the media on Wednesday and was asked about the interception Chris Streveler threw in the end zone just before halftime in last Saturday’s win over Montreal.

“The decision is right,” LaPolice explained. “He’s on the right man and everything, you’ve just got to put a little more air on the ball and throw it out there a little farther to him. Quarterbacks are going to miss some throws, what you don’t want is when guys throw it into triple coverage, or throw it into bad decisions. A yard or two makes all the difference in the world. He’s just got to get more throws with Darvin (Adams) and get those opportunities.

“He does better each day and certainly made plays for us in game time and game speed. It’s just continuing to do that. I thought he had a good game last week and he’ll just continue to get better.”

Asked for his impressions of Collaros, LaPolice offered this:

“I’ve watched Zach from afar for a long time and worked with some people who have worked with Zach. It’s just neat to meet him and tell stories about other people we’ve worked with… Kent Austin and him had a relationship, I have a relationship with Kent. There are the guys from Toronto… it’s been a good process and we’re just getting him learning our system.”

OUCH REPORT:

WR Drew Wolitarsky and OL Jermarcus Hardrick were back at work on Wednesday, but not practising were WR Darvin Adams, FB Mike Miller, LS Chad Rempel.