Blue need a ton of repairsOShea says every phase of their game has to improve By: Paul Wiecek Posted: 11/3/2014 1:00 AM |Comments: 20 Last Modified: 11/3/2014 8:54 AM |Updates Tweet 12 Post 1 Reddit 0 ShareThis 54 Print Email 1 Enlarge Image Blue Bombers head coach Mike OShea doesnt see any one area the team cant improve on next season. (MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store Bombers Scores WINNIPEG18 CALGARY13 FINALBoxscore Powered by Sports Direct Inc. Related ItemsARTICLESBlue not wise to put all their eggs in Willys basket Enlarge Image QB Drew Willy is already pumped about Winnipeg hosting the Grey Cup in 2015. (MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike OShea says hes taking nothing for granted -- including his own job -- as his team heads into the off-season. I think all our jobs are under review -- mine on down, OShea said at Investors Group Field Sunday as his players emptied their lockers following the conclusion of Winnipegs season in Calgary on Saturday. The Bombers defeated the Calgary Stampeders 18-13 at McMahon Stadium to snap an eight-game losing streak and finish at 7-11. While Winnipegs season ended on a high note, a second-half swoon saw the Bombers missing the playoffs for the third season in a row and fifth time in the last six years. It was the first year with OShea as head coach, however, and he was asked Sunday what lessons he took away from his rookie season as a head coach. Weve got a lot of work to do. And theres lots to learn still. Thats an easy answer, OShea said. Asked where his team needs to get better, OShea didnt mince words. Every phase. We want to win championships, so saying were going to fix one thing here, one thing there -- it doesnt work that way. We have to get better across the board. We cant afford to take penalties, we cant give up so many turnovers, we cant give up that number of sacks, we cant give up those rushing yards, we need to be more effective in the red zone. Its everything. Were trying to improve every facet of the game. What Ive said to the coaches so far, is were going to spend this off-season inspecting everything. Asked to assess the performances of offensive co-ordinator Marcel Bellefeuille and defensive co-ordinator Gary Etcheverry, OShea was upbeat. Theyve worked extremely hard. Theyve put their players in positions to be successful. Theyve done a pretty good job. But OShea hedged when asked if the two men would be back for 2015, noting he hasnt yet had his own performance review from GM Kyle Walters. When I have that meeting with Kyle, then Ill be able to go down the line and go from there. The Bombers have 16 players who could become free agents next February, including six regular starters. OShea said its much too early to say who the team will seek to re-sign. Everybody is going to have a chance to meet with me and we will talk about all these scenarios. But that takes a while. Were not there yet in the process of figuring out the roster and where were going to go from here. One of those potential free agents is offensive tackle Glenn January, who repeated Sunday hed like to be back next year. January said the culture of the locker-room changed for the better this year, and while the team still missed the playoffs, he doesnt think a dramatic remaking of the roster is necessary, like it has been in recent years. I would assume the change this year would be a little bit less than years past. Theres definitely been a lot of turnover during my tenure with the Bombers. While OShea insisted everything is on the table heading into the off-season, he made a pointed exception for his quarterbacks -- Drew Willy, supported by backups Brian Brohm, Robert Marve and Josh Portis. We feel weve got a very good quarterback stable, said OShea. Its turned out very well. That area has been addressed. Willy battled through a number of injuries over the course of the season and left the game early against Calgary after he hurt his forearm near the end of the first half. Willy confessed Sunday he had nagging hand and shoulder injuries throughout the season, preventing him from spending as much time in the weight room as he would have liked -- something he hopes to change next year. Ive talked to (trainer) Al (Couture) already that we get a plan where I can get back lifting more weights during the season, said Willy. Because it was tough. I was so worried about just getting on the field that I wasnt able to be in the weight room as much, and my body wasnt where I wanted it to be. The Bombers host the Grey Cup in 2015 and Willy -- who was the backup for the Saskatchewan Roughriders when they hosted the Grey Cup in 2013 -- said he would love to replicate that experience in Winnipeg. The ultimate goal for any organization is to win the Grey Cup at home. I dont think there could be anything sweeter, said Willy. Its got to be on every single guys mind in there. Its truly a special opportunity and we need to take full advantage of it. Next year will also mark the 25th anniversary of the Bombers last Grey Cup win, in 1990. [email protected] Twitter: @PaulWiecek Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 3, 2014 C4
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 16:40:11 +0000
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