Bellefeuille OUT.....

[Mr Dee]

More on the Coordinators -

THE COORDINATORS

A tough decision was made this week in deciding to not renewing the contract of our offensive coordinator. It produced somewhat of an interesting storyline - that Mike O’Shea doesn’t know how to hire coordinators. Yes, he has made changes to three coordinator positions in two years. But there is a bit of an underlying story to this that is worth sharing.

When CEO Wade Miller, GM Kyle Walters, and Head Coach Mike O’Shea took the reins of this franchise, we were troubled in many aspects, including the perception of the franchise around the league. Free agents didn’t want to come here, and coaches didn’t either. When Coach O’Shea took over, his first call was to a now offensive coordinator who is having immense success at that position, but the offer was declined. Mike’s next call was to a high-profile defensive specialist. Again, the offer was declined. Wade, Kyle and Mike not only had to deal with the mess that was the roster, but the perception that Winnipeg wasn’t an ideal destination to coach or play either.

The good news is that perception is changing. Stability and continuity at the high-level positions are in place, and high-prized free agents, who could have chosen to go anywhere, are now choosing Winnipeg (think of Jamaal Westerman and Ian Wild among others). A few nights ago, in casual conversation, I asked a player who chose Winnipeg over other markets this season knowing full well the money was equal, why Winnipeg? His answer might surprise you: “Winnipeg operates like an NFL team now. The other places don’t. And even though the team isn’t winning, I felt it was headed north.”

Sure, none of this matters if the team doesn’t win. But one of the first ways to start winning is to be able to attract and hire the right people, whether it be a coach or a player. Almost every winning organization in sports is thought of as an ‘elite organization’. That’s not a coincidence. I think we’ve changed perception, now we need to improve the record.

http://m.bluebombers.com/article/blog-wrapping-up-2015

[Fatty Liver]

 

 

 

For those who believe that O'Shea's background allowed him to recognize and build a great defence, if this were the case, why could he not realize what many here saw in Etcheverry's record and defence as it was fielded with the Bombers? We didn't have to wait past a few games before the defence was getting trampled, and the offence has been the worst or second worst in the league for two years- predictable and toothless.

If the members in this forum could see the problems in the offense, defence and special teams for so long, and even predicted them, how could an allegedly astute head coach not?

 

That is only an Assumption. This is a fan forum, and while some may have more knowledge then others. No one here really knows what goes on during meetings etc etc.

 

If O'Shea was aware of these problems and still sat on his hands that long, does that make his status better or worse?

 

Assuming he did nothing while seeing the issues that would obviously make his status worse. But again, there is no way of knowing either way.

 

 

I'm hoping in his third year that O'Shea finally realizes that the hands off approach to any phase of this team does not work and that his coordinators are representing his best efforts.   

 

If the the individual coordinators are not achieving the desired goals he needs to get in there like a dirty shirt to correct the deficiencies asap.  If it's personnel, he needs to honk Walters horn.  If it's something in the scheme he sees that isn't work he needs to work with or over-ride the coordinator to get it on track.  Can't imagine Huf. calmly watching one phase of his team lose games week after week without taking prompt action to correct it.

 

In the case of MB, if Buck or Howell or Wylie had contributions to make they should have been implemented and tried whether MB liked them or not.  No excuse to trudge through a full season watching bad reruns of the same ole **** show week after week.

[IC Khari]

Try year after year ...

[Jacquie]

How do we know that O'Shea wasn't trying to give advice/suggestions to Etch all through that year. At the same time, you have to let you coordinator do what it is you're paying him for, so it's expecting a lot to expect a rookie HC to just get in there and do it himself and send his DC packing mid season. At the end of the year I recall O'Shea saying that he had had a talk with Etch and had tried to get him to make some changes, but that Etch couldn't buy into them. Sounds to me like O'Shea did have some ideas after all.

Having said all that, O'Shea did not do well in his first go-around of hiring HC's. That's obvious and I'm thinking he's probably used all of his "whoops" passes in that department.

Etcheverry's rep was out there and was hired anyways. Same for Bellefeuille. The same ineffectiveness that Bellefeuille's offenses have shown in his previous incarnations has been evident for two years before he was finally canned. The special teams were a mess for a season and a half before at coach was fired. Is there a pattern here?

Has any coach in the CFL survived into a third season with such a record in choosing poor assistants plus accumulating an equally poor win/loss record and so many blowout losses?

It was well reported that Etchevery was MOS's 5th or 6th choice for DC.

[DR. CFL]

I'd like to know who the other 5 or 6 were.

[IC Khari]

I'd like to know who the other 5 or 6 were.

 

[Noeller]

We know that Stubler and Steinauer were his first two choices, but he couldn't get them to come to Winnipeg. Stubler was close, at one point, but eventually chose Calgary, which you can't blame him for. 

 

This team had a REAL bad reputation, but nice to see that players and coaches are seeing the change, even if fans don't know anything...

[Mr Dee]

And yet there's denial and sharp barbs aimed at those who are only trying to do the job with the best they can get.

And the best we end up with?

Etchefeuille.

[Noeller]

Unfortunately, Etchefeuille was all that was available at that time.....

[do or die]

Well, when you can't reel in the top guys, or locate up and comers........and settle for proven retreads.... this is what you get.  

 

A rookie HC, requires the strongest possible staff around him - naturally, we did the complete inverse.....

[iso_55]

If quality coaches wouldn't come in 2014, why do fans here think they'll come in 2016?

[Guest J5V]

If quality coaches wouldn't come in 2014, why do fans here think they'll come in 2016?

Worse, why would those quality coaches come here after watching the present group of players and this management group flounder for two years? We're going to have to show them the money, the players, and the management group before we're going to be seen as a desirable location to ply your trade. 

[Noeller]

If quality coaches wouldn't come in 2014, why do fans here think they'll come in 2016?

Because, as has been stated multiple times, the reputation is changing. Regardless of what you Rabble Rabble types say, players and coaches are wanting to come there. Westerman came because he said it's being run like an NFL organization. The wins might not be there, but the culture is changing and wins should hopefully follow.

[WBBFanWest]

If quality coaches wouldn't come in 2014, why do fans here think they'll come in 2016?

Well, we landed one in 2015.  Maybe real professionals look at more than just the win/loss record before they make a decision.   

[WBBFanWest]

 

If quality coaches wouldn't come in 2014, why do fans here think they'll come in 2016?

Worse, why would those quality coaches come here after watching the present group of players and this management group flounder for two years? We're going to have to show them the money, the players, and the management group before we're going to be seen as a desirable location to ply your trade. 

 

Richie Hall, Westerman and West say hi.

[JuranBoldenRules]

For those who believe that O'Shea's background allowed him to recognize and build a great defence, if this were the case, why could he not realize what many here saw in Etcheverry's record and defence as it was fielded with the Bombers? We didn't have to wait past a few games before the defence was getting trampled, and the offence has been the worst or second worst in the league for two years- predictable and toothless.

If the members in this forum could see the problems in the offense, defence and special teams for so long, and even predicted them, how could an allegedly astute head coach not?

Does any scheme look good when you have 3-4-5 players at a time on either side of the ball flat out losing against the guy across the line?

Most people here seem to have more of a hockey brain. Babcock is the best coach in the world, Canadian Olympic coach. He sure makes those Maple Leafs look good with his Cup and Gold Medal winning tactics eh?

When you have major roster deficiencies, coaching can only go so far to bridge that gap.

[Jacquie]

We know that Stubler and Steinauer were his first two choices, but he couldn't get them to come to Winnipeg. Stubler was close, at one point, but eventually chose Calgary, which you can't blame him for. 

 

This team had a REAL bad reputation, but nice to see that players and coaches are seeing the change, even if fans don't know anything...

 

Mike Benevides was quoted as saying he let Stubler go because he had to promote Mark Washington to DC or he would have lost him to the Bombers.

 

I know there was at least another coach they were after for DC as well but I can't remember who it was.

[M.O.A.B.]

I believe they approached Claybrooks too but he opted to stay in Calgary knowing he will be the future defense boss there.

[iso_55]

We know that Stubler and Steinauer were his first two choices, but he couldn't get them to come to Winnipeg. Stubler was close, at one point, but eventually chose Calgary, which you can't blame him for. 

 

This team had a REAL bad reputation, but nice to see that players and coaches are seeing the change, even if fans don't know anything...

I maintain that this team isn't viewed any better today than it was 2 years ago as nothing has changed. No one who is a quality coach employed now will come here if they are already a coordinator somewhere else. Why would they? So, it'll be a position coach who wants the promotion. But probably an unproven rookie OC who was a position coach. So, don't expect Jason Maas to come here. Don't expect Marcus Brady. Or George Cortez.They won't be coming. It's the culture. It's just what they do. It's The Bomber Way. 

[Mark F]

I'd like to know who the other 5 or 6 were.

 

edit

[Noeller]

We know that Stubler and Steinauer were his first two choices, but he couldn't get them to come to Winnipeg. Stubler was close, at one point, but eventually chose Calgary, which you can't blame him for.

This team had a REAL bad reputation, but nice to see that players and coaches are seeing the change, even if fans don't know anything...

I maintain that this team isn't viewed any better today than it was 2 years ago as nothing has changed. No one who is a quality coach employed now will come here if they are already a coordinator somewhere else. Why would they? So, it'll be a position coach who wants the promotion. But probably an unproven rookie OC who was a position coach. So, don't expect Jason Maas to come here. Don't expect Marcus Brady. Or George Cortez.They won't be coming. It's the culture. It's just what they do. It's The Bomber Way.

And you're welcome to maintain that, but the fact is you're wrong.

[SPuDS]

If quality coaches wouldn't come in 2014, why do fans here think they'll come in 2016?

Because the view on our squad has changed regardless of the fact you refuse to see it?

If players are viewing us as a destination and not a penance.. Thats a postive change. If a player is saying we are looking more "nfl" then other teams.. Thats a positive.

[WBBFanWest]

 

We know that Stubler and Steinauer were his first two choices, but he couldn't get them to come to Winnipeg. Stubler was close, at one point, but eventually chose Calgary, which you can't blame him for. 

 

This team had a REAL bad reputation, but nice to see that players and coaches are seeing the change, even if fans don't know anything...

I maintain that this team isn't viewed any better today than it was 2 years ago as nothing has changed. No one who is a quality coach employed now will come here if they are already a coordinator somewhere else. Why would they? So, it'll be a position coach who wants the promotion. But probably an unproven rookie OC who was a position coach. So, don't expect Jason Maas to come here. Don't expect Marcus Brady. Or George Cortez.They won't be coming. It's the culture. It's just what they do. It's The Bomber Way. 

 

Of course you maintain that view.  You're here only to piss and moan about anything and everything related to the Bombers.   If you're so troubled by this organization, why don't you do yourself a favour and move on because your routine is getting old, friend, it's getting real old.

[SPuDS]

We know that Stubler and Steinauer were his first two choices, but he couldn't get them to come to Winnipeg. Stubler was close, at one point, but eventually chose Calgary, which you can't blame him for. 

 

This team had a REAL bad reputation, but nice to see that players and coaches are seeing the change, even if fans don't know anything...

I maintain that this team isn't viewed any better today than it was 2 years ago as nothing has changed. No one who is a quality coach employed now will come here if they are already a coordinator somewhere else. Why would they? So, it'll be a position coach who wants the promotion. But probably an unproven rookie OC who was a position coach. So, don't expect Jason Maas to come here. Don't expect Marcus Brady. Or George Cortez.They won't be coming. It's the culture. It's just what they do. It's The Bomber Way.

Of course you maintain that view.  You're here only to piss and moan about anything and everything related to the Bombers.   If you're so troubled by this organization, why don't you do yourself a favour and move on because your routine is getting old, friend, it's getting real old.

And Hall came here. He didnt have to. Imo he is a top tier coordinator and he wanted to coach here. Why is it crazy to think someone of Brady or Cortez or maas (if available) wouldnt want to work with Willy and our up and coming oline guys? Or maybe work themselves into a line to a HC gig?

No.. Much more easy to just assume we will land crap and parade it around like a filet mignon.

[Noeller]

All I know is that there's a lot more going on behind the scenes than we know about. I get that the wins aren't there yet, but it seems like the road is being paved. I think there were just WAY more potholes than anyone ever knew.