Doug Brown Explains

[Fatty Liver]

Three keys to Blue Bombers' success

During a recent four-minute radio bit, I was asked to come up with three of the most imperative, actionable items the local professional football squad needs to deliver on for a successful 2016.

While it can be difficult to sort through the chaff and identify these key kernels — as an obscene number of variables can impact a football season — it is an interesting and thought-provoking exercise.

 

It’s easiest to begin with what is sure to be a consensus factor for success for most any CFL team: the task of keeping your starting pivot clean and upright for 18 games. With all due respect to Matt Nichols — who does give the Winnipeg Blue Bombers an opportunity to win should a piece of starter Drew Willy break again — the franchise quarterback is still the quickest road to competence and to redeeming a ticket to the playoffs.

While the play of the offensive line is critical in keeping any pivot functional, the line should never carry this burden alone. If you give most defences enough of the same looks as to how and where your quarterback will operate in predictable scenarios, regardless of whom you have on your line, they will find a way to get to him.

The challenge will be as much about forcing defences to respect the run, having the entire offence understand the protection schemes, moving the pocket and changing the launch points, and having a crew of receivers that can recognize and adjust to the coverages and imbalances that occur. It all starts with the five men up front but it will take the entire unit to help keep Willy healthy.

The second core factor is the lag time it usually takes a new offence, with new players, to get up to speed. The Bombers simply don’t have the luxury of growing pains this year.

Each season, you are certain to hear defensive players play at a higher level faster than their counterparts on offence due to the different nature of these phases of football. Smart defensive co-ordinators working with a number of new players (Winnipeg’s defensive line will have three new starters) keep things simple at the beginning of the year and gradually add complexities and wrinkles. If your starting 12 on defence play fast and react instinctually, they are already three-quarters of the way to tapping their potential as a unit.

Conversely, because things such as timing, recognition and rhythm are critical for an offence to be productive (and there is a new playbook to be learned as Paul LaPolice takes over plotting the Bombers’ attack) this will be a large obstacle to surmount. Add to the equation they will be competing against some of the best defences in the CFL last year, starting in week 1, and this learning curve needs to be short and sweet — or it could be over before it begins.

Finally, the third major variable deals with the many new, high-profile players that joined in the off-season the Bombers via free agency.

From a leadership standpoint, there is a fine line between a player joining a football team and wanting to step up and lead and contribute, and a disastrous Casey Printers-type scenario (circa 2007, when he reportedly alienated three-quarters of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ room by assuming a mantle of leadership that had not yet been granted to him).

Rarely do all new additions understand the size of the contract you wield does not automatically garner you authority and a platform on a new team. When existing leadership ranks are merged with new personalities that are also used to leading the way, it is up to the head coach to clearly define roles and ensure group dynamics are as harmonious as they can be in such a testosterone-laden environment.

Outside of navigating these three ominous factors, a return to prominence for the Blue Bombers should be a piece of cake.

 

Doug Brown, once a hard-hitting defensive lineman and frequently a hard-hitting columnist, appears weekly in the Free Press.

Twitter: @DougBrown97

[Fan Boy]

Ouch.

[Stickem]

Don't agree with the 'lag time' comment or 'getting up to speed'....Growing pains are experienced by every club bringing in new players....Certainly it takes time to jell BUT some teams like the Redblacks put a hole in the argument that you need a lot of 'lag time'...as a Cup appearance in yr. 2 will attest to that...We will be afforded the time this year to get it all together and that will come down to coaching...We know our talent has improved as well as coaching...A huge improvement can be realized in 16' and Bomber fans should and will expect that much and a playoff spot. 

[Taynted_Fayth]

for some reason I get the feeling,  while there maybe a few hiccups in there,  everyone learning a new system together (Lapo's) should make the gelling a lot quicker as everyone should be on the same page from day 1

[kelownabomberfan]

how much lag time is there when you go from drinking cheap wine to vanilla?

[Jpan85]

Wonder if has Brown has any more negative takes left. Still a few columns before the season starts.

[The Unknown Poster]

7 minutes ago, Jpan85 said:

Wonder if has Brown has any more negative takes left. Still a few columns before the season starts.

Doug Brown is the smartest guy in the room.  Just ask him,

[Mike]

So tired of Doug Brown giving us his ridiculously negative take on everything.

Even when he likes something, he has to go out of his way to say 'but I don't like it THAT much'

[bigg jay]

17 minutes ago, Jpan85 said:

Wonder if has Brown has any more negative takes left. Still a few columns before the season starts.

And here I thought this was still his off-season optimism since we're undefeated... what will his articles be like if/when we get off to a slow start? 

[Mr Dee]

Oh, oh, media bashing.

Awaiting words from our resident media-defender anytime now...

[Noeller]

58 minutes ago, Mike said:

So tired of Doug Brown giving us his ridiculously negative take on everything.

Even when he likes something, he has to go out of his way to say 'but I don't like it THAT much'

It's such a hipster take on things. I love DB97 as much as the next guy, but his "cool guy" negativity is beyond tiresome now...

[Taynted_Fayth]

I dont have an issue with Browns take on things,  he's not wrong, about what he brought up no matter how obvious, but I know people kinda poo poo on Cameron for his constant puff pieces. needs some balance 

[pigseye]

Should of added 'don't be afraid to make changes'.

[sweep the leg]

18 minutes ago, Noeller said:

It's such a hipster take on things. I love DB97 as much as the next guy, but his "cool guy" negativity is beyond tiresome now...

Lol at you and hipsters...

[bustamente]

1 hour ago, bigg jay said:

And here I thought this was still his off-season optimism since we're undefeated... what will his articles be like if/when we get off to a slow start? 

What will the posters on this site be like if we get off to a slow start, this team can't have any hiccups from the get go, they have to  be competitive and win with this regime there are no more excuses left in the excuse jar. 

[Taynted_Fayth]

1 minute ago, bustamente said:

What will the posters on this site be like if we get off to a slow start, this team can't have any hiccups from the get go, they have to  be competitive and win with this regime there are no more excuses left in the excuse jar. 

I'm ok with a slow start, as long as it'zs not too slow and by LDC we turn it up, a couple wins the first half and 9-0 the rest of the way works for me

[bigg jay]

5 minutes ago, bustamente said:

What will the posters on this site be like if we get off to a slow start, this team can't have any hiccups from the get go, they have to  be competitive and win with this regime there are no more excuses left in the excuse jar. 

Looking at our schedule to start the season, I'm not expecting us to be winning more than losing, so personally I won't be too upset.  Of course I want to win every game but as long as they show something and like you say, are competitive, I'm ok with that.

[Mike]

27 minutes ago, Noeller said:

It's such a hipster take on things. I love DB97 as much as the next guy, but his "cool guy" negativity is beyond tiresome now...

Your take on hipsters is such a hipster take.

[Noeller]

You're just mad because you're such a hipster....

[Mr Dee]

This season will mark the very definition of competitiveness. The movement of players and coaches and the even(ing) out of the schedule. All the QBs are back now, in the West, and we're not the only team who will have 'lag time' to worry about. On offense, for all teams, there will be new receivers and in some cases, new OCs and Head Coaches.

3 ominous factors says Doug Brown. 

Bring them on...

[holoman]

[bigg jay]

3 minutes ago, holoman said:

Change that to craft beer and you nailed some of the hipsters on this thread! 

[bearpants]

essentially he says if the O-line plays better, Willy is kept healthy through offensive game planning, and the new guys fit in, the bombers will have a good season... won't find many people here disputing that...

[Mr Dee]

Dee-leeted...

Edited April 6, 2016 by Mr Dee

[DR. CFL]

Essentially if all the pieces of any team come together they will have a successful season. Works 50% of the time Doug. Doug truly has all the answers, just ask him and in 1,000 words OR MORE he will tell u.