the 4th star

With the new job, the commitment to daily blogging has been put on the back-burner. Breaking news, I know. That’s just the way it has to be, folks. I can’t be in front of a computer for 20 hours a day. Deal with it. But with that hole in all of our lives comes opportunity. Consider this a submission call. Here’s your chance to provide an opinion (or “take” as the cool broadcast kids say) on whatever you want. You write it up and send it over to the email over on the side menu bar, and I’ll throw it on here. If you want your name on it, say so. If you want your nickname on it, tell me what it is. If you want me to make up a name, well…I can do that, too.

So get typing, people. Tell us why the Leafs are going to win the Stanley Cup. Tell us why the Jets will never return. Make an argument. Give an opinion. If it’s half-decent it will be posted. Promise. The only rules are no swearing, no name calling, and no personal attacks — unless he or she deserves it. For an example of this exception, see Pierre McGuire. Our first entry comes from NCMF, a regular commentator who is optimistic about the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have done with their coaching situation. I couldn’t smell any alcohol on the email, so it appears the positivity is legit. Well done. Enjoy!

Much is being made of the hiring of Paul LaPolice as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers new Head Coach. And it should be. The events of the past two weeks, including the hiring of Joe Mack as the GM and LaPolice as Head Coach, will shape the Blue Bomber organization for the next generation. What remains to be determined is just how long that generation will be – will it be two years or ten?

Much of the ado centres upon the relative merits of LaPolice versus perennial head-coaching bridesmaid Greg Marshall, current defensive co-ordinator of the Hamilton Ti-Cats. There is much in common between the two. Both have coached here, LaPolice in 2002-03 and Marshall in 2006-08. Both have been in the CFL for the past decade (LaPolice was out of the CFL in 2006). Both have won the Grey Cup, LaPolice in 2007 with Saskatchewan and Marshall in 2003 with Edmonton. Both have a similar coaching “record” since 2000, with LaPolice teams amassing an 85-74-3 record (.524 win percentage) and Marshall-coached teams having a 97-82 mark (.542). So, based on experience and success, they are essentially a “pick’em” proposition.

But LaPolice is the smart choice. And here’s why: the fundamental difference between the two is that one is an offensive coach (LaPolice was formerly the offensive co-ordinator in Saskatchewan) and the other is a defensive coach (as noted above, Marshall is a defensive co-ordinator). This is an important consideration for the Big Blue in several ways.

First, hiring LaPolice addresses the gaping hole on the offensive staff. And this just in – the CFL is an offense-driven league. You need knowledge, experience and creativity on that side of the ball in order to win in the CFL. Given his track record, LaPolice is likely a better than average fit under these criteria (and more experienced than the otherwise coveted Scott Milanovich of the Montreal Alouettes). LaPolice would bring in his offensive system (did we have one of those last year?) and likely hire an acolyte to work closely with him on a week-to-week basis in game planning and preparation. More on this below. I am discounting the possibility that LaPolice would be his own offensive co-ordinator – another Mike Kelly debacle that came unraveled half way through last season.

Second, bringing in Marshall not only doesn’t address the offensive issue, it would possibly create problems on the defensive side of the ball. One of the few positive stories from the 2009 Bombers, a story that is often under-emphasized, was the play of the defence (it is easy not to see the pretty girl at the bus stop when there is a massive, fiery, ten car pile-up in the intersection – aka Mike Kelly). By all accounts, Bomber defensive coordinator Mark Nelson did a credible job with that group – and to my knowledge is still under contract. Marshall would likely (and naturally) bring in his own defensive systems, philosophies and biases, and would want to see them reflected in the 2010 Bomber defence. While it is possible that Marshall and Nelson would mesh nicely, it is also possible that they would not, which might precipitate Nelson to leave either prior to the season or after a disappointing campaign. The Bombers have too many weaknesses to risk undermining one of their few strengths.

So, the primary difference between the two is that choosing LaPolice addresses a weakness (offence) while not disturbing a relative strength (defence), and choosing Marshall does nothing to address the weakness (offence), and threatens to undermine the one strength the Bombers have (defence). To me, that’s a big, big difference.

An interesting note is that LaPolice and current Bomber coach Bob Dyce are good friends, and have been since LaPolice was here in 2002 and 2003. It was LaPolice that lobbied for Dyce to be brought onto staff. Since then, Dyce has been the positional coach for both the running backs and receivers, CFL draft co-ordinator (where he was instrumental drafting talent such as John Ryan, Brendan LaBatte and Dominic Picard), and worked as the de facto quarterback coach while Kit Cartwright was the offensive co-ordinator. Given their close relationship, as well as Dyce’s experience across several offensive positions, suggests this is a partnership that could work for the Bombers.

Did I just say that? Did I just say “something that would work” and “Bombers” in the same sentence?? The 4th Star might never forgive me for such overt cock-eyed optimism.

Click here for a good article on the new Bomber bench boss.