What a difference one year can make. Last year the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were the joke of the CFL season. This year they’ve already surpassed last season’s win total only 5 games into the season. They have completely turned things around in a very short time.
So what happened? It all started up top, with the firing of GM Joe Mack. He really made a mess of things by firing Lapolice in the middle of the 2012 campaign, just a year removed from a Grey Cup appearance. Mack’s record while running the Bombers front office was an awful 21-39, which includes only 1 winning season in 2011, the year the blue and gold reached the Grey Cup final.
Mike O’Shea
O’Shea was hired on December 4th 2013 to be the bench boss in Winnipeg, a team in desperate need of new vision and leadership. He replaced Tim Burke who unfortunately was collateral damage after inheriting a team with no direction, front office problems, and no number one quarterback to speak of.
Drew Willy
The Rider backup saw limited action under Darian Durant , but gained valuable experience in Rider nation. It wasn’t clear that he was their first choice to join Winnipeg as they were entries in the Henry Burris sweepstakes. However Ottawa wanted a big name at pivot and outbid the Blue and Gold. Willy may not have been the most popular choice but he was good enough to guide the Bombers’ aerial attack to big plays and big numbers in the air.
Looking Forward
Winnipeg still has a long way to go before back in the big game. The worst thing that could have happened to them this year did: the expansion in Ottawa sent Winnipeg to the Western division, a division that is far more competitive than the East. If Winnipeg were still in the East they would have an out right lead and would be running away from their opposition. At 4-1 so far with the only blemish coming against Edmonton, they would be miles ahead in the East, where it’s all tied up for either first or last place, with only a single win for each team.
With the Blue Bombers flying into Hamilton this week they stand a good chance of tallying a 5-1 record before their big matchup in week 7 against the defending champions.
Coach O’Shea has them believing and it may be early, but for now the Bombers look to be in the right direction. Their last game was a statement that this team is going in the right direction: a winning culture has developed from the front office right down to the players. The city of Winnipeg is now proud of their team once again, and can finally look forward to meaningful football games to enjoy in the fall.
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