Bombers coach confident staff can help lead team back to Grey Cup

WINNIPEG - Paul LaPolice is carrying the burden of being the rookie head coach of a team that's in the midst of the longest current Grey Cup drought.

But the new Winnipeg Blue Bombers coach doesn't believe he'll be shouldering that weight all on his own.

LaPolice introduced his coaching staff Wednesday, a group he feels has what it takes to help him lead the squad to its first CFL championship since 1990.

"I believe they're great men," LaPolice said, noting his eight-member staff has a combined 41 years of CFL coaching experience. "They're great teachers who will treat the players with respect, they're team-oriented and they're going to help us win a championship."

The Bombers went 7-11 last year under controversial head coach Mike Kelly and missed the playoffs.

LaPolice was the Saskatchewan Roughriders offensive co-ordinator last season and has brought some familiar faces to Winnipeg to help erase the bad memories.

Jamie Barresi will be offensive co-ordinator after leaving Saskatchewan, where he was quarterbacks coach last year.

Former Riders special teams co-ordinator and running backs coach Kavis Reed is Winnipeg's new assistant head coach, defensive co-ordinator and secondary coach.

Barresi and LaPolice, who'll be the primary play caller, will be under the microscope when it comes to Winnipeg's offence, particularly the quarterback production.

Winnipeg's offence was seventh in points scored and touchdowns last season. Saskatchewan's offence ranked second in scoring and TDs.

It's expected returnee Stefan LeFors and newcomer Steven Jyles will be the top contenders for the Bombers starting QB job, along with Ricky Santos and Adam DiMichele.

Jyles was backup to Darian Durant in Saskatchewan last season. LeFors started last season as Winnipeg's No. 1 pivot until poor play and a shoulder injury sidelined him after four games.

Although former B.C. Lions quarterback Buck Pierce is available after being released, LaPolice said they don't want to take a chance on him after he's suffered so many concussions.

"We're very cautious because everything we've heard it's not a very good situation right now for him to take another hit," LaPolice said.

"Time will tell" whether he has a quarterback on the roster to rival Pierce's talents, he said.

"We've been watching film on quarterbacks also," LaPolice said. "That's going to be an ongoing process for us. Those guys (we have) should never be comfortable because we'll bring guys in."

Barresi knows Bombers fans are yearning for a quarterback they can believe in.

"It takes patience," Barresi said. "I know that that's not the answer they want because it's been a long time.

"The thing about it is, the way to deal with a quarterback in terms of philosophy is that you've got to give him that type of confidence and patience in order to work with him."

Winnipeg's offensive line coach is Pat DelMonanco, who moved from upstate New York's Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he was also that team's offensive co-ordinator.

Receivers coach Chris Wiesehan was the last hire this week. He spent last season with the UCLA Bruins.

Former Montreal and Calgary coach Casey Creehan left Eastern Michigan University to be Winnipeg's linebackers coach.

Kyle Walters jumps from the University of Guelph to be special teams co-ordinator and Richard Harris is back as defensive line coach, the only member kept from last year's staff.