Winnipeg Blue Bombers Coach Bracing for Change to Roster, Staff
There’s a double-edged sword with success. The short term can give any team much satisfaction, while the other end can lead to some talented players and coaches leaving for more money or better opportunities.
This is the scenario that the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are facing this offseason and coach Mike O’Shea is prepared for changes to occur.
“First of all, we need to get together and get a strategy,” O’Shea said regarding evaluating the roster. “(We need to) have our roster meetings – which we haven’t had yet – and figure out how we want to proceed.
Winnipeg free-agent running back Brady Oliveira is considering a move to the NFL.
“There’s always going to be change. That’s the way it is. We say this every single year. Every coach in every pro sport says it every single year. Some guys can’t do it again, some guys don’t want to do it again here and a lot of guys will want to be back, but will still have to try and fit that into a cap situation.”
The Bombers have 36 players set to hit the free agency when it begins on February 13. Running back Brady Oliveira has been a topic of discussion, as he has an interest in playing in the NFL next season. O’Shea alluded to potentially losing some players to retirement.
“Anybody that’s played a decent amount of time, it’s going to be tough,” O’Shea said. “That’s the bottom line. There’s always a void left. I think that’s why so many guys that are done head to team service-oriented jobs – fire, police – where there’s a group relying on you. I think guys that play awhile need that.”
One other aspect to consider is changes to the coaching staff. Bombers offensive coordinator Buck Pierce is one of the two finalists for the Saskatchewan Roughriders coaching job.
“You bank on change and then when it doesn’t you feel good and you make those quick phone calls back and you say, ‘Hey, listen… everything is status quo here right now.’ But you bank on some change. We’ve got a good staff,” O’Shea said. “I mean, why wouldn’t teams want our guys?”
If there is a silver lining for Winnipeg, the Bombers are bringing back general manager Kyle Walters and his front office staff with contract extensions with the team. After their 14-4 season and losing in the Grey Cup, O’Shea, his coaching staff and the front office will have to get to work on building their championship-caliber team once again.
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