Yardsticks

I hate to think it, but I have a sneaking suspicion the circus has come to Winnipeg.  Some people have suggested that Mike Kelly is the ring leader and that the circus started long ago.  I, however, have held onto hope.  Until now.

What has done me in is the recent comments from the Bomber organization that newly signed QB Casey Bramlet may get a chance to start as early as this week.  In the last day or so, that speculation has been toned down a little as Michael Bishop is said to be getting the start on Sunday.

Starting a young quarterback without CFL experience within two weeks of him crossing the border suggests to me that the Head Coach has lost confidence in his team, particularly his QBs, and is starting to grasp at straws to fix the problem.  If this QB fails, the next QB is brought it two weeks later, and the revolving door gains momentum.

There is most often no quick fix to a team that is struggling.  When coaches and general managers begin looking for a quick fix, and begin bringing in and releasing players quickly, the chance of any success starts to dwindle just as quickly.  A football team is a unit, one that must become cohesive.  It is hard to get that way if players are coming and going.

And once the revolving door of players gains momentum, it is often hard for the coach to stay out of the way.  The team fails and soon the coach is fired.  A new coach comes in, and the whole process starts again.

I have been a Winnipeg Blue Bomber fan for many years.  I survived the US expansion experiment and the Reinbold era.  The mid to late 90’s were tough on a fan of the Blue & Gold.  I was hoping the mid to late 00’s were not going to be.

Have I lost all hope for 2009?  Not quite, but once that revolving door starts moving, it becomes harder and harder to hold on.