Music: {allcanada} Bombers fire Barresi

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

{allcanada} Bombers fire Barresi

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have fired offensive co-ordinator Jamie Barresi, sportsnet.ca has learned.

Barresi had just completed his second year as the team's offensive co-ordinator. The move comes only two days after the Bombers lost 34-23 to the B.C. Lions in the 2011 Grey Cup.

Barresi worked with Bombers' head coach Paul LaPolice when the two were with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2008 and 2009. The two had also worked together in Hamilton.

LaPolice came to the Bombers having served as the Riders' offensive co-ordinator prior to being named Winnipeg's head coach. Whether he will take full control of the offence or hire a replacement is not known at this time.

The Bombers started off the season strongly, leading the league with a 7-1 record after eight games, but the offence tailed off after that. The Bombers had the dubious distinction of leading the Canadian Football League in two and outs this season.

The offence had significant problems in the first half of the Grey Cup, recording only five first downs, although B.C., which controlled the game, only had eight. The difference was B.C. failed to cash in on scoring opportunities, while Winnipeg couldn't generate anything while playing for the most part with poor field position. The Bombers finished with 13 first downs, but generated little of that with rushing, totaling only 41 yards. Rookie Chris Garrett, who had some big games down the stretch, was limited to only 26 yards on eight carries and did not talk to the media after the game.

Most of the Bombers' offence came in the fourth quarter, which had Winnipeg trailing 31-9 before making a valiant comeback that fell short.