Richie Hall took on the challenge of becoming

Facing a diminished role with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Richie Hall took on the challenge of becoming the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive co-ordinator.Hall served as Saskatchewans defensive co-ordinator the last four seasons. Saskatchewans defence allowed the fewest touchdowns in the CFL while recording the most interceptions to anchor the Riders Grey Cup run in 2013.But after Saskatchewan posted a 10-8 record last season, head coach Corey Chamblin said in December that Hall wouldnt continue as the Riders defensive co-ordinator.Chamblin indicated Hall would be offered another role within the organization. Instead, Hall accepted the task of rebuilding a Winnipeg defence that allowed a CFL-worst 135.9 yards rushing per game.As a player, in all my years of coaching, the emphasis has always been weve got to stop the run, Hall told reporters during a conference call. If youre able to control the run, youre able to control the line of scrimmage and everything starts up in the trenches.You have to be able to counter everything they do. If a team is able to run the ball effectively against you, it can dictate the flow of the game. Defensively, we want to be able to dictate the flow of the game.Hall, 54, a native of San Antonio, has spent all but two of his 20 years coaching in the CFL with Saskatchewans defence.Hall was Edmontons head coach in 2009 and 2010 before returning to Regina, where hed also won Grey Cups in 89 as a player and 07 as the defensive co-ordinator.Hall replaces Gary Etcheverry, who was fired after just one season overseeing Winnipegs defence. The Blue Bombers missed the playoffs with a 7-11 record under rookie head coach Mike OShea.Richie has always had a good plan, OShea said. Theres no time that hes entered the game without a good plan.His players always feel solid about the plan. Hes also got the ability to adjust. His knowledge of our game and of the opposition, the various co-ordinators in our game, theres nothing Richie hasnt seen or dealt with.With former Hamilton head coach Marcel Bellefeuille returning as offensive co-ordinator, OShea feels well supported by the experience of his two assistants.I say this to the coaching staff when we first get together If you see me tripping, catch me, OShea said. There are mistakes that are going to be made and its up to all of us to make sure that we dont make those mistakes and they dont cost us games.First-year starter Drew Willy, the CFLs third-ranked passer with 3,769 yards, gave Winnipegs offence credibility and the defence did finish the season ranked second against the pass. But only expansion Ottawa (37) had fewer sacks than the Bombers (43), who also allowed a CFL-high 481 points.Chamblin told reporters in Regina last month he took over Saskatchewans defence for the West Division semifinal against Edmonton, a game the Riders lost 18-10 despite not allowing an offensive touchdown.OShea, a former all-star linebacker, insisted Hall would have freedom to implement his defensive packages with the Blue Bombers.One of the things I firmly believe in is you hire men youre going to trust and let them coach, he said. I wont be sticking my fingers in to upset the apple cart. Richie is going to have his systems. Hes going to put the time in to come up with a great plan.As head coach, he and I are going to talk about that plan before the game. Ill have input and there will be times I get on the headset and Ill talk about the flow of the game and what Id like to see. My preference is always to let the coaches coach. Thats what I hired him for.Hall was a CFL all-star as a defensive back in the 1980s with both Calgary and Saskatchewan. He says hell commute for now between Winnipeg and Regina, where his wife, Helen, is employed.After so many years of wearing green and white, Hall acknowledged it will be an adjustment wearing different colours on what was once an enemy football field.I think its going to be strange but you also understand its football, he said. You become committed to the jersey you put on.Thats the life of a coach, thats the life of a professional athlete. Discount Shoes Online Free Shipping .ca. Hi Kerry, Thursday nights Bruins-Blackhawks game had a goal by Patrice Bergeron initially waved off by the referee, but video review clarified it was a good goal. Shoes Discount Sale Online . Scott scored a career-high 30 points, Jeff Teague added 28 and the Hawks rallied to beat the New York Knicks 107-98 on Saturday night. "We were down Paul, down so many bodies," Scott said. http://www.shoeswholesale.us/. And fellow Leaf, Jake Gardiner, hiking in Whistler. Shoes Clearance Sale Online . Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse will reunite at this weekends season-opening World Cup at Canada Olympic Park as they begin their buildup to the Winter Games in Sochi. Shoes Wholesale Online Store . David Perron had a career high four-point night with two goals and two assists as the Oilers experienced an offensive explosion, blasting the Columbus Blue Jackets 7-0 to record a rare home win for their second victory in a row.Monday was almost a complete washout at the Masters and I hate to think what it will cost the fine folks at August National to reimburse all the patrons who only managed two hours of viewing time before the heavens opened and the course was cleared. If youre keeping track, the last time a practice day was lost to the weatherman was back in 2003, and we all know how that turned out. Mondays rain fell for a long time and it was punctuated with some great lightning and thunder exhibitions. Our TSN crew wasnt even allowed on the grounds to tape our segments, forced to wait it out for six hours in the international broadcast centre, tucked away behind the Par 3 course. Meanwhile, Canadas two participants this week were passing the time in different ways. Graham DeLaet, making his maiden voyage in this major, was enjoying a cribbage tournament at one of the homes hes rented here. Rowdy friends from Saskatchewan in one house (might we see the first Melonhead at Augusta?), he and his family in the other. Mike Weir, making his 15th start at Alister MacKenzies masterpiece, managed to play nine holes before the storms and pronounced himself in good form. "Ive been playing pretty well," he said, after touring the back nine alongside Jason Day and reigning British Amateur champion Garrick Porteous. "I just havent been scoring well. The last month, Ive felt very good about my game – I just havent gotten the ball in the hole." Of course, Weir plays with a little more spring in his step around this course, drawing on the memories of his 2003 win. "Its special any time you come here," said Weir, who has missed the cut in his last three starts at the Masters.dddddddddddd"You just kind of soak in the good feelings of the essence of the game." Tuesday morning, the Canadians will head out together, like Master Po and Grasshopper, Weir hoping to lend his local knowledge to the first-timer DeLaet. "He has all the power in the world and his short game has really rounded into form the last couple of years," said Weir, analyzing DeLaets game. "I think this course really sets up well for him. Hes such a great driver of the ball and its an underrated fact that people dont talk about too much, driving the ball around Augusta National and I think its a real key if you can get that ball in the short grass. With his power, I think he can really do well here." Weir acknowledged that while he and DeLaet have chatted casually a few times already, its been mostly about off-course stuff – how the tournament is run, what to expect at the gates and that sort of thing. During their round, hell offer details about slopes on greens, where to miss and maybe even point out the former location of the Eisenhower Tree, which met its end in a wood chipper in February. Weir has never had the opportunity to mentor a young Canadian at the Masters, which may say a great deal about the status of golf north of the 49th over the past decade or so. Hes been the lone guy with the Maple Leaf on his bag since 2010 when Stephen Ames no longer qualified. But Tuesday, under what appears to be sunny skies with warming temps, hell get that chance. Hes only too happy to help, although hell still be hoping to grab some of that magic from this place for his own. ' ' '