As former Muskie coach Scott Fawcett made his second trip in to Winnipeg in as many years with the Edmonton Eskimos against the woeful Blue Bombers over the Thanksgiving weekend, he would be the first to admit what a difference a year makes.
The Eskimos took advantage of a Winnipeg team in disarray to trounce the home squad 40-20 on Monday, and now can clinch second place in the CFL’s Western Division with a win over the B.C. Lions at home this Saturday.
But while the Eskimos were impressive in holding the Bomber punt returners well below their average run back per game, Fawcett admitted they haven’t enjoyed near the success they had during his first year as special teams coach there.
“Our guys did a great job [during Monday’s win] and we held them to an average of 3.5 yards on six punts, which is well below [Eric] Blount’s average but we are nowhere near last year,” admitted Fawcett, 41.
“We lost guys to the NFL and replaced them with a bunch of rookies who are 210 pounds, compared to guys who were 230 pounds last year, and they could run,” he added.
While Fawcett puts in anywhere from 12-16 hour days (often arriving at the Eskimo office before sunrise) breaking down game films and then going out on to the field for practices, he said there’s only so much a coach can do with the players he has.
“We didn’t do anything out of the ordinary [to prepare for the Winnipeg game] but you always try to defeat the other team’s strengths and negate what they do best,” he said.
“What you do is try to figure out the other team’s strengths and give your team the best chance to succeed.
“It’s all about individual matchups in a team game,” he continued. “Players make the plays. What we try to do is put them in the best position to make the plays.”
Fawcett said with the influx of new players, many of whom are new to the different rules of the Canadian game, the Eskimos have a tough time adjusting on special teams.
“Many of these guys were stars on their other teams and never had to play special teams so in some sense they may lack some understanding,” he explained. “Certainly with the different kicking rules, it affects the players differently than on offence or defence.
“And from a conditioning standpoint, all of these kids played 10 or 11 games a season and we’ve already played 15 regular-season games and two pre-season ones.
“Their bodies aren’t prepared for the difference,” he stressed.
One other difference for the Eskimos this season is the decision not to dress the team’s star punt and kickoff returner, Henry “Gizmo” WIlliams, who currently tops the team in kickoff and punt returns.
The decision not to dress Williams, said Fawcett, was the fact the team simply did not have a non-import spot on the roster for him.
Don Blair, a former college standout with the University of Calgary and former Chicago Bear draft pick, is now Edmonton’s feature return man.
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