Mike O’Shea concerned with Winnipeg Blue Bombers lack of scoring

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The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have had different offensive coordinators for each of the last three years, yet the results have stayed largely the same — which is to say, not very good.

“You need to score points. Absolutely, [the lack of offensive scoring is] concerning,” head coach Mike O’Shea told reporters on Tuesday. “Because it’s three different coordinators, I think you’ve gotta look at it differently. I don’t think I’d be looking at this year and comparing it to last year and comparing it to the year before. I’m not there yet.”

Winnipeg’s offence ranked seventh in points scored, net yardage, and yards per play in 2026, making them the club’s weakest phase. According to the CFL’s aggregate statistical rankings, the team’s defence was tied for fifth league-wide, while the special teams ranked first.

Tommy Condell was hired to serve as the team’s offensive coordinator last offseason. In a corresponding move, Jason Hogan, who took the role in 2025 after Buck Pierce left to become the head coach of the B.C. Lions, was demoted back to his former role of running backs coach.

The offence improved under Condell, but not by much.

The Blue Bombers scored 25.7 offensive points per game, up from 21.3 in 2025. The offence also generated 2.7 more yards per game and 0.3 more yards per play.

Winnipeg improved in the turnover department, too, giving the ball away 34 times after doing so 45 times in 2025. However, the team regressed in sacks allowed, giving up 42 — five more than last year.

It was a strong season for CFL offences overall, as scoring was up 8.7 percent league-wide. This means that despite some improvement year-over-year, Winnipeg’s offence didn’t necessarily improve relative to other teams.

O’Shea expects Condell to be back next year, indicating that he’s under contract for 2027.

Zach Collaros, who previously played for Condell with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, spoke glowingly about the longtime assistant coach during his recent season-ending media availability.

“I love Tommy, I love his family, I love the person that he is,” he said. “I think he’s the best play-caller I’ve ever played for. He’s the best coordinator I’ve ever played for. It’s not really close.”

Winnipeg began the season with only two American starters in the receiving corps — Tim White and Ontaria Wilson. The three Canadian starters were Nic Demski, Tommy Nield, and Gavin Cobb.

Dorian Singer, a rookie who eventually took the league by storm, was left on the practice roster for over half the season. When asked, O’Shea denied that this was an error.

“I wouldn’t say it was a mistake. We built our roster a certain way, and when injuries happen, guys get other opportunities,” said O’Shea.

“Dorian Singer is a very good player, and from the minute he got on, he seemed to produce, and there was a connection there with the quarterbacks, and he was an exciting player. He wasn’t error-free, wasn’t perfect, but that’s what young guys do — they burst onto a scene and they show some excellence and excitement, youthful exuberance, and you’ve got to correct a few things here and there, but he was he was pretty damn good for us.”

Singer didn’t enter the starting lineup until the Banjo Bowl, when Wilson was placed on the six-game injured list. By the time Wilson returned to the lineup after missing two games, Singer had eight catches for 94 yards and a touchdown.

Thanks to his strong play, the rookie was made a permanent American starter alongside White and Wilson. In a corresponding move, Cobb, who made only 16 catches for 141 yards over 12 starts, was moved to a depth role, and eventually finished the season on injured reserve.

Defensive players Matt Jaworski and Jaiden Woodbey hit the six-game injured list around the same time, helping free up an American roster spot for Singer.

“I don’t think it’s a mistake. I think it’s the way the roster is built, and then injuries happen, opportunities arise, and guys get their opportunities, and they make good with that opportunity, but I don’t think that’s a mistake,” said O’Shea.

“You would have to move the chess pieces around and say, ‘OK, Dorian Singer gets on, and this is who we’re taking off.’ You have to actually see what it does to the other two phases when you move pieces around.”

Singer finished the year with 29 catches for 584 yards and three touchdowns over just seven regular-season games. Despite playing relatively little, he was the team’s fourth-leading receiver, finishing ahead of both Nield and Cobb.

The 24-year-old is under contract with the Blue Bombers for next year, though he may garner NFL interest this offseason.

It remains unclear who the team’s starting quarterback will be in 2027, but one thing is for sure: after three uninspired seasons, Winnipeg’s offence needs to improve.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (9-9) were eliminated from postseason contention following a 33-23 loss to the Montreal Alouettes in the East Final. Click here for the team’s list of pending free agents.