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When a team sits at 1-8 — their Week 1 starting quarterback on the shelf indefinitely with an undisclosed injury, an offence working to assimilate to a vastly different system from the NFL-style scheme that was shoehorned onto them, and a defence that continues to allow opposing quarterbacks to light them up — you might as well start from scratch. “Its kind of a training camp mode,” said veteran Blue Bombers slotback Terrence Edwards. “I think theyre trying to figure out who are the best five receivers, whos the best back, whos the best quarterback, whos the best group of offensive linemen. So its kind of a training camp mode, but were still doing it in the concept of a game week. And theyve just got to evaluate people off practice and give them an opportunity to play and see how they do in the games.” Since flipping the brass positions of president & CEO, general manager, and offensive coordinator over the last four weeks, the team appears much more open to make changes and experiment with talent positions on the field. “Were always wheeling and dealing, so well see what we can come up with,” said head coach Tim Burke of the new organizational mindset. “Were always in constant communication with (other teams). Yes, it would never happen before.” “You have to play well to keep your job. You know, just like we have to perform well to keep my job.” And when things are going as poorly as they are in Winnipeg, buried deep in the East Division cellar at the midway point of the CFL season, changes are necessary. “We had a tryout last week for a number of guys,” added Burke of a closed session the team held on Wednesday with an unnamed cornerback, safety, quarterback, and pair of defensive ends. “Were just trying to get the new guys like (Mike) Sims-Walker — were trying to get them up to speed as fast as we can. And so well play him this week but in kind of a limited role because he doesnt know all of the offence. It gives us a chance to see what he can do and we think he can do some good things. Every week is a game week so were treating it like a game week, and then we try to get extra meeting time with the new guys and try to indoctrinate them as best as we can. Get them as many reps as we can.” “Weve got our problems on both sides of the ball. I thought our offence played better last week, but then we didnt finish the fourth quarter. I thought defensively that we played well enough for about two-thirds of the game, but the other third wasnt good enough. We didnt have a very good pass rush, and then we didnt cover really well at times. Some of thats correctable. It wasnt that their guys were just beating our guys. We had technique mistakes, alignment mistakes. And all those little things add up. We can play better than what weve been playing on defence, and weve got to pay attention to the details or well have to do something.” The team has brought in a plethora of new talent over the last couple weeks, including some NFL castoffs in safety/linebacker Aaron Rouse — who abruptly departed a day later because of an agreement he held with the team to be able to leave if an NFL opportunity arose — former Buffalo Bills backup quarterback Levi Brown, and the Jacksonville Jaguars leading receiver in 2009, Mike Sims-Walker. “Im just learning the ins and outs of it,” said the 28-year-old Sims-Walker. “The coverage is different, the corners play a little different, of course the motions; just a lot of little things. Its not so much the big part of running routes and catching the ball, learning the scheme; its more the little things.” “Weve got a lot of guys that can make plays. I dont know if its just not clicking yet or what, but not only myself but a lot of receivers are trying to make some plays.” Sims-Walker helps explain, at least from a receivers perspective, some of the nuances and adjustments that need to be made when playing north of the border. “In the Canadian league youve got to be more quick than fast. Just little things like that. I cant come out here and run full-speed routes because Im used to being stationary and just going. Some things youve got to tempo and some things youve just got to calm down in, and you cant do it exactly how youre used to doing it. Youve got to do it a little different.” “I have to adjust my game to whats effective out here instead of what Im used to.” Sims-Walker will dress for his first CFL game in the tenth edition of the Banjo Bowl on Sunday. Notes: Receiver Jade Etienne has been cleared to practice but not yet play after suffering a concussion in Regina. Rory Kohlert returns from a hamstring injury and will slot in for him... Second-year Bomber Will Ford will start at running back for Chad Simpson who returned from Miami, Fla., where his partner had a baby earlier this week, with a foot pain. Simpson saw doctors in Winnipeg on Thursday and Friday, but the team says there is no update on his status. It is the same foot that kept the tailback out for an extended period of time last season... The right side of the offensive line continues to be juggled as Paul Swiston moves to right tackle, Shannon Boatman to right guard... 2012 first-round draft pick Tyson Pencer made the 46-man roster this week, but he is expected to be a scratch come game time... Following their loss in the 50th Labour Day Classic in Regina, Burke said he needed to review the video before naming his starting quarterback for the annual Banjo Bowl rematch. He has decided to give Justin Goltz another go for his fourth career professional start. 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Replica Shoes Wholesale China .com) - Eric Fehrs goal 42 seconds into overtime lifted the Washington Capitals to a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over Columbus, halting the Blue Jackets seven-game win streak.MANCHESTER, England - While Europes other big leagues take a breather over the festive period, clubs in the English Premier League begin a traditionally frenzied spell of fixtures that excites fans, exhausts players, tests managers, and potentially defines campaigns.A run of four games in nine or 10 days kicks off on Friday with a full program, with Chelsea looking to tame one of the surprise teams of the season to stay in first place and keep title rival Manchester City at arms length.West Ham arrives at Stamford Bridge in fourth place and as Londons No. 2 team this season, a side reborn under Sam Allardyce following summer orders from the hierarchy to play a more attractive brand of football.West Ham is certainly doing that — and impressive wins over City and Liverpool so far suggest a trip to Chelsea will hold no fear.Playing against Big Sam (Allardyce) is a hard job for us, we have to cope with it, said Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who thinks his team has the hardest festive fixtures of all of the top teams with games at Southampton and Tottenham to come.By beating Stoke on Monday, Chelsea restored a three-point lead over City and ensured it would be top on Christmas Day — a noteworthy milestone that has special significance for the Blues. The last three times Chelsea has led the league on Dec. 25, it has gone on to win the title.What we did in the past is not important, Mourinho said. Whats important is this season, and this season we are top of the league since day one and we are there because we are playing really well.In my opinion we are the best team.Here are some other things to look out for in the 18th round:___EXCITING WEST HAM: When West Ham last travelled to Chelsea, in January 2014, the visitors held on for 0-0 despite conceding 39 shots on their goal, and were accused by Mourinho of playing football from the 19th century because of their defensive tactics.That is unlikely to be the case this time round, with Allardyce recently speaking of his fantastic options up front with strikerss Andy Carroll, Diafro Sakho, and Enner Valencia, and attacking midfielder Stewart Downing looking sharp.ddddddddddddere playing great football, and any team that we play against is going to be worried about us, said Carroll, who has rediscovered his best form after injury. Weve got more than one attacking option - we play it on the floor, play it in the air, down the sides.West Ham hasnt been in a higher position in the top flight of English football at Christmas Day since 1985.NO STRIKERS FOR CITY: Man City manager Manuel Pellegrini is facing the unenviable task of negotiating the festive period without any strikers.Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic will again be missing when City plays away at West Bromwich Albion. City coped on Saturday against Crystal Palace, playing midfielder James Milner up front and winning 3-0.Pellegrini said Dzeko and Aguero are unlikely to return until the second part of January but Jovetic will be sooner.City has won its last six league games in the defence of its title.VAN GAALS TREAT: Louis van Gaal is breaking with tradition at Manchester United and giving his squad Christmas Day off.Players used to train on Christmas Day under long-time coach Alex Ferguson, and did so in David Moyes short tenure last season, too. Van Gaal is dealing with English footballs unique festive fixture schedule for the first time, and sees things differently.I believe in a total human being, so the environment is also important, the Dutchman said ahead of Uniteds home match against Newcastle. They are more pleased to be at home with their wives and children.LEICESTER WORRY: Since the Premier Leagues inception in 1992, only two teams have stayed up when bottom of the standings at Christmas. The omens, therefore, are not looking good for Leicester.Leicester is winless in 12 games, five points from safety, and its manager Nigel Pearson is one of the favourites to become the first Premier League coach to be fired this season.Leicester is at home to Tottenham on Friday. ' ' '