Quote from: Pete on February 17, 2024, 03:14:47 PMOnce we signed schoen id seriously would have considered releasing or trading Lawler. 285k would go a long way to signing a de or tackle.
We've spent more money on each of the offensive groups. Qb. Receivers and running back than any other team in the league.
On the positive it should make for exciting games
On the flip side, when you find elite talent, you want to try to keep them while trusting your scouting staff to find more elite talent to fill in the gaps. Let's bring in our own DE or Tackle instead of overpaying for someone else's scraps in FA.
Our scouts BETTER find us a DE and or DT or we re done on defense. Teams will double Jefferson and our push rush we relied on for so many years will fade to black and so will we
Quote from: Pete on February 19, 2024, 09:09:05 PMwhile this thread is concerned about oline solutions, a bigger problem is our dline, weve gone from the best in the league a few years ago to the potentially the second worst (next to elks)
Agree 100%. The loss of Jeffcoat and no stud interior lineman spell trouble for us in 2024
Quote from: Pete on February 19, 2024, 09:09:05 PMwhile this thread is concerned about oline solutions, a bigger problem is our dline, weve gone from the best in the league a few years ago to the potentially the second worst (next to elks)
Make a new thread: that topic is totally worth its own. Tons to discuss there. The difference is we're used to having the #1-#3 OL, and used to having the #4-#6 DL (for 2 seasons now). So as long as we can keep it around there, it'll be status quo.
DL Discussion and views can be made here.
Thanks mods.
To continue: while I too worry about the DL, it's been several years of worrying about the DL. The "monster IMP DT" (whoever it may be each season) has been getting steadily, though slightly, weaker each season. Nevis was the peak IMHO. The other guys have been fine, but always a slight downgrade.
But each year it's looked pretty catastrophic yet each year the next man up does better than I (we?) anticipated. Not as good as the last guy, but still pretty darn good.
Take Walker. He wasn't Sayles, but he was at least 80%. Better than the 50% I would have guessed pre-season. (The proof he's not Sayles is that he hasn't been snapped up in FA as all of our other lead DTs were previously.)
But Sayles was maybe 75% Stove. Stove was 85% Nevis. Do the math and we're down to like 50% of Nevis with Walker. Maybe even less if the next guy is only 80% of Walker. (Or maybe we can retain Walker if no one else bites in FA.)
So let's ask ourselves how we got Nevis & Stove? Were they FA superstars before coming here, or scraps, or ELC IMPs we scouted? Whatever it was, how do we repeat that so we can get back to Nevis/Stove levels?
If Walker walks (hehe), then our next man up is Fox, right? Has he looked like the next Nevis, or an 80% Walker?
I'd rather we find the next 100% Nevis, assuming doing so doesn't mean huge $$. DTs are a weird position, as there doesn't seem to be a surplus league-wide. It's a mostly-IMP position, so this strikes me as odd (like LT/RT). But that seems to be the way it is.
To me the big skill I want in a DT is block-shed run-stop, and a keen eye / IQ for getting in the right hole. I'm less concerned about pocket push on passes. In the past our D was league-renowned for its run stop. I'd like to get back to that. It may make Willie less effective if we're a runstop-first DL, but Willie might be neutered by a weaker fellow DE this season anyhow.
In 2023 our run-stop was so-so, and our pass rush was so-so. If we can at least improve our run stop, we should have a better D, and maybe be able to stop those lame QB scrambles and TD RB runs that we seem to give up every recent GC. That should be enough to let our O propel us over the top and get that pesky cup back.
Too bad about JJ...we had the best pair of DE bookends and JJ brought it every game....he won't be easy to replace. In his interview with Coach Phil on YouTube he mentioned that he wasn't keen on how Walters managed the situation....he didn't really slam him but you could tell he felt under appreciated.....a bit similar to AH debacle. I kind of agreed with him
https://youtu.be/FE7pz5XhOw0?si=B_yTUbsuCSyB5SlV
Quote from: TecnoGenius on February 20, 2024, 04:18:12 AMThanks mods.
To continue: while I too worry about the DL, it's been several years of worrying about the DL. The "monster IMP DT" (whoever it may be each season) has been getting steadily, though slightly, weaker each season. Nevis was the peak IMHO. The other guys have been fine, but always a slight downgrade.
But each year it's looked pretty catastrophic yet each year the next man up does better than I (we?) anticipated. Not as good as the last guy, but still pretty darn good.
Take Walker. He wasn't Sayles, but he was at least 80%. Better than the 50% I would have guessed pre-season. (The proof he's not Sayles is that he hasn't been snapped up in FA as all of our other lead DTs were previously.)
But Sayles was maybe 75% Stove. Stove was 85% Nevis. Do the math and we're down to like 50% of Nevis with Walker. Maybe even less if the next guy is only 80% of Walker. (Or maybe we can retain Walker if no one else bites in FA.)
So let's ask ourselves how we got Nevis & Stove? Were they FA superstars before coming here, or scraps, or ELC IMPs we scouted? Whatever it was, how do we repeat that so we can get back to Nevis/Stove levels?
If Walker walks (hehe), then our next man up is Fox, right? Has he looked like the next Nevis, or an 80% Walker?
I'd rather we find the next 100% Nevis, assuming doing so doesn't mean huge $$. DTs are a weird position, as there doesn't seem to be a surplus league-wide. It's a mostly-IMP position, so this strikes me as odd (like LT/RT). But that seems to be the way it is.
To me the big skill I want in a DT is block-shed run-stop, and a keen eye / IQ for getting in the right hole. I'm less concerned about pocket push on passes. In the past our D was league-renowned for its run stop. I'd like to get back to that. It may make Willie less effective if we're a runstop-first DL, but Willie might be neutered by a weaker fellow DE this season anyhow.
In 2023 our run-stop was so-so, and our pass rush was so-so. If we can at least improve our run stop, we should have a better D, and maybe be able to stop those lame QB scrambles and TD RB runs that we seem to give up every recent GC. That should be enough to let our O propel us over the top and get that pesky cup back.
I feel like people complaining about the DT situation and our DL in general are really chasing a rainbow. We've had the best defense in the league the last few years. Literally ranked #1 in points and yard. The next closest D allowed 600 more yards than us. We're in a tier completely by ourselves.
But posts like these make it seem like we're coming apart at the seams. The only DT who's done anything since he left here was Sayles (who many still say "wasn't good enough"). Nevis, Richardson, Sayles, Walkers, etc were all great players, but we have chugged along without them without missing a beat.
You say our pass rush is so-so, yet we are 1st in passing yards against, opposing passing completion %, opposition completions. Our rushing yards against are ranked 3rd. What about this is so-so?
I expect to do more of the same this year.
Quote from: Jesse on February 20, 2024, 11:51:46 AMI feel like people complaining about the DT situation and our DL in general are really chasing a rainbow. We've had the best defense in the league the last few years. Literally ranked #1 in points and yard. The next closest D allowed 600 more yards than us. We're in a tier completely by ourselves.
But posts like these make it seem like we're coming apart at the seams. The only DT who's done anything since he left here was Sayles (who many still say "wasn't good enough"). Nevis, Richardson, Sayles, Walkers, etc were all great players, but we have chugged along without them without missing a beat.
You say our pass rush is so-so, yet we are 1st in passing yards against, opposing passing completion %, opposition completions. Our rushing yards against are ranked 3rd. What about this is so-so?
I expect to do more of the same this year.
I agree. Most of what I have read is fans comparing our team to our team 2019-2023 instead of comparing us to who we will actually play against. Our defence has been lights out for the past 3 years now, if we lose a guy here or there it won't be some epic collapse as people are predicting. Do we want to find the next JJ, for sure or try beef up our interior DL..absolutely...will our defence collapse if we don't find players completely at that level and game ready. Nope, it won't. We will be fine. Every year our team is going to have different strengths and weaknesses. Some years the heartbeat of our defence will be the DL, some it will be LB and secondary. It's not a static thing. While I agree that our DL took some hits, I think our secondary looks better for instance.
I think its unfair when fans take one position or two on a 12 man unit and suggest that without so and so playing we are screwed. No, defences and offences adjust to their strengths and weaknesses if they are well coached. Our units are well coached.
Quote from: Jesse on February 20, 2024, 11:51:46 AMI feel like people complaining about the DT situation and our DL in general are really chasing a rainbow. We've had the best defense in the league the last few years. Literally ranked #1 in points and yard. The next closest D allowed 600 more yards than us. We're in a tier completely by ourselves.
But posts like these make it seem like we're coming apart at the seams. The only DT who's done anything since he left here was Sayles (who many still say "wasn't good enough"). Nevis, Richardson, Sayles, Walkers, etc were all great players, but we have chugged along without them without missing a beat.
You say our pass rush is so-so, yet we are 1st in passing yards against, opposing passing completion %, opposition completions. Our rushing yards against are ranked 3rd. What about this is so-so?
I expect to do more of the same this year.
The difference I see is Ricky Walker played in 7 games in 2021 and 12 games in 2022 apprenticing for Sayles job, which is the right way to do it. Fox played in 3 games last season, and 2 games with BC in 2022, he was not given the prep. time last season to show he could adequately take over the position, or if he has the durability to stick it out for 20 games + the playoffs. Maybe he can, maybe he can't.
Lest we forget 29 years of struggle, with ratio and salary caps as constraints it's not always possible to recruit the perfect replacement for high level players like Jeffcoat, Biggie or Willy. Assuming it will all work out for the best everytime is somewhat deluded by recency bias.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on February 20, 2024, 05:26:51 PMLest we forget 29 years of struggle...
Bit of revisionist history there.
Quote from: blue_gold_84 on February 20, 2024, 05:41:09 PMBit of revisionist history there.
What are you talking about?
In past years we've had 2 of the best de's in the cfl, this has put less pressure on our dt to produce. When jeffcoat was out we were much less effective.(causing many to clamour for lemon)
It will be tough to replace Jeffcoat right away, so we need to upgrade dt to offset. Simply finding an adequate replacement for Walker isn't going to help
My guess is that Haba starts at DE and Fox starts at DT.
Haba shows great signs of becoming a great pass rusher! I'm all for developing a rush end to be honest. He is 24 years old with a lot of speed. I feel good at that spot, but we should look for depth.
Fox will be in just his second season, and is 27 years old. I don't feel the same type of spark from him like I do with Haba. The more competition at this position the better! Who was that guy that looked really good for us in training camp this last season?? I think he had a sack in both preseason games.
Quote from: blue_gold_84 on February 20, 2024, 06:38:29 PMThe WFC didn't struggle for 29 years.
They made the finals 5 times in that stretch, but it would be fair to say we struggled off and on for 29 years...
Quote from: LXTSN on February 20, 2024, 06:47:19 PMThey made the finals 5 times in that stretch, but it would be fair to say we struggled off and on for 29 years...
A more accurate assessment, IMO.
Kongo is still a free agent.
Quote from: Jesse on February 20, 2024, 11:51:46 AMBut posts like these make it seem like we're coming apart at the seams. The only DT who's done anything since he left here was Sayles (who many still say "wasn't good enough"). Nevis, Richardson, Sayles, Walkers, etc were all great players, but we have chugged along without them without missing a beat.
You say our pass rush is so-so, yet we are 1st in passing yards against, opposing passing completion %, opposition completions. Our rushing yards against are ranked 3rd. What about this is so-so?
I expect to do more of the same this year.
I guess my head is stuck on the '23 GC. I'm rewatching the rest of the season now, so I'm trying to get more perspective. But our pass rush didn't do much in the GC: neutered by Calvillo's hitch screens and timely run plays. Our run stop failed badly on the Stanback TD and the probably-game-saving 15Y Cody scramble. Would Stove have stopped Cody at the LoS?
I didn't say we were "coming apart at the seams"... I pointed out the steady decline in our #1 IMP DT. Do you want argue that every year we didn't get a slight downgrade at that spot? It can be both: it was a slight downgrade, and we didn't come apart at the seams.
Pointing out how DTs who leave WPG become tub-bound is a red herring. Ya, we lucked out by shedding them before they tubbed up, but who's to say they'd have gotten injured if they had stayed? We have to judge them for what they did when here. There clearly is a DT-leaving-WPG tub curse, but that can't factor into this discussion unless we have an crystal injury ball.
I didn't know our D stats were still so good in so many categories, so I will take that to heart and try to feel better. But season stats don't stick in the memory like PTSD GC-loss performances do. I think back to the pass rush that won the '19 GC, and compare that to the ineffective pass rush in the '23 GC, and to me the difference is stark.
Quote from: GCn19 on February 20, 2024, 01:07:30 PMI agree. Most of what I have read is fans comparing our team to our team 2019-2023 instead of comparing us to who we will actually play against. Our defence has been lights out for the past 3 years now, if we lose a guy here or there it won't be some epic collapse as people are predicting. Do we want to find the next JJ, for sure or try beef up our interior DL..absolutely...will our defence collapse if we don't find players completely at that level and game ready. Nope, it won't. We will be fine. Every year our team is going to have different strengths and weaknesses. Some years the heartbeat of our defence will be the DL, some it will be LB and secondary. It's not a static thing. While I agree that our DL took some hits, I think our secondary looks better for instance.
This is a very good point, and all true. However, we can acknowledge the above
and note trends and steady declines in certain units or positions. My stance is that IMP DT has been in steady, but not catastrophic, decline. DE (and thus DL) has been in decline for 2 seasons as JJ has been injured so much. Even if we're still top-3-in-CFL in many DL stats, we're still a shadow of '19 in sheer dominance.
Comparing our team now to 2019 is natural, I think. As our team is what we're most familiar with. Unless you're positing that the competition is also declining, "who we will actually play against" should be at roughly the same level year after year, no? (I'm thinking mostly in terms of the GC opponent.)
You are right that our D's strength morphs and shifts depending on our talent level each year. And that's ok, as long as the sum remains roughly the same. '19 was our peak pass-rush GC. '21 was our peak DB GC. '22 was more balanced. '23 nothing stood out at all in the GC on D. What unit would you say was our D's strength in the '23 GC? To me the only bright point was Holm with the best INT of the whole year.
It is possible the entire D is in steady decline as we apportion more of the SMS to the O. How could it not be? This can be true
and also that we don't need to panic.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on February 20, 2024, 05:26:51 PMThe difference I see is Ricky Walker played in 7 games in 2021 and 12 games in 2022 apprenticing for Sayles job, which is the right way to do it. Fox played in 3 games last season, and 2 games with BC in 2022, he was not given the prep. time last season to show he could adequately take over the position, or if he has the durability to stick it out for 20 games + the playoffs. Maybe he can, maybe he can't.
100% this. Our DT success was by having a good pipeline and 1-2 seasons of apprenticeship for the next man up. The turnover now is getting too fast and the pipeline not deep enough, so the next guy isn't as ready to start.
We all remember Stove taking tons of snaps in games that Nevis started (or when he didn't start due to injury). And Sayles taking snaps in games Stove started. Who here remembers a single snap Fox took in the regular season in games Walker started? I don't! I can't speak to Fox's talent because I cannot claim to have seen him play!
The pattern of success for The Mafia is clear, and the farther we deviate, the more risky it all becomes. It can still work out fine, but it's more of an unknown vs the proven formula. (This dev pipeline system is the same we use for our OL too.)
Quote from: Ridermania on February 20, 2024, 08:14:31 PMKongo is still a free agent.
No $$. Kongbo, as a NAT with a big ego, wants too much $.
It's funny that there's so much NAT talent sitting idle in FA with no biters. It's like opposite-world. The real scarcity is talented IMPs who will sign for low & middling money. WPG needs more NATs like a hole in the head.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on February 20, 2024, 09:38:32 PMI guess my head is stuck on the '23 GC. I'm rewatching the rest of the season now, so I'm trying to get more perspective. But our pass rush didn't do much in the GC: neutered by Calvillo's hitch screens and timely run plays. Our run stop failed badly on the Stanback TD and the probably-game-saving 15Y Cody scramble. Would Stove have stopped Cody at the LoS?
I didn't say we were "coming apart at the seams"... I pointed out the steady decline in our #1 IMP DT. Do you want argue that every year we didn't get a slight downgrade at that spot? It can be both: it was a slight downgrade, and we didn't come apart at the seams.
Pointing out how DTs who leave WPG become tub-bound is a red herring. Ya, we lucked out by shedding them before they tubbed up, but who's to say they'd have gotten injured if they had stayed? We have to judge them for what they did when here. There clearly is a DT-leaving-WPG tub curse, but that can't factor into this discussion unless we have an crystal injury ball.
I didn't know our D stats were still so good in so many categories, so I will take that to heart and try to feel better. But season stats don't stick in the memory like PTSD GC-loss performances do. I think back to the pass rush that won the '19 GC, and compare that to the ineffective pass rush in the '23 GC, and to me the difference is stark.
Talk about a red herring, comparing one game out of one season against one in another season.
Our D was pretty middle of the back in '19. The Grey Cup was an amazing performance, but it doesn't speak to our whole season any more than this most recent one does.
Quote from: Jesse on February 20, 2024, 10:24:54 PMTalk about a red herring, comparing one game out of one season against one in another season.
But it's the GC's (or final game a team plays) that define each season, especially for us having gone to 4 straight. And it's really the only thing remembered by most people years later. TOR had a great 2023, but no TOR fan will really care to remember it years from now. They'll remember 2022.
Yeah we are looking good for nationals. We had pretty good depth and the guys were losing had solid backups in place.
I'll be honest, we are bringing up these concerns... I'm not really concerned. With our scouting department, Kyle Walters, and MOS I am really at peace with this offseason. We are re-signing guys at discounts, and picking up lots of potential prospects/projects. We were able to retain our star players, and true top-end talent is tough to replace.
Think about it...
We have the best QB situation in ZC and Strev
We have the top RB who lead the league by a good margin
We have Demski, Shoen and Lawler...
We have the best left tackle in the league in Bryant
We have the best DE in the league in Willie
We have the Nichols who is arguably the best DB in the league
We have Biggie who maybe shouldn't be on this list at this point in his career, but still is the ultimate leader for the defense.
Were talking about filling gaps rather than acquiring star talent!
Quote from: LXTSN on February 21, 2024, 03:22:41 PMYeah we are looking good for nationals. We had pretty good depth and the guys were losing had solid backups in place.
I'll be honest, we are bringing up these concerns... I'm not really concerned. With our scouting department, Kyle Walters, and MOS I am really at peace with this offseason. We are re-signing guys at discounts, and picking up lots of potential prospects/projects. We were able to retain our star players, and true top-end talent is tough to replace.
Think about it...
We have the best QB situation in ZC and Strev
We have the top RB who lead the league by a good margin And good Canadian depth at this position in Augustine as well
We have Demski, Shoen and Lawler...
We have the best left tackle in the league in Bryant Not to mention proven stars in Neufeld and Kolankowski, as well as 2 up and comers who've been in the system for a while now in Eli and Dobson
We have the best DE in the league in Willie
We have the Nichols who is arguably the best DB in the league As well as Holm and Alexander, who are also tops in the league at their secondary positions
We have Biggie who maybe shouldn't be on this list at this point in his career, but still is the ultimate leader for the defense. Wilson is also dominant on the weak side
Were talking about filling gaps rather than acquiring star talent!
Great post...I added a few points in bold.
Quote from: blue_or_die on February 21, 2024, 07:58:10 PMGreat post...I added a few points in bold.
Quote from: blue_or_die on February 21, 2024, 07:58:10 PMGreat post...I added a few points in bold.
Quote from: LXTSN on February 21, 2024, 03:22:41 PMYeah we are looking good for nationals. We had pretty good depth and the guys were losing had solid backups in place.
I'll be honest, we are bringing up these concerns... I'm not really concerned. With our scouting department, Kyle Walters, and MOS I am really at peace with this offseason. We are re-signing guys at discounts, and picking up lots of potential prospects/projects. We were able to retain our star players, and true top-end talent is tough to replace.
Think about it...
We have the best QB situation in ZC and Strev
We have the top RB who lead the league by a good margin
We have Demski, Shoen and Lawler...
We have the best left tackle in the league in Bryant
We have the best DE in the league in Willie
We have the Nichols who is arguably the best DB in the league
We have Biggie who maybe shouldn't be on this list at this point in his career, but still is the ultimate leader for the defense.
Were talking about filling gaps rather than acquiring star talent!
I agree with most of the post but if you look at units as a whole there are legitimate concerns in terms of declining performance.
our dline as a whole is in the bottom 2
our linebackers as a whole have declined to where Toronto, Montreal, Bc , Calgary, even Sask can be said to be superior
on the positive
Our dbacks are in the top third
Recievers, running backs are best in the league
Qb is in top 3 if not number 1
Our coaches I believe are the best as well
special teams to be determined
Quote from: Pete on February 21, 2024, 09:54:25 PMI agree with most of the post but if you look at units as a whole there are legitimate concerns in terms of declining performance.
our dline as a whole is in the bottom 2
our linebackers as a whole have declined to where Toronto, Montreal, Bc , Calgary, even Sask can be said to be superior
on the positive
Our dbacks are in the top third
Recievers, running backs are best in the league
Qb is in top 3 if not number 1
Our coaches I believe are the best as well
special teams to be determined
I guess you can say that because we don't know. My guess is that we will have 3 new starters on the DL.
Lawson, Haba and Fox.
Lawson and Haba haven't proven themselves let but this will be their chance. In the limited time they've played, I like what I've seen. They combined for 9 sacks last season playing behind Jeffcoat and Thomas, so if they can combine for 14 or 15 this season, I would say that's enough.
Fox is a wildcard. Hasn't played a game in the CFL but has been around the organization all year and they even added him to a couple active rosters. I think they like what they see from him.
Our DL is new, but they were due for a little refresh. I can see our DL being more effective than last season
Quote from: Pete on February 21, 2024, 09:54:25 PMI agree with most of the post but if you look at units as a whole there are legitimate concerns in terms of declining performance.
our dline as a whole is in the bottom 2
our linebackers as a whole have declined to where Toronto, Montreal, Bc , Calgary, even Sask can be said
I just don't understand how people can legitimately make this claim when we had the best defense in the league last season.
Quote from: LXTSN on February 22, 2024, 01:43:10 PMI guess you can say that because we don't know. My guess is that we will have 3 new starters on the DL.
Lawson, Haba and Fox.
Lawson and Haba haven't proven themselves let but this will be their chance. In the limited time they've played, I like what I've seen. They combined for 9 sacks last season playing behind Jeffcoat and Thomas, so if they can combine for 14 or 15 this season, I would say that's enough.
Fox is a wildcard. Hasn't played a game in the CFL but has been around the organization all year and they even added him to a couple active rosters. I think they like what they see from him.
Our DL is new, but they were due for a little refresh. I can see our DL being more effective than last season
Actually, Miles Fox has played in 5 games in the CFL. In Winnipeg he has played in two games, and made 3DTs, and 1 sack. Not enough to say he can replace Walker, but he works hard in practice and seems to have an upside.
I'm less worried about the DTs since we've been playing with plug and play non-stars up the middle for a number of years now and they can get the job done for all intents and purposes. I'm less confident in replacing someone with Jeffcoat's production and ability to let Willie be Willie. Sometimes you just have to cross your fingers and hope the Scouts can unearth the next great one at that position. It's the risk we take when we allocate our finite resources to other areas
Quote from: Jesse on February 22, 2024, 02:10:12 PMI just don't understand how people can legitimately make this claim when we had the best defense in the league last season.
Our defensive line isn't the same. If its not legitimate then other than the elks who are we better than?
Again im talking about the position group not the overall defense.
Quote from: Pete on February 22, 2024, 03:03:49 PMOur defensive line isn't the same. If its not legitimate then other than the elks who are we better than?
Again im talking about the position group not the overall defense.
I understand you are talking about position groups, but I think it's unrealistic to say that the best defense in the league has the worst DL and a mid-tier LB group. It doesn't make sense. You are either undervaluing us or over valuing the rest of the league.
Quote from: Jesse on February 22, 2024, 04:28:29 PMI understand you are talking about position groups, but I think it's unrealistic to say that the best defense in the league has the worst DL and a mid-tier LB group. It doesn't make sense. You are either undervaluing us or over valuing the rest of the league.
perhaps, but last year isnt this year. I may be overvaluing Jeffcoat and Walkers absence, we'll have to see. In listening to Bighills interview talking about jackson, he talks about his contribution.
https://winnipegsun.com/sports/football/cfl/winnipeg-bluebombers/bighill-thrilled-bombers-were-able-to-sign-big-names-devastated-for-players-let-go
Quote from: Pigskin on February 22, 2024, 02:11:25 PMActually, Miles Fox has played in 5 games in the CFL. In Winnipeg he has played in two games, and made 3DTs, and 1 sack. Not enough to say he can replace Walker, but he works hard in practice and seems to have an upside.
I do recall that. For some reason it doesn't show any games played on the CFL site for Fox...
The CFL really needs to fix their stats problems of last year!
Quote from: LXTSN on February 22, 2024, 06:15:51 PMI do recall that. For some reason it doesn't show any games played on the CFL site for Fox...
The CFL really needs to fix their stats problems of last year!
https://www.bluebombers.com/players/miles-fox-2/167155/
Thorough interview with Jeffcoat by Coach Phil, discusses his entire career up until the day he decided to retire.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on February 22, 2024, 06:26:05 PMhttps://www.bluebombers.com/players/miles-fox-2/167155/
Nice. So the 3 tackles and a sack were all in the last game of the season where they let him start.
On pace for 54 tackles and 18 sacks ;)
We have never has an issue finding DT's. DE's, there should be development in our present roster, as well as draft choices. I really think that the DLine is not an issue, and Ritchie Hall and Willie Jefferson are still here to whip them into shape.
Quote from: Jesse on February 22, 2024, 04:28:29 PMI understand you are talking about position groups, but I think it's unrealistic to say that the best defense in the league has the worst DL and a mid-tier LB group. It doesn't make sense. You are either undervaluing us or over valuing the rest of the league.
Again, I think when you compare DL and LB corps to '19 and '21 then it's pretty easy to say we've lost a few steps. I'm not even looking at the stats. We can all just feel that the DL has been trending down slowly but surely (but still good!), and the LB corps also as they age out and we spent time getting Kramdi up to speed. Wilson had a down year, Biggie improved overall but got slower.
The problem is we were spoiled for so long, that even middling or top-third D unit performance feels depressing.
Sign this guy, will come cheap I assume
https://3downnation.com/2024/02/22/antonio-simmons-looking-to-make-cfl-comeback-after-mental-health-break/
Quote from: Blueforlife on February 22, 2024, 07:18:56 PMSign this guy, will come cheap I assume
I remember the Simmons guy's name being called a bit, but not much. Didn't realize he disappeared for a year.
KW said that the door is open to any player willing to sign for ELC! So you never know. Might be a good fit for depth.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on February 22, 2024, 07:27:30 PMI remember the Simmons guy's name being called a bit, but not much. Didn't realize he disappeared for a year.
KW said that the door is open to any player willing to sign for ELC! So you never know. Might be a good fit for depth.
Don't know much other than it wouldn't hurt to try him
Simmons: 6'3", 250, 3 years CFL experience. 32 Games, 68 tackles, 6 sacks, 1 FF.
$$$$ is the question. What does he want, and what do we have to spend.
Simmons sounds like a player we should bring in for TC, hope we get him.
Bighill's comments regarding Jeffcoat from the Wpg. Sun.
"A guy like Jackson is not replaceable," Bighill said in a one-on-one interview Wednesday.
"In my mind, the best all-around defensive end I've played with in the CFL. In terms of first down, second down, his impact on the game has been the best I've seen. You look at his numbers in the playoffs and it's a whole other level. He'll be missed. He's a guy who's not replaceable but hopefully a guy people in the building will be able to learn from."
Bighill, who is on the executive of the CFL Players Association, can't help but be gutted for the players who played such big roles in getting the team to four straight Grey Cups but were not offered contracts this year.
Jeffcoat lamented that there was almost no communication with team management in the lead-up to free agency and Bighill did not like the way things were handled either.
"It sucks," he said. "It's part of the business that everyone understands, but it's the terrible part. For some of those guys, if the club was able to figure out who they were going to be able to offer contracts to and who they weren't and could have come out and provided that information immediately, as opposed to waiting toward the days of free agency starting, it just would have been better for guys ... to have more of a heads up.
"It's just a better way to approach things. More communication is often better than none to little or waiting till the end. But it's part of the business. The most unfortunate part."
https://winnipegsun.com/sports/football/cfl/winnipeg-bluebombers/bighill-thrilled-bombers-were-able-to-sign-big-names-devastated-for-players-let-go
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on February 22, 2024, 11:46:44 PM"It's just a better way to approach things. More communication is often better than none to little or waiting till the end. But it's part of the business. The most unfortunate part."
Biggie gets it as Biggie will be in this same boat before long.
This was a weird year with our top $$ FA questions unanswered for an extra couple of weeks. Biggie hints that this may have caused the comms trouble. Maybe.
My question is: so how did we handle top-10 player shedding in the past? Is this normal for KW? Or is this year really out of the ordinary? Who are the departing stars in previous years, and did they get better comms? No? Then this is normal and just the way KW does it, for whatever reason.
We all know the famous AH debacle, but how about non-AH players?
I'm sure there are very good reasons for the way KW handles it other than "I'm a mean guy". You could also try to compare to how other teams handle things...
Jeffcoat when healthy is one of the best. Some hard on him and it's clear based on what Biggie has said that it's a giant hole.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on February 23, 2024, 10:46:17 PMBiggie gets it as Biggie will be in this same boat before long.
This was a weird year with our top $$ FA questions unanswered for an extra couple of weeks. Biggie hints that this may have caused the comms trouble. Maybe.
My question is: so how did we handle top-10 player shedding in the past? Is this normal for KW? Or is this year really out of the ordinary? Who are the departing stars in previous years, and did they get better comms? No? Then this is normal and just the way KW does it, for whatever reason.
We all know the famous AH debacle, but how about non-AH players?
I'm sure there are very good reasons for the way KW handles it other than "I'm a mean guy". You could also try to compare to how other teams handle things...
this year is a unique one because of the amount of top free agents we have that were coming off elc.
of the top 10 cfl free agents this year only 3 were coming off entry levels..schoen, Olivera and Oullette(Who also didn't sign til free agency window) These contracts present a big problem to the salary cap meaning if they sign you have to cut elsewhere ad until they sign you are hamstrung..
A second issue is the uncertainty in the market this year as to what is market value. If we had signed shoen early it would have had to be for close to 275k , it wasn't til he found out that teams were no longer paying that premium for receivers that he came down to 230k.
One way to get more certainty of what you can afford is to sign players to longer contracts. It feels like we do more 1 year terms than most, meaning more players to negotiate with and more uncertainty.
As much as we want to win it all every year, I think in the back of Walters mind is next season with the home Grey Cup. Season some younger guys this year while still remaining competitive, but going for it whole hog next season. Even go over the cap by $100,000 to win that home Grey Cup if you must as you only pay a $1 to $1 fine for that. Over that and you lose draft picks + the fine. I believe that is what the Riders did in 2013 with their Grey Cup in Regina. Sask pushed all their chips in that year (when they were still getting full houses) and with the Bombers hauling in BIG moolah lately they could afford it. I have no qualms about doing this as the old Eskimos had the biggest payroll in the 70's and 80's BEFORE the cap era. They bought many of their championships back then as they had regular high attendance in those days as well. Even gigantic Commonwealth stadium had many sellouts unlike lately when it seems like a ghost town! ;) Money talks, B.S. walks a fan once told me at the old Ottawa Landsdowne park when those RoughRiders (maybe owned by the farcical Glieb's at that time) were being blown out by the Flutie led Stamps! ;) :D
Quote from: TecnoGenius on February 23, 2024, 10:46:17 PMBiggie gets it as Biggie will be in this same boat before long.
This was a weird year with our top $$ FA questions unanswered for an extra couple of weeks. Biggie hints that this may have caused the comms trouble. Maybe.
My question is: so how did we handle top-10 player shedding in the past? Is this normal for KW? Or is this year really out of the ordinary? Who are the departing stars in previous years, and did they get better comms? No? Then this is normal and just the way KW does it, for whatever reason.
We all know the famous AH debacle, but how about non-AH players?
I'm sure there are very good reasons for the way KW handles it other than "I'm a mean guy". You could also try to compare to how other teams handle things...
This isn't a Walters thing, it was a Brady and Dalton thing. They took negotiations into FA and made it impossible to complete other moves.