Is it me or does Alexander seemed to have slowed down allot. Maybe it's just my observation , to me he seems to be caught out of position at times. I like him , his leadership quality and work ethic as well. He is a punishing hitter and is not old he turns 31 on Sept 2th next Friday on rematch day .
Thoughts!
Quote from: Austin85 on September 22, 2024, 06:08:50 AMIs it me or does Alexander seemed to have slowed down allot. Maybe it's just my observation , to me he seems to be caught out of position at times. I like him , his leadership quality and work ethic as well. He is a punishing hitter and is not old he turns 31 on Sept 2th next Friday on rematch day .
Thoughts!
I don't know defensive play well enough to really comment on what he does away from the ball, but yeah. You sure notice him whiffing a lot.
Poor tackler and that miss on the flea flicker TD was bad.
Quote from: Jesse on September 22, 2024, 12:01:11 PMI don't know defensive play well enough to really comment on what he does away from the ball, but yeah. You sure notice him whiffing a lot.
Poor tackler and that miss on the flea flicker TD was bad.
He's had more than a few missed tackles this year. But I'd argue that at 31, he's had ALOT of mileage because of his style of play. This could be his last year.
I do agree he's earned his spot as one of the great BB safeties though.
Age, style of play and previous injuries catch up to every player. It requires to adjust playing style by the player and what a DC might adjust what he's asked to do.
I thought he was going to get that int on the flea flicker. He made the mistake of waiting for the ball instead of going for the high point. Either he would have gotten the pic or a knock down.
It happens unfortunately.
There's a few vets that have regressed to various levels this season. We obviously need balance between their knowledge, presence and confidence while continuing the youth movement.
Alexander fits that description. He might be hurt as he's not as dynamic in space as he was earlier in his career but to be fair to him he's started every game and set a career high in tackles in Edmonton yesterday. The foot speed is notably off though.
The Bombers deserve credit for developing their less experienced players. I would argue that, in no particular order, Jones, Ayers (who I love), Clercius, Wilson, Wheatfall, Dobson, Ford, Kramdi have been the difference in the winning streak.
The key now will be making the hard decisions in the off-season: Bighill, Wilson, Schoen/Lawler, Neufeld, Alexander.
Some of those guys are playing out their last year as a Bomber.
Quote from: Sir Blue and Gold on September 22, 2024, 01:57:23 PMThere's a few vets that have regressed to various levels this season. We obviously need balance between their knowledge, presence and confidence while continuing the youth movement.
Alexander fits that description. He might be hurt as he's not as dynamic in space as he was earlier in his career but to be fair to him he's started every game and set a career high in tackles in Edmonton yesterday. The foot speed is notably off though.
The Bombers deserve credit for developing their less experienced players. I would argue that, in no particular order, Jones, Ayers (who I love), Clercius, Wilson, Wheatfall, Dobson, Ford, Kramdi have been the difference in the winning streak.
The key now will be making the hard decisions in the off-season: Bighill, Wilson, Schoen/Lawler, Neufeld, Alexander.
Some of those guys are playing out their last year as a Bomber.
I would add Griffin to your list. He has been outstanding on teams this year, but the last two game 8 DTs, 6 STs, and 1 sack.
Quote from: BomberFan73 on September 22, 2024, 12:54:58 PMHe's had more than a few missed tackles this year. But I'd argue that at 31, he's had ALOT of mileage because of his style of play. This could be his last year.
I do agree he's earned his spot as one of the great BB safeties though.
Yep, easy enough to replace as well as there are many potential safeties already on the roster, Holm being my first choice. If Richie Hall decides to move on, B.A. could slide right onto the coaching staff if Bighill does not fill that role.
BA has lost a step for sure, but still a darn good football player. I'd slide him to HB and move Holm to safety, Holm has speed to burn and is a physical player.
Quote from: dd on September 22, 2024, 05:45:09 PMBA has lost a step for sure, but still a darn good football player. I'd slide him to HB and move Holm to safety, Holm has speed to burn and is a physical player.
You want the slower player at HB? Can't see that working out.
Ya, we won't be doing that.
Quote from: Pigskin on September 22, 2024, 02:56:19 PMI would add Griffin to your list. He has been outstanding on teams this year, but the last two game 8 DTs, 6 STs, and 1 sack.
Griffin is interesting. Second year import. Not sure exactly where he fits as an every down player but has been great on special teams and when we drop 9. He's been pretty good as a coverage linebacker I'd say.
What I have noticed about Griffin in practices, is that he has excellent speed. He also has good size at 5'11" 210.
Last season with Calgary 13 games, 29 DTs, 6 STs, 1 sack. Bombers: 12 Games, 17 DTs, 15 STs, 1 sack.
Griffin will be a good player for us next year. Has developed quickly.
Quote from: Jesse on September 22, 2024, 05:47:21 PMYou want the slower player at HB? Can't see that working out.
HB generally provide run support and BA is a terrific phyical player. Holm can cover more ground than anyone in our lineup.
Quote from: dd on September 22, 2024, 10:31:01 PMHB generally provide run support and BA is a terrific phyical player. Holm can cover more ground than anyone in our lineup.
Half backs are most comparable to a slot corner. Run support is not usually a defining characteristic. They have to cover first and foremost and they don't have the help of the sideline. They're always up against really good receivers hitting scrimmage with a ten yard head of steam. It's a really hard position to be excellent at. You think he's lost a step as a safety? It would be three times worse at half.
It's sad but we all get older and that is part of the game.
Quote from: Austin85 on September 22, 2024, 06:08:50 AMIs it me or does Alexander seemed to have slowed down allot. Maybe it's just my observation , to me he seems to be caught out of position at times. I like him , his leadership quality and work ethic as well. He is a punishing hitter and is not old he turns 31 on Sept 2th next Friday on rematch day .
Weird game to choose to pick on BA37. This was the first game in a long time he was in the picture on many deep balls. We're so used to not seeing BA at all on those because he's sneaking up to the line on run support, or guessing the wrong side.
I would actually give him kudos for this game for being in the picture.
What I would do is on suspected deep shots is put in our other FSs like Hallett21 and task him as a Dequoy-style roamer. Yes, I know he screwed up badly vs SSK, but we could mitigate that by giving him strict instructions to play the deep threat only -- no trying to cheat up on the short/mid routes like what burned him.
BA37 is still a great general any-down and run-support FS. If we let him go in FA, I would love for us to get our own version of Dequoy: light, fast, roving, athletic. To heck with run stop.
BA will be 31 on Friday. So, I am not buying age is his problem. He has also made 53 DTs which is second highest on the team.
Did anyone else notice the spear BA took when he was on the ground after recovering the fumble. I believe it was #62 that came in late and speared him.
Quote from: Pigskin on September 23, 2024, 03:36:57 AMDid anyone else notice the spear BA took when he was on the ground after recovering the fumble. I believe it was #62 that came in late and speared him.
Did BA recover a fumble? Are you thinking of another player? What quarter/time? I'll check it out.
Late spearing on non-QB ball carriers is endemic in the league and no one gives a poop. (i.e. after player clearly down but before the whistle is blown.)
I think Ds are coached/instructed to hurt and punish RBs/Rs as much as possible on every play in the hopes of sidelining them after enough hits.
If anything, Safety is the perfect position for BA at this point of his career.
As a young stud, He was fast and physical and a perfect boundary half back or corner.
Now at thirty one years old, We still get that skill set albeit in a more muted way than five years ago, But he is effectively hidden from the intense responsibility on the outer edges. The safety position also allows him to use his great amount of experience and high football IQ to direct the secondary, Kind of akin to how a middle linebacker can see what an offense is doing and adjust the whole front 7.
Remember, 15 years ago we used to hide average Canadians at the safety position. BA is a luxury in our secondary even if he's not quite the player he was at his peak.
Age is catching up to him but I think he's still more than serviceable in the right role on D.
He's been such a stud over the years, too.
Quote from: blue_gold_84 on September 23, 2024, 03:37:52 PMAge is catching up to him but I think he's still more than serviceable in the right role on D.
He's been such a stud over the years, too.
I think I mentioned he could be a good candidate for a DI / rotation spot in 2025 if SMS and ego don't create an issue.
Realistically I don't see him starting next year but I could see him still on the roster.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on September 23, 2024, 02:10:42 AMWeird game to choose to pick on BA37. This was the first game in a long time he was in the picture on many deep balls. We're so used to not seeing BA at all on those because he's sneaking up to the line on run support, or guessing the wrong side.
I would actually give him kudos for this game for being in the picture.
What I would do is on suspected deep shots is put in our other FSs like Hallett21 and task him as a Dequoy-style roamer. Yes, I know he screwed up badly vs SSK, but we could mitigate that by giving him strict instructions to play the deep threat only -- no trying to cheat up on the short/mid routes like what burned him.
BA37 is still a great general any-down and run-support FS. If we let him go in FA, I would love for us to get our own version of Dequoy: light, fast, roving, athletic. To heck with run stop.
BA also got turned inside out by Emulus in the Banjo Bowl but that's going to happen when the Safety is planted deep waiting for the play to come to him, BA was at a standstill while Emulus had the advantage of full momentum. He's also been playing more traditional Safety this year under Younger, not as much filling gaps and playing short to help stop runs.
As long as BA's healthy his mobility is still decent but when he gets banged up they need to rest him instead of letting him play. That stretch going into the playoffs last season he was playing well below capacity and should have been taken out, as he could barely run.
Lets not forget that our defense turned around the second BA went to safety. Sure he's lost a step, but he's smarter than he was back then and is still a heck of a football player. He's as physical a safety as there is in the league. I m thinking he stays right where he is.
Quote from: dd on September 23, 2024, 10:45:37 PMLets not forget that our defense turned around the second BA went to safety. Sure he's lost a step, but he's smarter than he was back then and is still a heck of a football player. He's as physical a safety as there is in the league. I m thinking he stays right where he is.
I'm all right with that too but I do wonder about plays like that flea flicker we saw to Gino Lewis for a TD that beat BA and TF. That was a bad look.
Ya that was such a Flukey bogus play, ball totally under thrown , receiver reacted better than ford and BA but defenders read the receivers eyes, they aren't looking back at the Qb. So ya it was a bad look but whatever receivers plays sometimes and the defense doesn't always make the play
The bigger tell is how many more plays did Lewis make vs Alexander and Ford.
The concerns about BA have some merit but are overstated imo for this season. He can and will get it done. Just like Biggie, players change. The best ones adjust their style as their body ages and their skills change. Next season who knows. He fits in well right now with the other great play makers we have on defence.
Quote from: J5V on September 23, 2024, 10:48:53 PMI'm all right with that too but I do wonder about plays like that flea flicker we saw to Gino Lewis for a TD that beat BA and TF. That was a bad look.
We've bitten on every flea flicker against us this season. I think MTL did one? And another team? Our DBs get too excited on the short routes and INTs and are failing to honor their responsibility.
It doubly sucks because there have been many flea flickers league-wide this season and less than half the Ds fall for it. I hate it when other teams are being smarter than us.
It must cause MOS fits. I would hope this latest burn will have them all preaching and underscoring being assignment sound.