Dillon Mitchell - DNP Non-Injury Related
What's the story on Dillon Mitchell? He's been solid when he's played but Coach O'Shea keeps him out of the lineup. Does O'Shea just not like Mitchell for some sort of disciplinary reasons?
???
Pick some:
His top speed is about the same as Chris Streveler's.
Jason Hogan can't just copy what Buck did last year because he wasn't here.
He came into camp unprepared and that's the fastest way into O'Shea's doghouse and if it wasn't for the way the contract was set up he wouldn't be here at all.
In the Jason Hogan super system the only spot for a receiver like him is where Wheatfall plays.
He's not QB friendly since he doesn't separate well and he seemingly never earned the trust to go up and get some 50/50 balls. Maybe he just can't.
He's the first guy released as soon as we're bounced.
Essentially none of our free agents had much of an impact this year (or were given much of an opportunity) and maybe that's not an accident.
Quote from: Sir Blue and Gold on October 29, 2025, 02:52:49 AMPick some:
His top speed is about the same as Chris Streveler's.
Jason Hogan can't just copy what Buck did last year because he wasn't here.
He came into camp unprepared and that's the fastest way into O'Shea's doghouse and if it wasn't for the way the contract was set up he wouldn't be here at all.
In the Jason Hogan super system the only spot for a receiver like him is where Wheatfall plays.
He's not QB friendly since he doesn't separate well and he seemingly never earned the trust to go up and get some 50/50 balls. Maybe he just can't.
He's the first guy released as soon as we're bounced.
Essentially none of our free agents had much of an impact this year (or were given much of an opportunity) and maybe that's not an accident.
Well said. I had hopes for Mitchell that he would be a surprise signing that worked well - no expectations that he would fill the gap left by Lawler, just hoping he would be better than a decent FA signing. Unfortunately it didn't work out that way.
You've put a number of reasons why it didn't work, sure would be interesting to know which ones are most accurate. Gotta wonder - the fact he never cracked the lineup in almost the first half of the season, there had to be something that rubbed Osh the wrong way.
Quote from: Sir Blue and Gold on October 29, 2025, 02:52:49 AMPick some:
His top speed is about the same as Chris Streveler's.
Uh, the dude was doing go & corner deep routes like mad in his rookie year. He was beating everyone and also getting tons of YAC. He looked like the next top-5 REC. He was super fast.
Everyone thought his lack of production in EDM last season was due to them sucking.
Not many would have guessed he come here and be near useless! I guess we now know why EDM easily gave him up.
I have no idea why he can't be like his rookie year. He hasn't really had any gonna-slow-you-down-forever injuries.
But we should have dealt with this much earlier. Now is not the time to start barely-here Echols or Elgersma or whoever! It should have been figured out 6 weeks ago!
As such I don't see how you don't roll with Mitchell. Someone just smack him upside the head and tell him to look alive. This is his career on the line. What is he, Chris Matthews on his return here? Act like you care!!
Quote from: Tecno on October 29, 2025, 06:13:14 AMUh, the dude was doing go & corner deep routes like mad in his rookie year. He was beating everyone and also getting tons of YAC. He looked like the next top-5 REC. He was super fast.
Everyone thought his lack of production in EDM last season was due to them sucking.
Not many would have guessed he come here and be near useless! I guess we now know why EDM easily gave him up.
I have no idea why he can't be like his rookie year. He hasn't really had any gonna-slow-you-down-forever injuries.
But we should have dealt with this much earlier. Now is not the time to start barely-here Echols or Elgersma or whoever! It should have been figured out 6 weeks ago!
As such I don't see how you don't roll with Mitchell. Someone just smack him upside the head and tell him to look alive. This is his career on the line. What is he, Chris Matthews on his return here? Act like you care!!
He has to replace Wheatfall who has been here since 2024. I don't know why he isn't practising though. We could still have injuries in the playoffs.
He signed a one year deal. They will just not sign him, no need to release. I am sure they will tell him that in a post season meeting.
Quote from: Tecno on October 29, 2025, 06:13:14 AMUh, the dude was doing go & corner deep routes like mad in his rookie year. He was beating everyone and also getting tons of YAC. He looked like the next top-5 REC. He was super fast.
Everyone thought his lack of production in EDM last season was due to them sucking.
Not many would have guessed he come here and be near useless! I guess we now know why EDM easily gave him up.
I have no idea why he can't be like his rookie year. He hasn't really had any gonna-slow-you-down-forever injuries.
But we should have dealt with this much earlier. Now is not the time to start barely-here Echols or Elgersma or whoever! It should have been figured out 6 weeks ago!
As such I don't see how you don't roll with Mitchell. Someone just smack him upside the head and tell him to look alive. This is his career on the line. What is he, Chris Matthews on his return here? Act like you care!!
His production was probably bloated because they sucked. Just chucked it to him deep all the time because they were always losing and didn't have better options.
Quote from: Blue In BC on October 29, 2025, 12:20:00 PMHe's have to replace Wheatfall who has been here since 2024. I don't know why he isn't practising though. We could still have injuries in the playoffs.
He might be headed to the PR before this weekends game, Echols replaced him as backup.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on October 29, 2025, 06:15:57 PMHe might be headed to the PR before this weekends game, Echols replaced him as backup.
Neither will be on the AR this week. Wilson will be back after a week on the 1 game IR as were about 8 starters.
Quote from: Tecno on October 29, 2025, 06:13:14 AMUh, the dude was doing go & corner deep routes like mad in his rookie year. He was beating everyone and also getting tons of YAC. He looked like the next top-5 REC. He was super fast.
Everyone thought his lack of production in EDM last season was due to them sucking.
Not many would have guessed he come here and be near useless! I guess we now know why EDM easily gave him up.
I have no idea why he can't be like his rookie year. He hasn't really had any gonna-slow-you-down-forever injuries.
But we should have dealt with this much earlier. Now is not the time to start barely-here Echols or Elgersma or whoever! It should have been figured out 6 weeks ago!
As such I don't see how you don't roll with Mitchell. Someone just smack him upside the head and tell him to look alive. This is his career on the line. What is he, Chris Matthews on his return here? Act like you care!!
Yup showed promise and speed. For Sir BnG to suggest he is as fast as Strev is off the mark big time. Yeah the guy didn't work out but let's not pile on imo.
Ya, I just don't know what and who to believe. Talk was he came into camp out of shape, which really would have peeved MOS. So he's in the doghouse. But he did make some very decent plays last year on a horrible Edmonton team, so the talent was there, I saw it for myself. Seems he has never gotten out of the doghouse and if Wheatfield is in his spot, let him go there during the nothing Montreal game and see if he does anything much like all the other newbies did. But just not using him at all is a very bad look on the FA signing we committed some decent $$ to.
Quote from: Waffler on October 29, 2025, 12:33:21 PMHe signed a one year deal. They will just not sign him, no need to release. I am sure they will tell him that in a post season meeting.
He may be the most expensive $ per completion REC WFC has ever had? Roughly $8k per completion? Yikes.
Quote from: dd on October 29, 2025, 10:11:34 PMYa, I just don't know what and who to believe. Talk was he came into camp out of shape, which really would have peeved MOS. So he's in the doghouse. But he did make some very decent plays last year on a horrible Edmonton team, so the talent was there, I saw it for myself. Seems he has never gotten out of the doghouse and if Wheatfield is in his spot, let him go there during the nothing Montreal game and see if he does anything much like all the other newbies did. But just not using him at all is a very bad look on the FA signing we committed some decent $$ to.
My understanding is he received numerous scoldings during the recent Elks loss and slunk off to stand by himself on the sidelines.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on October 30, 2025, 12:28:37 AMMy understanding is he received numerous scoldings during the recent Elks loss and slunk off to stand by himself on the sidelines.
Can't fix that
Has Mitchell screwed himself off the AR even if Demski is out this week? And the rest of the post-season? I understand giving other guys a look in the last game when we decided we didn't care about the outcome, but leaving him off even if he's clearly the "next man up"... boy, you'd really have to screw things up to get that treatment.
Is he even there in civvies at practice? Or just AWOL?
What a mess. If we continue in the post-season we may need him as depth if other injuries occur, or if the "other next man up" fails.
Mafia needs to put in place a better pre-signing procedure to ensure this doesn't ever happen again.
Quote from: Tecno on October 30, 2025, 01:48:53 AMHas Mitchell screwed himself off the AR even if Demski is out this week? And the rest of the post-season? I understand giving other guys a look in the last game when we decided we didn't care about the outcome, but leaving him off even if he's clearly the "next man up"... boy, you'd really have to screw things up to get that treatment.
Is he even there in civvies at practice? Or just AWOL?
What a mess. If we continue in the post-season we may need him as depth if other injuries occur, or if the "other next man up" fails.
Mafia needs to put in place a better pre-signing procedure to ensure this doesn't ever happen again.
Yeah, and they should figure out what went wrong the the Logan and J. Jones signings also. What a waste!
Quote from: bunker on October 30, 2025, 02:38:11 AMYeah, and they should figure out what went wrong the the Logan and J. Jones signings also. What a waste!
I think Vaughters was the only FA signing that worked out for us. A lot of swing and miss by the Bombers.
Quote from: bunker on October 30, 2025, 02:38:11 AMYeah, and they should figure out what went wrong the the Logan and J. Jones signings also. What a waste!
At least those guys seem to FIFO. Mitchell's whole problem is he doesn't FIFO.
And I don't think Logan & J.Jones were a bust. Logan was here because we had no return game last season, and no one could have known Vaval would be the next Grant. J.Jones was here purely as insurance against always-injured Kyrie, and/or T.Jones being a bust. Now that we know, they are expendable, but it doesn't negate the insurance value they provided.
Depth was a problem last season and we spent a lot of resources making sure that didn't happen this year (at REC too, though it still ended up being a problem).
Quote from: Tecno on October 30, 2025, 04:07:02 AMDepth was a problem last season and we spent a lot of resources making sure that didn't happen this year (at REC too, though it still ended up being a problem).
This is my biggest problem. We spent so much trying to make sure there wasn't a repeat of last year in the receiving core and we're in the exact same place. Hoping for a limping Demski and Wilson to carry the team.
Mid tier FA's are quite the crap shoot. High end are less, but so much more money.
We don't often recruit top FA's, and we dabble in the "what if's" of mid tier. Our best money is spent on recruits and prospects, finding the diamonds in the rough, either ones that have had a cup of coffee in the CFL, or are true rookies with other pro experience.
Quote from: Tecno on October 30, 2025, 04:07:02 AMAt least those guys seem to FIFO. Mitchell's whole problem is he doesn't FIFO.
And I don't think Logan & J.Jones were a bust. Logan was here because we had no return game last season, and no one could have known Vaval would be the next Grant. J.Jones was here purely as insurance against always-injured Kyrie, and/or T.Jones being a bust. Now that we know, they are expendable, but it doesn't negate the insurance value they provided.
Depth was a problem last season and we spent a lot of resources making sure that didn't happen this year (at REC too, though it still ended up being a problem).
Both of them were paid on a scale of impact import starters. You don't use that kind of money for "depth" in the CFL. That's what scouting is for. For "depth", you find good young Americans down south, or other talented young players from other teams that don't have room to start because of talent playing in front of them. Logan also had an injury history, which is not a great thing in a returner. Walters misspent his SMS money on them, made a bad decision about going with Schoen over Lawler, did not sign a viable #2 QB, held onto a mediocre O-line and D-line even though games are won or lost in the trenches, and extended a 37 year old injury prone QB when he did not necessarily have to. Our scouting has not been great either the last couple of years. We've lost a lot of high end canadian talent, and failed to replace it in the draft. He'll get a mulligan because of all his past success from Miller probably, but it feels like he's lost his edge.
Hopefully next year we can find a rookie. We are usually good for a decent rookie receiver every two years.
WR - Wheatfall
SB - Demiski
SB - guy
WR - Wilson
WR - Clercius
Not sure what the circumstances of the Mitchell situation is but this is going to affect our ability to attract FA to come here as everybody has watched this drama unfold, if I m a FA receiver I d be thinking twice before coming here as they may be sitting on the sidelines wasting away like Mitchell has
And if it was a FIFO issue just cut him to show this club has character expectations from its players, but to sit him seems we re just torturing him
Quote from: dd on October 30, 2025, 02:38:53 PMNot sure what the circumstances of the Mitchell situation is but this is going to affect our ability to attract FA to come here as everybody has watched this drama unfold, if I m a FA receiver I d be thinking twice before coming here as they may be sitting on the sidelines wasting away like Mitchell has
And if it was a FIFO issue just cut him to show this club has character expectations from its players, but to sit him seems we re just torturing him
That doesn't make much sense to me. I doubt this is something any FAs are aware of or considering.
Guy gets benched for being bad. Incoming FAs hopefully aren't planning on showing up out of shape.
Quote from: dd on October 30, 2025, 02:38:53 PMNot sure what the circumstances of the Mitchell situation is but this is going to affect our ability to attract FA to come here as everybody has watched this drama unfold, if I m a FA receiver I d be thinking twice before coming here as they may be sitting on the sidelines wasting away like Mitchell has
And if it was a FIFO issue just cut him to show this club has character expectations from its players, but to sit him seems we re just torturing him
I don't think any self respecting rec would take Mitchell's struggles as a negative on this team.
A rec that expects to be handed a starting spot regardless his prep or play when getting slightly above average pay, sure.
Was Mitchell "stealing reps" in preseason? Doing the things that made Pokey or Dalton stand out? Did he outhustle Wheatfall?
It could very well have been a single incident that put him in the doghouse, and while his play has been good, it hasn't been "has to be on the roster" good.
We signed him knowing that Lawler was likely not coming back. The fact that Lawler used him as the reason not to, well... that's on Kenny.
Was Mitchell a whiff? We will see, he's depth, and this is the time of year that depth becomes either a concern, or a bonus.
Quote from: bunker on October 30, 2025, 01:05:20 PMBoth of them were paid on a scale of impact import starters. You don't use that kind of money for "depth" in the CFL. That's what scouting is for. For "depth", you find good young Americans down south, or other talented young players from other teams that don't have room to start because of talent playing in front of them. Logan also had an injury history, which is not a great thing in a returner. Walters misspent his SMS money on them, made a bad decision about going with Schoen over Lawler, did not sign a viable #2 QB, held onto a mediocre O-line and D-line even though games are won or lost in the trenches, and extended a 37 year old injury prone QB when he did not necessarily have to. Our scouting has not been great either the last couple of years. We've lost a lot of high end canadian talent, and failed to replace it in the draft. He'll get a mulligan because of all his past success from Miller probably, but it feels like he's lost his edge.
Once it was determined they wouldn't be starters in TC, they should have been released and prepared to keep rookie depth.
The problem was advance money spent.
Quote from: Blue In BC on October 30, 2025, 04:50:11 PMOnce it was determined they wouldn't be starters in TC, they should have been released and prepared to keep rookie depth.
The problem was advance money spent.
Only with Mitchell, they should have made the quick decision right out of TC that he wasn't right and Reggie White Jr. was the better option. Jon Jones and Logan were reasonable bets as they've shown in the past they are high calibre players, unfortunately for them they slotted behind players that played well and stayed healthy. As is, it's going to be hard to hang onto the LB talent without pushing Kyrie out the door.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on October 30, 2025, 05:24:33 PMOnly with Mitchell, they should have made the quick decision right out of TC that he wasn't right and Reggie White Jr. was the better option.
White did stay on the PR for one week. Myron Mitchell also outplayed him by quite a bit. I remember MOS saying they liked what they saw on film in Edm and wanted to give him a chance to get better. Truthfully you'd see a flash here and there that made you think he could be elite. With hindsight it was a mistake.
Quote from: Waffler on October 30, 2025, 05:32:53 PMWhite did stay on the PR for one week. Myron Mitchell also outplayed him by quite a bit. I remember MOS saying they liked what they saw on film in Edm and wanted to give him a chance to get better. Truthfully you'd see a flash here and there that made you think he could be elite. With hindsight it was a mistake.
Forgot about Myron, he was also a better option although smaller than White, currently on the Ti-Cat PR.
Quote from: theaardvark on October 30, 2025, 04:23:40 PMI don't think any self respecting rec would take Mitchell's struggles as a negative on this team.
A rec that expects to be handed a starting spot regardless his prep or play when getting slightly above average pay, sure.
Was Mitchell "stealing reps" in preseason? Doing the things that made Pokey or Dalton stand out? Did he outhustle Wheatfall?
It could very well have been a single incident that put him in the doghouse, and while his play has been good, it hasn't been "has to be on the roster" good.
We signed him knowing that Lawler was likely not coming back. The fact that Lawler used him as the reason not to, well... that's on Kenny.
Was Mitchell a whiff? We will see, he's depth, and this is the time of year that depth becomes either a concern, or a bonus.
148,000 in hard money. 19 receptions.
Yes he's officially a whiff!
Quote from: dd on October 30, 2025, 02:38:53 PMif I m a FA receiver I d be thinking twice before coming here as they may be sitting on the sidelines wasting away like Mitchell has
I don't know, some might consider that a good deal. Pretty sure Mitchell was collecting his full contract $ while having to do almost nothing all season. He doesn't have to worry about injury, or trying, or anything. Just show up to practice and get your contracted big $payday$. Most would consider that a dream job!
Quote from: Tecno on October 30, 2025, 10:43:05 PMI don't know, some might consider that a good deal. Pretty sure Mitchell was collecting his full contract $ while having to do almost nothing all season. He doesn't have to worry about injury, or trying, or anything. Just show up to practice and get your contracted big $payday$. Most would consider that a dream job!
Most of these guys are ultracompetitive and want to play. Also doesn't set you up very well for your next contract.
Quote from: bunker on Today at 12:13:35 AMMost of these guys are ultracompetitive and want to play. Also doesn't set you up very well for your next contract.
Yeah, it's not like suckering us for 140k sets him up for life, lol.
Quote from: bunker on Today at 12:13:35 AMMost of these guys are ultracompetitive and want to play. Also doesn't set you up very well for your next contract.
Pretty sure no team is going to pursue him after this season, they'll trust the Bomber's evaluation of his attitude and talent. Even dirt cheap he isn't worth the hassle.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on Today at 12:42:34 AMPretty sure no team is going to pursue him after this season, they'll trust the Bomber's evaluation of his attitude and talent. Even dirt cheap he isn't worth the hassle.
Agree, I think he's going to have a tough road ahead to catch on somewhere else, but he has an agent and he ll sell his clients services. My question is, How did we miss this character flaw when we talked to him during FA??? It's not a good look for either party involved.
Okay. I know nothing about how Dillon Mitchell showed up in camp or what he's been doing or not doing in practice. This thread has actually been my only "info" source and I'm treating what's been written here with a grain of salt.
But this is what I know:
Dillon Mitchell - 19/21 for 193 yards
Ontaria Wilson - 21/36 for 382 yards
Kevens Clercius - 40/57 for 411 yards
Jerreth Sterns - 48/70 for 530 yards
Keric Wheatfall - 42/73 for 655 yards
Dillon Mitchell has been catching almost all the balls thrown in his direction.
I also know that Clercius and Wheatfall have not played well for many weeks. They've actually played very poorly in the Bombers last two games. They've simply not been where either Coach O'Shea or the QB wants/expects them to be.
And who else can the Bombers trot out at Receiver now? Cam Echols and Gavin Cobb are worth every dollar of their Fantasy price but not a penny more. Mitchell at least has been coming up with the passes thrown in his direction.
???
Quote from: Foxhound on Today at 03:44:55 AMDillon Mitchell - 19/21 for 193 yards
I see what you're saying. However, clearly there are many other things going on that negate whatever talent he has on the field.
I bet he:
a) doesn't FIFO
b) miffed the mafia
c) lazy routes / wrong routes
d) bad blocker / not a team-first guy
His abrupt departure from the AR show me he probably blew routes/blocks in 1-2 games before being benched. I'm talking such bad botches that they cost us 1st downs and probably the games. And that was the final straw. If Mafia/Hogan didn't notice it, I bet Zach was going up the chain letting it be known he doesn't want him out there.
Why must (some of) these things be true? Because as you've pointed out there is literally nothing else it can be. Dude has speed & talent, but he can't stay on ARs or teams. Why? And the final proof will be if we start way-lesser-talent Cobb or brand-noob-here Echols instead of him in the playoffs.
It's all kind of sad. Another miscalculation & bust from KW & Mafia -- though possibly worth the shot seeing as how you could have had Kenny-lite for $150k?