The conference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUSCa0meTWA
Ed Tait's key take aways:
https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/02/12/key-takeaways-from-kyle-walters-media/
________________________________________
Some absolutely juicy quotes here. A lot of confirmation about things we've guessed and shutting down of things we guessed incorrectly.
Most interesting thing is at the very end regarding last season. "Too many veterans not playing each week." Other theme about midway is going back to a training camp where spots can actually be won and not to take the mindset of a week 1 roster from day one.
Good.
As long as we execute like that we can go back to winning. Need the best players today. Not the best players three years ago. Culture is a pre-requisite to winning it is not the end goal.
Other themes: spending money on the interior of the defense. You don't do that unless they are going back to a more 4-3 approach. They do like Ceresna's ability to play DE in 3-4 sets. So it's not going away, which it shouldn't, but it can't be the main package, which, again, it shouldn't.
Scouting needs to find us a DE and a corner. Possibility to go 3 National receivers and 3 American offensive lineman. Americans coming in to compete at Centre. Elgersma may or may not be here this spring. Will bring in a more veteran QB if he's not.
He doubled down a couple of times saying, "we can't have our roster set before TC begins". He wants a true competition on multiple spots getting the best combination of guys possible.
Especially on offence, where there are options to change the ratio in the WR core or along the OL to get the best on the field.
Quote from: Jesse on Today at 04:44:12 PMHe doubled down a couple of times saying, "we can't have our roster set before TC begins". He wants a true competition on multiple spots getting the best combination of guys possible.
Especially on offence, where there are options to change the ratio in the WR core or along the OL to get the best on the field.
Surprised how open the O-line is on the inside, in a battle against Imports I see Eli coming up short vs. Neuf or Wallace, might lose Randolph and Vanterpool in the process unless they accept backup status. Doesn't sound like Walters is keen to use the 1 game IR as he did last year to stash healthy players.
Sounds like Neild was a big piece, he will get an inside SB spot many hoped for, while Clercius and Corcoran compete or share the outside spot, did not mention Cobb.
Quote from: Jesse on Today at 04:44:12 PMHe doubled down a couple of times saying, "we can't have our roster set before TC begins". He wants a true competition on multiple spots getting the best combination of guys possible.
Well, or he's just saying that to light a big fire under the vets complacent butts! Either way it should have the desired effect.
Quote from: Sir Blue and Gold on Today at 04:17:07 PMOther themes: spending money on the interior of the defense. You don't do that unless they are going back to a more 4-3 approach. They do like Ceresna's ability to play DE in 3-4 sets. So it's not going away, which it shouldn't, but it can't be the main package, which, again, it shouldn't.
Rewatching the GC I was surprised to see how much SSK was only bringing 3. Not as much as us, but not miles different, either. The difference was their 3 could sometimes get through, and the QB knew it.
I think the way KW worded the 4-3/3-4 bits, and was basically saying "Younger gonna do what Younger gonna do", hints that (at least) KW isn't putting a stop to it. We may see a lot more of the 3 man rush than many people here want.
Maybe the sweet spot is to do it more like SSK did it in the GC.
The thing I like about KW is he just lays it all out there. He's like Alternate Universe MOS.
He gives you so much meat to work with and doesn't hold back very much. It makes it very easy to understand the thoughts behind the '26 roster and what we still need to do and where we're headed.
Sometimes I almost think it's too much info, like giving the other GMs an advantage to foil his plans or something. From a fan standpoint, I love it, though!
Quote from: Tecno on Today at 09:08:38 PMThe thing I like about KW is he just lays it all out there. He's like Alternate Universe MOS.
He gives you so much meat to work with and doesn't hold back very much. It makes it very easy to understand the thoughts behind the '26 roster and what we still need to do and where we're headed.
Sometimes I almost think it's too much info, like giving the other GMs an advantage to foil his plans or something. From a fan standpoint, I love it, though!
Walters has to pack it in, he only makes 4 appearances a year, after FA, after the draft, after TC and after the season.