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#1

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: CFL (Non-Bombers) off-seas...

Last post by Blue In BC - Today at 02:32:13 PM

Maybe.  Maybe meh.  The Ozzie punters are kinda everywhere now.  And if we get in a bidding war with, say, HAM, we're probably talking an extra $10-$15k only... do we really care?

With Ted gone, I think HAM will cease to try to be Bombers Redux.  And rightly so: you want to try to emulate the 6th best CFL team from 2025?

Plus, their dude will probably be back, as 90% of CFL punters do...

Sure. It comes down to a proven situation versus unproven and any impact to SMS. I don't think this would be any sort of massive bidding war but we could see him look into the tampering window period before agreeing to a new contract.

At the moment we only have 2 global players on our roster. If there is any expectation that Munier Bailey will be on the AR then sticking with a global punter comes at the cost of an extra Canadian.

I'm not saying that is a bad situation but it overlaps decisions for roster spots. Last year for the most part we only had 1 global on the AR barring injuries to Canadian choices.

In general my preference is to only have 1 global on the AR and punter seems to be the most often and best used choice.

That's a lot to unpack. I'm ok with losing Sheehan and signing a rookie global but that comes with some risk. If we're going with a rookie kicker than I'd rather find a Canadian.

I guess the 1st question is does Munier-Bailey make the AR and what happens downstream on the roster. Overall I support the extra Canadian than 2 global players on the AR.

I laugh at the absurdity of the global draft with 2 rounds and having dedicated roster spots on the AR ( 1 ) and PR spots ( 2 ). Just from a math point of view the 2 we draft may make the PR by default. If we lose Sheehan, we may only have 3 global players by the end of TC and each will make part of the roster.

Re 2025 global draft: 11 of the 18 players drafted were either kickers or punters.  I wonder how many of them might still be available including the punter we drafted?

#2

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: CFL (Non-Bombers) off-seas...

Last post by VictorRomano - Today at 02:22:33 PM

Argos have hired former Bomber and CFL All Star Jovon Johnson as DB Coach.

#3

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Blue Bombers sign All-CFL ...

Last post by Jesse - Today at 01:15:27 PM

I was just going to say precisely what TLB said to Jesse.  Nichols & Holm contracts creeping up into nosebleed territory is a VAST departure from the previous Mafia paradigm that served us superbly in '19-'23.

Remember how our best DB (or 2) would bail EVERY SINGLE FA for a huge payday?  We let every single one walk because our mantra was "cheap at DB".  We always found the next guy.  Ya, well we haven't found the "next guy" since Holm... and that was 2022!!  Wow!

And teams that "snipe" their top DBs don't usually do well.  The only recent success story I can think of is SSK buying Sayles.  That paid off.  Usually the GC-winning teams are using self-scouted top DBs (see: MTL).

Losing our best scouts (3 now?) in the last 4 seasons (starting with Rigmaiden?) has devastated our ability to replenish the corps with cheapie ELCs.

Secondly, is the crazy complexity and unorthodox-ness of our coverage system to blame?  Is it literally too hard to get new guys up to speed on our novel system in anything less than 4-5 months of actual reg season?  (Hints Bonds will likely be re-signed.)

All this points to NO BLOWUP of the coverage paradigm or DL.  Better get ready for another 3 man rush year and max-coverage.  We'll have to pin our hopes on them actually perfecting the monster they have created, having learned from the weaknesses of '25.  Read: no big FA for the DL...

The first thing the regime change did was snipe Chris Randle from Calgary. We didn't really get too many salary leaks at the time, but during those years he and Moe Leggett were absolutely among the top paid American DBs. And then we paid low end salaries to guys like Unumba and Sears to make it all work.

At one point, we were paying  Heath, Leggett, and Randle while having a young Brandon Alexander and Kevin Fogg on rookie deals.

Then we had to move on from Heath, but brought up Marcus Sayles (Now paying top end to Alexander, Randle, Leggett + Loffler but ignoring Canadians for this discussion).

You're right that we had a cool window where we found Sayles, Alford, Nichols, Holm in quick succession. SO there was probably a 2 year period where Alexander was the only high paid American in the secondary. And that happens sometimes, but we've always had a couple highly paid guys and a couple of recent finds to make it work.

Similar to the way we've let DTs walk to keep Jefferson and Jeffcoat fed.

#4

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Blue Bombers re-sign veter...

Last post by Blue In BC - Today at 01:11:26 PM

You mean Nick?  I think he gets precedence above Ball.  Ball is younger, but he hasn't proven squat yet.  The difference maker would be if they think Ball can actually be good on D.  Nick has proven he's a very meh FS, and will get picked on if in.

But yes, will have to let 1-2 NATs walk for the new DPs.

I favor keeping Nick because his body type is vastly different to Cadwall.  He's the speed guy, also with super good fast twitch.  No one else is making those far edge FG rushes happen.

Noah is gonzo.  Pretty sure he's already been sent packing.  Virtually no chance we pick him up again.

We can live without Gauthier, though he was already being kept on as the "old man" wise-teacher role.  Who becomes the next Obi Wan?  Not sure there really is one currently!  So maybe Gauthier stays...

Kelly: I've never really gotten a bead on that guy.  He never stands out to me but gets the most D reps probably?  Gets picked on.  Doesn't stand out on ST much, though maybe his role dictates that.  Not super fast... is he smart?  Maybe HE'S the next Obi Wan if Gauthier is cut.

Hallett doesn't get reps on defence anymore. In that sense I think Kelly has passed him on the depth chart.

[Holm and Nichols were among the highest paid DBs the last couple of seasons]

#5

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Blue Bombers sign All-CFL ...

Last post by Tecno - Today at 12:16:03 PM

Holm and Nichols were among the highest paid DBs the last couple of seasons and they stay in the same range. I doubt they top the list once FA is over.

Have to say I prefer Walters earlier approach of keeping the secondary on a low budget with steady turnover and great recruitment, I believe that remains the winningest strategy mainly because DB's have always been a dime a dozen and every good mother in Alabama gives birth to at least 3 more. 

I was just going to say precisely what TLB said to Jesse.  Nichols & Holm contracts creeping up into nosebleed territory is a VAST departure from the previous Mafia paradigm that served us superbly in '19-'23.

Remember how our best DB (or 2) would bail EVERY SINGLE FA for a huge payday?  We let every single one walk because our mantra was "cheap at DB".  We always found the next guy.  Ya, well we haven't found the "next guy" since Holm... and that was 2022!!  Wow!

And teams that "snipe" their top DBs don't usually do well.  The only recent success story I can think of is SSK buying Sayles.  That paid off.  Usually the GC-winning teams are using self-scouted top DBs (see: MTL).

Losing our best scouts (3 now?) in the last 4 seasons (starting with Rigmaiden?) has devastated our ability to replenish the corps with cheapie ELCs.

Secondly, is the crazy complexity and unorthodox-ness of our coverage system to blame?  Is it literally too hard to get new guys up to speed on our novel system in anything less than 4-5 months of actual reg season?  (Hints Bonds will likely be re-signed.)

All this points to NO BLOWUP of the coverage paradigm or DL.  Better get ready for another 3 man rush year and max-coverage.  We'll have to pin our hopes on them actually perfecting the monster they have created, having learned from the weaknesses of '25.  Read: no big FA for the DL...

[would have thought replacing Kramdi with Smith this year]

#6

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Blue Bombers sign All-CFL ...

Last post by Tecno - Today at 12:05:44 PM

I would have thought replacing Kramdi with Smith this year had the potential of doing just that, and to be fair maybe thats the plan with Ayers or Woodbey replacing Wilson and/or Griffin

Your general concept is sound, but you picked a bad example.  Basically everyone now (incl MOS and now Holm in his presser) are calling Kramdi the "QB of the D" by name.  He's the brains behind the entire operation.  Basically the new Biggie, but with a good passport.

And he's fairly athletic and competent and hard-hitting.

I don't think Kramdi is going ANYWHERE until we, far down the road, obtain another brainiac MLB.  Kramdi might easily be BFL.

As for the other guys you mention, it's the same old "ancient guy on each unit stays as the Obi Wan".  That's why Wilson was here in '25.  Until someone else becomes the next Obi Wan, they tend to stay on a Mafia team.  Other than all that, I agree with you!

[Well we do know anyone signed after Dec. 31st is paid with 2026 SMS dollars.]

#7

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Blue Bombers sign All-CFL ...

Last post by Tecno - Today at 12:01:39 PM

Well we do know anyone signed after Dec. 31st is paid with 2026 SMS dollars.

No we don't.  We'd like to think that.  But Pete is right, perhaps some of these deals were done before the 31st and we're just only hearing about them now.  Or perhaps we paid them out a bonus on the 31st with an understanding they'd finalize & sign in '26.

In fact, I'm kind of counting on the above, because if not then it would seem we didn't have much leftover from '25 to spend on EOY signings!!  We should have had our full $400k to play with!  1GIR usage notwithstanding.

[$900k tied up in 2 guys who turned the rock over waaaaay too much]

#8

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Blue Bombers sign All-CFL ...

Last post by Tecno - Today at 11:59:31 AM

$900k tied up in 2 guys who turned the rock over waaaaay too much for what they're getting paid. THAT better change in 2026 but I doubt it.

Too true.  Zach was an INT and FF machine in '25.  Crap OL didn't help though.

And Brady... Brady... fumble in the ESF when we were just about to put the dagger in.

AH would fumble early in games sometimes and get mad and go into beast mode.  Brady fumbles and then just deflates and does nothing.  And the whole team along with him.

I miss that about AH.  I used to look forward to his (infrequent) early game fumbles.

Maybe we need Lapo to run a seminar here.  Repeat after me: The Ball IS The Cup.

[He can start there and be our OC one day]

#9

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Blue Bombers announce coac...

Last post by Tecno - Today at 11:53:07 AM

He can start there and be our OC one day.  I've thought that for a while.

Patterson?  Interesting.  Expound?

[Hallett is another good ST player that I think doesn't get re-signed]

#10

Blue Bomber & CFL Discussion Forum / Re: Blue Bombers re-sign veter...

Last post by Tecno - Today at 11:52:05 AM

Hallett is another good ST player that I think doesn't get re-signed.

You mean Nick?  I think he gets precedence above Ball.  Ball is younger, but he hasn't proven squat yet.  The difference maker would be if they think Ball can actually be good on D.  Nick has proven he's a very meh FS, and will get picked on if in.

But yes, will have to let 1-2 NATs walk for the new DPs.

I favor keeping Nick because his body type is vastly different to Cadwall.  He's the speed guy, also with super good fast twitch.  No one else is making those far edge FG rushes happen.

Noah Hallett or Jake Kelly might be sacrificed to keep the Natl. LB ratio pumped up on ST.  Pretty sure Gauthier won't be renewed, and he's already begun his second career as an electrician.

Noah is gonzo.  Pretty sure he's already been sent packing.  Virtually no chance we pick him up again.

We can live without Gauthier, though he was already being kept on as the "old man" wise-teacher role.  Who becomes the next Obi Wan?  Not sure there really is one currently!  So maybe Gauthier stays...

Kelly: I've never really gotten a bead on that guy.  He never stands out to me but gets the most D reps probably?  Gets picked on.  Doesn't stand out on ST much, though maybe his role dictates that.  Not super fast... is he smart?  Maybe HE'S the next Obi Wan if Gauthier is cut.