Bombers release Reggie White Jr. and sign Ian Leroux

Blue In BC · June 17, 2025, 04:51:45 PM

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on June 17, 2025, 04:04:48 PMShould have stuck Mitchell on the PR, at least White showed up ready to play.

Mitchell was signed to be a primary receiver. His current game check is about ELC level after the big signing bonus. Wheatfall beat him out and played well in game 1.

In any case, we'll see if anything changes this week, even if only in practice. Does he show a renewed desire and effort or is he in coast mode?

Blueforlife · June 17, 2025, 05:05:42 PM

It will be very interesting to see if our choices at receivers come back to haunt us. Hopefully we will figure it out. I was floored by our depth previously but now it's average imo.

Blue In BC · June 17, 2025, 05:48:32 PM

I'd like to see Sterns have a good game this week now that Collaros is back. OTOH, he's the 5th target and that's not easy to do. That said, if he's not being targeted or drawing coverage to open other receivers, that's an issue.

IIRC, someone said he was open quite a bit in game 1. So we should at least give him some opportunities.

I wonder how is blocking is? He's not a very big player.

I also mentioned last week that I wondered if the Bombers have any interest in Hollins. He'd be the same SMS as Mitchell at the moment since both got significant bonus money early. He might still end up depth behind Wheatfall but is he a better choice on the 1 game IR?

Throw Long Bannatyne · June 17, 2025, 06:33:28 PM

Quote from: Blue In BC on June 17, 2025, 05:48:32 PMI'd like to see Sterns have a good game this week now that Collaros is back. OTOH, he's the 5th target and that's not easy to do. That said, if he's not being targeted or drawing coverage to open other receivers, that's an issue.

IIRC, someone said he was open quite a bit in game 1. So we should at least give him some opportunities.

I wonder how is blocking is? He's not a very big player.

I also mentioned last week that I wondered if the Bombers have any interest in Hollins. He'd be the same SMS as Mitchell at the moment since both got significant bonus money early. He might still end up depth behind Wheatfall but is he a better choice on the 1 game IR?

Clercius is the 5th target, usually limited to 2-3 passes per game, Sterns should be seeing 5-7 passes short passes inside plus a few jet sweeps. White was the biggest Import receiver going into TC, he had at least 25 lbs. of muscle over the other candidates. If Mitchell can't play Sterns role, he's going to have to wait for Schoen or Wheatfall injuries, hopefully that's a long wait.

theaardvark · June 17, 2025, 06:47:16 PM

Regardless sunk money and game cheques, pretty sure this team doesn't keep Mitchell in camp if they do not see upside.

He has been a top receiver in the past, and came to camp out of shape. How long he needs to get back in shape and earn his spot, who knows.

Its a minimal investment, and he must be doing the right things at practice to stay in the teams/coaches good books. There is no doubt that M Mitchell was much more a rah rah effort guy in camp, and there was question about D Mitchell's mindset when camp started... I guess he's changed his attitude.

Blue In BC · June 17, 2025, 07:20:05 PM

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on June 17, 2025, 06:33:28 PMClercius is the 5th target, usually limited to 2-3 passes per game, Sterns should be seeing 5-7 passes short passes inside plus a few jet sweeps. White was the biggest Import receiver going into TC, he had at least 25 lbs. of muscle over the other candidates. If Mitchell can't play Sterns role, he's going to have to wait for Schoen or Wheatfall injuries, hopefully that's a long wait.

In theory. I was speaking more about the reality in game 1. Clercius was targeted 3 times and Sterns was targeted once. Even in pre-season Clercius was getting targeted more often.

Pigskin · June 17, 2025, 08:47:30 PM

Mitchell his first three season. Averages 632 yard per season, 4 TDs, and he's 130/200 targets for 59%.

Bailey from 2021-2023. Average 622 per season, 6.6 TDs, he was 161/237 targets for 68%.

Sir Blue and Gold · June 17, 2025, 09:59:00 PM

Quote from: Blue In BC on June 17, 2025, 07:20:05 PMIn theory. I was speaking more about the reality in game 1. Clercius was targeted 3 times and Sterns was targeted once. Even in pre-season Clercius was getting targeted more often.

Need to be careful drawing conclusions with that kind of analysis.

We do not know how many times either was the primary receiver and it doesn't tell you how the defense defended either guy. It's quite possible that for some of those underneath looks Clercius got, the receiver clearing out was Sterns, for example. I'm not going to go look, but the receiver spot that Clercius plays sometimes gets wide side looks that defenses intend to give up. Sterns from the slot doesn't get that kind of coverage probably ever.

Throw Long Bannatyne · June 18, 2025, 03:56:49 PM

Quote from: Blue In BC on June 17, 2025, 07:20:05 PMIn theory. I was speaking more about the reality in game 1. Clercius was targeted 3 times and Sterns was targeted once. Even in pre-season Clercius was getting targeted more often.

Receiver preference will be determined by Zach and how much he trusts his targets, Clercius did a good job of catching whenever thrown to last season but he wasn't targeted much. Don't see that changing this season either, with so many great targets to choose from, he's sort of the forgotten option.

TecnoGenius · **Today** at 03:20:59 AM

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on June 17, 2025, 06:33:28 PMClercius is the 5th target, usually limited to 2-3 passes per game, Sterns should be seeing 5-7 passes short passes inside plus a few jet sweeps.

I'm not sure about that. You'd think it should be true. But back when Woli was Clercius and Bailey was Sterns, it was usually pretty even ball distribution between Woli/Bailey.

Sterns saw 1 (maybe 2?) targets in game 1? Pretty much same as Clercius 1 target (and great YAC that got us a tough 1st down).

TecnoGenius · **Today** at 03:24:50 AM

Quote from: theaardvark on June 17, 2025, 06:47:16 PMHe has been a top receiver in the past, and came to camp out of shape. How long he needs to get back in shape and earn his spot, who knows.

I didn't hear anything to indicate he was physically out of shape. Every presser where they talk D.Mitchell has always, as you also said, indicated it's his headspace.

Headspace can be a much more difficult thing to overcome. Think C.Matthews when he returned. His heart was never in it.

TecnoGenius · **Today** at 03:35:34 AM

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on June 18, 2025, 03:56:49 PMClercius did a good job of catching whenever thrown to last season but he wasn't targeted much. Don't see that changing this season either, with so many great targets to choose from, he's sort of the forgotten option.

To be good enough to win cups you need your 2nd NAT to be at least as good as Woli. Woli was always reliable for some clutch conversions and a few TDs. Clercius MUST become at least as good as '19 Woli. I want every REC to be a legit scoring threat.