Official Game Day Thread - Winnipeg at Saskatchewan - May 20, 2024

[Blue In BC]

According to O'Shea they're going to hold onto everyone till the final cut down.  This game came very early in the TC schedule and it wouldn't be fair to eliminate players still struggling to grasp the concept of CFL game. From that perspective it would mae made more sense to play more vets in this game and the rookies in the second.

The only logic is in case their are additional injuries at some point. However, the organization must know which players have no chance at making the final cuts. More players means less reps for those that are fighting to make the roster.

[LXTSN]

It makes what Pigrome accomplished in his pre-season games last year all that more impressive.

I wanted to say this also, but don't want to be the one to take the heat from it lol

[Sir Blue and Gold]

The only logic is in case their are additional injuries at some point. However, the organization must know which players have no chance at making the final cuts. More players means less reps for those that are fighting to make the roster.

I think the players who "had no chance" were released when the team trimmed their roster a week ago.

Fans like to look at the obvious statistics (catches, TDs, interceptions, sacks) and base all their judgments on that. Realistically, very few players earn jobs based on pre-season TDs. Often times coaches will call pre-season plays trying to put players in situations for evaluation purposes.

What coaches do evaluate on takes more time and is much more nuanced. They are looking at blocking assignments. General physicality. Ability to process information quickly. How the player reacts when something goes right or wrong. How they look when they don't have the ball over and over. How they play when a certain defense is called and they read something different. Etc. Etc. Etc.

All of that takes time. None of it is usually black and white. Just because someone plays poorly in a pre-season doesn't mean they're cut on the bus. Fans put too much emphasis on pre-season games in general. It isn't the primarily method of evaluation in almost all cases.

[Waffler]

Pigrome has been a free agent since March 1. No takers. I thought Wilson looked like he had more upside by a long shot. He seems almost ready now.  I would be happy with him as #3.

The first quarter where it was best against best makes me think our starters (we left a lot at home) would have had no trouble beating Sask, at least at this early stage.

Last year we lost our first preseason to Sask also and barely beat Edm in the 2nd. The real season hasn't started yet.

[Pigskin]

My cousin was at the game. Said Rosery was impressive. Garbutt, Rivers and Schmekel made the most impression on the D-line. (LB) Tre Thomas is physical and has excellent closing speed. (DB) McGee, Norman, and Hackett, all looked pretty solid. Also, your kickers are solid. Thought we would have ran a little more, was waiting to Chris-Ike run with his 4.5 speed.

On there side of the ball. He can't see Pipkin around for the start of the season. Worried about there FG kicker. 

[Blue In BC]

I think the players who "had no chance" were released when the team trimmed their roster a week ago.

Fans like to look at the obvious statistics (catches, TDs, interceptions, sacks) and base all their judgments on that. Realistically, very few players earn jobs based on pre-season TDs. Often times coaches will call pre-season plays trying to put players in situations for evaluation purposes.

What coaches do evaluate on takes more time and is much more nuanced. They are looking at blocking assignments. General physicality. Ability to process information quickly. How the player reacts when something goes right or wrong. How they look when they don't have the ball over and over. How they play when a certain defense is called and they read something different. Etc. Etc. Etc.

All of that takes time. None of it is usually black and white. Just because someone plays poorly in a pre-season doesn't mean they're cut on the bus. Fans put too much emphasis on pre-season games in general. It isn't the primarily method of evaluation in almost all cases.

I'm not making my comment on the game as the sole criteria. These players have gone through rookie camp and several days of the main TC. It's not about statistics. I cut some slack in rookie imports learning the CFL game, speed and size of field.

Being able to see work ethic, ability to learn quickly and adjust to the CFL game are part of the assessment.

If a receiver continually runs the wrong route and / or drops every pass, those are measurable criteria.

A defensive player out of position missing or sloppy tackling.

As we often hear, don't continue to make the same mistake.

In some cases the players in competition are close in the evaluations. In others they are not.

Whether they are cut today or at final cut down, some players will never see another snap in a CFL game as a Bomber. We aren't going to see nearly 100 players see the field in the next game.

Coaches have been and will continually be grading players performance in practice.

Some are grading at the top and some are grading at the bottom. Who is where, we posters don't know but the coaches do.

We released 2 players recently and added 2 more as new options.

Note that other teams continue to delete and add players on a nearly daily basis. Not all players are equal and neither are their chances.

I mentioned previously that in the past, their was another cut down after the 1st pre season game. Sure, allowing to keep some a little longer can be an advantage. IMO there are some disadvantages as well.

I had commented that I wondered whether several players yesterday were higher or lower on the depth chart than those that stayed in Winnipeg. I don't know the answer to that, but it's a fair question. We have something like 11 rookie import DB's.

Just throwing out a number, I'd think trimming about 10 should be done tomorrow.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I think the players who "had no chance" were released when the team trimmed their roster a week ago.

Fans like to look at the obvious statistics (catches, TDs, interceptions, sacks) and base all their judgments on that. Realistically, very few players earn jobs based on pre-season TDs. Often times coaches will call pre-season plays trying to put players in situations for evaluation purposes.

What coaches do evaluate on takes more time and is much more nuanced. They are looking at blocking assignments. General physicality. Ability to process information quickly. How the player reacts when something goes right or wrong. How they look when they don't have the ball over and over. How they play when a certain defense is called and they read something different. Etc. Etc. Etc.

All of that takes time. None of it is usually black and white. Just because someone plays poorly in a pre-season doesn't mean they're cut on the bus. Fans put too much emphasis on pre-season games in general. It isn't the primarily method of evaluation in almost all cases.

Very true, based on his pre-season games and first season in general, many would have written Dru Brown off.  Most players attending TC are motivated and gifted enough to become CFL players given enough time to learn the game and enough opportunity to succeed.  Unfortunately under a compressed schedule quick decisions have to be made on the evidence presented.  Nobody ever said "life is fair".

[Blue In BC]

Very true, based on his pre-season games and first season in general, many would have written Dru Brown off.  Most players attending TC are motivated and gifted enough to become CFL players given enough time to learn the game and enough opportunity to succeed.  Unfortunately under a compressed schedule quick decisions have to be made on the evidence presented.  Nobody ever said "life is fair".

QB is the most difficult position to assess. However, athleticism, arm strength, accuracy and football IQ are measurable. Learning the Canadian game can take time but you have to start with some skills.

It should be noted that many Canadian players never become more than ST and limited back up players.

Is it that hard to understand the same is true for imports? The ratio means spots for DI's and even PR is limited.

[LXTSN]

I always go back to Kenny Lawler's first preseason game. He probably dropped 3 easy catches, and I kept thinking "why is this guy on the field? Stop throwing to him!". Since then I can't trust myself with a preseason opinion lol

It's hard to evaluate so many players in a 60 minute game.
It makes it even harder when our quarterback doesn't get the ball to the playmakers we want to evaluate. Easier to evaluate the QB though I suppose... I'm hoping in our next PS game we can see Q1-ZC, Q2-Strev and Q3/4-Terry. I really want to see them get the ball out quickly to the receivers to see who can make a play.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I'm not making my comment on the game as the sole criteria. These players have gone through rookie camp and several days of the main TC. It's not about statistics. I cut some slack in rookie imports learning the CFL game, speed and size of field.

Being able to see work ethic, ability to learn quickly and adjust to the CFL game are part of the assessment.

If a receiver continually runs the wrong route and / or drops every pass, those are measurable criteria.

A defensive player out of position missing or sloppy tackling.

As we often hear, don't continue to make the same mistake.

In some cases the players in competition are close in the evaluations. In others they are not.

Whether they are cut today or at final cut down, some players will never see another snap in a CFL game as a Bomber. We aren't going to see nearly 100 players see the field in the next game.

Coaches have been and will continually be grading players performance in practice.

Some are grading at the top and some are grading at the bottom. Who is where, we posters don't know but the coaches do.

We released 2 players recently and added 2 more as new options.

Note that other teams continue to delete and add players on a nearly daily basis. Not all players are equal and neither are their chances.

I mentioned previously that in the past, their was another cut down after the 1st pre season game. Sure, allowing to keep some a little longer can be an advantage. IMO there are some disadvantages as well.

I had commented that I wondered whether several players yesterday were higher or lower on the depth chart than those that stayed in Winnipeg. I don't know the answer to that, but it's a fair question. We have something like 11 rookie import DB's.

Just throwing out a number, I'd think trimming about 10 should be done tomorrow.

Listen to O'Shea's post conference game press conference, doesn't matter what we think, he's the boss.

[Blue In BC]

Listen to O'Shea's post conference game press conference, doesn't matter what we think, he's the boss.

We know he's the boss. He's always positive and PC. It's also cliche and most us knew what he would say and could have written the same speech almost word for word. Nothing new to see here.

Film will be gone over by the coaches. QB's weren't getting the ball out accurately so that didn't help the receivers shine. We didn't go very deep either.

Any given receiver not the primary target on a particular play may have beaten his defender every time. That's what you want to see: understanding and completing the assignment and beating the man in front of you.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

We know he's the boss. He's always positive and PC. It's also cliche and most us knew what he would say and could have written the same speech almost word for word. Nothing new to see here.

Film will be gone over by the coaches. QB's weren't getting the ball out accurately so that didn't help the receivers shine. We didn't go very deep either.

Any given receiver not the primary target on a particular play may have beaten his defender every time. That's what you want to see: understanding and completing the assignment and beating the man in front of you.

I think the only way to seperate the top few receivers is to get them game time with Zach and Strev. to a lesser extent to see what they can do when passes are thrown well.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

I think the only way to seperate the top few receivers is to get them game time with Zach and Strev. to a lesser extent to see what they can do when passes are thrown well.

We know he's the boss. He's always positive and PC. It's also cliche and most us knew what he would say and could have written the same speech almost word for word. Nothing new to see here.

Film will be gone over by the coaches. QB's weren't getting the ball out accurately so that didn't help the receivers shine. We didn't go very deep either.

Any given receiver not the primary target on a particular play may have beaten his defender every time. That's what you want to see: understanding and completing the assignment and beating the man in front of you.

I think the only way to seperate the top few receivers is to get them game time with Zach and Strev. to a lesser extent to see what they can do when passes are thrown well.

They see it every day in training camp. It would be great to see it during pre-season games as an affirmation, but football teams (in the CFL or NFL or any league really) don't put out their starting QBs in pre-season games for the purpose of evaluating the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th receiver. Doesn't make sense. Isn't necessary. Doesn't happen.

[theaardvark]

Did Okeke get on the field?  I saw lots of Bryant, but don't remember Okeke.  Which, if he played, is a great thing.  Especially if it was during the last drive where Wilson looked good...  who were the linemen that last drive?

[theaardvark]

OK, I went back, the video is still available on the CFL.CA website with pause, >> and <<... 

The Oline on that TD drive was Okeke, Vanterpool, Vlahogiannis, Kalra and Ivy

Watching the replay, they did give Wilson a bit of time.