Seven Blue Bombers named to Divisional All-CFL Team

ModAdmin · October 30, 2024, 02:47:08 PM

Seven Blue Bombers named to Divisional All-CFL Team

WINNIPEG, MB., October 31, 2024 – The Canadian Football League today unveiled its 2024 Divisional All-CFL Teams, with seven members of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers named to the West squad.

Honoured as members of the West Division All-CFL Team are running back Brady Oliveira, receiver Nic Demski, offensive tackle Stanley Bryant, guard Liam Dobson, defensive end Willie Jefferson, cornerback Tyrell Ford, and defensive back Deatrick Nichols.

The voting was conducted by members of The Football Reporters of Canada, the FRC's national chapter and head coaches in the West Division.

Brady Oliveira earns a place on the division All-Star Team for a second straight season after again leading the league in rushing and yards from scrimmage. Oliveira finished the season with 1,353 yards rushing and four touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving) and averaged 79.6 yards rushing per game while posting six 100-yard games. Oliveira also had 476 receiving yards on a career-high 57 receptions to finish the year with 1,829 yards from scrimmage.

Oliveira was also recently named the Blue Bombers' Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Canadian for a second straight season.

Nic Demski cracked the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the second consecutive season and second time in his career. He led the Blue Bombers in receiving yardage with 1,030 yards on 76 receptions – both career highs. This is Demski's fourth divisional all-star berth, having been also selected in 2021, 2022 and 2023. He was named the Blue Bombers' top Canadian in 2021 and 2022.

Stanley Bryant keeps adding to his impressive career resumé, having now been named a divisional all-star for a ninth time after also being selected in 2013-14 and 2017-23. The most-decorated linemen in CFL history as a four-time winner of the league's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award, Bryant continued to man the left side of the Blue Bombers front and played an integral role in Oliveira's rushing crown and helping protect Zach Collaros as he set a new career high in passing yards at 4,336. Bryant was also named the Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman for a seventh time.

Liam Dobson, the Blue Bombers left guard, has been saluted as a member of the West Division All-CFL Team for the first time in his career. The 26-year-old Ottawa product was in his first full season as a starter and started all 18 regular-season games as part of a line that helped Oliveira earn a second-straight rushing title. Dobson was the Blue Bombers' first pick, third overall, in the 2021 CFL Draft.

Willie Jefferson has earned a spot on the West Division All-CFL Team for the seventh consecutive season after previously being named from 2017-19 and 2021-23. Jefferson posted a team-leading six quarterback sacks, adding one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and 10 pass knockdowns along with 25 defensive tackles.

Deatrick Nichols posted the best numbers in his career in earning a third spot on the division all-star team after being recognized in 2021 and 2022. Nichols finished with a career-high 48 tackles and added three interceptions – matching his career best – including his first Pick-6 in a win over Calgary in July. He also had a team-high two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

Tyrell Ford made his first season as a starting corner for the Blue Bombers a memorable one in earning his first career all-star berth while also being named the team's Most Outstanding Defensive Player. Ford led the Blue Bombers with seven interceptions and finished second to Evan Holm in total defensive plays with 74 on 51 defensive tackles, four special-teams tackles, and 12 pass knockdowns – the second-highest total in the CFL. Ford was the Blue Bombers' first pick, 13th overall, in the 2022 CFL Draft.

Throw Long Bannatyne · October 30, 2024, 03:15:54 PM

peg_city · October 30, 2024, 03:35:20 PM

Dobson surprised me. I'm wondering how thin the rest of the west is at guard if Dobson is an all-star.

I'm also wondering if we get Bryant for another year. No reason to stop now.

ModAdmin · October 30, 2024, 09:19:07 PM

Quote from: peg_city on October 30, 2024, 03:35:20 PMDobson surprised me. I'm wondering how thin the rest of the west is at guard if Dobson is an all-star.

I'm also wondering if we get Bryant for another year. No reason to stop now.

Realizing it is a money game, I wonder how many potential retirees and potential free agents will hang around for 2025 because it is a Grey Cup year in Winnipeg?

TecnoGenius · October 30, 2024, 09:39:00 PM

Quote from: peg_city on October 30, 2024, 03:35:20 PMDobson surprised me. I'm wondering how thin the rest of the west is at guard if Dobson is an all-star.

Ya, so many complaining about Dobson most games. Then again Ko-man and Neufeld also get their share of criticism. And Lofton is very hit & miss each week.

If we're doing armchair cuts of OL and Dobson often comes up (like I often want to sit him for Randolph), then why is he making OL allstar lists? And I think he got an asterisk, meaning he was a unanimous shoe-in? Very bizarre.

Are we missing something? Is he like super great in the run game or something? I haven't seen that... I guess he's had some good games, but also so many whiffs in pass-pro.

Puzzled.

On the bright side, I don't think any team will try to poach any of our OL in FA, as there aren't any Desjars and Coutures this season. So we should be able to retain whoever we want for reasonable $$.

TecnoGenius · October 30, 2024, 09:40:11 PM

Big snub of Kenny to give one to Demski but not him. Ya, injuries... but still, nearly $300k elite REC gets nothing. He won't be happy about that.

On that bright side, should be easier to retain him and keep vying for salary reductions!

Pete · October 30, 2024, 09:49:29 PM

Quote from: TecnoGenius on October 30, 2024, 09:40:11 PMBig snub of Kenny to give one to Demski but not him. Ya, injuries... but still, nearly $300k elite REC gets nothing. He won't be happy about that.

On that bright side, should be easier to retain him and keep vying for salary reductions!

I don't think its a big snub when you only get 662 yards receiving. Also his receptions to targets was poor at 62%. 2nd year in a row with the big contract and less than 1000 yards. Availablity is part of ability

Jesse · October 30, 2024, 09:49:40 PM

Quote from: TecnoGenius on October 30, 2024, 09:40:11 PMBig snub of Kenny to give one to Demski but not him. Ya, injuries... but still, nearly $300k elite REC gets nothing. He won't be happy about that.

On that bright side, should be easier to retain him and keep vying for salary reductions!

Lmao. How is it a snub of Kenny?

He would be like 30th on the list of options.

Jesse · October 30, 2024, 09:50:28 PM

Quote from: Pete on October 30, 2024, 09:49:29 PMI don't think its a big snub when you only get 662 yards receiving. Also his receptions to targets was poor at 62%. 2nd year in a row with the big contract and less than 1000 yards. Availablity is part of ability

Third year in a row. Also got paid and under-produced in Edmonton.

TecnoGenius · October 30, 2024, 10:01:53 PM

Quote from: Jesse on October 30, 2024, 09:49:40 PMLmao. How is it a snub of Kenny?

He would be like 30th on the list of options.

In Kenny's mind it'll be a snub of Kenny. Kenny thinks he's miles away the best receiver in the CFL, and says so often.

And I'm not dissing Kenny: I love me some Kenny and still want him on the team, but he needs to be more affordable while his numbers remain depressed.

Jesse · October 30, 2024, 10:05:56 PM

Quote from: TecnoGenius on October 30, 2024, 10:01:53 PMIn Kenny's mind it'll be a snub of Kenny. Kenny thinks he's miles away the best receiver in the CFL, and says so often.

And I'm not dissing Kenny: I love me some Kenny and still want him on the team, but he needs to be more affordable while his numbers remain depressed.

They've always been depressed. He's yet to ever put together a full season.

blue_gold_84 · October 31, 2024, 12:27:40 PM

Lawler had a pretty forgettable season - again.

He didn't get snubbed - and he'd be delusional to think otherwise.

peg_city · October 31, 2024, 12:35:31 PM

Que the Lawler or Shoen debate in the off-season.

blue_gold_84 · October 31, 2024, 12:40:26 PM

Quote from: peg_city on October 31, 2024, 12:35:31 PMQue the Lawler or Shoen debate in the off-season.

Both at the right price. Load up for the '25 chip run!

Sir Blue and Gold · October 31, 2024, 01:27:36 PM

Quote from: TecnoGenius on October 30, 2024, 09:39:00 PMYa, so many complaining about Dobson most games. Then again Ko-man and Neufeld also get their share of criticism. And Lofton is very hit & miss each week.

If we're doing armchair cuts of OL and Dobson often comes up (like I often want to sit him for Randolph), then why is he making OL allstar lists? And I think he got an asterisk, meaning he was a unanimous shoe-in? Very bizarre.

Are we missing something? Is he like super great in the run game or something? I haven't seen that... I guess he's had some good games, but also so many whiffs in pass-pro.

Puzzled.

On the bright side, I don't think any team will try to poach any of our OL in FA, as there aren't any Desjars and Coutures this season. So we should be able to retain whoever we want for reasonable $$.

Dobson was better earlier in the year but cooled although I had him ranked for awhile as my top offensive lineman. Said as much in the prediction MVP thread. PFF had him at a game over 80 earlier this year and another at 78 which are outstanding numbers. Overall the group wasn't great in pass pro this year and ultimately are an average unit. Consistency was the biggest issue. Room for improvement without question even though Zach likes to hold the ball at times.

QuoteIt was an up-and-down season for the Blue Bombers' offensive line. Overall, they finished as a solid group; they were the fifth-highest graded offensive line with a 68.3 offensive grade and the third-highest graded run-blocking group with a 71.8 run-blocking grade. However, the Blue Bombers struggled in pass protection, finishing as the eighth-ranked group with a 59.2 pass-blocking grade.