Seven Blue Bombers named to Divisional All-CFL Team

[peg_city]

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.

Does the site supply each individual player's numbers? I'm wondering who is the weakest link. Where can we improve for next season (me might be able to get Hardrick back at a reduced price).

[The Fresh Prince Of Belair, MB]

Number of selected players:

SSK-9
TOR-9
EDM-7
WPG-7
HAM-6
MTL-6
OTT-6
BC-2
CAL-2

EDM went from 0 players last year to 7 this year

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Does the site supply each individual player's numbers? I'm wondering who is the weakest link. Where can we improve for next season (me might be able to get Hardrick back at a reduced price).

Players are rated per game to make up the total line score, so yes. As far as weak links go, there wasn't any single player on the offensive line who was a sub-60 rating this year, which is more or less defined as underperforming.

Last year, despite being the top ranked line by a WIDE margin Geoff Gray was actually sub 60 on the season and he's not here anymore so draw your own conclusions (Hardrick was also our top PFF scored lineman and he got paid top lineman dollars in the off-season for a reason).

[peg_city]

Players are rated per game to make up the total line score, so yes. As far as weak links go, there wasn't any single player on the offensive line who was a sub-60 rating this year, which is more or less defined as underperforming.

Last year, despite being the top ranked line by a WIDE margin Geoff Gray was actually sub 60 on the season and he's not here anymore so draw your own conclusions (Hardrick was also our top PFF scored lineman and he got paid top lineman dollars in the off-season for a reason).

I'm guessing that the reason our o-line wasn't great this year was because of the loss of Hardrick?

[Sir Blue and Gold]

I'm guessing that the reason our o-line wasn't great this year was because of the loss of Hardrick?

I'd say a combination of factors. It hurts to lose what was (as far as PFF ratings are concerned anyway) our most effective offensive lineman. Additionally, you're going to see declines in offensive lineman output past a certain age and that output will trend downward each subsequent season. Bryant (38) and Neufeld (35) are both examples of this to varying degrees and how much further they fall next year is unknown but basically guaranteed. For Bryant it helps that he was SO good in his prime that his fall takes longer, especially given his ability to avoid major injury.

There is lots of research in this area in the NFL. Statistically, tackles begin to regress at age 32 onwards (LT especially) so that goes to show how good Bryant truly is. Guards maybe a year or two after that.

If you're the Bombers, therefore, you can't expect increases in play from Bryant or Neufeld at all, and you should come in with the expectation they will be a little less effective if both are retained. Dobson (26) and Eli (28) are still reasonably on their way up or even. Kolankowski (32) and Lofton (31) are on the bubble. How much better Gabe Wallace (24) can get is unknown but they seem pleased.

For the Grey Cup run next year, adding a blue chip highly rated guard or tackle (depending their plans for Bryant and Neufeld) would be important to get back to dominating. I think it's virtually impossible for the offensive line to be much better next year than this year without adding at least one face that has been a proven contributor.

Also, we can't forget that Collaros is significantly harder to pass protect for than Trevor Harris, for example (so their pass pro PFF should be taken with a bit of a grain of salt), but then again Collaros has shown no signs of turning into a quick release QB like some veteran QBs do. So next year the job is probably going to be equally as hard.

[markf]

Interesting that this season Zach had the most passing yards in his career.

4,336.

surprised me.

CFL   18   17   488   342   70.1   4,336   8.9   240.9   17   3.5   15   3.1   76   

17 td passes half of the two prior seasons, 33 and 37. 


https://www.footballdb.com/players/zach-collaros-collaza01

[theaardvark]

For all the Lawler bashing going on, you don't pay Lawler for making easy yards, you pay him for making the tough catches, in tough coverage, at vital moments.

His catches don't often dazzle the stat sheets, but they make the highlight reels.  He can make a 20 yard contested catch, and make the team feel like it scored a TD.  He's a momentum changer. 

In a perfect world, he'd get 1500 yards and also make those spectacular plays.  But a lot of the time, he's pulling coverage so that other guys can make catches. 

As to anyone thinking Kenny sees this as "a snub", I don't think that i fair.  From what I'veseen, Kenny is proud f his catches, but isn't a "me first" kind of player.  That'd never fly with Osh, and he'd never have been brought back. 

He's the one handed catch toe tap inbounds in triple coverage for a TD kinda guy.  The guy that's top of the checkdowns when the game is on the line.  And either he gets the throw, or has drawn defender away from the guy that gets it. 

IMHO, he's been worth every penny, and if we can get him for less next year as salaries correct themselves, we're getting a deal.

[VictorRomano]

If you're the Bombers, therefore, you can't expect increases in play from Bryant or Neufeld at all, and you should come in with the expectation they will be a little less effective if both are retained. Dobson (26) and Eli (28) are still reasonably on their way up or even. Kolankowski (32) and Lofton (31) are on the bubble. How much better Gabe Wallace (24) can get is unknown but they seem pleased.

For the Grey Cup run next year, adding a blue chip highly rated guard or tackle (depending their plans for Bryant and Neufeld) would be important to get back to dominating. I think it's virtually impossible for the offensive line to be much better next year than this year without adding at least one face that has been a proven contributor.

No love for Kendall Randolph?  He was on the AR for 6 games when Neufeld went down, and I thought he did really well.  incidentally, he came in right when our losing streak (resulting from our inability to provide pass protection or get a running game going) stopped.....

[Sir Blue and Gold]

No love for Kendall Randolph?  He was on the AR for 6 games when Neufeld went down, and I thought he did really well.  incidentally, he came in right when our losing streak (resulting from our inability to provide pass protection or get a running game going) stopped.....

Didn't mean to leave him out. I really like him. Sample size is small but he's someone who could be a big piece next year. Played a lot of guard but he'll be hard pressed to start there in 2025 for ratio reasons. Not sure where he fits in that context.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

For all the Lawler bashing going on, you don't pay Lawler for making easy yards, you pay him for making the tough catches, in tough coverage, at vital moments.

His catches don't often dazzle the stat sheets, but they make the highlight reels.  He can make a 20 yard contested catch, and make the team feel like it scored a TD.  He's a momentum changer. 

In a perfect world, he'd get 1500 yards and also make those spectacular plays.  But a lot of the time, he's pulling coverage so that other guys can make catches. 

As to anyone thinking Kenny sees this as "a snub", I don't think that i fair.  From what I'veseen, Kenny is proud f his catches, but isn't a "me first" kind of player.  That'd never fly with Osh, and he'd never have been brought back. 

He's the one handed catch toe tap inbounds in triple coverage for a TD kinda guy.  The guy that's top of the checkdowns when the game is on the line.  And either he gets the throw, or has drawn defender away from the guy that gets it. 

IMHO, he's been worth every penny, and if we can get him for less next year as salaries correct themselves, we're getting a deal.

The problem with Lawler is Zach's perception that he can throw to him anytime and he'll somehow come down with the ball.  This mindset leads to some very bad throws made at the worst of times when Zach is under high pressure in the backfield.  If the Bombers want to win the GC Zach has to avoid throwing into double coverage against the better secondaries, 3 things can happen and 2 of them are bad.  I'm not religious but I'm praying Woli is ready to go for the West Final, just to give Zach another reliable target.

[TecnoGenius]

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.

I wonder if PFF puts more emphasis on run block?  Surely we were better at roadgrading than at pass-pro?

I'm guessing that the reason our o-line wasn't great this year was because of the loss of Hardrick?

The fact Yoshi was the highest-rated WPG OL in '23 kind of proves the above theory.  He was regularly whiffing on pass-pro, but was basically a monster in Brady roadgrading.  I think that's our biggest loss this year, as our roadgrading has suffered a bit.

[TecnoGenius]

Does the site supply each individual player's numbers? I'm wondering who is the weakest link. Where can we improve for next season (me might be able to get Hardrick back at a reduced price).

I think Hardrick hit the wall and is done.  Based on what transpired this season KW made the best move ever by letting him walk to SSK for zillions of $, some of which was probably bonus so they didn't get full 6GIR SMS relief.

[TecnoGenius]

Didn't mean to leave him out. I really like him. Sample size is small but he's someone who could be a big piece next year. Played a lot of guard but he'll be hard pressed to start there in 2025 for ratio reasons. Not sure where he fits in that context.

Clearly we don't like to make drastic changes in the OL mid-season, for "gelling" and continuity.

So I would slot Randolph in as a G from week 1 next season.  We have the ratio to, so do it.  Either Neufeld retires (doubt it) or Dobson can move back to 6th, or if he's still under contract, see if we can trade-bait him after we win the GC!

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Clearly we don't like to make drastic changes in the OL mid-season, for "gelling" and continuity.

So I would slot Randolph in as a G from week 1 next season.  We have the ratio to, so do it.  Either Neufeld retires (doubt it) or Dobson can move back to 6th, or if he's still under contract, see if we can trade-bait him after we win the GC!

Clearly the O-line's performance has declined over the past few years, can't see them remaining status quo next season.

[dd]

Clearly we don't like to make drastic changes in the OL mid-season, for "gelling" and continuity.

So I would slot Randolph in as a G from week 1 next season.  We have the ratio to, so do it.  Either Neufeld retires (doubt it) or Dobson can move back to 6th, or if he's still under contract, see if we can trade-bait him after we win the GC!

So we re going to move our all star to be the 6th O line?? Doesn't make much sense