Blue Bombers re-sign defensive back Evan Holm

GOLDMEMBER · January 16, 2025, 05:52:31 PM

I'd like Ford back over Holm if I had to choose but I don't have this option.

Blue In BC · January 16, 2025, 07:58:38 PM

Quote from: GOLDMEMBER on January 16, 2025, 05:52:31 PMI'd like Ford back over Holm if I had to choose but I don't have this option.

DHB is more difficult to play well than CB. Ford has an advantage / fan interest because he's a Canadian. Ford would also command significant more SMS because of his nationality.

Holm had 85 DT's while Ford had 51. Then nature of the game is that more offensive plays are inside the hash marks.

I think every Bomber fan wants Ford back and that might still happen. Hard to make a choice besides wanting both.

dd · January 16, 2025, 10:09:46 PM

Quote from: GOLDMEMBER on January 16, 2025, 05:52:31 PMI'd like Ford back over Holm if I had to choose but I don't have this option.

Not a chance. Holm was our MVP last year in my books, made play after play, knocked down a ton of passes and his speed is unreal. I am hopeful Ford comes back, but if he doesn't, at least we got Holm and we'll find a CB, may not be total shutdown like Ford, but we'll survive.

Blue In BC · January 20, 2025, 04:03:56 PM

Quote from: dd on January 16, 2025, 10:09:46 PMNot a chance. Holm was our MVP last year in my books, made play after play, knocked down a ton of passes and his speed is unreal. I am hopeful Ford comes back, but if he doesn't, at least we got Holm and we'll find a CB, may not be total shutdown like Ford, but we'll survive.

I wonder if Parker and Banks switch sides at CB.

Pigskin · January 20, 2025, 04:09:38 PM

Quote from: Blue In BC on January 20, 2025, 04:03:56 PMI wonder if Parker and Banks switch sides at CB.

I think you are thinking of Bonds?

Blue In BC · January 20, 2025, 04:35:49 PM

Quote from: Pigskin on January 20, 2025, 04:09:38 PMI think you are thinking of Bonds?

Yes, sorry about that. I've corrected my post now. Regardless, we'll be looking at dozens of DB's in free agent camps and over the course of TC. Some will stick on the PR, some might even make the AR. Injuries in TC might dictate the early season roster.

While I think we'll bring Alexander back, it's not written in stone either. So safety is a question mark. Even on the current roster there may be alternatives that result in shuffling the roster.

gordo · January 20, 2025, 04:54:12 PM

Great job by Walters.

Holm and Schoen are my top 2.

Ford a close 3rd.

Blue In BC · January 20, 2025, 05:05:24 PM

Quote from: gordo on January 20, 2025, 04:54:12 PMGreat job by Walters.

Holm and Schoen are my top 2.

Ford a close 3rd.

I would have considered Dobson the top choice because of his nationality. Yes Ford is also Canadian but OL have a longer learning curve and more difficult to replace. OTOH, I don't know how our OL all graded out and if the team feels Wallace will be ready to start, that changes the dynamic.

Dobson is reported to wait and see what his market value will be in tampering period. I don't know how much interest he will get at what salary level and there are several good Canadian OL potentially available.

So currently Dobson, Lawler and Schoen are the top 3 potential free agents. SMS will be huge in that decision making process.

I have no idea about where the organization is on re-signing: Bighill, Alexander, Augustine or any of the DL. Some choices will be made due to SMS and others due to performance or replacements available already.

gordo · January 20, 2025, 05:20:27 PM

Quote from: Blue In BC on January 20, 2025, 05:05:24 PMI would have considered Dobson the top choice because of his nationality. Yes Ford is also Canadian but OL have a longer learning curve and more difficult to replace. OTOH, I don't know how our OL all graded out and if the team feels Wallace will be ready to start, that changes the dynamic.

Dobson is reported to wait and see what his market value will be in tampering period. I don't know how much interest he will get at what salary level and there are several good Canadian OL potentially available.

So currently Dobson, Lawler and Schoen are the top 3 potential free agents. SMS will be huge in that decision making process.

I have no idea about where the organization is on re-signing: Bighill, Alexander, Augustine or any of the DL. Some choices will be made due to SMS and others due to performance or replacements available already.

I agree on Dobson but he wasn't in my top 3 but for sure top 5.

I'm resigned to losing one of Ford or Holm and one of Lawler or Schoen. So signing Holm and Schoen (fingers crossed we do) is a win for me. Sure there is a chance we get Lawler and Schoen but having the money fall like it did last year is not as likely I think especially when Lawler gets big offers thrown at him.

And if we can sign Schoen, I'd rather spend money on Dobson. The other receivers recently signed (Dillon Mitchell) offset losing Lawler (or Schoen) and I think gives us a clue that Walters figures he can't sign both. My hope is that it's Schoen. I just think a clutch guy who will lead the league in receptions is more valuable than a big play/less catches kind of receiver.

I have even less hope for Ford. NFL is highly likely even if he bounces around for a year. But would be amazing to sign Ford and Holm.

theaardvark · January 20, 2025, 05:30:35 PM

Dobson's nationality (or Fords) is not as much a priority in Bomberland as it is in some places, or was in the Mack era... when you start 8, 9 or even 10 Nats, we pay a lot less for passports.

Dobson is a very solid Olineman. But so were Chungh, Goossen, Couture, Hardrick, Desjarlais, Gray... and we managed after they moved on. 5 GC appearances, each year losing at least one of the starters.

Wallace and Eli are ready to step in, if Dobson walks, and Rudolph as well, ratio not really an issue. And there are available Oline out there, like we scooped up Lofton last year.

We can't afford to overpay Dobson with all the other, more pressing, signing we need to make. No problem paying him decent, just not interested in paying him the money Hardrick, Couture, Dejarlais etc got paid to leave...

Blue In BC · January 20, 2025, 05:38:13 PM

Quote from: gordo on January 20, 2025, 05:20:27 PMI agree on Dobson but he wasn't in my top 3 but for sure top 5.

I'm resigned to losing one of Ford or Holm and one of Lawler or Schoen. So signing Holm and Schoen (fingers crossed we do) is a win for me. Sure there is a chance we get Lawler and Schoen but having the money fall like it did last year is not as likely I think especially when Lawler gets big offers thrown at him.

And if we can sign Schoen, I'd rather spend money on Dobson. The other receivers recently signed (Dillon Mitchell) offset losing Lawler (or Schoen) and I think gives us a clue that Walters figures he can't sign both. My hope is that it's Schoen. I just think a clutch guy who will lead the league in receptions is more valuable than a big play/less catches kind of receiver.

I have even less hope for Ford. NFL is highly likely even if he bounces around for a year. But would be amazing to sign Ford and Holm.

Dobson would have been less of an issue if we were getting Ford back, at least from a ratio point of view. I don't think we should overpay Dobson but that's just speculation at the moment.

Getting Mitchell is great but we lost O. Wilson. So losing one of Lawler or Schoen wouldn't be great. The Lions may be forced to trim salaries with some of their top receiving group. The same applies for some other teams, so there may be less places for players like Lawler to land for $$$$$$.

That reality may set in during the tampering period? Until we lose a player in free agency, I expect to re-sign them. Optimistic perhaps, but I'm not going to worry until that happens.

Throw Long Bannatyne · January 20, 2025, 05:54:44 PM

Quote from: Blue In BC on January 20, 2025, 05:38:13 PMDobson would have been less of an issue if we were getting Ford back, at least from a ratio point of view. I don't think we should overpay Dobson but that's just speculation at the moment.

Getting Mitchell is great but we lost O. Wilson. So losing one of Lawler or Schoen wouldn't be great. The Lions may be forced to trim salaries with some of their top receiving group. The same applies for some other teams, so there may be less places for players like Lawler to land for $$$$$$.

That reality may set in during the tampering period? Until we lose a player in free agency, I expect to re-sign them. Optimistic perhaps, but I'm not going to worry until that happens.

The Lions are looking to restructure their receiver contracts once they get league leader Justin McInnis under contract, this from Rigmaiden.

"We're going to talk restructure. Frankly, we've talked trades with other teams, not just about those guys, but about several players. To be honest, it's tough because of those numbers and you can only have so much salary at one position. We're going to talk about everything. Nothing's off the table, but we're going to do what we think is best for moving the franchise forward and if we can keep them all, we certainly will."

As for the Bombers highest paid receivers, Lawler makes $280k and Schoen makes $230k, so it appears Schoen is much closer to the mark teams are aiming to pay their elite receivers.

theaardvark · January 20, 2025, 05:59:16 PM

I think our rec corps comes back on contracts similar to what they had last year, which we can afford. And I anticipate having even more recruits in camp this year with our new scouting team.

TecnoGenius · January 21, 2025, 12:59:42 PM

Quote from: Jesse on January 15, 2025, 03:38:18 PM3down reporting the deal is for $135k. Great deal.

Quote from: theaardvark on January 15, 2025, 05:17:11 PMIf its $135k, then that's an amazing deal. Walters is a mad genius, really.

$135 would be a great deal if we're talking other teams. However, $135 would make him a "high paid" DB by WFC standards. So by that token it's kind of a win and a loss $:-\$

For instance, is Nichols earning much more than that? And he has how many years seniority/raises? I don't think BA is making that, either. The "newer" guys certainly aren't.

However, it may only be slightly over budget, and Holm is certainly worth a premium -- just like Nichols (and before him Alford, had he stayed). And I have a feeling we'll allocate more of a % of total budget to the D this season anyhow.

TecnoGenius · January 21, 2025, 01:05:41 PM

Quote from: dd on January 16, 2025, 10:09:46 PMNot a chance. Holm was our MVP last year in my books, made play after play, knocked down a ton of passes and his speed is unreal. I am hopeful Ford comes back, but if he doesn't, at least we got Holm and we'll find a CB, may not be total shutdown like Ford, but we'll survive.

Yup, Holm > Ford if you ignore passport. Heck, I would posit Holm > Ford even considering passport! And Ford will cost more anyhow, because of said passport.

MOS et al have gushed over the years about Holm's hips and technique and nose and brain. Not since Alford have I heard such gushing. Strangely enough Ford never elicited that...

Sure, they talk nice about Ford and give the usual "he's amazing" type non-specifics. But I think that's more about Ford's "showboat" stats and game-sealing plays. Those types of players are great -- and fan favorites -- but aren't as valuable overall as the less-visible workhorses. Nichols kind of suffers from the same PR problem.

Like BinBC said, it's also a function of HB vs CB.

I'm very happy we snagged Holm and now won't worry if Ford leaves for $. Always plenty of good DBs coming into TC, and Parker on the mend, and Bonds looking promsing...