2025 Free Agency (other CFL teams Signings/News)

[TecnoGenius]

It's not clear we achieved that or even in fact spent as much SMS in 2025 as in 2024?

I think we may have the cheapest starting REC corps in the league, if it's Mitchell White Demski Schoen Clercius.  And the surprising part will be our main NAT will be our top earner!  Very strange times.

Factor in our depth, though, assuming the retain the other signings past TC, and the savings may disappear.  Depth over star power.

[TecnoGenius]

Many QB's are good at this but Zach hasn't done this well for a number of years, he tends to pick a couple of favourites every game and mostly focuses on them.

But how much of that was Zach and how much Buck?  Yes, they tended to try to spread the ball around early but then quickly focused on the hot hand that particular day.  Sometimes it worked out, sometimes not.

This might change with Hogan.  Who knows.

[TecnoGenius]

I don't think MOS or WFC is a team that thrives on the big play. We are a lunch bucket team, a dink and dunk team, a run heavy team.

I disagree.  Under Buck/Zach we were a polarized O that basically did nothing but the run and the big deep (20+) play.  When those worked we were at our best.  We push the run game hard to open up the deep shot.

Our main problem the last 2 years was the short pass.  We were a bit better at the mid-range zone read, but you often only get a couple of those openings a game.

Look at the GC: we were trying deep shot after deep shot, but since the run game was being stuffed we weren't pulling the defenders in enough, and so everything failed after that one good series.

A nice thing about Hogan's stated strategy for the coming year is we may finally get the lunch bucket short game working well.  Being able to chip away at the D with near-unstoppable plays is handy, as MTL proved in the '23 GC, and TOR in the '24 GC.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Yes, the only reason we let JA27 walk is we must feel MCIke is good enough to fill that role should Brady get hurt.  Period.

Logan isn't the reason we ditched Johnny.  Logan is this season's McCrae, and will probably be used as such on O (besides his returner duties).  Logan is not a multi-game fill in for Brady if he gets injured as it'll ruin the ratio, which will be tight this year with (if) Randolph at LG.

MCI is still a big question mark in my estimation, zero touches last season and they brought in Bailey Feltmate to help out blocking at FB. Why???

Blows my mind they would take a high draft pick and not think to give him any touches all season just to see how he responds and to give him a pat on the back for being a part of the club.  It's not like Brady couldn't "spare a square" in his quest for a thousand  yd. season.

[theaardvark]

MCI was used on ST, and as a rookie, you don't give them more than they can chew.  Get good at ST, and then get other opportunities.

We don't seem to give understudies touches.  Players play, and if they can't play, backups get plays.  Even in blowouts, we seem to rarely give backups a shot.  Even at QB, where those reps are soo important.

His "running style" is said to be un-conventional.  More stand up than normal.  I wonder if he's like Cornish.  Maybe Hogan was working with him on that last year, and is confident that he's CFL backup ready enough now to let JA27 walk. 

[Pete]

it's interesting the difference in approach that the two Alberta teams have taken to free agency, both coming off losing seasons with a big deterioration in fans
Calgary is likely under the cap, not going after (or at least successfully) big names. Result likely will be more of the same this year.

Edmonton is likely 300k over last years cap. Knowing that the only way to drive up attendance and the resulting revenues is to go out and add talent esp on the lines and cdns regardless of cost. If it results in 5000 more seats in stands it will more than pay off.

This is reflective in the ownership with Elks having a new excited owner and the stamps lack of. Elks changed over gm/coaches while stamps dig in again with Dickenson.

[dd]

MCI is still a big question mark in my estimation, zero touches last season and they brought in Bailey Feltmate to help out blocking at FB. Why???

Blows my mind they would take a high draft pick and not think to give him any touches all season just to see how he responds and to give him a pat on the back for being a part of the club.  It's not like Brady couldn't "spare a square" in his quest for a thousand  yd. season.

Big question mark is an understatement, I don't recall the guy making a play last year. We know Augustine can run the ball and can sub in for Brady in the event of injury or fatigue/injury prevention, and he can return punts and kicks if need be and is a good ST er, and he helps with the ratio. I don't get why we let him walk for the salary he was asking. God help us if BO gets hurt as we ll have ratio issues.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Peyton Logan is the in game back up running back this season unless he's hurt. It's not even really a question. He'll also get touches here and there when Oliveira needs a break.

Logan is a perfect change up because he can threaten the edges which is something we've struggled with at times since Brady doesn't really have the wheels to scare anyone on the perimeter. Both in the backfield at once will mean defenses can't load up the interior like they have been the last couple years.

[dd]

Peyton Logan is the in game back up running back this season unless he's hurt. It's not even really a question. He'll also get touches here and there when Oliveira needs a break.

Logan is a perfect change up because he can threaten the edges which is something we've struggled with at times since Brady doesn't really have the wheels to scare anyone on the perimeter. Both in the backfield at once will mean defenses can't load up the interior like they have been the last couple years.

Ya and Logan is a far better RB than JA, but when he comes on the field an import somewhere on offense likely comes off, either on the OL or receiving corps. With JA , he didn't impact the ratio as it was a NAT for NAT sub

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Ya and Logan is a far better RB than JA, but when he comes on the field an import somewhere on offense likely comes off, either on the OL or receiving corps. With JA , he didn't impact the ratio as it was a NAT for NAT sub

Many ways to do that. The difference is we will want to, because he's talented and will be effective. On the other hand, we never wanted Augustine on the field and hoped to never use him much.

[TecnoGenius]

This is reflective in the ownership with Elks having a new excited owner and the stamps lack of. Elks changed over gm/coaches while stamps dig in again with Dickenson.

Isn't CGY still "community-owned".  I doubt a responsible BoD would ever greenlight the Prez to purposely go over the cap, and thus pay double/triple fines.  (That could be part of why we're not going mental this year either.)

Elks new private owner can be like Doman and say "money's unlimited guys, get me some wins and cups".  There's some advantage to the simplicity of a single owner over a committee of people scared to stick their necks out.

[TecnoGenius]

Peyton Logan is the in game back up running back this season unless he's hurt. It's not even really a question. He'll also get touches here and there when Oliveira needs a break.

It's not the in-game injury issue that will be the big problem: it'll be the multi-game injury scenario.

Not starting a NAT at RB will be major pain for us, and may cause a big drop off somewhere else.  That's why I'm pretty sure we are confident Ike can be reasonable as a starter if forced into action.  I really can't see us starting >1 game with Logan as the starter.

[TecnoGenius]

Many ways to do that. The difference is we will want to, because he's talented and will be effective. On the other hand, we never wanted Augustine on the field and hoped to never use him much.

You make it sound like he's Butler or Carey.  He's not.  Logan is a tier 2 RB and as such is not an ideal choice as starter, even in an injury scenario.

He's like an even faster and talented McCrae.  But he's not a league top-5.

I'm sure Logan is here more for his return ability, not his RB prowess.  I bet at best he gets used at RB as much as McCrae at his peak.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

You make it sound like he's Butler or Carey.  He's not.  Logan is a tier 2 RB and as such is not an ideal choice as starter, even in an injury scenario.

He's like an even faster and talented McCrae.  But he's not a league top-5.

I'm sure Logan is here more for his return ability, not his RB prowess.  I bet at best he gets used at RB as much as McCrae at his peak.

He's going to be our primary returner but he's also going to be our in game backup at running back and he's absolutely going to get some double backfield looks and be able to spell of Oliveira from time to time. You'll see.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

He's going to be our primary returner but he's also going to be our in game backup at running back and he's absolutely going to get some double backfield looks and be able to spell of Oliveira from time to time. You'll see.

Wouldn't count on it, when was the last time you saw a 2 RB set in the Bomber backfield? On top of being the best RB in the league Brady is also the best at protecting his QB, I can't see them casually forgetting how important that is.  I suspect we will see Logan come in occasionally as a slot, like they did with Janarion Grant.