Winnipeg Blue Bombers add two to roster - April 4, 2025

TecnoGenius · April 06, 2025, 10:29:35 AM

Quote from: dd on April 05, 2025, 08:47:14 PMOn our OL this year, I have Bryant, Wallace, KO, Neufeld and Randolph

No way in heck Randolph beats out Lofton at RT. None. Lofton was as good as Yoshi at pass-pro by mid-season. (Hopefully he improves at run block.)

And Lofton is inexpensive and stayed healthy all season. He also seems to gel with his RB and RECs, and is the new Gray -- getting downfield fast to celebrate big plays.

Week 1 we are:

Stan - Randolph - Ko-man - Neuf - Lofton

with maybe 30% chance Wallace beats Randolph for LG (always better to start a NAT).
(barring injury!)

I really warmed up to Lofton last season after worrying about the loss of Yoshi, but it was the best move ever if the same fate had befallen Yoshi here as occurred in SSK. Lofton is legit and really a great pick-up by KW and I'm very pleased he is here. For the money I can't think of any better RT. ... and ... Maybe Lofton is the future LT!! hmmm

Jesse · April 06, 2025, 12:54:21 PM

MY hope last year was that Randolph would be able to come into 2026 and beat out Lofton at RT, but Techno is right that it won't happen.

Lofton will be written in to the depth chart in pen and it won't even be questioned. And a little consistency isn't necessarily a bad thing. I'm still 50/50 on Randolph vs. Wallace for guard. Hopefully they both come into camp in shape and ready to battle.

Throw Long Bannatyne · April 06, 2025, 05:00:31 PM

Geordon Porter looks alright, seems to have good speed.

Sir Blue and Gold · April 07, 2025, 02:42:05 PM

Quote from: TecnoGenius on April 06, 2025, 10:29:35 AMNo way in heck Randolph beats out Lofton at RT. None. Lofton was as good as Yoshi at pass-pro by mid-season. (Hopefully he improves at run block.)

And Lofton is inexpensive and stayed healthy all season. He also seems to gel with his RB and RECs, and is the new Gray -- getting downfield fast to celebrate big plays.

Week 1 we are:

Stan - Randolph - Ko-man - Neuf - Lofton

with maybe 30% chance Wallace beats Randolph for LG (always better to start a NAT).
(barring injury!)

I really warmed up to Lofton last season after worrying about the loss of Yoshi, but it was the best move ever if the same fate had befallen Yoshi here as occurred in SSK. Lofton is legit and really a great pick-up by KW and I'm very pleased he is here. For the money I can't think of any better RT. ... and ... Maybe Lofton is the future LT!! hmmm

Maybe but the knock of Lofton has always been that he's not a great run blocker (his PFF analytics support that) but he's better than average in pass protection. I think it depends on how different our offense looks this year now that Buck's gone. I can certainly see a scenario where Lofton is on the bubble.

markf · April 07, 2025, 03:02:40 PM

Quote from: Sir Blue and Gold on April 07, 2025, 02:42:05 PMMaybe but the knock of Lofton has always been that he's not a great run blocker (his PFF analytics support that) but he's better than average in pass protection. I think it depends on how different our offense looks this year now that Buck's gone. I can certainly see a scenario where Lofton is on the bubble.

The Elks had three running backs that got over five hundred yards last season...

What do you think about lightening the load on Brady? He takes a pounding.

dd · April 07, 2025, 05:32:39 PM

Quote from: markf on April 07, 2025, 03:02:40 PMThe Elks had three running backs that got over five hundred yards last season...

What do you think about lightening the load on Brady? He takes a pounding.

Agree totally. It keeps him fresher and allows him to heal the nicks and ticks you get during the season. Don't know why we didn't use JA27 more when we had him for this specific reason. Seems we were more concerned that BO wins the rushing title than asset management.

TecnoGenius · April 08, 2025, 10:03:37 AM

I think the Brady Brady Brady approach we use is best for Brady and the team. He's like AH33 and Cornish before him. All 3 would plow down D's all game long. They all almost never got plays off.

It always struck me as odd that TOR would always take Oullette out all the time like it was the NFL or something, and put in a sub-par RB. And the dual/triple RB teams like TOR was, CGY/SSK are, etc, never seem to have anywhere near as effective a run game as we do.

Except for the early season issues, Brady was healthy all season and post-season in '24. I say keep doing it that way.

blue_gold_84 · April 08, 2025, 01:27:44 PM

I'm in the Give Brady The Rock Camp as well.

Sir Blue and Gold · April 08, 2025, 01:33:02 PM

Quote from: markf on April 07, 2025, 03:02:40 PMThe Elks had three running backs that got over five hundred yards last season...

What do you think about lightening the load on Brady? He takes a pounding.

There's a lot of theory and some data out there that NFL running backs (as a whole) tend to begin decline at age 27. Oliveria is 28 in August.

Then there's the idea that there is a correlation between the number of carries a running back gets in a season and the risk of injury or decrease in performance afterwards. However, there's an often sited study done in 2017 published in the National Library of Medicine (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5347429) that actually appears to show the opposite. That is, there is no link between the number of running back carries per season as a predictor of increased injury... and that it might even be the inverse.

Clearly, regardless of where you fall on science the individual player has much more to do with it than some kind of 'age x equals injury y' rationale.

If it were me, I'd keep feeding him but I'd be quick to give him a week off when he needs it during the regular season. It's a marathon and what the data is very clear on is running backs get hurt more than most positions overall. Easy to understand why.

markf · April 08, 2025, 02:46:18 PM

Quote from: Sir Blue and Gold on April 08, 2025, 01:33:02 PMThere's a lot of theory and some data out there that NFL running backs (as a whole) tend to begin decline at age 27. Oliveria is 28 in August.

Then there's the idea that there is a correlation between the number of carries a running back gets in a season and the risk of injury or decrease in performance afterwards. However, there's an often sited study done in 2017 published in the National Library of Medicine (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5347429) that actually appears to show the opposite. That is, there is no link between the number of running back carries per season as a predictor of increased injury... and that it might even be the inverse.

Clearly, regardless of where you fall on science the individual player has much more to do with it than some kind of 'age x equals injury y' rationale.

If it were me, I'd keep feeding him but I'd be quick to give him a week off when he needs it during the regular season. It's a marathon and what the data is very clear on is running backs get hurt more than most positions overall. Easy to understand why.

Thanks, I read the article at the link...

"This may simply be explained by the fact that RBs with a high number of carries (group B, 300+ carries in 1 season) are not only among the most talented athletes in the game (only 63 players in this category over an 11-season span), but they also have demonstrated an innate ability to perform in a way that minimizes injury risk.

And yet the baseball pitchers are strictly limited. Which is boring.

Thanks a lot.

..Pound the rock with Brady it is!

Blue In BC · April 08, 2025, 03:31:34 PM

We're seeing a few mock drafts which is interesting but have to be taken with a grain of salt.

Obviously OL are a high priority for most teams but whether they are the best player available when choosing is always just speculation.

Looking at our roster and trying to figure out what the team might decide if certain players are available changes every time someone drafts a player we may have wanted.

There are some interesting players at the DB and RB position that have had some good press but haven't shown up in any mock drafts I've seen for the most part.

I won't be surprised if we choose OL with our 1st pick and then look at those positions in the 2nd round for at least one of our picks.

A receiver in the 2nd round would be a best player versus a higher need choice.

I don't really expect to choose a DL or LB in the 1st 2 rounds.

Horseman · April 08, 2025, 04:53:28 PM

Quote from: Sir Blue and Gold on April 08, 2025, 01:33:02 PMIf it were me, I'd keep feeding him but I'd be quick to give him a week off when he needs it during the regular season. It's a marathon and what the data is very clear on is running backs get hurt more than most positions overall. Easy to understand why.

I remember watching the "NFL FILM" series years back and it was on running backs. I still remember the quote from the piece, it was "A running back and his body are like an outlaw and his horse, he's got to ride that nag until it drops".

Throw Long Bannatyne · April 08, 2025, 05:01:06 PM

Quote from: dd on April 07, 2025, 05:32:39 PMAgree totally. It keeps him fresher and allows him to heal the nicks and ticks you get during the season. Don't know why we didn't use JA27 more when we had him for this specific reason. Seems we were more concerned that BO wins the rushing title than asset management.

Brady has remained remarkably healthy since his rookie season when he broke his leg, but he's not indestructible and could easily miss a half dozen or more games if unlucky with injuries. Now that Augustine is gone they need to find a good Import RB that would be willing to hang around all season on the PR if necessary, a player with enough raw skill to back up Brady and Logan on returns. Maybe MCI could step in as Brady's backup but we've seen no evidence he can.

Blue In BC · April 08, 2025, 10:55:53 PM

We added another import OL today.

2025-04-07 WPG Kickel, Matt OL A Aurora

ModAdmin · April 09, 2025, 04:49:40 AM

Quote from: Blue In BC on April 08, 2025, 10:55:53 PMWe added another import OL today.

2025-04-07 WPG Kickel, Matt OL A Aurora

Winnipeg Blue Bombers sign offensive lineman Matt Kickel

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed offensive lineman Matt Kickel on Monday according to the CFL Transactions page.

Matt Kickel is six foot four and weighs 300 pounds. A native of Bolingbrook, Illinois, Kickel started 11 games on the offensive line for the Spartans in 2024. In 2024, Aurora averaged 46.64 points per game, 169.9 rushing yards per game, 294.36 passing yards per game, 464.3 total yards per game, 72 touchdowns, and allowed 13 sacks finishing 9-2 for the season and appearing in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Division III playoffs losing to Hope College 49-21.

Kickel was named Second Team CSC Academic All-American, Second Team All-American by D3football.com, Associated Press (AP), and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). He was also named NACC Offensive Lineman of the Year and First Team All-NACC.

Collegiately, Kickel started as a redshirt Freshman at Arizona State in 2019 as a walk-out prospect and serving on the scouting team for the Sun Devils. Then, he transferred to Aurora University (2020-24) playing 34 games on the offensive line for the Spartans.

In 2023, he played 12 games. Aurora averaged 53.25 points per game, 234.8 rushing yards per game, 269.92 passing yards per game, 504.7 total yards per game, 88 touchdowns, and allowed 21 sacks finishing 11-1 for the season losing to Wisconsin-La Crosse in the 2023 NCAA Division III playoffs quarterfinals.

Kickel was named a five-time All-American (2024 D3football.com, AP and AFCA, and 2023 AP and D3football.com), and a three-time First Team All-NACC.