2025 season - CFL (Non-Bombers) news

[Blue In BC]

Meh, don't like wasting people's time with false hope, figure Lofton and Vanterpool injuries are fairly minor and should be back within a week or two.  In the meantime Eli and Vibert can fill in where needed.

Lofton is on the 6 game IR so he's not going to be back any time soon. Vanterpool was practising as " full " today so that's encouraging.

I don't think anyone feels Eli is a good fit to start anywhere besides at Center. So yes it was an issue.

Vibert is a pure unknown but was a 4rd round pick so he could be part of the future. Is he any part of the " NOW " is more difficult to say. Very few rookie Canadian OL see much action in their 1st season.

[Blue In BC]

Vanterpool sounds like he's fine. I wonder if he gets on the roster or if they're pushing their chips in with Wallace.

This week might be telling how they compare those choices.I think they only started Vanterpool when Neufeld was a GTD and depth on the AR was needed.

OTOH, we gave 5 sacks last game so there might be a reassessment. The only obvious possible changes are Logan or him but that requires something to happen with the ratio.

Allen could be added as a direct replacement ratio wise for Bond. Whether he starts or is just depth we'll see.

The restructuring of the secondary will be interesting.

[Jesse]

I think the preferred line-up had Vanterpool in, and only injury took him out. But at a certain point, I think there's value in keeping your 5 playing together for multiple games in a row to get some continuity and we haven't had that yet.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Lofton is on the 6 game IR so he's not going to be back any time soon. Vanterpool was practising as " full " today so that's encouraging.

I don't think anyone feels Eli is a good fit to start anywhere besides at Center. So yes it was an issue.

Vibert is a pure unknown but was a 4rd round pick so he could be part of the future. Is he any part of the " NOW " is more difficult to say. Very few rookie Canadian OL see much action in their 1st season.

I wasn't suggesting Vibert start, but it's not unusual for 1st year Natl. O-linemen to participate as the 6th man, Wallace, Eli and Dobson all saw plenty of game reps in that role during their first season.  As for Eli, he's fine as an in game injury replacement to get by, better than playing Jake which is the only other alternative.

[TecnoGenius]

Meh, don't like wasting people's time with false hope, figure Lofton and Vanterpool injuries are fairly minor and should be back within a week or two.  In the meantime Eli and Vibert can fill in where needed.

Vant is fine (even good/great) at OG.  Vant is bad at OT.  We don't want Vant starting OT.

Rand is floundering at OT also.  Just like Vant, he's fine a OG, but I'm starting to think he's not any answer at OT, certainly not LT.  But even at RT he's losing ground.

Since Vant/Rand and Wallace are all decent/good at OG, our real big problem is OT.  Lofton is very good, but he's been nicked 99% of this season with unspecified nonsense and I see no reason to be optimistic he won't bounce around the IR all season.

We need answers RIGHT NOW at OT, especially RT.  Big Stan will just have to stay healthy or play hurt going forward, as we can't even properly fill RT, let alone the far harder LT.

And I'm not even daring to go into "next year" talks, which are even more dire.  Need to win RIGHT NOW before we can worry about 2026.  If Lofton can get back in and stay on field, we'll be perfectly fine, if not, it's panic button time.

[TecnoGenius]

Toronto Argonauts bring back UFL champion Willie Drew

Well that's a slightly funny and unfortunate name for us WFC fans...

[TecnoGenius]

Not sure how he gets on the roster, unless he hangs out on the PR "just in case".

Can the dude play OT?  Then hire him yesterday and start him at RT tomorrow.  Forget the PR.

If he's just another NAT OG (dime a dozen for the non-allstars) then we really don't need him.  He won't be much better than Wallace, and we can always start 3 IMP OL.

There's also Rice, who can play RT (did for MTL for half a year+), but I would say he's no better than Randolph at that position, and thus also not an answer (though would make good and flexible depth).

[TecnoGenius]

Issue comes when there are too many injuries at one position, or at one time.  It happens, and that's the tough call about airlifting in players.  I still think they'd rather bring in late cuts of our own than other teams cuts...

This.  The DB situation is now dire because Bridges was a bust, Parker hurt, Bonds season-ended.  Only one of those things was losing us games.  Now 2 or 3 of those things and it's major disaster time.  MAJOR.

OL situation in constant dire flux because of nicked Lofton, semi-nicked Stan, question mark and experimentation at LG.  One of these problems we could probably handle, 2-3: major disaster time.

REC situation: just reflects a useless and total bust of a FA, plus the superstar Schoen being hurt again right away.  What were they thinking?

The other units are doing ok, but then again, they aren't dealing with bad injury situations...

Bottom line: 100% healthy WPG probably is still losing games.  But nicked up in certain units?  Disaster.

Airlift.

[The Zipp]

MBT gone to the 6 game and Als sign Dukes

[Blue In BC]

MBT gone to the 6 game and Als sign Dukes

Yeah right. I think they are just sheltering his SMS since they can't cut him now. Whatever!!

[TBURGESS]

They showed MBT on the sidelines last game with ice on the wrist of his throwing arm right after the stupid pick 6. 

[Blueforlife]

They showed MBT on the sidelines last game with ice on the wrist of his throwing arm right after the stupid pick 6.

Didn't see that.  Thanks.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Vant is fine (even good/great) at OG.  Vant is bad at OT.  We don't want Vant starting OT.

Rand is floundering at OT also.  Just like Vant, he's fine a OG, but I'm starting to think he's not any answer at OT, certainly not LT.  But even at RT he's losing ground.

Since Vant/Rand and Wallace are all decent/good at OG, our real big problem is OT.  Lofton is very good, but he's been nicked 99% of this season with unspecified nonsense and I see no reason to be optimistic he won't bounce around the IR all season.

We need answers RIGHT NOW at OT, especially RT.  Big Stan will just have to stay healthy or play hurt going forward, as we can't even properly fill RT, let alone the far harder LT.

And I'm not even daring to go into "next year" talks, which are even more dire.  Need to win RIGHT NOW before we can worry about 2026.  If Lofton can get back in and stay on field, we'll be perfectly fine, if not, it's panic button time.

You're coming off the rails a bit, can't write a player off after their first game at LT, it usually takes a half season or more to get accustomed to a new position and in that time mistakes are going to be made.  If Marty Costello approves of their play and thinks they have the skill set to proceed moving forward, then they've earned the red seal stamp of approval and I'll provide them patience to develop.

[Jesse]

You're coming off the rails a bit, can't write a player off after their first game at LT, it usually takes a half season or more to get accustomed to a new position and in that time mistakes are going to be made.  If Marty Costello approves of their play and thinks they have the skill set to proceed moving forward, then they've earned the red seal stamp of approval and I'll provied them patience to develop.

People called Stanley Bryant a bust his first season with us because it's pretty impossible to be good when the line around you stinks. The OL has to be built as a single unit and it's been a  rotating cast all season.

[TecnoGenius]

You're coming off the rails a bit, can't write a player off after their first game at LT, it usually takes a half season or more to get accustomed to a new position and in that time mistakes are going to be made.

I'm more concerned about RT.  LT is Stan or we lose most games.  As PJ would say: "simple as".

And you proved my point: we'll be losing, and Zach will keep getting hit & injured if we insist on playing new OTs.

Randolph has gotten a ton of starts at RT now and he's just getting worse.  I don't think either Rand/Vant is our future at "desired starting" OT.  Sorry.

Let's say it takes 2-3 more seasons for one to magically become Big Stan.  That will be 2-3 seasons of losing badly if they are our starters.  It we had a mobile QB we might get away with it, but right now we need a league-best pocket for our QB to play his best game.