Jake Thomas Discussion

[Blue In BC]

Bighill was hurt bad and that's why we moved on
Alexander lost a step and we had better options
Thomas remains our best current option to rotate and teach Lawson the ropes and we are in good shape
I love our depth at LB and agree our secondary is great

Canadians have that advantage. I don't know if Schmekel will ever be a good player. I agree Thomas might be the best current option but what option did we have in free agency or in the draft?

The best current option is a tough sell when there are always things that might have been done. I mentioned Samson although we used him as a trading chip to get Peterson and Bailey. Samson is unproven. However we always have the option to trade for a better option which would become the back up. Or free agency.

We'd need to know all the ins and outs of trade considerations and draft considerations. I can't say they considered anything except retaining him. OTOH, they may have tried and deemed he was the best choice in a given moment in time.

I'd be interested to know what they think about Schmekel. Draft pick # were nearly the same. Of course every draft is different but Schmekel picked at # 36 is not a bad pick.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Canadians have that advantage. I don't know if Schmekel will ever be a good player. I agree Thomas might be the best current option but what option did we have in free agency or in the draft?

The best current option is a tough sell when there are always things that might have been done. I mentioned Samson although we used him as a trading chip to get Peterson and Bailey. Samson is unproven. However we always have the option to trade for a better option which would become the back up. Or free agency.

We'd need to know all the ins and outs of trade considerations and draft considerations. I can't say they considered anything except retaining him. OTOH, they may have tried and deemed he was the best choice in a given moment in time.

I'd be interested to know what they think about Schmekel. Draft pick # were nearly the same. Of course every draft is different but Schmekel picked at # 36 is not a bad pick.

It looks pretty clear, he's on the one game IR now but they initially assigned him to the PR, unless injured, he's behind Lawson, Thomas and rookie Kornelson.

[Blue In BC]

It looks pretty clear, he's on the one game IR now but they initially assigned him to the PR, unless injured, he's behind Lawson, Thomas and rookie Kornelson.

Both were drafted in 2023. Schmekel at # 35 and Kornelson at # 44. Kornelson went back to school but Schmekel played a bit in 2023 and 2024.  That would suggest either there is an injury or he was beaten out in TC and pre-season.

I'm going to have to watch Kornelson to see how he's doing and how many reps he's getting. Too small a sample to know what his future is at the moment.

From a business point of view I don't like the idea we're paying players on 1 game IR to NOT play. I understand why that is happening but the CFL needs to figure out the new SMS and what to do in 2026.

I've often said, even before the SMS increase to increase the roster size. I'd settle for 2 more Canadians to aid in development but I'd prefer 1 more DI and 1 more Canadian.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Both were drafted in 2023. Schmekel at # 35 and Kornelson at # 44. Kornelson went back to school but Schmekel played a bit in 2023 and 2024.  That would suggest either there is an injury or he was beaten out in TC and pre-season.

I'm going to have to watch Kornelson to see how he's doing and how many reps he's getting. Too small a sample to know what his future is at the moment.

From a business point of view I don't like the idea we're paying players on 1 game IR to NOT play. I understand why that is happening but the CFL needs to figure out the new SMS and what to do in 2026.

I've often said, even before the SMS increase to increase the roster size. I'd settle for 2 more Canadians to aid in development but I'd prefer 1 more DI and 1 more Canadian.

I like it, maybe the list has the wrong name but it allows them to keep an active reserve squad of players that are good enough to contribute immediately which differentiates them from PR players. Once injuries start to crop up it's going to be very helpful, without it they may have already lost Jon Jones, Vanterpool, Schmeck and Mitchell if they weren't willing to accept PR wages.

[Blue In BC]

I like it, maybe the list has the wrong name but it allows them to keep an active reserve squad of players that are good enough to contribute immediately which differentiates them from PR players. Once injuries start to crop up it's going to be very helpful, without it they may have already lost Jon Jones, Vanterpool, Schmeck and Mitchell if they weren't willing to accept PR wages.

I get that but my pitch is to increase the size of the roster in 2026. I've suggested 2 and I've suggested 4. Two more DI's and 2 Canadians with a possible reduction of the PR size by 2.

If we don't increase the size of the roster we probably see the extra SMS spread around to a small number of the highest paid players.

I'd rather see 2 more players than top QB's salaries rising to $800K as an example.

2025 is kind of a make do because the revenue sharing didn't have a proper implementation plan.

It's also a bit dangerous if we end up actually needing to add more injured players to the 1 game IR during the season.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I get that but my pitch is to increase the size of the roster in 2026. I've suggested 2 and I've suggested 4. Two more DI's and 2 Canadians with a possible reduction of the PR size by 2.

If we don't increase the size of the roster we probably see the extra SMS spread around to a small number of the highest paid players.

I'd rather see 2 more players than top QB's salaries rising to $800K as an example.

2025 is kind of a make do because the revenue sharing didn't have a proper implementation plan.

It's also a bit dangerous if we end up actually needing to add more injured players to the 1 game IR during the season.

Sure that would work, might as well dress them if they're healthy,  if a game gets out of hand they're available for further evaluation helps players above them stay focused.

[Blue In BC]

It wasn't best game for our DL but it wasn't the worst either. Made Ford beat with his passing game and he's not there yet.

[dd]

In 3 games in the 2025 season, Thomas has yet to record a tackle. None. Zippo. Zilch. Nuff said on this

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

It wasn't best game for our DL but it wasn't the worst either. Made Ford beat with his passing game and he's not there yet.

Weird rotation at DT, Jake was out there 90% of the time, Lawson didn't play much till the 2nd Q, and Adams didn't play much in the 4th, saw Kornelson less than a handful of times. Don't know if some of these guys are nursing injuries or if their game stamina is low, Jake is the ultimate energizer bunny. 

[Blue In BC]

Weird rotation at DT, Jake was out there 90% of the time, Lawson didn't play much till the 2nd Q, and Adams didn't play much in the 4th, saw Kornelson less than a handful of times. Don't know if some of these guys are nursing injuries or if their game stamina is low, Jake is the ultimate energizer bunny. 

I think it was Lawson that rushed Ford into throwing that near pick by Bonds that was overturned on replay.  I speed re-watched the game this morning. It's hard to see the different combinations of players coming in and going out. Overall for the most I think they made ford uncomfortable. The contained him from running but he is a very elusive QB that did buy some time.

Watching T.Jones sack him once was amazing.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Weird rotation at DT, Jake was out there 90% of the time, Lawson didn't play much till the 2nd Q, and Adams didn't play much in the 4th, saw Kornelson less than a handful of times. Don't know if some of these guys are nursing injuries or if their game stamina is low, Jake is the ultimate energizer bunny. 

Assuming that's true, you never know what the long term thinking is with Lawson getting that knee fully back. It's usually year two you start to feel really comfortable and it's only been about a month since he started playing after sitting out most of camp. It was also a short week which would factor in for a guy like that coming off the injury he had.

Just because he's playing again doesn't mean there's not still some medical and strategic decision making around making sure he's ramping up in a responsible way.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I think it was Lawson that rushed Ford into throwing that near pick by Bonds that was overturned on replay. I speed re-watched the game this morning. It's hard to see the different combinations of players coming in and going out. Overall for the most I think they made ford uncomfortable. The contained him from running but he is a very elusive QB that did buy some time.

Watching T.Jones sack him once was amazing.

Lawson definitely has the skill and the speed to make big plays, more so than any other DT I would say.  He's already made 4 or 5 big plays this season were he's gotten through to the QB and caused a sack, interception or havoc to occur.  If he can stay healthy he's going to be a good one.

[Pigskin]

After 3 games the DTs have a grand total of 5 tackles. CL99,3. DA94,1. CK97,1. JT95, 0.

DEs. JV93, 6. WJ5 4, and 1 sack, and a head butt. lol.

TJ33 with 19 DTs, 1 ST, and 1 sack.

Cad with 7 STs, Ayers 5, and Hallett 3.

KW19 leads with 2 sacks

MB9 leads with 2 Int.

[TecnoGenius]

Well if you think he isn't slower than he was 10 years ago, you don't know much.

Ok, you list 1 theoretical attribute.  Speed.

1) Is that it?  The Fatboi detractors list so many bad things about him now.  And you list just one that existed since his first few seasons?

2) You find me one person who said he was "fast" (the opposite of "slow") in his first few seasons.  Or is it more likely he's never been fast?

My homework assignment was to find a negative attribute he has now that he didn't have before.  Not attributes he's always had.

In other words, find me some plaudit he got in the past for which he now gets bashed.  I'll wait...

[TecnoGenius]

Lol, fact.  I think you are right but I also hope to see some air on the ball tonight! With zip!

He actually threw it a tad farther than last game!  If you do the trig (I will do it later) it might be near 50 or even a touch beyond.  However, 50 landing at the REC hip/chest area.

WFC also got my memo (or they're just as smart at film study, LOL) and Zach was letting it go a partial steamboat sooner.  And that was all it took to reach the receivers without them having to stop/backtrack the underthrow.  The best ones were still under 50.

Love to see it.  Dialing Zach in early is imperative!