coaching

[Sir Blue and Gold]

To be honest, I think that's what Walters tried to do this year. We kept the duck tape together on this roster core hoping we ride it one more year. I think that's going to prove to be not possible but I, and I'm sure most others, would have done the same if they were faced with the same circumstances as Kyle Walters.

In hindsight, last year should have been seen as a middling year on the whole, instead of the pretty smashing success that it ended up with great play down the stretch (aided by a wind miracle and such). If we didn't have this home Grey Cup, maybe we would have gone through a more thorough roster sweep two years ago, or certainly last year. But we didn't and there is. Oh well.

Again, don't think any mistakes were made given the situation. I would have done the same. Most people probably would have I think. It will be interesting to see where this season goes and what we do at the end of it. Coaching isn't a problem. We've got a value for contract problem most especially which has lead to a player problem overall.

[Blueforlife]

Kelly started to get more reps on defence by the end of 2024. Mostly he was playing ST's but moved past Hallett as the Canadian getting defensive reps. He seems to have speed and willingness to hit hard.

That said, any player coming off 6 game IR is going to take some time to get up to speed and into playing condition.

I think he'd have to be phased in before any chance of actually becoming a starter. But he might be in the plans down the road.

Logically Allen would be the 1st choice on an immediate basis if they move Parker to CB. I'm not sure Bridges was injured as well as Vaval or just pulled during the game.

I guess we'll see soon enough who comes off due to new injury and reassess our choices.

Ok now I remember what happened last year, thanks my friend.  That's my concern with Kelly, can't rush him back.  I also don't want to limit Allen's development by putting him in a difficult position.  I never thought that Bridges was nicked, who knows time will tell.  I don't have the answer for our secondary.  I believe the solution is a few weeks away as we evaluate Kelly and see if Allen could crack the lineup and get some reps.  I prefer the low and slow approach.  Practice will tell us a lot this week.  I am willing to stick with Bridges and or rotate him.  I don't know how well Vaval did in his place.  A very difficult positional group to find the right balance.

I think Lawler was gone. I don't really put that on the club. And also good riddance.

I think drafting had a few too many misses over the last 5 years. 2019 saw us have immediate impact players, but I don't think we have a single 1st round player on the roster right now who's a significant part of our team. I think that's really affected the OL pipeline.

I am not sure where the good riddance part is coming from, he was amazing for us and is having a potentially record setting year (likely won't happen) but him and BO are a world class duo at the moment imo.  He hurt his finger last game, hopefully nothing major. 

[Blue In BC]

I don't know how Vaval did when he replaced Bridges. I only speed watched the game to see specific plays and look for reported injuries.

I did notice he had a bunch of DT's which is not necessarily a good thing for a DB. It often means he's being targeted. However I did see him " make " some tackles rather than missing them. That was something I noticed about Bridges was the he missed some early take downs that resulted in big plays.

Adding Dawson to day gives us another option this week. He has experience at CB and DB. In theory he knows enough of the playbook and the CFL that he could start this week.

Whether he is the 1st or best option I don't know. It would only be one move in the secondary instead of 2 if Allen was added.

Need more feedback from someone that sees practices and has better evaluation of Allen. Upside and being ready not necessarily the same thing. But we do see some rookies " start " and do well in their 1st season.

It makes the final decision more interesting with a new option.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I would also note that Bo was smart enough not to throw to Kenny when he was doubled. That didn't happen here.

Lawler is looking fantastic this season because he's playing with a QB that throws the ball more often and effectively, plus BLM and Milanovich always think pass first.  Zach and BLM are both good QB's but they're skill levels are not that comparable, BLM is a Div 1 QB, Zach is Div 2, much of Zach's early success involved running the ball, a part of his game that has dropped off dramatically for good reason.

[TecnoGenius]

You sound like a stubblejumper with that first paragraph. Blegh.

Wow, I've been called a lot of things, and a lot of things on this forum, but stubblejumper is a first!      

[TecnoGenius]

I don't know how Vaval did when he replaced Bridges. I only speed watched the game to see specific plays and look for reported injuries.

It seemed like we were instantly better.  Vaval didn't get burned, he was close to his guys.  And they kept picking on his spot.

Pretty sad when the backup rookie with almost 0 D snaps comes in and is instantly better than the sophomore who has been >50% of the reason for 3 losses in a row...

[Blueforlife]

Lawler is looking fantastic this season because he's playing with a QB that throws the ball more often and effectively, plus BLM and Milanovich always think pass first.  Zach and BLM are both good QB's but they're skill levels are not that comparable, BLM is a Div 1 QB, Zach is Div 2, much of Zach's early success involved running the ball, a part of his game that has dropped off dramatically for good reason.

Disagree about Zach.  At his peak just as good as Bo mid career.  That said early Bo was one of best ever.

[blue_gold_84]

Wow, I've been called a lot of things, and a lot of things on this forum, but stubblejumper is a first!      

I said sound like. I know you're actually not.

[barbk]

Wow, I've been called a lot of things, and a lot of things on this forum, but stubblejumper is a first!      

I also asked google what a stubblejumper is and its a Prairie Grain Farmer LOL

[Waffler]

It seemed like we were instantly better.  Vaval didn't get burned, he was close to his guys.  And they kept picking on his spot.

Pretty sad when the backup rookie with almost 0 D snaps comes in and is instantly better than the sophomore who has been >50% of the reason for 3 losses in a row...

Seems the pressure is on Bridges. Bringing back Dexter Lawson Jr is telling. It's possible to start Vaval and have Mitchell or Cobb do kick returns, they both do rotations there in practice.

[Jesse]

I also asked google what a stubblejumper is and its a Prairie Grain Farmer LOL

Thank you. I was scared to google it myself, lol.

[Jesse]

Seems the pressure is on Bridges. Bringing back Dexter Lawson Jr is telling. It's possible to start Vaval and have Mitchell or Cobb do kick returns, they both do rotations there in practice.

I feel like Mitchell comes in, does returns, and Vaval is starting at DB.

That said, it's short week with a cancelled practice so they'll probably make as little changes as possible.

[TecnoGenius]

I feel like Mitchell comes in, does returns, and Vaval is starting at DB.

But Vaval didn't even make the injury report, so he's "officially" 100% good to go, no?

So why not stick status quo and have Vaval return, AND do DB?  Fogg used to do it all the time.  MOS was asked this in his presser and he made a joke but seemed to think it is not outside the realm of possible.

[Waffler]

But Vaval didn't even make the injury report, so he's "officially" 100% good to go, no?

So why not stick status quo and have Vaval return, AND do DB?  Fogg used to do it all the time.  MOS was asked this in his presser and he made a joke but seemed to think it is not outside the realm of possible.

I could see it happening for one game but there is really no need to spread Vaval so thin. If he was Janarion Grant level that would be different. Not much drop off if Cobb or Mitchell do it and you save wear and tear on your secondary.

[The Zipp]

coaching is a question mark for sure...and players executing reflects on the coaches and coaching decisions may put players in positions they shouldn't be...that said:

cooley hasn't returned kicks since high school so on a week with one practice (not counting the walk through) coaches decide he is the best option. seems odd

the play call to pass in the end zone when we need a fg...very odd play call and strev needs to fire it out of bounds when he sees sterns covered and going against a db 8 inches taller.  seems odd

lots of questions on mitchell, but with strev at qb - it really doesn't matter he can't make multiple reads and deliver to the second or third read anyways. the business about him not being able to waggle - well teach him, that is what coaches do..

Corcoran - MOS loves his grit and blocking - takes a penalty for that.

the continued runs up the middle on the sneaky option where strev fakes running with the ball is fooling nobody. 

i liked the defensive shuffles this week, good work coaches  - Coxie is going to give any DB a challenge. 

was Collaros on the sideline?  i couldn't see from my seat.