coaching

[blue_gold_84]

Holy Moses, look at the beef on the sidelines in the MTL and CGY game for their DLs.  Wow.  Their upper arms are thicker than Fatboi's waist.  Some of these guys are over 300 lbs, and it's all muscle.

We haven't had that since Nevis & Stove.

Bingo. Sayles was a nice piece as well, but he moved on. The D-line doesn't have the size down the middle anymore, and it's creating other issues for the defense.

Relying on undersized interior DLs in a rotation can work but it hinges on the performance of the front 7 as a whole, IMO. That hasn't worked the last two games.

[Blue In BC]

2025 free agent acquisitions:

1. Vaughters: doing not bad
2. Sterns: marginal output so far.
3. Gowonlock, Hagerty and White released.
4. Logan injured during TC.
5. Mitchell healthy but hasn't made AR yet this year.
6. J. Jones healthy but hasn't made AR yet this year.
7. Cobb, sitting on PR.
8. Makonzo on 6 game IR. Might be ready soon.

That was not a successful free agency except for non Bombers being extended.

EDIT: Late additions to PR from 24.

None that I can tell. Person is here but he was added around LD?

[The Zipp]

2025 free agent acquisitions:

1. Vaughters: doing not bad
2. Sterns: marginal output so far.
3. Gowonlock, Hagerty and White released.
4. Logan injured during TC.
5. Mitchell healthy but hasn't made AR yet this year.
6. Cobb, sitting on PR.

That was not a successful free agency except for non Bombers being extended.

but of a so-so effort - expected more for this year TBH

[Jesse]

but of a so-so effort - expected more for this year TBH

Yup. I'm sure none of those guys are doing what Walters expected.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

2025 free agent acquisitions:

1. Vaughters: doing not bad
2. Sterns: marginal output so far.
3. Gowonlock, Hagerty and White released.
4. Logan injured during TC.
5. Mitchell healthy but hasn't made AR yet this year.
6. J. Jones healthy but hasn't made AR yet this year.
7. Cobb, sitting on PR.
8. Makonzo on 6 game IR. Might be ready soon.

That was not a successful free agency except for non Bombers being extended.

EDIT: Late additions to PR from 24.

None that I can tell. Person is here but he was added around LD?

Don't think anyone was critical of these signings when first announced, had some unfortunate circumstance but most on that list are still considered solid players, just haven't found their fit yet.

[Blueforlife]

I'd gladly defend Jake Thomas on his play every game, I think he completes his assignments 90% of plays, he drives O-linemen back into the pocket as consistently as any other DT on the team. If this was no longer the case I believe the coaching staff would not hesitate to replace him in the lineup as they have a number of available options.

DT is a thankless job, they have to fight humans 50-100 lbs. heavier than they are, who often double up in their effort to defend the QB. Old school DT's job is not to slip past these behemoths to chase the QB, but to physically tangle them up so they can't create holes in the defence. Making tackles are rather difficult when a 300+ lb O-lineman has a death grip on your jersey.

I'm no football expert but I watch every game twice win or lose, first I watch the ball, the second I watch the line play and opposition players. He may not be quick but I believe Jake has a naturally strong core much like the shot putter or power lifter, neither of which has the look of a great athlete but have enormous strength.  I listen to the pre-game shows every week and I've never heard Doug Brown or any other football professional ever criticize Jake Thomas for his performance. Jake is a convenient target for frustration, but really a minor actor in the total outcome of games. 

I believe facts are presented above and I agree with all of this

[Blueforlife]

I think this is a great post.  So many people don't watch the games carefully (especially more than once).  So many miss what's actually happening on the lines.  So of course they'd undervalue Fatboi, because Fatboi has zero splash and doesn't stand out.

The DL is just like the OL: they have to play as a complete unit.  Only when they gel and all are on the same page do good things happen.  And they know this, as that's why when interviewed they always talk about the pressure and never the individual stat.

Out DL as a unit is pretty bad right now when facing good OLs.  Maybe the coaching is letting them down.  Maybe the talent just isn't there.  But until we can get consistent pressure we'll continue to get eaten alive by good teams.

Agree all, well said

[Pete]

It's not "is Fatboi good", it's "is Fatboi good within the confines of the ratio and the SMS".  Clearly he 100% is the latter, or he wouldn't be here still.

If you want to blame someone for overall DL funk, blame KW (and MOS).  KW has never prioritized DL unit in terms of total pay.  I bet we have the cheapest DL unit in the league by miles.

This is a conscious choice by KW & Mafia.  If you want to scream, scream at them.

that's been my point all along, its not on JT. I don't know why we didn't bring in more dline in training camp or weren't more active in free agency on the dline. Its been an issue since Jefferson left. Why didn't we resign Garbutt and Fox? both are outperforming what we have.
I don't know if its Walters or OShea not wanting more changes. At this point the only hopes we have are
Woods getting healthy and making a difference
Lawton getting better as the season goes on, some injuries take more time to really get over

I don't see nfl cuts helping as OShea is unlikely to play a rookie. Its part of why I started this thread on coaching.

[Jesse]

This was on the broadcast last night. If you buy the argument that the Bombers value pressures over sacks (even though pressures should lead to sacks), shouldn't we see some Bombers on the list? We haven't had any of our DL miss any games.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

This was on the broadcast last night. If you buy the argument that the Bombers value pressures over sacks (even though pressures should lead to sacks), shouldn't we see some Bombers on the list? We haven't had any of our DL miss any games.

I thin the Bombers are the only team that's had 2 byes so far, so that donit help.

[Jesse]

I thin the Bombers are the only team that's had 2 byes so far, so that donit help.

Fair, but I wouldn't expect to see us up there anyway.

Also not cool that 4 of the 7 players up there are form teams who have played us twice. Not a very good sign from our OL.

[Blueforlife]

Our pressures will increase as our DL gels and we get Woods back

Will be middle of the pack I think but that a guess as I don't know where we stand now

[dd]

No matter who starts or plays,you have to produce. Sissy's who can't wrap up on efforts to tackle , DBs who can't close and wrap up are cheating their teammates.those guys should. Not be on a cFL team. They certainly do not play in an NFL team.

Plus our DBs are tiny.

In truth, our defense has lots of guys that can't make plays. Hence 8th place on the horizon.
The Mafia should be finished after the season, if they last that long. Poor job this year.

I think the mafia are in for some rough times, but they've done too much to lose their jobs. I really don't see this group making the playoffs though without some serious injection of reciever talent

[GOLDMEMBER]

I think the mafia are in for some rough times, but they've done too much to lose their jobs. I really don't see this group making the playoffs though without some serious injection of reciever talent

the play calling is atrocious. Not running with Brady is completely idiotic. Hogan is shockingly brutal at calling plays.

[TecnoGenius]

That was not a successful free agency except for non Bombers being extended.

The only "excitement FA" in this group, when they signed, was Mitchell, White, Logan, and maybe Vaughters.  I don't recall anyone being excited about Sterns.

The only huge excitement was Mitchell, and the signing bonus reflects that.

Even without hindsight, it wasn't a splash FA.  It was more "tweak mode".  Which MUST mean we have gobs of SMS sitting somewhere?