Official Game Day Thread - Winnipeg at Toronto., July 26, 2025

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

One of the more hopeless fakes I have ever seen. Direct snap it or have Sheahan toss it to a real football player, someone faster, someone who can take on contact and still get that last yard that we needed.

Surprised, it must be 5 years since O'Shea last sanctioned a trick play on ST, could be an indicator of desperation setting in as that was an enormous gamble that was unlikely to succeed.

[The Zipp]

Our dynasty is officially dead. We got beat by a 1-5 team by 14 who has a ton of injuries including their starting QB. 

and it wasn't close

[kkc60]

I think it was a dig on us and the pundits/press.  Kinda like: shut up, I know my job you don't.  I guess that's fair, but we can still have opinions and attempt to study what is going on.

I mostly agree with your post, and in no way should we fire any Mafia.

But it's also clear that the MOS "each guy just wants 1 or 2 plays back" schtick isn't describing the situation properly.  Last 3 games it's more like "10 guys want 5-10 plays back, the rest want 1-2 plays back".

And the "you can't just replace a guy and instantly be better" also rings a bit hollow when we see so many other teams load up later in season and instantly be better.  Ya, like Sayles or Houston or Ford "coming home" wouldn't instantly make us better with Bridges on the bench.  And Kenny or Gino in for Case wouldn't instantly make us better?  Even if all of them stunk, they'd all get RESPECT from the other team instead of blatant advantage-taking!  That makes their whole unit better.

And Mafia has benched or cut underperforming, or even decent, players mid-season before, and almost always did it make us better for the playoff run.  So it's kind of hypocritical to say roster shuffling and helicopter drops can never help.

He's right that this is fixable, and right we'll be better.  But key moves have to be made.  I expect we may see the start of that very soon with Bridges as the first domino (though if Vaval to IR it makes that harder).

if he's more focused on taking digs at fans or the media after a third straight belting than any sort of substantive thought, then maybe he's more lost than he looked on the sidelines. This team had more cap space than they have in years, and has had two bye weeks already and yet most of the issues, especially defensively, are not due to injuries but simply either scheme, players or both.

These past three games have all been dreadful and there isn't one reason for that. The entire team is a mess and that's not on pundits or the media or the fans.

[Go_Big_D]

No one is going to look good/capable behind the BBs OLine, thats the big problem.

[tlf]

I may be alone in thinking this and that's fine, but having a RB coach as our OC hasn't helped our passing QB.  Buck was successful with him, but this year, it has not helped Zach.  Being hurt and having a decimated OL hasn't helped either, but the OC hasn't helped the play calling.  It is lacklustre at best.  Strevy has better packages for him, because he is a running QB.  I'm not a fan of that.

Osh was heated watching that game last night.  I haven't seen him that tense in a while. I hope it turns into some production and much needed energy for the entire team and coaching staff.

Also, USE BRADY for crying out loud.  You have the leagues MOP.. use him!! Unless he has tweaked something?! Is that a possibility why he isn't being used AS MUCH?

Defense, burning Bridges... so bad.  Why are we not recruiting many more Dbs? It was nice to see him sit though. Good to see coaches show players they expect more. More of this please.

Letting Biggie go was a big mistake.  We could use him right now.  I feel he energized Willy and vice versa.  Willy needs some support on D.  Jones has been ok.  I LOVE Evan Holm though. He's excellent.

Who's our QB next year?  I cringe wondering. :/

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

No one is going to look good/capable behind the BBs OLine, thats the big problem.

Not too concerned about the O-line, the ingredients/replacements are there, they're not a small bunch and it's just a matter of time before they become comfortable and improve their chemistry by playing together. Under-performance at QB is more of an issue IMO.

[Blueforlife]

Not too concerned about the O-line, the ingredients/replacements are there, they're not a small bunch and it's just a matter of time before they become comfortable and improve their chemistry by playing together. Under-performance at QB is more of an issue IMO.

Agree OL will sort it out which will sort our our run game and QB play in turn.  To start the season I knew out OL would be an issue, started strong, bump in the road and will finish strong.  I was pleasantly surprised how good our OL looked early but injuries and setbacks happen.  Not worried about the offense if the OL gels and heals.

I may be alone in thinking this and that's fine, but having a RB coach as our OC hasn't helped our passing QB.  Buck was successful with him, but this year, it has not helped Zach.  Being hurt and having a decimated OL hasn't helped either, but the OC hasn't helped the play calling.  It is lacklustre at best.  Strevy has better packages for him, because he is a running QB.  I'm not a fan of that.

Osh was heated watching that game last night.  I haven't seen him that tense in a while. I hope it turns into some production and much needed energy for the entire team and coaching staff.

Also, USE BRADY for crying out loud.  You have the leagues MOP.. use him!! Unless he has tweaked something?! Is that a possibility why he isn't being used AS MUCH?

Defense, burning Bridges... so bad.  Why are we not recruiting many more Dbs? It was nice to see him sit though. Good to see coaches show players they expect more. More of this please.

Letting Biggie go was a big mistake.  We could use him right now.  I feel he energized Willy and vice versa.  Willy needs some support on D.  Jones has been ok.  I LOVE Evan Holm though. He's excellent.

Who's our QB next year?  I cringe wondering. :/

Letting Biggie go was the only way forward.  Biggie from 2 or 3 years ago yes we could have used.  Aged out, hurt Biggie, nope.

OC will take time.  Zach will be fine and lives and dies with play of OL and his health.  Brady needs to get back to bully ball on the back of an improved OL.

Bridges has shown enough in his young career that there is still hope, very bad number of games.  Holm is a top player.

Willie is a little our of sorts.  At his age, he has ups and downs.  Not too worried.

We have prospects but nobody ready to step in at DB, yes would have been nice to have someone that is ready.  Vaval will develop.  Allen will season.  Takes time.  We have some pieces of the puzzle, they just don't fit yet.

When Zach is retired we will have prospect at QB to consider and the club will likely bring in vet for balance.  Not worried but having a QB play at Zach's level over the last 5 years or so is a luxury that will be hard to replicate.

[tlf]

Agree OL will sort it out which will sort our our run game and QB play in turn.  To start the season I knew out OL would be an issue, started strong, bump in the road and will finish strong.  I was pleasantly surprised how good our OL looked early but injuries and setbacks happen.  Not worried about the offense if the OL gels and heals.
Letting Biggie go was the only way forward.  Biggie from 2 or 3 years ago yes we could have used.  Aged out, hurt Biggie, nope.

OC will take time.  Zach will be fine and lives of dies with play of OL and his health.  Brady needs to get back to bully ball on the back of an improved OL.

Bridges has shown enough in his young career that there is still hope, very bad number of games.  Holm is a top player.

Willie is a little our of sorts.  At his age, he has ups and downs.  Not too worried.

We have prospects but nobody ready to step in at DB, yes would have been nice to have someone that is ready.  Vaval will develop.  Allen will season.  Takes time.  We have some pieces of the puzzle, they just don't fit yet.

Fair. I just hate getting puzzles at the thrift store, paying cheap and missing pieces to the picture we wanted to get.

Agree on Zach and Brady. Maybe BIggie too..he was behind a few steps often last year.  I can dream though. Can we clone Holm? Maybe a few of Bryant while we're at it.

I thought I saw a helmet hit on ZC and I fear it will be worse than we think, but I sure hope not.  We need him.

I am one of those who saw Terry WIlson throw in practice before, and yes, he throws a nice ball.  Derek Taylor also mentioned this on air on CJOB. Us who say this are not alone. Coaches have their plans though..maybe something else they want to see.  Make a move or two Kyle. Grey Cup is here and we'd like to be in it. Portage and Main is open and wouldn't a parade be nice there.

[Blueforlife]

Fair. I just hate getting puzzles at the thrift store, paying cheap and missing pieces to the picture we wanted to get.

Agree on Zach and Brady. Maybe BIggie too..he was behind a few steps often last year.  I can dream though. Can we clone Holm? Maybe a few of Bryant while we're at it.

I thought I saw a helmet hit on ZC and I fear it will be worse than we think, but I sure hope not.  We need him.

I am one of those who saw Terry WIlson throw in practice before, and yes, he throws a nice ball.  Derek Taylor also mentioned this on air on CJOB. Us who say this are not alone. Coaches have their plans though..maybe something else they want to see.  Make a move or two Kyle. Grey Cup is here and we'd like to be in it. Portage and Main is open and wouldn't a parade be nice there.

Pretty good quote about puzzles there, well played.  I think we got all the corner pieces still but a couple of them have rounded corners lol.  Gotta make a donation to get the price down at the thrift store.

Yup we need a little talent injection or next man up to be good now.

Yes 3x Holms and 2x Stan's would make all our problems go away for the most part.  Maybe Milt 2.0 for good measure lol.  One can dream.  Wilson (receiver) could be that corner piece with crisp edges lol.

Terry has the tools, just needs to sharpen them.

[tlf]

I will say, Zach is having a rough year, and he isn't playing like the Zach we got when we first got him. But I still believe he is a winner and is still good and can be great. However, he also doesn't have the receivers he had before either. Huge difference.  Does he have the chemistry and trust with these receivers?  BUT.. Streveler isn't the Streveler of 5-6 years ago either. He's lost his speed and some power.

We need to start looking to the future now and not when we don't have anyone to come off the bench.  What if Streveler gets hurt?  One hit away.  Who's the backups in the system? Who would you want to trade for?  I hope it doesn't come down to that but I do wonder.

[Pigskin]

I will say, Zach is having a rough year, and he isn't playing like the Zach we got when we first got him. But I still believe he is a winner and is still good and can be great. However, he also doesn't have the receivers he had before either. Huge difference.  Does he have the chemistry and trust with these receivers?  BUT.. Streveler isn't the Streveler of 5-6 years ago either. He's lost his speed and some power.

We need to start looking to the future now and not when we don't have anyone to come off the bench.  What if Streveler gets hurt?  One hit away.  Who's the backups in the system? Who would you want to trade for?  I hope it doesn't come down to that but I do wonder.


[/quote

ZC8 had a tough 2024 also.

[tlf]

I will say, Zach is having a rough year, and he isn't playing like the Zach we got when we first got him. But I still believe he is a winner and is still good and can be great. However, he also doesn't have the receivers he had before either. Huge difference.  Does he have the chemistry and trust with these receivers?  BUT.. Streveler isn't the Streveler of 5-6 years ago either. He's lost his speed and some power.

We need to start looking to the future now and not when we don't have anyone to come off the bench.  What if Streveler gets hurt?  One hit away.  Who's the backups in the system? Who would you want to trade for?  I hope it doesn't come down to that but I do wonder.


[/quote

ZC8 had a tough 2024 also.

Grey Cup appearances make me happy with him and the team. We also had a better supporting cast, each leader needs a good team around them.  Leaders can't run the entire ship by themselves, they need reliable team members to count on to help the team work as a smooth running engine. It's not all on the QB. It takes an entire unit to win. It seems we are having rough starts over some rocky speed bumps. Rough start.. We need to tweak this roster to finish like 2024 with a different result at the finish line. 

[3rdand1.5]

Individual players have not played as well as hoped, but more concerning is the lake of chemistry, communication, cohesiveness, and energy......How many missed blocks, missed tackles, one DB isolated on two or three receivers...what is it 17 turnovers over three games, how many costly avoidable penalties, 3 consecutive multi pic games...the list can go on and on....I don't think this is one one, two, three players etc. this is deeper...we are not showing leadership, understanding of concepts and responsibilities...I am seeing fundamental mistakes...and now it's not a one off, it's a pattern..

[J5V]

if he's more focused on taking digs at fans or the media after a third straight belting than any sort of substantive thought, then maybe he's more lost than he looked on the sidelines. This team had more cap space than they have in years, and has had two bye weeks already and yet most of the issues, especially defensively, are not due to injuries but simply either scheme, players or both.

These past three games have all been dreadful and there isn't one reason for that. The entire team is a mess and that's not on pundits or the media or the fans.

Yet we were told at the start of the season "I really like the look of our team". Why? What was he looking at that made him think that?

[blue_gold_84]

This team is in trouble.