Toronto @ Winnipeg Pregame

[TecnoGenius]

Probably wrong thread but anyone know why we have Britt Dort and not John Lu on the sidelines?

Lu disappeared for no reason mid-late last season.  No one knew at the time when I asked.

His retirement announcement is dated July 1.  Maybe he had some issues in the interim.

Dort is just fine by me as the new guy/gal!  She makes great choices in shirt purchases.  I heard she recently got married.

[TecnoGenius]

fat n sassy has set in ...pretty common when you have had extended success like the bombers have had

Ya.  Around '23 I started questioning our "hunger" level.  That 2019 hunger wasn't there anymore.  It's a huge part of why we lost the '22-'23 cups.

There's something about struggling so hard and losing so bad for years that gives you that hunger that only winning the cup will satiate.  Once you get that cup, that hunger can never be regained.  I think hunger could give a team at least a 10% edge, all else being equal.  That hunger is what had MTL stopping our last drive in '23 and then scoring in 3-down mode at the last second.

To overcome the lack of hunger by WPG, we have to be at least 10% better in all other facets.

[TecnoGenius]

from the brain of doug brown:

IMHO, the difference between last year's early season struggles, & this year's early season struggles, was that the 2024 roster had the talent to improve. They just needed to get healthy & figure things out. The 2025 roster needs some game breakers & upgrades urgently

That's a bit of hindsight is 20/20 though.  There were new guys that still needed to prove themselves and gel in '24.  And at the time they looked like useless losers.  Only by the end of the season did we think they had talent.

Could be the same thing here.  Or maybe not.  Or maybe a mix.

For example, Bonds was baaaad to start '24.  He looked as useless as Bridges in '25.  But by the end Bonds was pretty legit.  Not great, but not a huge liability.  A few times they'd pick on him and he'd get picks or near-picks, and teams would back off.

So is Bridges baaaaaad just to start '25 and will be decent by year end?  Or is he just plain baaaaad.

The point is Brown should compare the knowledge/predictions at the start of '25 to the start of '24, not to the end of '24!

[TecnoGenius]

kind of odd how we were able to get sacks in a short spurt and then nothing - what did TO do different to counteract our pressure?

They started doing draw screens and hitches, etc.  The first time they did a draw screen they really burned us as it suckered everyone in.  Another football IQ issue right there: someone has to suss out the screen and bleed off to the intended carrier.

After that burn we backed off on the blitzes a bit.

Also, we'd blitz on 1st, get them in 2nd & 20 and they'd just convert every time like they were 2016 CGY.  We never followed a blitz by a blitz, and we'd always go soft zone with no pressure.  Aggravating.

[kkc60]

Ya.  Around '23 I started questioning our "hunger" level.  That 2019 hunger wasn't there anymore.  It's a huge part of why we lost the '22-'23 cups.

There's something about struggling so hard and losing so bad for years that gives you that hunger that only winning the cup will satiate.  Once you get that cup, that hunger can never be regained.  I think hunger could give a team at least a 10% edge, all else being equal.  That hunger is what had MTL stopping our last drive in '23 and then scoring in 3-down mode at the last second.

To overcome the lack of hunger by WPG, we have to be at least 10% better in all other facets.

I agree. Thought MTL was going to win once leaders on this team started guaranteeing a win to the media. Toronto won a GC more recently than we did prior to last GC and they still looked hungrier than we did.

[Blue In BC]

Ok, musical chair time sorting out this week's roster. Quite probable we have a change at receiver due to injury. Not many choices but someone has to be added. Vaval being out could mean that Mitchell gets added as the returner even if he's not the starting receiver choice.

OTOH, that's a 2 for 1 benefit in theory. I'd like to think Logan is ready soon but not convinced it's this week. That continues to be unfortunate.

Just guessing but I think Kelly comes on the AR and replaces Ball on ST's. Kelly is pretty good in that role and can ease into getting some reps on defence.

Lots of changes possible but IMO the biggest questions are on the OL regarding who can be added.

I believe Collaros will play but can he survive another hit taking him out of the game early? No easy answer there but if the OL gets some help maybe he has better protection this week.

I'm not suggesting the possible changes at DB and receiver aren't important but everything starts with the offence being able to win LOS and TOP. That helps keep the defence off the field.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

That's a bit of hindsight is 20/20 though.  There were new guys that still needed to prove themselves and gel in '24.  And at the time they looked like useless losers.  Only by the end of the season did we think they had talent.

Could be the same thing here.  Or maybe not.  Or maybe a mix.

For example, Bonds was baaaad to start '24.  He looked as useless as Bridges in '25.  But by the end Bonds was pretty legit.  Not great, but not a huge liability.  A few times they'd pick on him and he'd get picks or near-picks, and teams would back off.

So is Bridges baaaaaad just to start '25 and will be decent by year end?  Or is he just plain baaaaad.

The point is Brown should compare the knowledge/predictions at the start of '25 to the start of '24, not to the end of '24!

What does bad mean???  That's a poor choice of words to describe a problem because it's too general, it's little more than an insult. I believe Bonds and Bridges are athletically gifted enough to play corner as I've seen no evidence that they can't keep up with the fastest receivers or jump with the best of them.  So the problem is that they continue to make mental mistakes, which is not unusual for inexperienced CB's who are often picked upon.  As MOS might say, "is that on them for not being able to absorb what's taught, or does the failure fall on the coaching staff for not doing a good enough job of teaching?"  Or maybe it come down to a half season of experience cures all.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Ok, musical chair time sorting out this week's roster. Quite probable we have a change at receiver due to injury. Not many choices but someone has to be added. Vaval being out could mean that Mitchell gets added as the returner even if he's not the starting receiver choice.

OTOH, that's a 2 for 1 benefit in theory. I'd like to think Logan is ready soon but not convinced it's this week. That continues to be unfortunate.

Just guessing but I think Kelly comes on the AR and replaces Ball on ST's. Kelly is pretty good in that role and can ease into getting some reps on defence.

Lots of changes possible but IMO the biggest questions are on the OL regarding who can be added.

I believe Collaros will play but can he survive another hit taking him out of the game early? No easy answer there but if the OL gets some help maybe he has better protection this week.

I'm not suggesting the possible changes at DB and receiver aren't important but everything starts with the offence being able to win LOS and TOP. That helps keep the defence off the field.

Ed Tait and Derek Taylor touched upon the Dillon Mitchell problem in the Bomber podcast yesterday, they strongly suggested he got beat out executing the waggle in practice by Kody Case and implied he probably will not make the roster unless a spot is opened up for him standing on the line.  I suppose that means Clercius or Wheatfall will be moved to slot so Mitchell can come on as WR and help out with kick and punt returns. Gavin Cobb might also make the roster if Vaval is not ready to go.

[Blue In BC]

Ed Tait and Derek Taylor touched upon the Dillon Mitchell problem in the Bomber podcast yesterday, they strongly suggested he got beat out executing the waggle in practice by Kody Case and implied he probably will not make the roster unless a spot is opened up for him standing on the line.  I suppose that means Clercius or Wheatfall will be moved to slot so Mitchell can come on as WR and help out with kick and punt returns. Gavin Cobb might also make the roster if Vaval is not ready to go.

I suggested moving Clercius to SB so Mitchell could be added instead of having Case on the AR last week. It seemed like the lesser of two not so great choices. I wasn't impressed by Case in 2024 so was surprised he was retained after having so many receivers in TC.

If the new receiver on the PR beats him onto the AR, then it's time to part ways with Mitchell.

For that matter I wonder if they've called White to see if he wants to return?

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I suggested moving Clercius to SB so Mitchell could be added instead of having Case on the AR last week. It seemed like the lesser of two not so great choices. I wasn't impressed by Case in 2024 so was surprised he was retained after having so many receivers in TC.

If the new receiver on the PR beats him onto the AR, then it's time to part ways with Mitchell.

For that matter I wonder if they've called White to see if he wants to return?

In the 2 games Case played I saw hints of why they kept him, he was incredibly quick, but he's gone now.  Joey Corcoran still has a step up on Mitchell and could be moved to slot but I'm impatient to see if Mitchell can add a touch of magic to the offence like Wheatfall did.

[Jesse]

Ed Tait and Derek Taylor touched upon the Dillon Mitchell problem in the Bomber podcast yesterday, they strongly suggested he got beat out executing the waggle in practice by Kody Case and implied he probably will not make the roster unless a spot is opened up for him standing on the line.  I suppose that means Clercius or Wheatfall will be moved to slot so Mitchell can come on as WR and help out with kick and punt returns. Gavin Cobb might also make the roster if Vaval is not ready to go.

That said, DT said he expected Mitchell to come into the lineup and Wheatfall to be moved to the slot this week.

[The Zipp]

In his three years with the Elks, the former Oregon Duck accumulated 1,896 yards on 130 receptions with 12 touchdowns, while also serving on special teams in 2022 and 2024 – returning 25 kickoffs for 535 yards and 31 punts for 254 yards.

good for 8 yards a punt return...sign him up

I am more excited to see him at WR..Clercius seems like more a slot guy but I am sure Wheatfall will do fine there.

[gobombersgo]

[gobombersgo]

Taylor Allen   @TaylorAllen31  19m
Mike O'Shea, uncharacteristically, confirmed that QB Zach Collaros will not play this Friday against the Argos. Collaros is on the injury list with a neck injury.

I asked O'Shea if he expects him to be out for a while and he said no.

Derek Taylor   @DTonOB   26m
Bombers HC Mike O'Shea announces that Zach Collaros will not play Friday vs. the Argos. Won't confirm that Chris Streveler will start.

Collaros did not return to last week's game after half. Was listed on the injury report with a neck injury.

[gobombersgo]