Official Game Day Thread - Winnipeg at Calgary, August 9, 2025

[TecnoGenius]

Castillo big mistake kicking the ball into the end zone.

Castillo seems to make bad mistakes on KO right after a convert or big FG.  He screwed up in the last GC.  He screwed up the other week with an OOB KO.

I think the quick turnaround time from the last kick to the next kick is messing with him.  We need to get him a guy to go over the very next play very quickly with him with very specific instructions.

It may sound stupid that we need to remind him "don't KO OOB right now", "don't kick it into the EZ", "take into account the wind at your back", but it would seem we need to.  It can't hurt to give him lots of reminders.

He's getting mentally mixed up between 2 plays in rapid succession.

[TecnoGenius]

Nick Taylor time?  Might be time to revive BA's career if he's still in shape, keep him on the PR just in case they need an experienced DB with Bonds and Parker out.

Except Taylor plays mostly HB.  Not sure BA was corner or HB?  I think he once played CB.  But he's always injured, and old.

I don't recall exactly how we always played Houston, but I would be calling him, he knows the system and played as recently as last season.

We have the SMS.  Spend it.

Stiggers may return from the NFL.  Pay him.

[TecnoGenius]

There was very little chance they would win if Castillo had not kicked it in the endzone.

It doesn't matter.  Winnipeg was not stopping Adams from driving the ball down the field.

Bingo, b&gguy is right.  If they start from their 25 or 30 (best case scenario) VAJ just chucks up a 40 instead of a 20.  Maybe a second chuck instead of all the Mills runs.

They had a whole 1:00 minute.  Basically unlimited time to get in FG range for a decent CFL team.

And if 40 wasn't enough VAJ would just chuck a 60.  Our DBs weren't going to stop it.

I don't recall us stopping a single deep shot the entire game.  They were literally all free throws.

Should have gone for it on 3rd down.  Zach should have taken the risky shot on 2nd down.  Literally anything would have been preferable to letting the CGY O walk all over us in 3 down mode.

[TecnoGenius]

I was only able to watch a small portion of the game. Was Mitchell a factor?

1 decent catch for 10 maybe?  Maybe 1 more for peanuts.  Other than that, no.  I'm not even sure we targeted him much more than that.

Case could have easily done the same.

[TecnoGenius]

Clearly our defence lost the game. VAJ had too much time and we couldn't cover or tackle. Strategy continues to allow receivers to catch in front of the secondary and then try to swarm and tackle.

No.  We lost this game like we lost the '22 and '23 GCs.  The O had the ball with under 3 mins and we rapidly do nothing.  Maybe a Brady run for squat.  Or a sack or useless nothing pass (probably dropped or only 2Y) on 1st, maybe on 2nd.  Then a no-one open useless short pass on 2nd.  Kick it on 3rd.

Literally the exact same way to lose a game.  No one BOLD.  No one CARES.  Just take the sacks.

Heaven forbid we have some creative wacky play in our pocket JUST FOR THIS MOMENT, you know, like every other team does (like MTL on 3rd & 3).

Nope, we'll just run all our normal routes, that sucked all 2nd H, and we'll hope one works out before our bad OL lets in the 3 man rush.  Zach won't take the shot because we've yelled at him for all the picks.

When your D can't stop anything YOU TAKE THE SHOTS, YOU GET CREATIVE, YOU USE ALL 3 DOWNS.  But no, we lost, and I made bank betting against my beloved team.  It really sucks, and it feels bad, as Rider fans live it up with their all-8Y-pass QB and their near perfect record.

[TecnoGenius]

WOW. Thomas, Adams and Schmekel each had a DT. Gave up 113 yards rushing and couldn't make a play if their lives depended on it.

Uh, they stopped the run nearly all 1st H.  We stuffed Mills behind LoS a ton and limited him to 1-3 many others.  Run D was great then.  Should have kept it up.

We got lax in the 2nd H probably because VAJ/OC was showing pass-mostly and the deep burns were killing us.  And we probably got tired and disheartened by the crap O play in the 2nd H.

[Waffler]

You are not going to win very many game with just a MOP RB and Demski. Is it time for Miller to speak up?
MOS said he likes the guys he has on this team today, is he watching the game or team?

This is pretty much what Doug Brown asked the coach in the post game. He asked if we had the receivers in particular and was incredulous at the answer that MOS likes who we have. 

To me we are looking like a 3rd place team.  We are holding it together by playing as a team but in fact we are out manned by the best teams everywhere but RB and kicking/returning game.

Speaking of kicking I thought Sheahan had his best game as a Bomber.

[Pigskin]

This is pretty much what Doug Brown asked the coach in the post game. He asked if we had the receivers in particular and was incredulous at the answer that MOS likes who we have. 

To me we are looking like a 3rd place team.  We are holding it together by playing as a team but in fact we are out manned by the best teams everywhere but RB and kicking/returning game.

Speaking of kicking I thought Sheahan had his best game as a Bomber.

Yes, nothing wrong with our kicking game or our special teams. Sheahen had a very good game.

[Waffler]

Well, what more could you ask for with 2:00 left in the 4th and down by 2 and you have the ball?  This is a dream scenario.  Years past we win that easily with clock and ball control.  We'd be unstoppable.

Zach needs to throw the ball if it's a called pass.  You can't eat it.  You can't dawdle and hem & haw.  Throw the **** ball.  It won't matter if it's an INT because you're going to lose anyway if you fail to drive.

So close, yet so far.

I half agree. Yes, in the past we steamroll with running plays and close it out. We are not beating teams up anymore.

No, you cannot just throw the ball anyway unless it's the last play of the game. If a pick is thrown it is worse than a punt. In situations like this other teams might try to intentionally draw a PI but MOS won't play like that.

[Blue In BC]

Uh, they stopped the run nearly all 1st H.  We stuffed Mills behind LoS a ton and limited him to 1-3 many others.  Run D was great then.  Should have kept it up.

We got lax in the 2nd H probably because VAJ/OC was showing pass-mostly and the deep burns were killing us.  And we probably got tired and disheartened by the crap O play in the 2nd H.

The game is 60 minutes. I could care less about some success in the 1st half against the run when we give up deep uncontested passes. In the end we still gave up 113 yards rushing to Mills.

Yes our offence couldn't move the ball well enough to kill the clock in their final drive. I stand by the fact the defence cost us the game. We gave up 400+ yards and continue to not be able to stop 2nd and long.

I didn't see the defence stop the Stamps on their last drive to score the winning FG.

Just re-watched the game and saw that the Stamps didn't really run much in the 1st half. So we didn't stop the run as much as they were mostly passing

[Blue In BC]

Now what? O'Shea / Younger fascination with LB's is killing us. IDK if Allen is any good but we played Kelly at safety and he didn't play well. J. Jones may have some future and I think is a good player but both these guys were just playing ST's.

Now we've lost Bonds to injury and our PR only really has Allen as a choice. IMO Woodbey is more like a LB. He's 5lbs heavier than T. Jones so I don't see him as a choice in the secondary.

We didn't have the option of a 3 import OL. If Vanterpool is healthy this week, I'd start him at LG. Sit one of the LB's to get him on the roster.

Woods would be a better choice than one of the extra LB's. No idea why he ended up on the PR even if he's not in game shape.  Maybe Lawson can play this week. He might help a little. 

Overall our defence is not good enough. Recruiting, roster selections after TC final cut down all are contributing to this problem.

[Waffler]

Smart move by CGY.  Should have tried to finesse kick it

The squib kick is a lost art.

[The Zipp]

our player pantry is pretty bare - we are going to have to bring some in like other teams do. could have had Evans and Dandridge but we passed on them.

would love to see Wheatfall's stats for the last 4 or 5 games - seems invisible. not even sure if he was targeted yesterday. 

this little slide was predicted, ottawa isn't going to roll over - they are in a short week as well but have to travel here.

MOS mantra of "one or two bad plays" is true but he hasn't shown me recently he has a plan to fix it, new players? new coaches? different practice schedule/tempo? players only meeting?

 players are losing focus and it is costing us games.

[Blueforlife]

No easy answers with roster selections as we don't have have guys that are ready to start

Bonds going down really hurts us.  Losing two CBs is rough.

Woods when ready will help

[Ridermania]

Bomber fans, the sun did come up today.

Season is not even half over, just relax.

No coaching changes will happen during the season.

I still believe that the Bombers will make the play-offs, may be in the east as a cross over, but will make it.

Real season doesn't start until Labour Day.