Official Game Day Thread - Ottawa at Winnipeg, August 14, 2025

[Blue In BC]

way too early to plan for that imo, stretching a bit imo, yes a big game but it's early in the season and there is a lot of ball to be playedyeah don't want to rush them

As expected not that many changes, nice for Allen to come in as a depth guy, get his feet wet 1st, have to see how many reps at safety Kelly vs. Kramdi.  Did others see us playing two safeties at times in the past? I could be wrong.

Who says they are being rushed? You might be correct but I think this is just O'Shea making some bad decisions.

It's not early in the season. This week is game 9 which is exactly half.  Vanterpool played last week and was listed as " full " in practice. This seems to be a choice made within the ratio. Perhaps it's the right choice but if our OL suffers, there will be questions after the game.

Logan has been running for weeks. Even if he's not game ready, he's healthy and should be bumped to PR IMO.

[markf]

Kelly is going to get hopefully zero reps tomorrow. He was not close to being ready.

Kelly... what has that guy shown? I don't rewatch games, am I missing something? 

I am the last person to question roster decisions, and I don't like to call out players, but this one I don't get. He seems clueless. And this has carried over from last season when I am pretty sure he got benched in one game he started.

[Blue In BC]

Kelly... what has that guy shown? I don't rewatch games, am I missing something? 

I am the last person to question roster decisions, but this one I don't get. He seems clueless. And this has carried over from last season when I am pretty sure he got benched in one game he started.

He looked better last year before the injury. So healthy and game ready are not the same thing. I think he'll add value in a game or two but I don't know he should be seeing so many key reps yet.

He took the wrong angle on the long TD, slightly late and then missed the tackle.  On the PI he was there slightly early. This will be game 3 back and if he's starting there should be a very short lease. The problems can't be the same problems week to week. That was the issues with Bridges and Bonds.

Whether Allen starts I have no idea.

[gobombersgo]

Ottawa Redblacks make three defensive changes for game against Blue Bombers
By 3Down Staff -August 13, 2025

The Ottawa Redblacks have made three changes on defence ahead of their trip to Princess Auto Stadium to take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Davion Taylor will start at weak-side linebacker in place of Frankie Griffin, who has been moved to the six-game injured list due to a wrist injury. The 27-year-old native of McComb, Miss. was a third-round pick on the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2020 NFL Draft out of the University of Colorado and spent three seasons with the team. He has played 20 regular-season CFL games since joining the Redblacks last year, recording 45 defensive tackles, 14 special teams tackles, three sacks, and three forced fumbles.

Ottawa has also reconfigured its secondary as field-side halfback Amari Henderson has been placed on the six-game injured list due to a knee injury. Veteran defensive back Deandre Lamont will take over for Henderson, while Robert Priester, who dressed in a depth role the past two weeks, will start at boundary halfback where Lamont was starting.

There has also been a change at field-side cornerback with Alijah McGhee hitting the one-game injured list with an ankle problem. CFL rookie Gavin Heslop will take over his spot in what will be his first career start. The 27-year-old native of Yonkers, N.Y. was a two-time All-Conference selected at Stony Brook University and played two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent.

The Redblacks have listed three players as game-time decisions, so there could be further changes made to the lineup. Field-side wideout Keelan White, who was the third overall pick in this year's CFL draft, is dealing with an ankle injury, while defensive tackle Cleyon Laing (knee) and safety Bennett Williams (hamstring) are also game-time decisions.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-4) will host the Ottawa Redblacks (3-6) at Princess Auto Stadium on Thursday, August 14 with kickoff slated for 8:30 p.m. EDT. The Redblacks are coming off a 46-42 win over the Toronto Argonauts, while the Blue Bombers suffered a walk-off loss to the Calgary Stampeders.

The weather forecast in Winnipeg calls for a high of 29 degrees with a 60 percent chance of showers and a risk of a thunderstorm. The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the United States, and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune-in on TSN 1200 in Ottawa and 680 CJOB in Winnipeg.

https://3downnation.com/2025/08/13/ottawa-redblacks-make-three-defensive-changes-for-game-against-blue-bombers/

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Kelly... what has that guy shown? I don't rewatch games, am I missing something? 

I am the last person to question roster decisions, and I don't like to call out players, but this one I don't get. He seems clueless. And this has carried over from last season when I am pretty sure he got benched in one game he started.

I think the game is just moving too fast for him to be honest. They like the size and length I'm sure. He seems like a good fit athleticly. Maybe more seasoning. He could be a case of not ready now versus never good enough.

You need your safety to make some big plays in a game and he, to his credit, seemed to be in the right place a lot, but made some bad decisions. The PI was not good. He wasn't able to make the breakups when we needed them. 

Hard to tell on TV but didn't really look comfortable. Not surprised they're going in another direction.

[Blueforlife]

Who says they are being rushed? You might be correct but I think this is just O'Shea making some bad decisions.

It's not early in the season. This week is game 9 which is exactly half.  Vanterpool played last week and was listed as " full " in practice. This seems to be a choice made within the ratio. Perhaps it's the right choice but if our OL suffers, there will be questions after the game.

Logan has been running for weeks. Even if he's not game ready, he's healthy and should be bumped to PR IMO.

I didn't say they are being rushed.  The point is don't play a guy until 100%.  Logan isn't ready.  One limited practice last week and one this. Good way to end a guys season to bring em back too early.

I consider this still early in the season, serious stuff happens after labour day imo.

I don't think MOS has made mistakes.  You are talking a lot about Vanterpool, who might be a good option but I trust the mafia here.

Patience.  Guys come on when ready or best option.  Two short weeks did not help our inuried guys get ready.

[Jesse]

Who says they are being rushed? You might be correct but I think this is just O'Shea making some bad decisions.

It's not early in the season. This week is game 9 which is exactly half.  Vanterpool played last week and was listed as " full " in practice. This seems to be a choice made within the ratio. Perhaps it's the right choice but if our OL suffers, there will be questions after the game.

Logan has been running for weeks. Even if he's not game ready, he's healthy and should be bumped to PR IMO.

Vanterpool has not played since being injured and seemed to have a set back in practice last week as he practice one day and did not the next. He was listed as a FULL practice this week, but there was only one.

[Blue In BC]

I didn't say they are being rushed.  The point is don't play a guy until 100%.  Logan isn't ready.  One limited practice last week and one this. Good way to end a guys season to bring em back too early.

I consider this still early in the season, serious stuff happens after labour day imo.

I don't think MOS has made mistakes.  You are talking a lot about Vanterpool, who might be a good option but I trust the mafia here.

Patience.  Guys come on when ready or best option.

I don't know if Vanterpool is a better option than Wallace. This may have been a ratio decision more than a performance issue. I see there is a comment that he may have had a setback but there was only one practice this week and then a walk through.

He was listed as " full " in the only practice.

And no guys don't come on when ready or best option. We can debate why Woods is not a better option than Ayers. Or Vanterpool is not a better option or why Logan is not a better option.

Even among the Canadians, why Lawson is not a better option than Schmekel. All were listed as " full" at practice. Lawson was practising last week IIRC.

Many are questioning O'Shea and some of the choices made. Winning solves all questions.

[Blueforlife]

I don't know if Vanterpool is a better option than Wallace. This may have been a ratio decision more than a performance issue. I see there is a comment that he may have had a setback but there was only one practice this week and then a walk through.

He was listed as " full " in the only practice.

And no guys don't come on when ready or best option. We can debate why Woods is not a better option than Ayers. Or Vanterpool is not a better option or why Logan is not a better option.

Even among the Canadians, why Lawson is not a better option than Schmekel. All were listed as " full" at practice. Lawson was practising last week IIRC.

Many are questioning O'Shea and some of the choices made. Winning solves all questions.

Guys are available as a decision to come on when ready.

Vanterpool, Woods and Logan are not there yet imo.  Soon.

Club is smart.  Protect their depth guys, make sure they 100%.

Just because many question the club doesn't mean they are right.  There was a group that wanted MOS and Hall gone previously.

I believe we have made very reasonable roster decisions each week.

When ready I want Logan and Woods on.  Not sure who comes off.

[Blue In BC]

Vanterpool has not played since being injured and seemed to have a set back in practice last week as he practice one day and did not the next. He was listed as a FULL practice this week, but there was only one.

You'd think the result from this week has more merit than last week or would have been " limited ". I get what you are saying but the IR reports are next to useless. Noting that Logan and Lawson also looked to be available.

[Blue In BC]

Guys are available as a decision to come on when ready.

Vanterpool, Woods and Logan are not there yet imo.  Soon.

Club is smart.  Protect their depth guys, make sure they 100%.

Just because many question the club doesn't mean they are right.  There was a group that wanted MOS and Hall gone previously.

Smart? I disagree. We're 4 - 4 and have been blown out in 3 games and won once in the last 5. No problem waiting until players are 100% but there is more than enough info to question if that is actually the case.

Lots of questions about how smart our choices are on the PR is just another question of what's happening. At the very least we should have added another DB this week.

[Blueforlife]

Smart? I disagree. We're 4 - 4 and have been blown out in 3 games and won once in the last 5. No problem waiting until players are 100% but there is more than enough info to question if that is actually the case.

Lots of questions about how smart our choices are on the PR is just another question of what's happening. At the very least we should have added another DB this week.

Logan wasn't ready imo
Vanterpool had a setback
Lawson recently hurt
We don't have DB to add
Adding Allen brings flexibility

A lot more factors in this bad stretch than just roster decisions imo

Hopefully went can figure out our CB situation, solutions isn't with the club imo
Hopefully Parker comes back soon

[Pigskin]

I am a little concerned with our DB situation. If one of the starters gets injured, we are in some trouble.

[blue_gold_84]

I am a little concerned with our DB situation. If one of the starters gets injured, we are in some trouble.

I hear there's this DB out there who is familiar with the system here. His name eludes me but I'm pretty sure it rhymes with fridges.

[Blueforlife]

I hear there's this DB out there who is familiar with the system here. His name eludes me but I'm pretty sure it rhymes with fridges.

Dearest Bridges we were wrong.  Miller will offer a seasons worth of buffets plus 5% raise.

Sincerely,

Bombers

Please note: the buffet offer excludes the butter chicken and jumbo shrimp 🍤