Official Game Day Thread - Winnipeg at Saskatchewan, August 31, 2025

[Sir Blue and Gold]

It's just as likely Zach goes out in the battle of the retirement home QBs.

We can beat the Riders with Harris and I think it's going to be a close game.

And for everyone STILL talking about your online diagnosis of a Trevor Harris concussion, Nic Demski was probably out cold on the field a week ago, looked 400 times more concussed than Harris looked, and he's playing tomorrow so regardless if he has a concussion or not, (he probably didn't), it doesn't really matter now.

[Pete]

Keys to the game..
- keep Harris off balance, hit him early
- Need to get pressure with 4 man fronts or 3 and 1 linebacker. Harris is so good at quick release cant give up a lot on coverage
- on offense Lots of play action anything to give Zach time as he can go deep on rider defense
- win turnover battle

[Blueforlife]

Prediction - first play of the game they fake to Oullette, throw the deep pass to whoever Lawson is covering destroying his confidence so they can pick on him the entire game

Prediction maybe a positive outcome early happens and the D slowly builds some consistency from a similar back end for a couple of games.

How is it that our scouting team hasn't been able to find one defensive lineman in 4 years that we can effectively start?
And the other thing is we bring in like 25 rookie dbs, to training camp and maybe 3 dlinemen.
We use our top 2 draft picks on linebackers, and when we have an injury we take out a import dlineman
Our gm has reached an expiry date

We have had a number of good players on the DL that we brought in over the last 4 years.
Our depth at LB is our strength and will serve us well for years to come
Our GM has consistently built a solid club
Yes they all have an expiry dates but I see a few more years left here

lawson is likely good for two torchings and vaval one.  just gotta keep pace with our offence and keep our defence off the field as much as possible. 

couple turnovers by sask and maybe a special teams TD and we can squeak one out on the road even with giving up some big yardage plays

Lawson will be tested a lot and will hang in there
Vaval will play fine

As expected Houston will take a few weeks.  Suggesting he would be ready out of the box was wishful thinking by some.

Only worry for me is no Kramdi.  Woodbey might get some reps and a good backup option who is versatile.  I am guessing but obviously showing enough to get a taste of game action.

Ayers will make a few plays. 

Not worried about the DL at all.  Group is trending up.  3-4 will work well and bring the heat with the variety of LBs we have or an occasional DB or safety.  Work the zone coverage and make em work for it.

This is an incredibly difficult place to win and the odds are stacked against us but if the O is rolling, OL and RB be cooking we be fine.  Gut tells me we make it hard on em, not sure why.  More about the weakness they showed against the Stamps.

[Pigskin]

You're counting Ayers as a DL.

It's really 10 and 6.

And no one to back up at CB.

This is true, and it's going to a very hot day. Our DL could be dead tired by half time. To have a chance at winning this game, the 3 Canadians on the DL are going to have to have an outstanding game.

[TecnoGenius]

It's just as likely Zach goes out in the battle of the retirement home QBs.

Oh, I know that.  But, there's a difference.  Zach didn't just get his bell rung last week.  Twice.

When Zach takes that same hit & fall we almost always sit him an entire 2 weeks (1 game).  Riders are just like "meh".  Oh ya, and Zach always leaves the game immediately, unlike Trevor.

When you just took a concussion (even a "light" one) you are far more vulnerable to a big whopper if you take another hit.  Instead of having to take the week off, now you're out for 3 or 4.

And for everyone STILL talking about your online diagnosis of a Trevor Harris concussion, Nic Demski was probably out cold on the field a week ago, looked 400 times more concussed than Harris looked, and he's playing tomorrow so regardless if he has a concussion or not, (he probably didn't), it doesn't really matter now.

Big difference.  Demski is 9 years younger and has little history of concussion.  Trevor is a geriatric who has taken too many CTE hits like most every other QB who plays over 35.

The thing is, SSK may be betting their whole season on Trevor not getting his bell rung again.  If he's out for 4 weeks they ain't winning anything with Maier, who looked worse in SSK than he did in CGY!

[TecnoGenius]

Interesting... We're dressing 2 backup RECs this time.  Yet Demski isn't GTD.  Are we thinking it's likely one of Schoen/Demski may not make it through the whole game?  They take one whack and we pull 'em?  Don't want to risk aggravating something given all the games coming up?

Also, Sayles isn't "on", he's GTD.  He'll likely play, but it's not guaranteed.  He really likes to hit hard this season, so it would be better if he was out, from a WPG injury perspective.  Luckily he should be matched against Wheatie most of the game, and he's probably the "least injured" REC we have right now.

[TecnoGenius]

Check out our RECs to their DB matchups.  I like how we're putting our weaker ones at boundary with Sayles/Milligan.  That leaves our 2 beasts on field side to feast on the much weaker Fields/Campbell.  Oh ya, and weak Ford at FS.

I think we'll be doing a lot of strong side plays today, maybe some posts.  We could have the boundary guys just always do shorts/clearing to free up deep crossers behind them.

On paper (if healthy) our starting RECs are miles better than SSK's weak corps.  They basically have Johnson, and he gets to fight with Nichols all night.  Good luck with that.

Our DB corps actually looks good matched up with these RECs.  I think Trevor will have to stick with a 90%-short game.  He will have all day, but he's going to have to be very careful.

Expect a HEAVY run attack by SSK.  They'll keep pounding and trying to see if something can break loose by the 2nd H.  If we stop the run and frustrate the SSK short game a few times (dialing Willie J!), we could really limit SSK's scoring ability.

I would aim for giving Oullette a big avg (like 5-6) but making sure we stop all but 1-2 explosions (12Y+).  That also helps control the crowd, who find 5Y runs "boring", but 20Y runs electrifying.

Bottom line: we could win this, especially if our OL can buy Zach decent time and keep him clean.  Our RECs + QB can do major damage.  Brady might have a hard day, though.  It will help if we can get SSK D focused hard on pass rush instead of run stop.

[markf]

Only worry for me is no Kramdi. 

Yes, same here.... also, keeping Zach upright. Kolankowski can be pushed back and run around at times.

Need to get the Brady train going, run/pass. Our O line can do that.

 Avoid holding the ball looking for a for a Forty five yard completion.

[TecnoGenius]

Avoid holding the ball looking for a for a Forty five yard completion.

But I think that's the key to the win.  Maybe not 45, but we need a good chunk of 25+ to the field.  That's where out best matchup lies.  And only by loosening up the D deep and wide will any of the rest of our O get open.

We can't win a dink & dunk battle trying to pretend we're T.Harris & the SSK O plan.  That DL will stop the run and eat us alive.

[Blueforlife]

Yes, same here.... also, keeping Zach upright. Kolankowski can be pushed back and run around at times.

Need to get the Brady train going, run/pass. Our O line can do that.

 Avoid holding the ball looking for a for a Forty five yard completion.

Yes protecting Zach and Brady bully ball keys.  Yup holding on to ball too long has always been a weakness of Zachs. He used to do superman scrambles or hero throws and it worked for him in his early to mid 30s but now he needs to check down or throw away to avoid sacks and injury.  That said our deep ball is critical as we need big plays and it sets up Brady to eat.

[bwiser]

This is true, and it's going to a very hot day. Our DL could be dead tired by half time. To have a chance at winning this game, the 3 Canadians on the DL are going to have to have an outstanding game.

We need to estabilish a solid running game and dominate the time of possession. This will give our Dline a chance to be fresh when they are out there.

[BBRT]

Check out our RECs to their DB matchups.  I like how we're putting our weaker ones at boundary with Sayles/Milligan.  That leaves our 2 beasts on field side to feast on the much weaker Fields/Campbell.  Oh ya, and weak Ford at FS.

I think we'll be doing a lot of strong side plays today, maybe some posts.  We could have the boundary guys just always do shorts/clearing to free up deep crossers behind them.

On paper (if healthy) our starting RECs are miles better than SSK's weak corps.  They basically have Johnson, and he gets to fight with Nichols all night.  Good luck with that.

Our DB corps actually looks good matched up with these RECs.  I think Trevor will have to stick with a 90%-short game.  He will have all day, but he's going to have to be very careful.

Expect a HEAVY run attack by SSK.  They'll keep pounding and trying to see if something can break loose by the 2nd H.  If we stop the run and frustrate the SSK short game a few times (dialing Willie J!), we could really limit SSK's scoring ability.

I would aim for giving Oullette a big avg (like 5-6) but making sure we stop all but 1-2 explosions (12Y+).  That also helps control the crowd, who find 5Y runs "boring", but 20Y runs electrifying.

Bottom line: we could win this, especially if our OL can buy Zach decent time and keep him clean.  Our RECs + QB can do major damage.  Brady might have a hard day, though.  It will help if we can get SSK D focused hard on pass rush instead of run stop.

I like what you are saying however the major flaw in your logic is that the Rider DL will eat our OL and correspondingly the Rider OL will not have any issues with the Bomber DL. They are better on both sides of then ball at least IMHO.

[dd]

Why was Adams demoted to the PR?? He's been pretty solid at DT when he's played

[gordo]

We have had a number of good players on the DL that we brought in over the last 4 years.

Not trying to argue but I can't recall many. What names come to mind for you? 

We brought in Vaughters who is a bit of a re-tread and only lately contributing much. Seems like we haven't unearthed and developed a solid DE starter from training camp in a number of years. Another Tom Canada must be out there.

And I see that Houston is now sitting on the stool in the corner that Mitchell finally managed to vacate. Another guy we sorely needed to dress. MOS sure is set in his ways.

Another Sergio walk off would be amazing. 

[The Zipp]

tough game to win - hopefully no major injuries and we can keep it close.

Sask is better coached than with Dikenson so i don't think they will not be ready or fall apart.

games are won or lost in the trenches and i do think Sask has us there on both sides of the ball.