Official Game Day Thread - Winnipeg at Hamilton - September 12, 2025

[Big Daddy]

In all seriousness, who is good enough to win the GC?  Oliveira, Demski and O. Wilson.  Castillo.  Holm.

O Line - no

D Line - no

Secondary - no

QB - no

Disagree with QB - if Zach is completely healthy - he is good enough.

[BlueInCgy]

I would put Sammy Garza on that list

You might have to explain Sammy Garza to 3/4 of the group here lol.... The man who paved the way for Kevin Feterik

[BlueInCgy]

Disagree with QB - if Zach is completely healthy - he is good enough.

Those days are behind him unfortunately. 

[Pete]

I dont think hope is lost for this season unless Zac is done, some things that can be done:
1 Roster Adams or Woods, so we have options to help rush (replace Ayers)
2 Get healthy, Sterns and Parker could help this team
3 Offensively need to disguise plays better, its not cheating to do a pump fake occasionally
4 Cant just do things the way we've always done ( so called bomber football) need to actually game plan other teams weaknesses. Along with this we cant just simply go with the same players based on loyalty At some point talent has to show

[Big Daddy]

Those days are behind him unfortunately. 

Again disagree.  Those days aren't behind him, but they may be for the Oline.  If we had an Oline from 2019/2021 - Zach is back in form.

[BlueInCgy]

Again disagree.  Those days aren't behind him, but they may be for the Oline.  If we had an Oline from 2019/2021 - Zach is back in form.

19 - 23 his TD to Int ratio was in the 4:1 range

24 and 25 it's 1:1.

His form is gone and it ain't coming back.  Again, love everything he's done for us but he is cooked and we need to stop thinking that the glory years are coming back. 

[Big Daddy]

I dont think hope is lost for this season unless Zac is done, some things that can be done:
1 Roster Adams or Woods, so we have options to help rush (replace Ayers)
2 Get healthy, Sterns and Parker could help this team
3 Offensively need to disguise plays better, its not cheating to do a pump fake occasionally
4 Cant just do things the way we've always done ( so called bomber football) need to actually game plan other teams weaknesses. Along with this we cant just simply go with the same players based on loyalty At some point talent has to show

3&4 - may be the downfall of this season. 

[Jesse]

Again disagree.  Those days aren't behind him, but they may be for the Oline.  If we had an Oline from 2019/2021 - Zach is back in form.

I'm the biggest Zach fan there is, but regular sacks are taking him out of games.

I still think he's our QB next season, but "healthy" Zach is something that appears in spurts and has nothing to do with the OL in front of him.

More protection means a higher percentage of good plays, of course. But in terms of keeping him on the field...any QB is going to be hit sometimes...

[Big Daddy]

19 - 23 his TD to Int ratio was in the 4:1 range

24 and 25 it's 1:1.

His form is gone and it ain't coming back.  Again, love everything he's done for us but he is cooked and we need to stop thinking that the glory years are coming back. 

Can't argue with the stats - you are right.  I just think the deterioration of the Oline has been more at fault than any age-related changes with Zach. 

[Big Daddy]

I'm the biggest Zach fan there is, but regular sacks are taking him out of games.

I still think he's our QB next season, but "healthy" Zach is something that appears in spurts and has nothing to do with the OL in front of him.

More protection means a higher percentage of good plays, of course. But in terms of keeping him on the field...any QB is going to be hit sometimes...

I honestly don't think he's our QB for next season - at least, I hope not.  If this is another concussion then I hope he doesn't step back on the field.  I can say that as a fan, if I am on national media I wouldn't say that, personally. I don't want him to risk anything further for the future, but that is just my bias, Zach and his family know more about what his risks are going forward so have to respect whatever he decides.

Regarding regular sacks taking him out of games - I am not sure, this may be true.  What I do know is that SSK has taken out QB's over the last few years, including for us, at an alarming rate.  Don't know the stats, but definitely seems higher than other teams.  How many other teams have had players essentially banned from the CFL for hits to QB's in the last few years?

I still think if he has 2019/2021 protection he can get the job done.  How can anyone argue to the contrary?  We haven't had a solid Oline in a few years - certainly not the same as our GC winning seasons.

 

[ichabod_crane]

I am not down on the team at all, I think we have the personnel to get to the GC and win.

I am down on MOS making Streveler a ride or die.  And  was proven right again tonight.

Outside of earlier in the season, this team is NOWHERE near championship calibre now. Tinkering with a few players is not going to cut it. This is o'sheas and walters mulligan season much like Dickie Dee had last year in Calgary.

The old guard is just old and slow now. They gambled on one more year from the oldest vets in a home grey cup year and it has backfired. Endless injuries also not helping and some very questionable coaching decisions. 

They have 5 games left and I sense they won't even make the playoffs and finish 5th in the west unless BC and Edmonton tank too.  I hope the team proves me wrong and rises up late for one last kick at the cup, but next season is a rebuild year no matter what occurs even if a miracle happens.

To see them keep trotting out Streveler is embarrassing. A lot of things have crumbled this season all at the same time. It has been an amazing run to now. Just not in the cards this season from what I see.

[ichabod_crane]

You might have to explain Sammy Garza to 3/4 of the group here lol.... The man who paved the way for Kevin Feterik

Sammy was "kindly" Cal's son in law. I can't recall though if he made the bombers before or after marriage to cal's daughter.

Sammy had a little bit of talent, but feterik in calgary was nepo baby nonsense. Daddy only bought the stamps so Sonny boy could play somewhere.one of many reasons Wally Buono decided to bail. Total gong show much like joe Mack era if not worse!

[TecnoGenius]

Sammy had a little bit of talent, but feterik in calgary was nepo baby nonsense. Daddy only bought the stamps so Sonny boy could play somewhere.one of many reasons Wally Buono decided to bail.

Like Always-Crash Lance Stroll in F1.  But hey, gotta cheer for him a little bit: he's Canadian after all.

[TecnoGenius]

19 - 23 his TD to Int ratio was in the 4:1 range

24 and 25 it's 1:1.

Ya, but '24 is when our OL started going to crap.  Yes, even with Dobson -- PFF be darned.  Zach has been under duress throughout both seasons.  '24 he had major happy feet because of it.  This season he's mega-calm and just sits there and takes the licks.  I'm not sure what's worse.

Zach can still get the job done.  And with this REC corps.  Problem is OL and OC.

The pressure on Hogan after tonight must be insane.  I don't want to be him in that meeting room with MOS the next day.

[TecnoGenius]

1 Roster Adams or Woods, so we have options to help rush (replace Ayers)

What if we schemed, all season (and earlier) on purpose to not have a pass rush?  If that's what our players have been taught all season, can you just turn on the pass-rush switch with a couple of DT replacements?

Surely you can't just change your "book" and entire D philosophy overnight?

And now do O: O is what needs an entirely new and fresh book; way more than D.