Retiring QB's?

[dd]

Walters messed up by extending Zach early. Zach wasn't really good in 24 either. Reality is he's 16-14 with 34 td passes and 31 ints over the past two seasons. That's not worth 600k.

Agree. For a team that doesn't like to overpay their players ie Ford, Dobson, Lawler, we are really overpaying Collaros, so much so, that the $150k spent on him could have been used pay the all stars we let go last year penny pinching

[Jesse]

Walters messed up by extending Zach early. Zach wasn't really good in 24 either. Reality is he's 16-14 with 34 td passes and 31 ints over the past two seasons. That's not worth 600k.

Or he saved himself from a tough negotiation by re-upping him before the salary cap went up.

[Tecno]

I'm all for improving our OL but it's not at any cost kind of issue IMO.

But it's clear that, as long as you have a good QB and RB, the OL is literally everything.  Look at SSK.  No matter what people say, that's a crap REC corps.  Only looks good because Trevor is there and they have a top OL and they do all-short.

Our best years were with the best OL.  You need 4 top-15 guys, and maybe one higher-mid tier straggler for budget reasons.  Hopefully one or two are ELC DP or scout finds, but if not you need to pony up in FA.

I would take SSK's approach and skimp big time on REC and put all that money into OL.  Maybe have 1 REC over $200k, like Demski.

All of the teams with crazy expensive RECs did bupkis this season when it comes to getting to the cup.  Gino, Kenny, Schoen, White, McInnis, Begelton, Daniels, Coxie, Henry.  I'm excluding most NATs as their pay isn't "real" for their talent level, except maybe Demski & McInnis.

Top teams seem to be getting much better DLs and it needs to be combatted with top OL if you want to excel.  Just look at SSK & MTL.  Next season we need to hold off that SSK & CGY DL so Zach has time to play his everywhere-on-the-field game.

[bunker]

That plus a better OC, and at least one more thicker receiver that can block.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

But it's clear that, as long as you have a good QB and RB, the OL is literally everything.  Look at SSK.  No matter what people say, that's a crap REC corps.  Only looks good because Trevor is there and they have a top OL and they do all-short.

Our best years were with the best OL.  You need 4 top-15 guys, and maybe one higher-mid tier straggler for budget reasons.  Hopefully one or two are ELC DP or scout finds, but if not you need to pony up in FA.

I would take SSK's approach and skimp big time on REC and put all that money into OL.  Maybe have 1 REC over $200k, like Demski.

All of the teams with crazy expensive RECs did bupkis this season when it comes to getting to the cup.  Gino, Kenny, Schoen, White, McInnis, Begelton, Daniels, Coxie, Henry.  I'm excluding most NATs as their pay isn't "real" for their talent level, except maybe Demski & McInnis.

Top teams seem to be getting much better DLs and it needs to be combatted with top OL if you want to excel.  Just look at SSK & MTL.  Next season we need to hold off that SSK & CGY DL so Zach has time to play his everywhere-on-the-field game.

Hard to agree with much you're saying, sounds like you want to replace the entire O-line but I'd bet my life they intend to return Randolph, Vanterpool, Wallace, Neufeld and Stanley if he wants to continue playing. Lofton may be the odd man out, but not sure that is even the case as his play has been adequate since he returned from Sask. 

As for the Rider receivers they've done a great job of building a solid unit in the last few years especially their Natl. talent, playing 3 has allows them to start 4 Imports on their O-line which is almost unheard of.  Sterns couldn't make their roster last year and the guy who bumped him Shawn Bane is now a backup and unlikely to play in the GC, same goes for Natl. rec. Ajou Ajou. KeeSean Johnson is the CFL's 4th ranked receiver in yds. gained and Dohnte Meyers is 7th, lucky they no longer have #2 Justin McInnis who they drafted and lost to BC in FA. 

Other receivers.

EMILUS
SCHAFFER-BAKER
Robustelli
NIELD
Duncan-Busby
PICTON

Can't re-sign them all. The shoe is finally on the other foot, if I was Walters I wouldn't roll the dice drafting any Natl. receivers next year, I'd pickup a proven receiver or 2 in FA stuck behind starters, at most they need 2.

[Tecno]

That plus a better OC, and at least one more thicker receiver that can block.

I dunno, the OC looked pretty darn good in the 3rd Q in the ESF.  He had a decent plan to beat MTL.  I was actually quite surprised.  If only our D could have held Alexander a little bit more...

[Blue In BC]

Rourke is scheduled to earn $684K in 2026!!!!!!!!!!!! He'll only consider an NFL opportunity if it comes with some guarantees. I take that to be advance money as a starting point.

I wonder if he does draw more interest. Same question for Alexander?

[dd]

Rourke is scheduled to earn $684K in 2026!!!!!!!!!!!! He'll only consider an NFL opportunity if it comes with some guarantees. I take that to be advance money as a starting point.

I wonder if he does draw more interest. Same question for Alexander?

$684k is crazy money for a CFL team to pay anyone, especially for a guy who hasn't won anything, forget the Grey Cup, he hasn't even won a playoff game!!

[Blue In BC]

$684k is crazy money for a CFL team to pay anyone, especially for a guy who hasn't won anything, forget the Grey Cup, he hasn't even won a playoff game!!

That's what I've been saying about the increase in the SMS. Paying a few players more money doesn't change anything. Even before we heard about a higher SMS I had suggested adding 4 players would benefit teams. Not only in game but in actual development time on the AR instead of the PR.

4 players on ELC @ $74K would use up most of the extra cash. My suggestion was to add 2 more DI's and 2 more Canadians. The ratio could be retained with no loss of Canadians on the roster. In fact 2 more players move from PR to AR.

[VictorRomano]

Hard to agree with much you're saying, sounds like you want to replace the entire O-line but I'd bet my life they intend to return Randolph, Vanterpool, Wallace, Neufeld and Stanley if he wants to continue playing. Lofton may be the odd man out, but not sure that is even the case as his play has been adequate since he returned from Sask. 

As for the Rider receivers they've done a great job of building a solid unit in the last few years especially their Natl. talent, playing 3 has allows them to start 4 Imports on their O-line which is almost unheard of.  Sterns couldn't make their roster last year and the guy who bumped him Shawn Bane is now a backup and unlikely to play in the GC, same goes for Natl. rec. Ajou Ajou. KeeSean Johnson is the CFL's 4th ranked receiver in yds. gained and Dohnte Meyers is 7th, lucky they no longer have #2 Justin McInnis who they drafted and lost to BC in FA. 

Other receivers.

EMILUS
SCHAFFER-BAKER
Robustelli
NIELD
Duncan-Busby
PICTON

Can't re-sign them all. The shoe is finally on the other foot, if I was Walters I wouldn't roll the dice drafting any Natl. receivers next year, I'd pickup a proven Natl. receiver or 2 from other teams stuck behind starters, at most they need 2.

I really like how Robustelli plays and would like to see the Bombers go after him.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

$684k is crazy money for a CFL team to pay anyone, especially for a guy who hasn't won anything, forget the Grey Cup, he hasn't even won a playoff game!!

Can you not see with your own eyes Rourke is an excellent investment in the future? A much wiser investment than paying Collaros $600k at the tail end of his career.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I really like how Robustelli plays and would like to see the Bombers go after him.

Especially if Schoen can't come back, I'd be surprised if the Riders don't find a way to hang onto him.

[Blue In BC]

Can you not see with your own eyes Rourke is an excellent investment in the future? A much wiser investment than paying Collaros $600k at the tail end of his career.

It doesn't change the fact that it's a lot of money and it takes an entire team to win anything. SMS aside there is always the risk of serious injury to any player. IE: Kelly in Toronto for example.

I'd also point out I had the same argument when the Lions gave Reilly about $700K a few years back. It gutted the rest of the roster.

That may or may not happen this time with the increase to the SMS but it's obvious less for Rourke means more spread across the roster.

Collaros getting his $600K+ also had a negative impact across the roster.

Earlier I mentioned that the top 4 paid QB's didn't make it to the Grey Cup.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

It doesn't change the fact that it's a lot of money and it takes an entire team to win anything. SMS aside there is always the risk of serious injury to any player. IE: Kelly in Toronto for example.

I'd also point out I had the same argument when the Lions gave Reilly about $700K a few years back. It gutted the rest of the roster.

Reilly re-joined the Lions in 2019, a year of turmoil for them as it was the first season after Wally retired and was replaced by Hervey as GM and Claybrooks as HC who only lasted one year. A lot of things could go wrong and did for the Lions that season and the next few years, bad timing on Reilly's part, he was beaten down like a dog.

[Tecno]

As for the Rider receivers they've done a great job of building a solid unit in the last few years especially their Natl. talent, playing 3 has allows them to start 4 Imports on their O-line which is almost unheard of.

I still say the SSK RECs look better than they are because of that stout OL, legit run game, OC plan, and pin-point all-short QB Trevor.

The only potential great RECs are Johnson and Emilus (for a NAT).  Emilus could reach Demski levels, maybe.  But none of those guys are reaching Kenny levels.  Robustelli is just another dime a dozen Eberhardt-type guys.  KSB is another Woli.  Busby isn't even Clercius.

Yes, they are all competent and solid, but none are going to be league top-5 in talent (I don't care what their yards stats say).  None will ever command Kenny/Gino money.

And that's my whole point: imitate SSK and get solid moneyball type RECs and put all the savings into the OL.  Our highest paid should be Demski, and that's ONLY because he's a hometown hero and BFL.