Free Agent Acquisition

[kkc60]

We are so much better off investing serious $$ in the OL than whatever we paid for the 3 American LBs or the three receivers we signed to play one position (Mitchell, Sterns and White). It's time for this team to get serious about the OL, embrace being a running team and fix up the defensive scheme so some sort of pass rush exists.

[Tecno]

We are so much better off investing serious $$ in the OL than whatever we paid for the 3 American LBs

Fully agree.  We used to understand this.  Mafia spent so long building a top tier OL.  But since Desjar left it's all been downhill.  I think we still understand this, it's just that the "do nothing, it'll fall into our hands" approach started failing.  The draft quality seems to be worse every year, Yoshi bailed, and our IMP scouting has always stunk.

So now we need to make it a priority and focus again.  Seems simple.  Does Mafia know this?

[Jesse]

Fully agree.  We used to understand this.  Mafia spent so long building a top tier OL.  But since Desjar left it's all been downhill.  I think we still understand this, it's just that the "do nothing, it'll fall into our hands" approach started failing.  The draft quality seems to be worse every year, Yoshi bailed, and our IMP scouting has always stunk.

So now we need to make it a priority and focus again.  Seems simple.  Does Mafia know this?

This is just an absolute mystery. Like you say, we spent years building up the OL. Letting guys walk because we had the next guy in the pipeline and thrived with the top OL in the league.

But we've drafted one prospect in the past 4 years (Wallace). It just blows my mind. 

[Tecno]

But we've drafted one prospect in the past 4 years (Wallace). It just blows my mind.

* TBD

He might be a bust (i.e. mediocre) too.  Wallace strikes me as more a Speller/Spooner than a Desjar.

[Jesse]

* TBD

He might be a bust (i.e. mediocre) too.  Wallace strikes me as more a Speller/Spooner than a Desjar.

I don't even mean successfully drafted, he's literally the only body in the first few rounds in the last 4 years.

[blue_gold_84]

This is just an absolute mystery. Like you say, we spent years building up the OL. Letting guys walk because we had the next guy in the pipeline and thrived with the top OL in the league.

But we've drafted one prospect in the past 4 years (Wallace). It just blows my mind. 

I'd have to think it's a combination of complacency (at least a bit) and draft positioning due to the team's overall success the last half decade or so.

We've seen the trenches of this team become weaker the last couple of years, so it's imperative on management to address that. Both lines need upgrades.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I don't even mean successfully drafted, he's literally the only body in the first few rounds in the last 4 years.

Drafting O-lineman is a tricky business as the NFL is more than willing to give the best prospects a shot, Giovanni Manu Bombers 5th round pick in 2024 is still trying to catch on with the Detroit Lions, if he was to return the O-line depth would be restored.

[Jesse]

Drafting O-lineman is a tricky business as the NFL is more than willing to give the best prospects a shot, Giovanni Manu Bombers 5th round pick in 2024 is still trying to catch on with the Detroit Lions, if he was to return the O-line depth would be restored.

That's a lottery ticket. He's never coming North.

And when Walters first was hired, it was an OL in every draft. We've hamstrung ourselves. We didn't need to pick 3 LBs last time.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

* TBD

He might be a bust (i.e. mediocre) too.  Wallace strikes me as more a Speller/Spooner than a Desjar.

I think you've got this wrong if the O-line has problems it's not on the left side. Wallace is the future of the O-line, in 3 years everyone else will be gone but he should be the anchor tenant as long as Walters pays him right. I don't think Desjarlais has made the playoffs since he left Wpg, yipee for him.

[Pete]

Fully agree.  We used to understand this.  Mafia spent so long building a top tier OL.  But since Desjar left it's all been downhill.  I think we still understand this, it's just that the "do nothing, it'll fall into our hands" approach started failing.  The draft quality seems to be worse every year, Yoshi bailed, and our IMP scouting has always stunk.

So now we need to make it a priority and focus again.  Seems simple.  Does Mafia know this?

an issue is that we've been picking in the bottom 5 each year and any oline that can make a difference hasn't been available. We did well getting Wallace in the bottom of the 2nd round, and even Vibert. Not sure if we can name a olineman that we had a chance to draft that is starting in the cfl.
With the nfl taking many of the top choices the pickens are slim

[Tecno]

We did well getting Wallace in the bottom of the 2nd round, and even Vibert. Not sure if we can name a olineman that we had a chance to draft that is starting in the cfl.

If your GC appearances mean you can't draft then you MUST pay up in FA.  We didn't.  So we suffer.

[Tecno]

I don't think Desjarlais has made the playoffs since he left Wpg, yipee for him.

Right, he has been languishing on a crap team.  But that doesn't do us any good.  Us gloating won't help either.  After all, for Desjar, he did make bank.

[Tecno]

I think you've got this wrong if the O-line has problems it's not on the left side. Wallace is the future of the O-line, in 3 years everyone else will be gone but he should be the anchor tenant as long as Walters pays him right.

I really hope you're right.  I don't see Wallace as a Desjar.  He's not even a Bond.  Heck, he might not even be a Grey.

Can he improve?  We have to hope so.  Maybe he's a slow developer (or maybe he's just slow...).

As for paying him, it's easy while he's mediocre.  If/when he gets good, if history is any guide, we'll let him walk along with all the other star NATs.

[Tecno]

Giovanni Manu Bombers 5th round pick in 2024 is still trying to catch on with the Detroit Lions, if he was to return the O-line depth would be restored.

A hoggie in the hand is worth 2 in the NFL.  Actually, 10 in the NFL.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

He's still unlikely to come to the CFL although he did have a horrible start this season and now finds himself on the IR . If it was incredibly unlikely before, it's just really unlikely now. He's a fourth round draft choice so he's going to get more opportunities (and probably would get picked up pretty quick by someone else) and he's already made a couple million USD.