Blue Bombers agree to terms with veteran defensive lineman Jake Ceresna

[Pete]

It might have been close talent level wise, but from a leadership and intangibles point of view it wasn't much of a decision and when you throw in O'Sheas track record with long time bomber vets it's not surprising at all especially when its a future hall of famer. (Bighill was one we did move on from, but that was influenced a lot by injury)
From an entertainment angle, Willie brings a lot.

[bunker]

There's always more going on under the hood especially when you look at complementary football and bring that up as an reason why the other unit didn't succeed.

I don't really love that because it creates excuses where there really aught not to be.

For example: Our defense, by design, gives up yards and so what was our average starting field position? We didn't generate very many defensive turnovers so our offense didn't get many chances at sudden change points. You can of course inverse these.

Both units need to be better. Dominate offense and dominate defenses can carry teams to championships. Neither unit was good enough last year and both deserved the cross over exit in the end.

Our average yard line to start offensive drives was 36.7. Ottawa was best at 39.6, Edmonton worst at 34.9. We were about league average. You could argue Vaval helped us in this stat, but it does not appear the D was leaving us in a huge whole.
Our turnovers were -11, second worst in the league. We forced 34 turnovers, tied for 5th. We committed 45, second worst in the league, primarily because we led the league in interceptions at 27.
To me, the D needs some tinkering, particularly in terms of getting pressure (we were last in sacks at 23), but the O was a bigger factor in our poor showing.

[Jesse]

There's always more going on under the hood especially when you look at complementary football and bring that up as an reason why the other unit didn't succeed.

I don't really love that because it creates excuses where there really aught not to be.

For example: Our defense, by design, gives up yards and so what was our average starting field position? We didn't generate very many defensive turnovers so our offense didn't get many chances at sudden change points. You can of course inverse these.

Both units need to be better. Dominate offense and dominate defenses can carry teams to championships. Neither unit was good enough last year and both deserved the cross over exit in the end.

If we give up yards by design, why were we 3rd in yards allowed?

We had the lowest TD% allowed in the league.

We had the highest percentage of opponent 2&outs.

The average opponent field percentage was 4th in the league, but that was only one yard off of Calgary's, (36 vs 35 yard line).

[Sir Blue and Gold]

If we give up yards by design, why were we 3rd in yards allowed?

We had the lowest TD% allowed in the league.

We had the highest percentage of opponent 2&outs.

The average opponent field percentage was 4th in the league, but that was only one yard off of Calgary's, (36 vs 35 yard line).

Because games aren't won by averages over the course of the season and it largely doesn't matter how things average out. The question is, does the unit win?

Annihilating Montreal's fourth string QB a day before their bye and getting trucked in the East Final averages out on paper to fairly respectable stat lines over the course of two games. 

Are you claiming that that's a win? I'm not. If the unit was great last year we'd have done better than losing in the East Semi, no?  You do not win anything for being good "on paper" that I'm aware.

[Jesse]

Because games aren't won by averages over the course of the season and it largely doesn't matter how things average out. The question is, does the unit win?

Annihilating Montreal's fourth string QB a day before their bye and getting trucked in the East Final averages out on paper to fairly respectable stat lines over the course of two games. 

Are you claiming that that's a win? I'm not. If the unit was great last year we'd have done better than losing in the East Semi, no?  You do not win anything for being good "on paper" that I'm aware.

I think the unit does win. I think the offence is our achilles heel. I think that our weaknesses were identified as pass rush and corners which we've attempted to address in FA.

Going back to my original point, I don't think Younger is under any undue pressure. I think he's done a great coaching job and the pieces that need improvement come down to player recruitment.

[blue_gold_84]

I think the offence is our achilles heel.

The passing game in particular. It was second worst in the CFL last season.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

I think the unit does win. I think the offence is our achilles heel. I think that our weaknesses were identified as pass rush and corners which we've attempted to address in FA.

Going back to my original point, I don't think Younger is under any undue pressure. I think he's done a great coaching job and the pieces that need improvement come down to player recruitment.

That's fine. I'm not sure any of us can prove whether or not JY is under any extra pressure. It's a high pressure high stakes job to begin probably.

Now that we've got the pieces, if the system works we should see a noticable difference from last year year, yes? Because if it's the same result no one is going to like the outcome.

[Tecno]

Because games aren't won by averages over the course of the season and it largely doesn't matter how things average out. The question is, does the unit win?

True.  So many games we lost last year (incl the ESF) because we couldn't sustain a drive, or stop a drive, when it mattered most -- like the final 3 mins.  We lost that killer instinct and ability to close in like '23.  The other teams find ways to do better than their average at the right moment.

On the other hand, a full 60 min game should revert to the mean of each team's ability, and that's one of the great things about football compared to "best of 7" sports like hockey.  But still, the teams that know how to win will often find a way to get that little bit extra at the end, if they've kept the game close.

[Tecno]

Willie J: he's specifically said in presser lately he's working on sealing the deal when he gets pressure.  He knows he's been less of an influence because when he gets to the QBs they manage to get away.  Cody escaping his grasp in the '23 GC, or Alexander doing the same in the ESF... so many examples.

I think the main problem is the league has shed most of the QBs that get flustered when Willie gets in there, and the ones that do (oldsters) are generally protected by the league-best OL's (like SSK).  It used to be Willie would get back there and the QBs would just turtle, as they weren't very mobile anyhow.

But now you have Alexander and Rourke and VAJ who don't get flustered by anything and think they can escape everything.  So when Willie gets a hand on them, if he's not bringing them down, they just escape to the least congested area and get the 1st down.  (Doesn't help by our low-pressure DL and oft-vacating LB flat.)

So ya, Willie needs to start finishing.  They all do.  And we need better ways to keep the 3 dangerous QBs from always running for 10.

[Jesse]

Willie J: he's specifically said in presser lately he's working on sealing the deal when he gets pressure.  He knows he's been less of an influence because when he gets to the QBs they manage to get away.  Cody escaping his grasp in the '23 GC, or Alexander doing the same in the ESF... so many examples.

I think the main problem is the league has shed most of the QBs that get flustered when Willie gets in there, and the ones that do (oldsters) are generally protected by the league-best OL's (like SSK).  It used to be Willie would get back there and the QBs would just turtle, as they weren't very mobile anyhow.

But now you have Alexander and Rourke and VAJ who don't get flustered by anything and think they can escape everything.  So when Willie gets a hand on them, if he's not bringing them down, they just escape to the least congested area and get the 1st down.  (Doesn't help by our low-pressure DL and oft-vacating LB flat.)

So ya, Willie needs to start finishing.  They all do.  And we need better ways to keep the 3 dangerous QBs from always running for 10.

He's always been a pretty poor tackler. He needs the to hit the QB when they're not looking or turtling, like you say.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Willie J: he's specifically said in presser lately he's working on sealing the deal when he gets pressure.  He knows he's been less of an influence because when he gets to the QBs they manage to get away.  Cody escaping his grasp in the '23 GC, or Alexander doing the same in the ESF... so many examples.

I think the main problem is the league has shed most of the QBs that get flustered when Willie gets in there, and the ones that do (oldsters) are generally protected by the league-best OL's (like SSK).  It used to be Willie would get back there and the QBs would just turtle, as they weren't very mobile anyhow.

But now you have Alexander and Rourke and VAJ who don't get flustered by anything and think they can escape everything.  So when Willie gets a hand on them, if he's not bringing them down, they just escape to the least congested area and get the 1st down.  (Doesn't help by our low-pressure DL and oft-vacating LB flat.)

So ya, Willie needs to start finishing.  They all do.  And we need better ways to keep the 3 dangerous QBs from always running for 10.

Their poor performance against the top teams in the West is the marker I always look at, 0-3 against the Stamps in which 2 games were not close, 1-2 against the Riders, with their win coming in a meaningless late season game in Wpg. or they'd have been 0-3 against them too.  They got lucky with the Lions and beat them twice early in the season before Rourke found his game, a late season matchup might have been ugly. 

Games against the East are never as definitive, but if they can't win the season series against their Western opponents, the odds of advancing in the playoffs are poor.

[Tecno]

Games against the East are never as definitive, but if they can't win the season series against their Western opponents, the odds of advancing in the playoffs are poor.

I'm thinking "beating SSK" (and CGY, and BC) is the top priority for '26.  We're back to '18 and '19 where "beating CGY" was all that mattered as they were the main impediment to getting to the cup.

I would hope at minimum they are going to find a way to go 50/50 with SSK, and maybe the remaining game be a close one.  If SSK plows us again, we probably won't get far in the playoffs again.

[bunker]

I'm thinking "beating SSK" (and CGY, and BC) is the top priority for '26.  We're back to '18 and '19 where "beating CGY" was all that mattered as they were the main impediment to getting to the cup.

I would hope at minimum they are going to find a way to go 50/50 with SSK, and maybe the remaining game be a close one.  If SSK plows us again, we probably won't get far in the playoffs again.

I'm optimistic we are a match for the riders. We actually played them close in both the labour day and banjo bowl. IMO we are significantly better, and they are a bit worse this year based on current roster changes. Of course injuries could change everything.

[Tecno]

I'm optimistic we are a match for the riders.

Ya, the Mace/Mueller O is actually very simple.  Find a way to stop the run, and disrupt the short game.  Everything beyond that you can leave man coverage 1-on-1.  No busts, though.

But you gotta stop that run.  They are like WPG with AH... they'll just run all over you to open everything else up.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I'm optimistic we are a match for the riders. We actually played them close in both the labour day and banjo bowl. IMO we are significantly better, and they are a bit worse this year based on current roster changes. Of course injuries could change everything.

Zach has to keep pace with Harris in point production as he gets the ball off so fast and accurately even an improved rush will not be enough to rattle his cage.