Santos-Knox

[Tecno]

That's still confusing. My understanding is that it doesn't override the actual roster designation listing him as a National. It only has to do with him being able to replace a Canadian for a certain number of reps.

No, the NA (not DNA!) has nothing to do with reps and everything to do with the roster.  You need to start 8 NATs, but 1 "NAT" can be a NA, a vet-IMP who gets to be a FAKENAT (my made up term).

The reps thing is a completely separate issue.

The NA thing basically never comes up because every team has plenty.  Almost no teams even specify who the NA is on the public depth charts.  However, I'm sure the Super Cereal Secret Game Day Roster handed to the league specifies who the NA is.

Seems like we go over this every year     

IMHO NA is dumb, DNA is dumber, it's all dumb and the new commish could have done a great service by ditching it all on day 1 instead of killing the 55.

[Blue In BC]

No, the NA (not DNA!) has nothing to do with reps and everything to do with the roster.  You need to start 8 NATs, but 1 "NAT" can be a NA, a vet-IMP who gets to be a FAKENAT (my made up term).

The reps thing is a completely separate issue.

The NA thing basically never comes up because every team has plenty.  Almost no teams even specify who the NA is on the public depth charts.  However, I'm sure the Super Cereal Secret Game Day Roster handed to the league specifies who the NA is.

Seems like we go over this every year     

IMHO NA is dumb, DNA is dumber, it's all dumb and the new commish could have done a great service by ditching it all on day 1 instead of killing the 55.

Ok, so it's pretty much a useless designation. As I've suggested before I'd like a National and Non National as the only 2 designations.

I'd scrap the Global designation and add 2 DI's allowing global players to fall into that designation. That way global players can make the roster but without the convoluted separate category.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

[Tecno]

Rewatching the ESF, Kyrie was doing nothing but messing up and whiffing.  He was the key cog in letting a lot of big plays (against!) happen.

If we have JSK in the building, and JSK is peaking in his career, I don't see how you don't start JSK at WILL.  Our LB corps and run D will instantly be better.

Kyrie may be released after TC, or kept on PR as backup or advisory role.  He's still useful as the "wise old man", and our LB corps would need one unless JSK can do that role too (but he's been out of the Hall/Younger system for too long to do it right away).

Yes, Kyrie had a good year, and his first healthy year in forever, but watching him play and then Beverette... you can see why we lost the ESF.  I counted him on 3 really bad burns, and only 1 positive impact play.

[Blue In BC]

I see many have the expectation that Santos-Knox will be starting at WIL. That's difficult to argue against. He's a very good player. We're loaded at the LB position so trying to figure out exactly what we're doing may fall into injuries during TC.

What does this mean for Woodbey? I liked what he brought last year but I'd put Griffin ahead of him on any depth chart.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

I see many have the expectation that Santos-Knox will be starting at WIL. That's difficult to argue against. He's a very good player. We're loaded at the LB position so trying to figure out exactly what we're doing may fall into injuries during TC.

What does this mean for Woodbey? I liked what he brought last year but I'd put Griffin ahead of him on any depth chart.

Griffin is predominantly a strong side linebacker. He's not going to win a training camp battle at WILL with either Woodbey or Santos-Knox. No chance.

[Blue In BC]

Griffin is predominantly a strong side linebacker. He's not going to win a training camp battle at WILL with either Woodbey or Santos-Knox. No chance.

That wasn't quite the point. Griffin was on the AR until his injury. He was a very good rotation piece on defence. Woodbey got on the AR when Griffin was injured.

They may have different roles on defence but I think Griffin is more useful. He would see more coverage assignments.

This isn't knocking Woodbey but the Canadian LB's we drafted might be more ready to be next man up, now.  I didn't expect Kyrie to be re-signed and thought Woodbey might take on the role.

That got even more complicated adding Santos-Knox.

So I'm expecting Griffin on the AR and Woodbey bumped to PR until an injury causes a roster shift. That's not a direct replacement in the role, just one in and one out on the AR.

Roster size and ratio won't allow everybody on the AR.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

That wasn't quite the point. Griffin was on the AR until his injury. He was a very good rotation piece on defence. Woodbey got on the AR when Griffin was injured.

They may have different roles on defence but I think Griffin is more useful. He would see more coverage assignments.

This isn't knocking Woodbey but the Canadian LB's we drafted might be more ready to be next man up, now.  I didn't expect Kyrie to be re-signed and thought Woodbey might take on the role.

That got even more complicated adding Santos-Knox.

So I'm expecting Griffin on the AR and Woodbey bumped to PR until an injury causes a roster shift. That's not a direct replacement in the role, just one in and one out on the AR.

Roster size and ratio won't allow everybody on the AR.

Can't see them sending Woodbey back to the PR now, nor Kyrie, that would be a slap in the face for a veteran player. Won't be surprised to see strategic use of the 1 game IR stash continued, till the LB group sorts itself out.

[Jesse]

I don't consider Woodbey or Griffin as in competition for roles. Their position is separate from the depth chart in that they come on situationally.

Santos-Knox, "starting" or not, may be used more as a pass rusher while Griffin/Woodbey used more on passing downs. There are time they'll be on the field together and times when it's either/or. Wilson may be the odd man out if they want to roster both Griffin and Woodbey or they one of them may win that role with Wilson staying on the roster.

[Jesse]

Can't see them sending Woodbey back to the PR now, nor Kyrie, that would be a slap in the face for a veteran player. Won't be surprised to see strategic use of the 1 game IR stash continued, till the LB group sorts itself out.

This is specifically what Walters said they did last year that they would not be doing again.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

This is specifically what Walters said they did last year that they would not be doing again.

I can't see them abandoning the 1 game strategy totally as it's a useful tool to temp. stash vet. players that don't deserve to be discounted being moved to the PR, certain personalities are not going to take that pay cut well. Sure don't expect them to pay players full salary for half the season waiting for their chance like they did with Jon Jones, Mitchell, Payton and Vanterpool, of which none advanced their status. 

[Blue In BC]

I don't consider Woodbey or Griffin as in competition for roles. Their position is separate from the depth chart in that they come on situationally.

Santos-Knox, "starting" or not, may be used more as a pass rusher while Griffin/Woodbey used more on passing downs. There are time they'll be on the field together and times when it's either/or. Wilson may be the odd man out if they want to roster both Griffin and Woodbey or they one of them may win that role with Wilson staying on the roster.

It's roster / ratio math. I don't think Griffin and Woodbey were on the AR at the same time, often. This is going to be the same issue whether Wilson is replaced by Santos-Knox as a starter.

Looking at the depth chart when Vaval was also a starting CB we gained another spot for a DI. As soon as Houston was added, Griffin was off due to injury and Vaval was back to a returning role as a DI.

I'd be happy to see both on the AR, but it will be difficult IMO.

[Blueforlife]

The depth we have at LB and the debates on who plays is such a luxury to have.  We will have a few guys go down and our LBs are experienced enough to mix and match as need, will be roster magic to try to keep em all.  I expect Wilson to be good this year but interesting to know he didn't play that well in the playoffs.  He had a very good year and I bet big on him last year while some wrote him off as old or injury prone (which was at least partially true).  Could be some movement in this group yet as their won't be room for everyone.  This group will come to camp hungry and fight for their spots.  Will be so awesome to see who comes out on top.  Likely a very good player will be on the PR or released or both.  We are stacked at LB for a long time.  I am high on Woodbey and Griffin.

[Tecno]

This is specifically what Walters said they did last year that they would not be doing again.

Yup.  I believe him when he says that.

It'll have to be PR stashes for the junior players, or even finding whatever booboo-du-jour ails a guy and plunking him on the 6G (full pay, and no SMS hit).

I agree that it's all harder when it's an uber-vet guy like Kyrie or JSK, and that's why we may see an outright cut.  I really don't think Griffin or (especially) Woodbey will be upset at spending some games on the PR, though.

Ayers is looking more and more as on the outside... though he had this hellacious awesome ST tackle in the ESF that was loads of fun...

[Blue In BC]

Yup.  I believe him when he says that.

It'll have to be PR stashes for the junior players, or even finding whatever booboo-du-jour ails a guy and plunking him on the 6G (full pay, and no SMS hit).

I agree that it's all harder when it's an uber-vet guy like Kyrie or JSK, and that's why we may see an outright cut.  I really don't think Griffin or (especially) Woodbey will be upset at spending some games on the PR, though.

Ayers is looking more and more as on the outside... though he had this hellacious awesome ST tackle in the ESF that was loads of fun...

I'd hate to lose Ayers but he's even less likely to see reps on defence now that we've added Santos-Knox. Woodbey is going to fight for a bigger role as well.

I argued last year that Ayers was difficult for me to accept as a DI due this issue. My hope was that he might be in the fight at WIL but that idea seems to have gone away now.

As others have mentioned we have a luxury at LB and we won't know for awhile how all this works out. Legit injuries early in TC may delay final decisions.