Blue Bombers Add Defensive Back Lamont

[Blue In BC]

I still don't know.  Kind of hard on Bonds, who had won the spot before he blew out his knee.  Again, we usually go easy on year-long injury guys who get injured being our starter -- at least the first go-round.  We gave Strev & Schoen 2nd (and 3rd) shots.

Bonds was still getting better, and you guys keep conflating the horrific play by Bridges in with Bonds.

Not like Parker/Houston did any better in the ESF....

Bonds was playing better than Bridges but he was not excelling either. Since we didn't really have an in house replacement he may have continued to progress. OTOH, he may have been replaced in the same way Bridges was replaced.

In fairness our secondary was exposed by opposition QB's having too much time to find open receivers due to lack or pressure.

So the jury is out. I'm not opposed to considering bringing him back when he's healthy. However I don't know when he'll be healthy and we certainly don't know how good or bad the replacement will be playing. Moxey has one CB spot locked down but the other one is an open question at the moment.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I still don't know.  Kind of hard on Bonds, who had won the spot before he blew out his knee.  Again, we usually go easy on year-long injury guys who get injured being our starter -- at least the first go-round.  We gave Strev & Schoen 2nd (and 3rd) shots.

Bonds was still getting better, and you guys keep conflating the horrific play by Bridges in with Bonds.

Not like Parker/Houston did any better in the ESF....

I think Bonds will receive a deferred opportunity once healthy as Parker did and as Schoen is likely to as well.  If the secondary is performing well at that time and he can't get on as an injury replacement, he likely rides the season out on the PR and gets scooped up by another team as Marquise Bridges was by BC. I think it's well known throughout the league, Wpg. is good at finding DB's.

[Pigskin]

I don't know who you guys are?? I don't know to many people confusing Bridges and Bonds on this board.

[Blue In BC]

I don't know who you guys are??  I don't know to many people confusing Bridges and Bonds on this board.

Bridges was released outright. Bonds was lost due to injury. The Lions did pick up Bridges after his release but every team needs depth at some point and players that have some experience often get another look see.

No different than us picking up McGhee or Lamont.

[Tecno]

Bonds was playing better than Bridges but he was not excelling either.

But he kept getting better.  I think that's what Mafia look for in DBs when there aren't many other options.  We've gone through this so many times before.  For instance, Parker didn't look much better when he first started out for us.  Heck, not even Ford looked good his first few games.

After my rewatch of the ESF, and calculating the trajectory Bonds was on before his injury, I think Bonds would have started, and done better than, Houston.  It appeared to be mostly Houston getting burned by the deep 50/50's (though Parker screwed up too, just like the GC 3rd & 3).

We'll never know... but what I do think is that if Bonds can rehab 100% with little risk of "pulling a Schoen", I think he's back on at least our PR the same day.  The only other sticking point is if we find the next D.Alford amongst the rookies.

[Blue In BC]

But he kept getting better.  I think that's what Mafia look for in DBs when there aren't many other options.  We've gone through this so many times before.  For instance, Parker didn't look much better when he first started out for us.  Heck, not even Ford looked good his first few games.

After my rewatch of the ESF, and calculating the trajectory Bonds was on before his injury, I think Bonds would have started, and done better than, Houston.  It appeared to be mostly Houston getting burned by the deep 50/50's (though Parker screwed up too, just like the GC 3rd & 3).

We'll never know... but what I do think is that if Bonds can rehab 100% with little risk of "pulling a Schoen", I think he's back on at least our PR the same day.  The only other sticking point is if we find the next D.Alford amongst the rookies.

I don't totally disagree. As you mentioned it might depend on the success of the new CB. Any newer player getting injured can be that lost opportunity to continue.

If / when he's healthy it will be a timing issue of need for any team since he's a free agent. His SMS is not going to be excessive so that's in his favour.

We really don't know much about his injury or how limiting it will be going forward.

Yes, I'd bring him back but he might have to be prepared to stick on tthe PR.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I don't totally disagree. As you mentioned it might depend on the success of the new CB. Any newer player getting injured can be that lost opportunity to continue.

If / when he's healthy it will be a timing issue of need for any team since he's a free agent. His SMS is not going to be excessive so that's in his favour.

We really don't know much about his injury or how limiting it will be going forward.

Yes, I'd bring him back but he might have to be prepared to stick on tthe PR.

If I recall correctly Bonds did pretty well when he first arrived, can't help but think the D-line lack of pressure eventually makes even the best DB's look bad.  Step one is not allowing an over reliance on Younger's 3 man front, I don't care how much they improved the the D-line personnel, sending 3 against 5 is a losing proposition in every case. The results are demoralizing to the entire team and with a smaller than average rotation along the D-line, the main players are exhausted or rendered inept by the end of the game.  Sask. won the GC by exerting constant pressure from variable points on Alexander, that's how they beat him.

[Blueforlife]

If 100% healthy I would bring Bonds back at the right price.  I believe in him.  He would need to continue his evolution and improvement and will have more competition than before imo.

[Blue In BC]

If 100% healthy I would bring Bonds back at the right price.  I believe in him.  He would need to continue his evolution and improvement and will have more competition than before imo.

The team might be waiting for a medical evaluation. IIRC he might be added before TC if his re-hab went well. I don't think his SMS will be an issue at all.

If he can return early then his chances will be better. At the moment there is no clear player identified to take that spot. Lots of competition and perhaps Allen considered being moved to CB but nothing written in stone.

Still 2 months of getting ready / healthy. So adding him is not out of the question. OTOH the injury may have pushed him out of football all together.

[kkc60]

Meh signing imo. Maybe he'll be better here, but really probably nothing more than good preseason depth. Could compete at safety, just not too sure he is an upgrade over Allen. Nice PR depth though if he cracks it.

[Blue In BC]

Meh signing imo. Maybe he'll be better here, but really probably nothing more than good preseason depth. Could compete at safety, just not too sure he is an upgrade over Allen. Nice PR depth though if he cracks it.

We can't debate the fact he was the starting CB until he was injured. His 1st season was as a DI. Although there was some speculation that Allen might be moving to CB, we don't know if that is really the plan.

Some of the rookies look interesting and coaches might have some perception to who might end up on the AR. TC's are tough. Early injuries change the depth chart by the day and there isn't really a definitive starter just yet.

[Tecno]

If I recall correctly Bonds did pretty well when he first arrived, can't help but think the D-line lack of pressure eventually makes even the best DB's look bad.  Step one is not allowing an over reliance on Younger's 3 man front, I don't care how much they improved the the D-line personnel, sending 3 against 5 is a losing proposition in every case.

Bonds in his first few starts was definitely picked on, but didn't do too bad.  He was generally in the right place on deep shots, but couldn't get the batdown or disruption.  Then he got a couple of near-INTs and teams started taking him more seriously.

A good DL will be able to get the QB flustered even bringing just 3, it just takes 2-3 sec longer.  The idea when you bring 3 is you're guaranteeing the QB gets his magic 2.7s.  The difference between a good 3 and our 2025 3 is that a good 3 will still break down the pocket and force the QB to move after 5-7s.

We saw that with the better DLs last year.  They won't do it every time, but they'll do it at least half the time.

The problem is when our 3-man DL gets stopped for 3, then 6, then forever seconds.  You can't have that.  Hopefully Ceresna will be the key to stopping that.  That is where the "neverending motor" aspect of a DL comes in.

[Tecno]

The team might be waiting for a medical evaluation. IIRC he might be added before TC if his re-hab went well. I don't think his SMS will be an issue at all.

IIRC he was injured around labor day?  And it was ACL?  If so, I would expect him back in the summer, not TC.  After what we've seen with ACLs, we certainly don't want to rush him.

[Pete]

Meh signing imo. Maybe he'll be better here, but really probably nothing more than good preseason depth. Could compete at safety, just not too sure he is an upgrade over Allen. Nice PR depth though if he cracks it.

I don't totally disagree. As you mentioned it might depend on the success of the new CB. Any newer player getting injured can be that lost opportunity to continue.

If / when he's healthy it will be a timing issue of need for any team since he's a free agent. His SMS is not going to be excessive so that's in his favour.

We really don't know much about his injury or how limiting it will be going forward.

Yes, I'd bring him back but he might have to be prepared to stick on tthe PR.

With Bonds and Lamont along with a few others we already have a good indication that their ceiling will be a serviceable corner, am hoping that one of the new prospects such as McCrutchen comes thru (and are given the opportunity) ,

[Blue In BC]

IIRC he was injured around labor day?  And it was ACL?  If so, I would expect him back in the summer, not TC.  After what we've seen with ACLs, we certainly don't want to rush him.

Originally I thought / suggested that I didn't expect Bond would be healthy until mid season. That said, that was just speculation on my part with limited info. All I'm saying now is the same thing in that I don't know with any certainty.

Perhaps just a hope he's healthy sooner and can be re-signed prior to TC.

Yes, Lamont and McGhee has some CFL experience and may be pencilled in with a slight edge going into TC but that can change very quickly.

Then there is the conversation about whether they have serious thoughts on Allen moving to CB.

It's just all conversation topics that will sort itself out in TC. I thought about starting a poll but there isn't really anything to hang a hat on in making a pic. lol

For what it's worth Lamont has played more games than J. Parker and started 39 of 41 games he's played in 3 seasons.