Official Game Day Thread - Winnipeg @ Saskatchewan May 23, 2026

[Blue In BC]

As a GM it should be easy to move on from an older player when there's a conveyor belt of talented younger players coming down the line that need to be accommodated.  The long-term benefit of flagging the higher age as an outlier is an easy business decision, emotional response should be nixed.  There was no great reason to re-sign Kyrie after he hit FA, unless they did it as one last favour to compete for his spot, bringing back JSK made even less sense, have to wonder if O-Shea jhas nightmares of Sam Hurl and is afraid to trust these younger LB's. or if it's Jordan Younger blocking their path.

Along with Woodbey, Shay and Smith will also be FA's next season, time to use them or lose them, at least give them an honest whirl and see if they have the potential to become capable starters or not.  I don't think any of the 3 will command big money, but they may see better opportunity elsewhere if not given a real chance in Wpg.  Losing both Smith and Shay would be a mortal blow to ratio plans for years, it's still early but they have no other Natl. players who look like they could morph into starters on defence like Ford did.

I agree it should be an easy decision but it's been an issue for O'Shea. Keeping J. Thomas long past his prime was an example. The ratio should have been flipped elsewhere to at least not used Thomas as a primary starter.

K. Wilson is a bit different. He can still play at a decent level. I doubt his SMS is that high and Smith may not be much of a savings.

I'd be less concerned if had more reps last year so starting him this year seems a bit of a leap forward. OTOH I don't see him in practice every day and he wouldn't be the 1st player to start early in his career.

As I mentioned, keeping K. Wilson on the reserve depends on what they think of Smith, Woodbey and any rookie LB kept on the PR. There may be other players that are perceived to be of higher value to put on the reserve.

IMO I'd be ok with just moving on but that should have happened during the off season to allow him other opportunities. He isn't going to be a trade asset unless another team has injuries to start the season.

We're at the disadvantage as to what discussions were had with K. Wilson when he was re-signed.

[Tecno]

have to wonder if O-Shea jhas nightmares of Sam Hurl and is afraid to trust these younger LB's. or if it's Jordan Younger blocking their path.

Pretty sure MOS still thinks Hurl was the best thing ever.  He loved that guy.  I bet KW/WM had to pry Hurl out of MOS's cold dead fingers to get him out of the WFC!

MOS seems to have a blind spot for D NATs.

[Tecno]

Going to disagree with you on Wallace, still see him as the foundation to build the O-line around for the next decade if they treat him right.  None of the others are likely to be around 5 years from now.  Nobody stronger, he can road grade, he can defend well, being so huge he just isn't all that fast.

"It he's a good hitter, why doesn't he hit good?"   -- Moneyball

"Show me the [road grading]"   -- a different movie

I just want to see improvement over '25.  He didn't grade squat in the PS1 game...

[Tecno]

Egad, you're describing the Hamilton approach, without much of a running game they haven't been back to the cup since 2021 and have been fluttering up and down like a butterfly.  Most successful teams are following the Bombers footprint with a strong bashing running game, the essential compliment when it's difficult to move the ball downfield through the air.

Preaching to the choir.  But it's now SSK that has stolen the mantle of bullyball.  They can run whenever and wherever they please -- with a mediocre RB to boot!  They out-Winnipegged Winnipeg.

Notice how we refuse to stuff the box like they do?  And so they get 6Y every run.  They stuff the box and stop Brady for a loss every time.

They are going to try to do this all season.  And if we want to get to the cup we're going to have to solve it.

[Tecno]

The difference is they have a Natl. capable enough to backup Kyrie in Smith when he reaches his snap count

We've never used the 23 (now 25) snap count DNA trick.  Ever.  Not once.  I would bet the farm Mafia will never use it.  Not once.  Ever.  (This is why that extra 2RDP is always ours.)

Therefore we can confidently not talk about any "snap count" thing regarding our own team.  It simply doesn't exist.

Now... if you want to talk about whether this is a good or bad thing...

[Tecno]

Kinda weird how Brady rushed for a 5.8 yard average with all those rushes for -1 yards...

Led the league in rushing average actually.

a) not against SSK!
b) because MOS said in '25 they stop running when it's not working / when teams load the box, so games/teams that would lower his average simply weren't run against

Pretty sure Brady's avg in the PS1 game was about 0!  He barely got that 1ish Y TD in!

Not blaming Brady.  Imagine him with SSK's OL and run block and max-hold REC blocking help and the quick-pass game widening the D!!  He'd probably beat Cornish's records.

[Stats Junkie]

I finally got around to watching the game tonight - I was in Langford on Saturday.

At 1:51 of Q4 Mathew Sexton touched the punted ball, went out of bounds without contact and then returned to the field of play where he recovered the ball.

(01:51) #44 K.Andrews punt 66 yards to the SSK19 #86 M.Sexton return 5 yards to the SSK24 (#7 E.Stuart), out of bounds PENALTY SSK Illegal participation (#86 M.Sexton) 10 yards from SSK21 to SSK11.

According to the 2025 CFL Rule Book, a player who goes out of bounds without contact cannot re-enter the field of play to recover a loose ball. The penalty is loss of ball (LB) at point of foul (PF)

It is illegal for a player of either team to go out of bounds, without contact with an opponent, and to reach back into or re-enter the field of play to touch or recover a loose ball.
PENALTY: LB PF

Based on this information, it should have been Winnipeg football 1st and 10 at the 19 yard line.