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

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

On defence is where the real questions exist.

Burrell, Texada and Williams were the best of the bunch at CB. One will start and 2 will end up on PR. I think Lamont sticks on PR as depth for DHB. This could be curtains for Allen.

12 LB's: Clinton and Cretsinger to the PR. 3 others probably cut out right.

13 DL: We only get to keep 1 import to start besides Ceresna: Jenkins. Dixon to PR. After that IDK but a few will be down the road. Interesting that we didn't show many imports at DT although some could potentially do that.

Not much of my guesses in my mind were changed by the game.

Veterans on the bubble due to ratio and depth: Allen and Ayers. Both have some talent but how do we get them on the roster and at what cost.

New starters: Singer, Jenkins and Burrell

They have to find a way to keep Jenkins and Dixon on the AR, the two of them along with Willie, Ceresna and Lawson are the basis for a great D-line.  Kornelson held his own and was involved often, he'll do ok until Schmeck gets back. 

I don't think Ayers or Allen are in any danger of being released, they're valuable assets with versatility and growing experience that have potential to be great players once they've found their place in the lineup.  Ayers is so combustible they'll put him anywhere they think he can make the greatest impact.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Great takes everyone, had the game on but at a bon fire on a lappy without sound so didn't get a good feel for the game

The game is re-playable on CFL+, at least for awhile.

[Blue In BC]

They have to find a way to keep Jenkins and Dixon on the AR, the two of them along with Willie, Ceresna and Lawson are the basis for a great D-line.  Kornelson held his own and was involved often, he'll do ok until Schmeck gets back. 

I don't think Ayers or Allen are in any danger of being released, they're valuable assets with versatility and growing experience that have potential to be great players once they've found their place in the lineup.  Ayers is so combustible they'll put him anywhere they think he can make the greatest impact.

I keep saying it. It's ratio math and roster size. We can't get everyone on the AR. We didn't have an extra import DL. I'm all for keeping Dixon and Jenkins on the roster. Someone would have to be deleted, moved to reserve or PR. Both are good players and could have a role. Every role is a trade off on a player in a different role.

We certainly won't have a DI as a safety only player. Taking either Allen or Ayers off gets Dixon on potentially.

It's not likely we have a DB as a DI. Vaval will be an in game injury replacement.

I'd like another import DT on the roster if we have one that wins a spot on the AR. I didn't see one take that spot and even so, do we have a DI spot to do that?

[theaardvark]

Completely a nothing game to make any team judgements on, totally focused on individual efforts, and must take into account the team-mates they were working with and the opponents they were working against.

There is no "Film" study before a PS game, everyone is working off their own individual assignments.  Some looked good, some looked great, and some were heading for the cut down list.

I think the fact Elgersma got the 2nd drive and into the 3rd quarter meant they wanted to get a look at what he could do against SSK's better defenders.  I think he was against better D, but had better Rec's.  On the whole, not disappointed at all, some moments of flash.

Perkins had a worse Rec corps/Oline, but was against a worse D.  It felt like he did marginally better that Elgersma, and I still think we come out of camp with him at QB2, and Elgersma competing with him to take the spot.

I hope Condell can convince MOS that during the season, in any mop up time, Zach can rest.  Even through the game, they should have series set for both Perkins and Elgersma, to rotate in when there is a long drive, and then we get a turnover quickly on the next.  Load management for Zach is needed this year, and both Zach and MOS need to understand that, we need him fresh for the postseason.  I know, this year 3 teams still miss the playoffs, but getting there with a spent Collaros is a waste.

Next weeks game will give us a lot more to discuss, especially in the trenches.  We will see the projected starters for more than a series, and the potential backups / cuts will be in tough to show their wares.

Calling for Wallace to be replaced by an Imp after this game is probably the one comment I take most umbrage with.  The calls for a 3 Imp Oline still befuddle me when we have good Nats.

[GOLDMEMBER]

The game is re-playable on CFL+, at least for awhile.

That site sucks, trying the rewatch the game nd it keeps buffering. The league is so bush sometimes.

[Blueforlife]

Offensive thoughts:

- Amazing that we got to see the Zach - White connection. I'm excited to see the offence with Demski, Pokey, and White playing together

- Pass protection great all game long. All the QBs had lots of time.

- I think the back-up situation worked out as expected. Perkins looks like he can fill the Streveler role and run the offense if needed for a bit.

- It would obviously be amazing if Elgersma looked like a Hall of Famer off the bat, but that's not how it works. The important thing I saw is we are giving him the snaps and are actively developing him. MOS said after the game he was going for the big play rather than talking what's in front of him - perhaps a needed humbling/lesson.

- Brady and the rushing game didn't get many opportunities and experienced less success. I believe it would open up in the regular season with a consistent passing attack.

- Chris-Ike looks better than Peterson?? I know we've played him as a FB, but MOS has made comments that we've played him out of position and he looks better in his natural role. With Daniels in the mix, could Peterson be odd man out?

- Speaking of Daniels, I didn't really notice him. It was hard to follow with the crappy stadium feed. Anyone have any thoughts? DT or Ed had said he looked good in pass pro but not in the run game - which sounds like the whole team.

- It think Frederickson might have got himself cut while Singer was able to make some plays.

- Corcoran probably made the best catch of the night 15-20 yards down the field so I'll eat some crow on that one to steal a phrase.

Defensive thoughts:

- We had 13 guys listed at DL. So the first thing I noticed was that we ran a 4 man front all game long.

- Even with that being the case, we still started every play with a 2 man safety look. One would come down, one would stay back. It was not a consistent person staying back as the "safety", imo.

- Jaylen Smith looks like the real deal. Noticed him a ton. Drafted as a LB but practicing with the DBs - he might be the Canadian version of Griffin/Woodbey (same body type too).

- #22 - Burrell and #7 - Stuart seemed to be in chase mode on several occasions. Didn't notice them in a positive way

- Texada though had the cool interception and was he the one who broke up the pass that led to Holm's INT?

Special Teams:

- We had a 50 FG and a couple of booming punts

- Much like an American RB though, doesn't seem like this team has room for K/P - even though I would personally love a guy who can punt the ball 70 yards with hang time. Seems like a good thing.

That was a nice grab (good hands as advertised by Tecno).  A positive development if can continue and perhaps more bird will be required, time will tell.  You have provided a nice summary here, well presented, balanced take, thanks.

[Blue In BC]

We're allowed 20 imports that aren't QB's. Bombers will only have 2 import QB's so our total should be 22 import on the game day roster, excluding whatever they do with the reserve.

1. Bryant
2. Broxton
3. O. Wilson
4. White
5. Jones
6. K. Wilson
7. Griffin
8. Woodbey
9.  Holm
10. Nichols
11. Moxey
12. Burrell
13. Ceresna
14. Jefferson
15. Jenkins
16. Vaval
17. Castillo
18. Collaros
19. Perkins

So in theory we have 3 more spots of which 1 is a  DI's ( potentially ) and 1 is just a non starter due to starting 8 Canadians. Yesterday we started 9 Canadians so that's a limbo question where we add an import starter.

Choices: Singer or Fredericksen, Allen, Ayers, 1 additional import OL( starting ), Dixon

In this scenario Castillo, Vaval and Woodbey would be 3 of the DI's.

IMO Singer makes the roster over another import OL. I'd pick Dixon over Ayers as a DI but O'Shea probably picks Ayers but that might still leave room for Dixon.

If they choose to retain Allen then Dixon is probably not on the AR.

[Blueforlife]

We're allowed 20 imports that aren't QB's. Bombers will only have 2 import QB's so our total should be 22 import on the game day roster, excluding whatever they do with the reserve.

1. Bryant
2. Broxton
3. O. Wilson
4. White
5. Jones
6. K. Wilson
7. Griffin
8. Woodbey
9.  Holm
10. Nichols
11. Moxey
12. Burrell
13. Ceresna
14. Jefferson
15. Jenkins
16. Vaval
17. Castillo
18. Collaros
19. Perkins

So in theory we have 3 more spots of which 1 is a  DI's ( potentially ) and 1 is just a non starter due to starting 8 Canadians. Yesterday we started 9 Canadians so that's a limbo question where we add an import starter.

Choices: Singer or Fredericksen, Allen, Ayers, 1 additional import OL( starting ), Dixon

In this scenario Castillo, Vaval and Woodbey would be 3 of the DI's.

IMO Singer makes the roster over another import OL. I'd pick Dixon over Ayers as a DI but O'Shea probably picks Ayers but that might still leave room for Dixon.

If they choose to retain Allen then Dixon is probably not on the AR.

Can argue with any of that.  Going to be some tough choices, hopefully the talent we want to retain will wait their turn on a the PR.  Will likely loose a few decent players / prospects that will decline.  IR will be used to hide a few gems with turf toe.

[DCM]

That site sucks, trying the rewatch the game nd it keeps buffering. The league is so bush sometimes.

Buffering is a local issue, not a website issue. Game replayed fine from start to finish this morning.

[Blue In BC]

Can argue with any of that.  Going to be some tough choices, hopefully the talent we want to retain will wait their turn on a the PR.  Will likely loose a few decent players / prospects that will decline.  IR will be used to hide a few gems with turf toe.

The 2 man reserve will allow us to park some talent and yes we might see 2 or 3 players on the 1 game IR. I don't expect us to do that unless necessary now that we have that 2 man reserve. The PR adds 2 players.

I'm not sure about the health of some of the starters that didn't travel with the team. There might be one or 2 that legitimately miss the 1st game? But if everyone is healthy, I don't see other teams picking up anyone we release. Each team has the same issuees.

One last thought that Lamont might be a better early choice over Allen if we choose to have an extra DB on the AR. Overall I lean towards an extra Dl than an extra DB.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Buffering is a local issue, not a website issue. Game replayed fine from start to finish this morning.

Yep, I stream through copper wire and didn't experience any hiccups with the broadcast.

[Jesse]

That was a nice grab (good hands as advertised by Tecno).  A positive development if can continue and perhaps more bird will be required, time will tell.  You have provided a nice summary here, well presented, balanced take, thanks.

My take wasn't balanced at all, lol. It was almost purely positive things that I noticed. Wasn't looking for failure.

[Blueforlife]

My take wasn't balanced at all, lol. It was almost purely positive things that I noticed. Wasn't looking for failure.

Fair enough, perhaps balanced should be replaced with calling it the ways you seen it, this time of year that's what we want and yes everyone looking for positives as we evaluate what will work! Keep it up, much appreciated.  The detail of your post helps.

[Doublezero]

Where was Tommy Nield for yesterday's pre-season game vs Sask? He appears ahead of Clercius and Davis on the depth chart but it doesn't look like he recorded any catches. Maybe just a decoy for Tim White in that first series?

[Jesse]

Where was Tommy Nield for yesterday's pre-season game vs Sask? He appears ahead of Clercius and Davis on the depth chart but it doesn't look like he recorded any catches. Maybe just a decoy for Tim White in that first series?

Starting offence didn't stay on for long and White took all the receptions.