Official Game Day Thread - Winnipeg @ Calgary, June 5, 2026

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Ouch.  Low blow... like Brown when he ruined said knees.

It's not meant to be. I think we've weighted decisions too aggressively towards our long tenured veterans in the last two years or so. It's nice to see some new faces (even if they're not exactly young) come in and contribute right away and make a difference.

We don't win that football game without Condell, Ceresna, White and even Perkins looked really good for what we need out of him.

We need more of that. Where we struggled tended to be from people (players and coaches) who have been here awhile. Just one game. But still. Food for thought.

[Blue In BC]

Ok. Re-watched game again this morning. A few more observations.

1. Woodbey will be missed if he's out and it appears that is likely. It was mentioned that we might recall someone like Clinton. While that's possible I think that requires players on the roster to pick up the slack. Replacing with a new LB is not the only option.

This potentially is a ratio changing aspect and how they choose to fill it will be interesting.

We could add in Texada to provide more depth in the secondary. Or we could flip the extra import to offence with someone like Singer.

2. Dixon's injury appeared less serious but he might still miss a game or 2. Fletcher or Reese are available. IMO Reese would be next up, but that's just a guess.

3. Jenkins and Dixon added some speed / pressure on defence. Both lost contain a few times and VA got outside causing problems. Rookie mistakes / learning curve stuff. Both could be good players as the season progresses, injury status aside.

4. Vaval. He's a difference maker and made some exceptional plays on his returns.

5. We play the Stamps twice more in Winnipeg with a good chance to win the season series. That's never a bad thing.

[Blueforlife]

Ok. Re-watched game again this morning. A few more observations.

1. Woodbey will be missed if he's out and it appears that is likely. It was mentioned that we might recall someone like Clinton. While that's possible I think that requires players on the roster to pick up the slack. Replacing with a new LB is not the only option.

This potentially is a ratio changing aspect and how they choose to fill it will be interesting.

We could add in Texada to provide more depth in the secondary. Or we could flip the extra import to offence with someone like Singer.

2. Dixon's injury appeared less serious but he might still miss a game or 2. Fletcher or Reese are available. IMO Reese would be next up, but that's just a guess.

3. Jenkins and Dixon added some speed / pressure on defence. Both lost contain a few times and VA got outside causing problems. Rookie mistakes / learning curve stuff. Both could be good players as the season progresses, injury status aside.

4. Vaval. He's a difference maker and made some exceptional plays on his returns.

5. We play the Stamps twice more in Winnipeg with a good chance to win the season series. That's never a bad thing.

Woodbey is a key cog, agree on Clinton.

Good summary.

[Blue In BC]

Woodbey is a key cog, agree on Clinton.

Good summary.

I wonder whether Clinton was offered a spot on the PR and he declined. I can understand why a player might decline. However that does sort of fall into the FIFO theory.

OTOH, if we didn't offer him a PR spot then I think chances of a recall are slim.

Same points / questions about Cretsinger who is nearly identical size as Woodbey.

Realistically I think Ayers and the Canadian LB's get more reps in the short term. Another import like a DB or receiver more likely to be added. This is where JSK if healthy would have been an immediate solution.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

I wonder whether Clinton was offered a spot on the PR and he declined. I can understand why a player might decline. However that does sort of fall into the FIFO theory.

OTOH, if we didn't offer him a PR spot then I think chances of a recall are slim.

Same points / questions about Cretsinger who is nearly identical size as Woodbey.

Realistically I think Ayers and the Canadian LB's get more reps in the short term. Another import like a DB or receiver more likely to be added. This is where JSK if healthy would have been an immediate solution.

No it doesn't. I have no idea his situation but players decline PR spots for different reasons, sometimes financially, they can't make it work. We have no idea and I wouldn't speculate on that part of it.

[The Zipp]

stamps will be very different with their injured players back and in the lineup.

great first win of the season - 2 points in June count the same as in October

[Blue In BC]

No it doesn't. I have no idea his situation but players decline PR spots for different reasons, sometimes financially, they can't make it work. We have no idea and I wouldn't speculate on that part of it.

Sure and I said that, but I also think my point could be valid. It would depend on the context of a conversation about a possible offer.

The bigger question was did they offer him or Cretsinger a PR spot?

[Blue In BC]

stamps will be very different with their injured players back and in the lineup.

great first win of the season - 2 points in June count the same as in October

Injuries are a large part of winning or losing. They were missing some key players that may be playing as soon as the next game. Injuries happen every week so who knows who is lost game to game. It's a very fluid situation for every team.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I wonder whether Clinton was offered a spot on the PR and he declined. I can understand why a player might decline. However that does sort of fall into the FIFO theory.

OTOH, if we didn't offer him a PR spot then I think chances of a recall are slim.

Same points / questions about Cretsinger who is nearly identical size as Woodbey.

Realistically I think Ayers and the Canadian LB's get more reps in the short term. Another import like a DB or receiver more likely to be added. This is where JSK if healthy would have been an immediate solution.

On last Monday's Coach's Show O'Shea allowed DT 3 guesses on players that declined PR assignment and every guess was right, Randolph, M-Bailey and the big punter all declined.  Kinda makes you wonder how many more declined and how far down the list some of the players they kept were. 

They might bring Clinton back to replace Woodbey but I don't think he would see any playing time, solution is in house between Kyrie, Ayers, Smith, Shay and whoever else can fill in at WIL.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Ok. Re-watched game again this morning. A few more observations.

1. Woodbey will be missed if he's out and it appears that is likely. It was mentioned that we might recall someone like Clinton. While that's possible I think that requires players on the roster to pick up the slack. Replacing with a new LB is not the only option.

This potentially is a ratio changing aspect and how they choose to fill it will be interesting.

We could add in Texada to provide more depth in the secondary. Or we could flip the extra import to offence with someone like Singer.

2. Dixon's injury appeared less serious but he might still miss a game or 2. Fletcher or Reese are available. IMO Reese would be next up, but that's just a guess.

3. Jenkins and Dixon added some speed / pressure on defence. Both lost contain a few times and VA got outside causing problems. Rookie mistakes / learning curve stuff. Both could be good players as the season progresses, injury status aside.

4. Vaval. He's a difference maker and made some exceptional plays on his returns.

5. We play the Stamps twice more in Winnipeg with a good chance to win the season series. That's never a bad thing.

Jenkins doesn't even think about contain, his objective seems to be solely to get after the QB, they might have to use him sparingly in certain situations.  Dixon looked to be more cautious and seems to be more aware of not getting trapped inside, although he still got caught a few times.   It's fair to say VA is the slipperiest QB in the CFL.

[Blue In BC]

On last Monday's Coach's Show O'Shea allowed DT 3 guesses on players that declined PR assignment and every guess was right, Randolph, M-Bailey and the big punter all declined.  Kinda makes you wonder how many more declined and how far down the list some of the players they kept were. 

They might bring Clinton back to replace Woodbey but I don't think he would see any playing time, solution is in house between Kyrie, Ayers, Smith, Shay and whoever else can fill in at WIL.

Interesting. I did think that Randolph would have been added to the 2 man reserve. Since filling both spots is not mandatory it does have an SMS implication. OTOH, adding 2 import OL to the PR also has a cost. Poncius looks to be the emergency OT on the PR. I don't know how much more or less upside he has compared to Randolph.

Vanterpool might have also been a choice for the reserve if not injured. We haven't heard the extent / timeline of his return and what happens then. Having one of them healthy and on the reserve would have been preferable but that didn't work out.

It will be awhile before we hear how long Woodbey will be out. Regardless I don't think it will be soon even if it's a calf pull. So a roster choice will need to be made.

As I suggested and you agree the replacement will be choices on the roster. What they do with an extra import spot is limited to choices on the PR at the moment.

The way I see it, there are 3 types of choices. A DB, a receiver or one more of the 2 DL. If Dixon misses a game then that will happen anyway. However if he can play then they could still see that as a reasonable choice.

BLM is less dangerous too escape the pocket so fresh DL rotation is viable. Of course adding Texada so Kelly doesn't play on defence against a top passing QB is certainly worth considering.

[Blue In BC]

Jenkins doesn't even think about contain, his objective seems to be solely to get after the QB, they might have to use him sparingly in certain situations.  Dixon looked to be more cautious and seems to be more aware of not getting trapped inside, although he still got caught a few times.

Agreed but we don't know what Jenkins told as far as responsibilities. My impression was youthful inexperience. You can't allow a good running QB to escape contain if you don't have a LB at 2nd level to prevent that.

I did notice Dixon take an inside route at least once where it cause us.

So another week of practice and coaching we should see improvement.

BLM doesn't escape the pocket like VA can, so a different defensive strategy will be taken.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Agreed but we don't know what Jenkins told as far as responsibilities. My impression was youthful inexperience. You can't allow a good running QB to escape contain if you don't have a LB at 2nd level to prevent that.

I did notice Dixon take an inside route at least once where it cause us.

So another week of practice and coaching we should see improvement.

BLM doesn't escape the pocket like VA can, so a different defensive strategy will be taken.

Noticed the defensive ends more aggressive in the second half. Think it was partly an adjustment. A controlled rush is great but it needs to get home sometimes. The second half was more the defense that I think is largely effective. Beat the man in front of you, attack the QB, and force decisions. Younger tries way too hard to make sure every square inch of field is accounted for because his system needs to account for the QB holding the ball forever instead of punching teams in the mouth.

We'll win more games if we play more like the second half and less like the first half when Younger's defense isn't quite as structured. In big moments he has to be more aggressive and not shrink back into "please drop the ball" defense that seems to be his safe place.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Interesting. I did think that Randolph would have been added to the 2 man reserve. Since filling both spots is not mandatory it does have an SMS implication. OTOH, adding 2 import OL to the PR also has a cost. Poncius looks to be the emergency OT on the PR. I don't know how much more or less upside he has compared to Randolph.

Vanterpool might have also been a choice for the reserve if not injured. We haven't heard the extent / timeline of his return and what happens then. Having one of them healthy and on the reserve would have been preferable but that didn't work out.

It will be awhile before we hear how long Woodbey will be out. Regardless I don't think it will be soon even if it's a calf pull. So a roster choice will need to be made.

As I suggested and you agree the replacement will be choices on the roster. What they do with an extra import spot is limited to choices on the PR at the moment.

The way I see it, there are 3 types of choices. A DB, a receiver or one more of the 2 DL. If Dixon misses a game then that will happen anyway. However if he can play then they could still see that as a reasonable choice.

BLM is less dangerous too escape the pocket so fresh DL rotation is viable. Of course adding Texada so Kelly doesn't play on defence against a top passing QB is certainly worth considering.

Scary thing is Stan's replacement no longer seems to be in house, at least Randolph could play OT, not sure anyone else on the team can, besides Broxton.  Randolph probably did not want to accept a non-playing role and maybe already knew he was wanted elsewhere. With Vanterpool on the 6 game O-line depth is terribly thin, hopefully a valuable draft pick will show up after NFL cuts.

[Blue In BC]

Scary thing is Stan's replacement no longer seems to be in house, at least Randolph could play OT, not sure anyone else on the team can, besides Broxton.  Randolph probably did not want to accept a non-playing role and maybe already knew he was wanted elsewhere. With Vanterpool on the 6 game O-line depth is terribly thin, hopefully a valuable draft pick will show up after NFL cuts.

I don't think moving a player to the 2 man reserve is a choice for the player. He isn't being released which is what happen being moved to PR. Any player might be upset about a non playing role but it's the nature of the sport at times.

Randolph had played 6 games in 2024 but was not far from a rookie and starting in 2025. Poncius may have a future or he could be replaced during the season with another PR player. He has great size.

Mazzucca does seem more geared to a guard position.