Have you lost all faith?

[Blueforlife]

 

[Blue In BC]

No, but we saw many of these problems going into free agency and then TC. Things like a pre planned 3 import OL, 3 Canadian receivers and hanging onto some veterans that should have been replaced. Lack of real competition at several roster spots.

We hoped they would prove us incorrect. That has not happened to this point of the season.

Management is fixated on things that have clearly not been working for several seasons and we've been in a downward spiral.

It may not be too late but will they change any of their current strategy both on game planning but roster decisions?

IDK. I would be looking at least a minor airlift into the PR. IF they aren't better than a couple of starters then time to find some players that are or have more potential upside.

At least a few starters should be looking over their shoulders. We all know who they are so no need to name them.

[Waffler]

Yes. I expected a better team. They did some things right. Signing Broxton, Ceresna and White. Signed a bunch of taller db's although that came to nothing.

What has made me lose faith is the MOS philosophy of  "we will do the same things but better with who we have".

I expect nothing but further decay. Patches on patches.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

No, but we saw many of these problems going into free agency and then TC. Things like a pre planned 3 import OL, 3 Canadian receivers and hanging onto some veterans that should have been replaced. Lack of real competition at several roster spots.

We hoped they would prove us incorrect. That has not happened to this point of the season.

Management is fixated on things that have clearly not been working for several seasons and we've been in a downward spiral.

It may not be too late but will they change any of their current strategy both on game planning but roster decisions?

IDK. I would be looking at least a minor airlift into the PR. IF they aren't better than a couple of starters then time to find some players that are or have more potential upside.

At least a few starters should be looking over their shoulders. We all know who they are so no need to name them.

This is a long shot strategy, they might find one player out of 10 that can displace a current roster player due to their lack of game experience and CFL knowledge.  The team is stocked full of superior athletes, what they lack is proper understanding and execution of assignments which is the bigger piece.

As far as the oldsters I won't disagree, they had the easiest opportunity to walk away from Zach, Stan, Kyrie, and Nichols at the end of last season and instead decided to re-sign them all. Other than Nichols there was solid evidence their best years were in the past and it was time to transition to replacements. 

[Jesse]

Signing all of the FA's we did and ending up with the worst version of the team in a 3 year downward spiral is hardly inspiring.

There's a small hope that Zach can come back and run the offence better than Dru is right now, but he wasn't doing it before he left and doesn't seem physically capable of staying on the field besides that. So I'm struggling to think there's anywhere for growth.

[bomb squad]

Of course not. There's more than half a season left. In this sport and this league, you're not out until you're out. They're not even close to being out. It can change. It's happened many times.

[Blueforlife]

This voting gives me hope

[Ducky]

3 consecutive years of decline...coaching/management stuck in the past. Not good offensively or defensively.

[Blue In BC]

This is a long shot strategy, they might find one player out of 10 that can displace a current roster player due to their lack of game experience and CFL knowledge.  The team is stocked full of superior athletes, what they lack is proper understanding and execution of assignments which is the bigger piece.

As far as the oldsters I won't disagree, they had the easiest opportunity to walk away from Zach, Stan, Kyrie, and Nichols at the end of last season and instead decided to re-sign them all. Other than Nichols there was solid evidence their best years were in the past and it was time to transition to replacements. 

There are players with CFL experience available. In some cases that might involve a trade as happened getting D. Brown.

You can't continue to do the same thing and expect different results. Players change on every team during the off season. Making the best decisions is a formula for success. Can we honestly say we've done that over the past 3 seasons?

[Blueforlife]

There are players with CFL experience available. In some cases that might involve a trade as happened getting D. Brown.

You can't continue to do the same thing and expect different results. Players change on every team during the off season. Making the best decisions is a formula for success. Can we honestly say we've done that over the past 3 seasons?

CFL trades are pretty rare

Usually picks for role players

But its possible

What assets works we give up? LB?

I would not give away picks

I might sell vets for picks

Needs
OL
FS
HB
Receiver maybe

[Blue In BC]

CFL trades are pretty rare

Usually picks for role players

But its possible

What assets works we give up? LB?

I would not give away picks

I might sell vets for picks

Needs
OL
FS
HB
Receiver maybe

I don't have a particular trade in mind. We have too many Canadian LB's that are good ST players and might have some upside if given a chance elsewhere.

Even we we trade depth players we might shift excess at one roster spot for better depth at another. Canadian DB's come to mind although I can't think of a specific team that would be a win win for both sides.

I would be speaking with Ottawa, BC and Toronto as the other bottom teams.

We're still in the fight but we're reaching a tipping point soon going into the harder part of the schedule. At some point the newbies might need to get a chance to show their potential. Shay for example. Either play him or trade him to some team that might. He's a good ST player but can he become a good defensive player ELSEWHERE?

[Tecno]

For this season, in terms of getting to the cup?  Yes.  Unless the time magically 180's next week (which they won't) it's over for this season.  Time to start thinking about next season.  Which means 6G'ing the underperforming people and getting the next-gen live reps, even if it makes us suck more.

I do have hope they can rejig and improve for next season.  Minus a 1RDP of course     

Our "D draft pick guys take 3-4 seasons to develop" method is total butt.  No other team does this.  If you were drafted in the 1st or 2nd round, you need to be getting regular D reps, if not starting in year 1 or 2.  If you can't do this, bye (QBs excluded).

Yes, I'm looking at Shay in particular.  Most of his cohort of that year's 1st round are starting or taking regular snaps right now.  Think of how much better we'd be if we had a top notch (i.e. 1RDP) MLB starting instead of Kyrie... and what that would allow to the ratio on O.  We've seen a ton of Smith on D... but absolutely ZERO of Shay.  That's unacceptable.  If he's a bust, say "you're a loser" and cut him, or trade him forever whatever late-round pick you can steal from another team.

[Tecno]

Mafia & Zach need to sit down.  They need to say: this is Zach's last year.  Zach needs to take hits and just snap back up like every other QB (minus Dru) does.  Just get up and pretend nothing happened... like everyone else.  Play like there's no tomorrow, because there's not.  Give it all you have and go out with a bang.

My theory is Zach is always OK.  He's not concussed.  He's not "neck".  He's fine.  He feels woozy and sees stars and has booboos, but so does every other QB after taking a hit.  They just shake it off and continue.  Yes, we (and Zach) want to protect Zach, and that's what we've been doing for 3+ seasons.  But that will no longer buy anyone anything.  It's the end, so just leave it all on the field.  If they don't want to do this, then just 6G him the rest of the season or make him #2 to Dru (and we'll lose every game).

If Zach keeps playing 1.5 games then going out for an unprepared #2 for the rest, and then misses 3-4 more games, then that means he'll play at most 5-6 games this season.  That's useless.  And he'll get knocked out of the playoff.  It's better just to give all reps to Dru.  We'll suck, but we can pray Dru improves in time for next season.

Our best chance this year is still Zach, but only if he shrugs off the hits like everyone else.  If you want to say this is too extreme and I'm not considering Zach's long term health, I say a couple of more hits are a drop in the bucket at this point (like 103 hits vs 99 means anything) and won't matter, and if you insist then I say you then must bench him.  To do anything else is saying to other teams "you will 100% win this game as long as you sack Zach just once" -- then every team ignores all repercussions just for that one time they have to get to Zach.

[Waffler]

Mafia & Zach need to sit down.  They need to say: this is Zach's last year.  Zach needs to take hits and just snap back up like every other QB (minus Dru) does.  Just get up and pretend nothing happened... like everyone else.  Play like there's no tomorrow, because there's not.  Give it all you have and go out with a bang.

I'd suggest it is pretty hard to do when it is obvious we aren't in the top 3 of our division. A bang would be a trade to Hamilton and have a hot playoff run.

[Blueforlife]

I don't have a particular trade in mind. We have too many Canadian LB's that are good ST players and might have some upside if given a chance elsewhere.

Even we we trade depth players we might shift excess at one roster spot for better depth at another. Canadian DB's come to mind although I can't think of a specific team that would be a win win for both sides.

I would be speaking with Ottawa, BC and Toronto as the other bottom teams.

We're still in the fight but we're reaching a tipping point soon going into the harder part of the schedule. At some point the newbies might need to get a chance to show their potential. Shay for example. Either play him or trade him to some team that might. He's a good ST player but can he become a good defensive player ELSEWHERE?

Ottawa will likely sell early.  I'm not sure who though.  Toronto and BC will hold off likely and might be trade partners later. 

[Sir Blue and Gold]

We're a team caught between two approaches. O'Shea's tendancy towards familiarity and the veteran players who powered us to two Grey Cup wins and five appearances and the reality that those players are mostly responsible for the year over year regression.

I said it all off-sesson but this is a team that says winning is the most important thing but whose actions don't align with that vision from a personnel and coaching standpoint.

Unfortunately, as much as I like him, that's almost entirely on Mike O'Shea.

[bluebeard]

wE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF
1.  RECRUITING AND DRAFTING
2. QUIT RECYCLING OLD COACHES, NEED FRESH IDEAS
3. QUIT KEEPING PLAYERS PAST THEIR PRIME
4. KEEP BRINGING IN NEW AMERICAN PLAYER Especially final NFL cuts
   hope some of them turn out for next season

[theaardvark]

Faith is belief in something you cannot see.

We can see that this team has had a decade of success, and didn't somehow overnight become stupid.

We've had a rough patch, they will right the ship.  They haven't lost faith yet... we shouldn't either.

[dd]

We lost 2 all star NAT's in Dobson and Ford and replaced them with average at best talent, and are forced to use NAT's when they really shouldn't be starting-Kelly, Corcoran, Cobb. We need t re-stock the talen shelves and that ain't happening this season and will be more challenging moving forward as we're down 2 first round picks from the Brown trade. It's going to be some rough going for the next year or so.

[Blueforlife]

Split decision these types of polls tell me nothing lol

Keep voting folks

[bomberjunkie]

Drafting is a sore spot if you're going to also draft players like K/P Brady Lidster, only to leave them unsigned and picked up by other teams.

Was the pick to try and have a successor to Castillo? Was this decision done a season too early that we couldn't afford to PR them? I'm not sure I saw the rationale in wasting a pick on a K/P, even if it was late round to the best kicker in the class, if you aren't going to make any attempt to keep him.

[Pigskin]

Yes, drafting has been an issue.

[theaardvark]

We have a lot of recent draft picks playing or on the AR, I don't think we've been THAT bad. 

Usually you don't see a DP outside the second round making the team...

Have we drafted "generational" players lately?  Elgersma, Daniels, Wallace might be long term Bombers.  LB's, Clercius, Ike, and we still have some picks that might come north.

Someone was complaining that we drafted Lidster but couldn't keep him and now he plays elsewhere...

Have we had perfect drafts?  Naw.. but they haven't stunk, especially having mostly late rounders.

[Blue In BC]

Drafting is a sore spot if you're going to also draft players like K/P Brady Lidster, only to leave them unsigned and picked up by other teams.

Was the pick to try and have a successor to Castillo? Was this decision done a season too early that we couldn't afford to PR them? I'm not sure I saw the rationale in wasting a pick on a K/P, even if it was late round to the best kicker in the class, if you aren't going to make any attempt to keep him.

I think he was in TC but we released him.

[bwiser]

Of course not. There's more than half a season left. In this sport and this league, you're not out until you're out. They're not even close to being out. It can change. It's happened many times.

1988 Bombers finished 9-9 and won the Grey Cup. Calgary was 8-10 and won the cup.BC won the cup after starting 0-5 in 2011. The Bombers have plenty of time to get they're act together.

[3rdand1.5]

I think what we saw in Buck and Hall were guys that had their learning curve before we became a great team, and coordinators that got the best out of their players. I believe the catered to the talent we had more than we see now, It seems Condell who appears to be finding his footing and especially Younger have a system and scheme and the guys must match it. I really do believe that in our top we had plays matching the guys but now we have guys trying to match the guys....

I mean no way should a professional team allow nearly 400 yards rushing against, and it's not like this was the first game we were run all over it's happened all season....To me it is clear that the scheme we employee on defence does not work, it may be a great scheme, but if it is we don't have the horses for it.....and sorry to be the bearer of bad news but we can't get them in the middle of the season either....

So either JY completely changes his entire scheme to match the horses we have or he needs to be relieved of his duties as it is no longer a missed assignment or a missed tackle here and there it is a complete fundamental breakdown of multiple players across all games cumulating to giving up 400 yards against rushing to two back-ups yet.....

Long winded but I am of the outmost belief that unless JY drastically changes his entire scheme and philosophy or is relieved of his duties then yes the season is lost and i no longer have faith we can compete, I truly do believe the current defensive scheme does not allow faith....

[Pigskin]

We have a lot of recent draft picks playing or on the AR, I don't think we've been THAT bad. 

Usually you don't see a DP outside the second round making the team...

Have we drafted "generational" players lately?  Elgersma, Daniels, Wallace might be long term Bombers.  LB's, Clercius, Ike, and we still have some picks that might come north.

Someone was complaining that we drafted Lidster but couldn't keep him and now he plays elsewhere...

Have we had perfect drafts?  Naw.. but they haven't stunk, especially having mostly late rounders.

Making the AR is one thing. But, starting and making plays and a difference is another.

[GOLDMEMBER]

Yes I have lost faith, especially in this coaching staff. They have left me little reason to expect anything differently.

[peg_city]

3 consecutive years of decline...coaching/management stuck in the past. Not good offensively or defensively.

It's been a slow decline from Great -> Good -> Average -> Now, probably below average

[Jesse]

It's been a slow decline from Great -> Good -> Average -> Now, probably below average

Definitely below average. We'll be in a season long fight to not miss the play-offs.

[Pigskin]

I haven't lost faith, but we need some help on the OL. ZC8 won't last long with how our OL has been playing. Our D isn't good right now either. Lawson and Kramdi will help, but the D also needs a couple of playmakers.

[TBURGESS]

We've mostly played weaker teams so far. We still have 2 against each of MTL, SKN, and EDM, the top 3 teams in the league. I don't have much faith in beating them. 

[Tecno]

1988 Bombers finished 9-9 and won the Grey Cup. Calgary was 8-10 and won the cup.BC won the cup after starting 0-5 in 2011. The Bombers have plenty of time to get they're act together.

Not when they are moving backwards they don't.

[Tecno]

I think he was in TC but we released him.

Ya, Lidster played the PS's and I think made every kick attempt.  I think our choice is fine.  If it ain't broken...

Lidster just showed up like 3-6 seasons too early.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Hoping they don't come back from bye week to the status quo, roster or scheme wise.  Need to see some evidence the architects spent 2 weeks navel gazing examining their record and making some harsh decision that will lead to change.  More of the same ole same ole. will piss off fans that want to see some strategic effort made towards advancement.

[Waffler]

Ya, Lidster played the PS's and I think made every kick attempt.  I think our choice is fine.  If it ain't broken...

Lidster just showed up like 3-6 seasons too early.

Lidster was beat by Sergio. I was at camp a lot and it was a pretty easy call. Sergio has more leg and he hit more FG's.

You COULD ask why we draft a PK if we don't need one though.

[bomberjunkie]

Lidster was beat by Sergio. I was at camp a lot and it was a pretty easy call. Sergio has more leg and he hit more FG's.

You COULD ask why we draft a PK if we don't need one though.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Why are we wasting picks in positions where we're set. If its future-planning, you don't kick them to the curb after training camp, so this is confusing to me.

[bwiser]

Not when they are moving backwards they don't.

The Bombers finished the 1988 regular season with three straight losses.They were going backwards that season and won the Grey Cup.This is the CFL anything can happen.

[dd]

Ya, Lidster played the PS's and I think made every kick attempt.  I think our choice is fine.  If it ain't broken...

Lidster just showed up like 3-6 seasons too early.

Ya but why waste a draft pick if we're going to stay with Castillo for another 5 years, which makes sense, draft an O lineman for pete sake, don't waste a pick!!

[theaardvark]

Lidster was beat by Sergio. I was at camp a lot and it was a pretty easy call. Sergio has more leg and he hit more FG's.

You COULD ask why we draft a PK if we don't need one though.

Late rounder, and Sergio is not a spring chicken.  You need an exit strategy, and like Paredes, he could have gotten injured before Lidster was released.

[theaardvark]

Ya but why waste a draft pick if we're going to stay with Castillo for another 5 years, which makes sense, draft an O lineman for pete sake, don't waste a pick!!

Late round Oline rarely make it.  Late round kickers can make a difference.

Insurance.  Look at the number of ex-Bombers kicking in the league...

[blue_or_die]

With an objective lens on it feels pretty much impossible to "have faith" in this year's team. The don't just have a few issues; their problems are deep and systemic. We all knew this was going to come one day and it's finally here.

Now, do I think it's out of the question that we turn the ship and win the cup? No, actually. Stranger things have happened and this is a weird league. I just have no reason to think that can possibly happen other than I'm a fan and want to see it. So I'll be here watching regardless. Be prepared for the worst and hope for the best is all we can really do as fans anyway.

[dd]

Late round Oline rarely make it.  Late round kickers can make a difference.

Insurance.  Look at the number of ex-Bombers kicking in the league...

True

Late round Oline rarely make it.  Late round kickers can make a difference.

Insurance.  Look at the number of ex-Bombers kicking in the league...

Insurance for sure, but you got to keep insurance on your PR or else some other team picks him up for nothing and you wasted your pick

[Tecno]

The Bombers finished the 1988 regular season with three straight losses.They were going backwards that season and won the Grey Cup.This is the CFL anything can happen.

Ya, but that's much harder when SSK, EDM, MTL and probably CGY/BC are playing the way they are.

I think the only way we're going to the cup this year is if Rankin and Trevor both get season-ended.  And that is certainly possibly (see: BLM).  Both of those teams don't have squat if those guys are gone.

[Blueforlife]

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are currently listed at +2000 odds to win the 2026 Grey Cup, placing them as mid-to-long-shots in the middle of the CFL championship futures board

[Tecno]

I would add that our D is allowing teams to set league or team records against us, 2 games in a row:

CGY had the only guy ever to get TDs 3 ways in a single half.

BC got, probably, a team rushing record.

Even worse, both are teams that have struggled this year -- not huge powerhouses.  It's only us that make them look like world-beaters.