Official Game Day Thread - Ottawa @ Winnipeg, August 14, 2026

[Blue In BC]

Agree better to wait.  We got our issues and challenges.  What happens next depends on an incredible tough back half of the season.  Sink or swim.  We likely tread water and kicker the rubber over winter.

I did say I agree in principle normally but IMO we've passed that point.

As mentioned before, we've had worsening win / loss records in the previous 4 years. 15, 14, 11 and then 10 last year. We may end up with more than 10 wins in 2026 but it sure doesn't look that way.  It looks like we'll be hard pressed to finish higher than 3rd and even the crossover is in doubt.

The very nature of our roster suggest big changes in 2027 to the old guard. Collaros, Bryant, Neufeld, Nichols and even Jefferson may be casualties of SMS, age and injury histories.

We continue to stand pat on roster choices and so on. That's a fools plan.

[Blueforlife]

I did say I agree in principle normally but IMO we've passed that point.

As mentioned before, we've had worsening win / loss records in the previous 4 years. 15, 14, 11 and then 10 last year. We may end up with more than 10 wins in 2026 but it sure doesn't look that way.  It looks like we'll be hard pressed to finish higher than 3rd and even the crossover is in doubt.

The very nature of our roster suggest big changes in 2027 to the old guard. Collaros, Bryant, Neufeld, Nichols and even Jefferson may be casualties of SMS, age and injury histories.

We continue to stand pat on roster choices and so on. That's a fools plan.

Change will come, not this year.  This is our last dance with the old guard.  Rebuild coming, will suck but will pay off if we are patient like last time.

[Blue In BC]

Change will come, not this year.  This is our last dance with the old guard.  Rebuild coming, will suck but will pay off if we are patient like last time.

O'Shea has long hesitated moving away from from old guard players. I doubt he changes that next season. He'll add a few free agents and stick with several vets that should be gone. I'll be surprised if he doesn't bring back Collaros as an example.

[Blueforlife]

O'Shea has long hesitated moving away from from old guard players. I doubt he changes that next season. He'll add a few free agents and stick with several vets that should be gone. I'll be surprised if he doesn't bring back Collaros as an example.

I think there will be more change than you suggest.  All depends on how this season turns out and how our coaches and players do during this critical phase which would test even for the best clubs.  You not wrong but can't hold em forever.  I would likely move on from Zach but his replacement must be better and we haven't seen that (yet).  Unless Zach signs for cheap.  I hope he can stay healthy but our OL doesn't give that a fair chance imo.  I enjoyed the game yesterday, would have preferred Ottawa to play a little better, love league parity.  They are so far behind.

[3rdand1.5]

As mentioned some guys, Brady, Vaval, Castillo had outstanding games, some guys like Willie, Ceresna, had really good games. Many others played good....In saying that we got the win...yah....but our offence again didn't have fluidity and rythem. I find we do things like run with great success, but don't build on it...I find the offence isn't terrible but it just doesn't flow.....

Defence outside of our D-line is a disaster and at times Our d-line has been terrible at contain, so they aren't without some flaws, but this defensive system doesn't work...Again blown coverages, how many completely open guys and RB's sneaking out of the backfield with no one picking them up.....and this is with so much of our resources being used on defence...I didn't hate our defence before this year, but this year it has been ripe with mistakes, blown coverages, contains etc. I have lost faith in youngers ability to correct it....

[theaardvark]

I think a lot of yards came because we need a better FS.  Kelly had a few good games, but he's back to "why is he dressing" mode.  I saw a couple times he got deked out of his jock, and for some plays (like the deep shot, came up lame catch) wasn't even on the screen.

We are missing Kramdi something fierce.  Both for his QB role, his cover role, and his creep up to the line for extra pressure role.

We need a better answer back there, if it is on our PR or neg list, and does not have the right passport, well, we started 9 Nats.

[bunker]

Well I enjoyed the game (other than a bike ride home in the rain), and I'm happy to get the two points. But that was 2 really bad teams going at each other. Luckily Ottawa is really really bad. I will rewatch the game today, but I don't feel particularly optomistic in spite of the win.

Brady was great, he was breaking tackles, dragging people with him, and even ran outside successfully a couple of times. Never drops a pass, and gets good YAC. He earned his salary last night. Vaval great as always, fearless. Castillo is a luxury we tend to take for granted...he has great range and gets us 3 points where other teams would be punting. I thought Jefferson had one of his better games. He's actually been freed up to pressure QBs, (maybe because contain is less of an issue with a QB like Maier) and its a pleasure to watch. He even used a bull rush successfully, which I cannot recall seeing from him in years. Demski was very good also.

Zac did what he needed to get the win, although his long ball is really starting to float, with a couple of near interceptions. Some are speculating whether he will be back next year. By all rights he shouldn't be, but the sad fact is I don't think we have anyone better at the moment. Not convinced Dru gives us a better chance to win, and there's not much else available, with Taylor Powell tied up in Edmonton for 2 years.

Ceresna and the rest of the D line stopped the run, and got decent pressure.

But this was against an 0-8 team who had just turned over about a quarter of their roster. And against a pretty mediocre QB with accuracy issues, who is not a threat to run. I shudder to think what are defense is going to look like against the better teams. I was able to watch Moxey a fair bit, and I don't know if its Younger's instruction or his own decision, but he plays incredibly far back off the receiver. On second and medium, he's playing back 10 yards, and backpedalling during the receivers first few steps another 5. All the receiver has to do is turn into the middle, and its an easy 7-10 yards. I know the Younger Hall philosophy is to force teams to make multiple small gains up the field until they eventually make a mistake, but the conversion rate on those plays against better teams is going to be close to 100%.

[BomberFan73]

Well I enjoyed the game (other than a bike ride home in the rain), and I'm happy to get the two points. But that was 2 really bad teams going at each other. Luckily Ottawa is really really bad. I will rewatch the game today, but I don't feel particularly optomistic in spite of the win.

Brady was great, he was breaking tackles, dragging people with him, and even ran outside successfully a couple of times. Never drops a pass, and gets good YAC. He earned his salary last night. Vaval great as always, fearless. Castillo is a luxury we tend to take for granted...he has great range and gets us 3 points where other teams would be punting. I thought Jefferson had one of his better games. He's actually been freed up to pressure QBs, (maybe because contain is less of an issue with a QB like Maier) and its a pleasure to watch. He even used a bull rush successfully, which I cannot recall seeing from him in years. Demski was very good also.

Zac did what he needed to get the win, although his long ball is really starting to float, with a couple of near interceptions. Some are speculating whether he will be back next year. By all rights he shouldn't be, but the sad fact is I don't think we have anyone better at the moment. Not convinced Dru gives us a better chance to win, and there's not much else available, with Taylor Powell tied up in Edmonton for 2 years.

Ceresna and the rest of the D line stopped the run, and got decent pressure.

But this was against an 0-8 team who had just turned over about a quarter of their roster. And against a pretty mediocre QB with accuracy issues, who is not a threat to run. I shudder to think what are defense is going to look like against the better teams. I was able to watch Moxey a fair bit, and I don't know if its Younger's instruction or his own decision, but he plays incredibly far back off the receiver. On second and medium, he's playing back 10 yards, and backpedalling during the receivers first few steps another 5. All the receiver has to do is turn into the middle, and its an easy 7-10 yards. I know the Younger Hall philosophy is to force teams to make multiple small gains up the field until they eventually make a mistake, but the conversion rate on those plays against better teams is going to be close to 100%.

Ya, we noticed Moxey giving too much space at the start as well. I think they targeted him most of the 1st Q, completion after completion.

[Tecno]

No surprise you'd take that position on Younger. How much worse does it need to get?

I'm a bit surprised you're jumping in the fire younger camp. You're usually quite measured. And to bring it up after a game where it kind of worked?

I guess I understand, but I'm not really in agreement. I'm starting to study and try to understand what younger is trying to do. I mean, we all have to assume mafia and younger aren't stupid.

To me the main issue is are the players just botching the scheme, or is it that the scheme is impossible for mere mortals to execute. If the scheme is utopia, and unobtainable, then its a useless as a bad scheme. That would mean it will never be good on the field.

[Jesse]

Hall is 65 not 85. Kind of shocked you would say this without proof. His knee has been getting worse (limp) until this year, which is why I speculate he had it replaced. Yeah, he doesn't move that great. I remember we had an o-line coach that used a cane and Bob Wylie weighed what? Barker in Toronto, Rod Rust was 80. Dave Richie was 69 his last year as DC in BC.  Lots more examples out there. I have no doubt Hall could do it.

This is Hall stepping back on his own accord. He does not want to take on the job anymore. Without getting into the specifics of his health issues, this is what he has shared with us.

[Big Daddy]

O'Shea has long hesitated moving away from from old guard players. I doubt he changes that next season. He'll add a few free agents and stick with several vets that should be gone. I'll be surprised if he doesn't bring back Collaros as an example.

O'Shea isn't GM - he's not signing free agents and extending contracts of vets. 

I'm not naive enough to think he doesn't have say in the make-up of the team, but you may be forgetting about Walters altogether?

I agree though - O'Shea definitely seems to depend on the vets that he has at his disposal more than giving others a chance.

[Waffler]

This is Hall stepping back on his own accord. He does not want to take on the job anymore. Without getting into the specifics of his health issues, this is what he has shared with us.

It was never Hall's choice. It was O'Shea's. He may be ok with it now because he's been doing it a while. But it doesn't change the fact that we have a replacement for Younger in house were he not to last the year. In the off season you do a full search. Again, the point is moot because Younger and MOS will live or die as one.

[Jesse]

It was never Hall's choice. It was O'Shea's. He may be ok with it now because he's been doing it a while. But it doesn't change the fact that we have a replacement for Younger in house were he not to last the year. In the off season you do a full search. Again, the point is moot because Younger and MOS will live or die as one.

I'm pretty sure Hall would be fully retired if not for MOS convincing him to stick around. From everything we've been told, Hall didn't have a bum knee, he had a serious health scare which prevents him from putting in the hours that DC requires.

[Waffler]

I'm pretty sure Hall would be fully retired if not for MOS convincing him to stick around. From everything we've been told, Hall didn't have a bum knee, he had a serious health scare which prevents him from putting in the hours that DC requires.

Which was what? I remember his brother passing not long ago but I've never heard anything about Richie Hall being sick. It was a demotion so we could retain Younger.

From the Free Press when it happened, no mention of health:

Not wanting to lose him, O'Shea offered Hall a demotion from his current role, which he gracefully accepted...
"That many years is such a precious resource. You need to find a way to keep it," O'Shea said. "We're grateful that Richie even, put in a tough spot like this, has decided to stay with our team."

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/01/08/big-blue-shuffle-coaching-deck

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Which was what? I remember his brother passing not long ago but I've never heard anything about Richie Hall being sick. It was a demotion so we could retain Younger.

From the Free Press when it happened, no mention of health:

Not wanting to lose him, O'Shea offered Hall a demotion from his current role, which he gracefully accepted...
"That many years is such a precious resource. You need to find a way to keep it," O'Shea said. "We're grateful that Richie even, put in a tough spot like this, has decided to stay with our team."

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/01/08/big-blue-shuffle-coaching-deck

Even after all these years Richie still owns a home and lives in Regina in the off-season with his wife, so for more than half the year he's living in an apartment on his own.

"When you look at the cycle of coaches and stuff like that, I'm an old guy and head coaching and coordinating is kind of for the up-and-coming people," Hall said. "Different ideas and different relationships with the players. They're the 'now' guys. I'm just one of those, I wouldn't say the old men, but I got a chance to experience it and just to share the knowledge that I have."

"I'm happy with my role. I'm happy with the opportunity that I have now. So that's what I'm really focusing on."

https://3downnation.com/2025/04/07/its-what-makes-you-happy-richie-hall-not-concerned-with-titles-after-stepping-back-from-bombers-dc-job/