Trade Deadline and PR expansion

[Blue In BC]

Trade Deadline is the 1st week of October. We don't usually much happening and that probably continues. I don't see the Bombers making any big deals.

OTOH, Ottawa could be a player as they shed players and SMS in preparation for 2027. I'm not sure how many of their 6 game IR players might be returning to health soon. That said, they may need to shed some players one way or another.

Calgary might be another team that will be looking towards 2027 soon if they drop another game or so.

Bombers are on a bye so we might see some newbies added to the PR the week they return or the week after. I don't think we have many players on the 6 game IR that will be able to return again this season. Maybe a couple.

I'd like to see a receiver, DB and maybe a LB added to the PR in the next couple of weeks. The status of some of our injured LB's is a concern being available for TC 2027. Potential free agency comes into play as well.

A serious search for import center candidates wouldn't hurt.

[Tecno]

I'd hope that griffin will return.

As for imp c, let's keep in mind this is els' first season. I think he's been very good in year 1. Sure, could be better. But the key here is improvement.

Honestly, I don't think he's any worse than KO-man, and he's half the price. And KO-man had plateaued.

[Blue In BC]

I'd hope that griffin will return.

As for imp c, let's keep in mind this is els' first season. I think he's been very good in year 1. Sure, could be better. But the key here is improvement.

Honestly, I don't think he's any worse than KO-man, and he's half the price. And KO-man had plateaued.

We don't know Griffin's injury status or if he'll be available to TC. That adds to the question of whether he will return or whether we'll want him to return. I'll use Schoen as the example of a risky decision based on type of injury.

It's also possible he chooses to leave for more money or a " better " team.

Elsbury will be pencilled in as a starter going into TC but there needs to be competition.  Since he'll just be in his 2nd season, he shouldn't have his spot locked up before TC.

[Pete]

No way a nonimport center has his position locked in
 It all comes down to whos available in free agency. Its likely we will have $ s freed up with Bryant unlikely to be resigned.
  We are going to need yo be creative with no first round pick and very little in the way of backup nonimport linemen
Hopes may rest on availability of Kline and Manu

[Blue In BC]

No way a nonimport center has his position locked in
 It all comes down to whos available in free agency. Its likely we will have $ s freed up with Bryant unlikely to be resigned.
  We are going to need yo be creative with no first round pick and very little in the way of backup nonimport linemen
Hopes may rest on availability of Kline and Manu

Import center but we know what you meant. We'll be trying to understand the SMS going into free agency by where we shed $$$ as a starting point. Lots of possible changes starting with QB of course.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

No way a nonimport center has his position locked in
 It all comes down to whos available in free agency. Its likely we will have $ s freed up with Bryant unlikely to be resigned.
  We are going to need yo be creative with no first round pick and very little in the way of backup nonimport linemen
Hopes may rest on availability of Kline and Manu

In theory the 3 import O-line should be a temporary fix, but what's happened in recent years is the fix has become the cheaper option of the two, as experienced Natls. are commanding higher pay cheques. 

Nothing wrong with Elsbury when you consider this is his rookie season and the learning curve for Center is fairly steep with added responsibilities beyond blocking to worry about.  He's a mountain of a man that can hold his ground and if he he takes advice well from the likes of Neufeld and Stan he should work out alright.

The tragedy is the state of their Natl. pipeline which after a decade of good flow appears to have dried up.  Vibert appears to be sleeping outside of the dog house on the PR, not sure he has any kind of future left in Wpg. as they move away from the 6th man concept, but won't be too surprised if he turns up elsewhere. Never saw enough of him to ever conclude he was inadequate.

[theaardvark]

The need for a 3 or 4 NAT oline has evaporated with the development of "ratio breakers" across the league.

So, I think the premiums paid to NAT interior oline will start to drop, and the American Oline will increase, attracting better American oline.

There will still be a premium paid to ANY NAT player, line or ratio breaker.  But the oline is no longer the sacred cow it used to be.  So, competition in camp should get even better.

[Tecno]

not sure he has any kind of future left in Wpg. as they move away from the 6th man concept

There will always be a 6th dressed. The thing we've recently shunned is dressing 7. But ya actual snaps with 6 is down because of the surfeit of TE and FB dressing.

That said, Eli still comes in 15+ times a game, including sy.

Vibert really appears to be an Eli clone. Similar size, and can snap. If Eli leaves or quits, it's totally Vibert's spot. Neither will ever be a legit starter.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

There will always be a 6th dressed. The thing we've recently shunned is dressing 7. But ya actual snaps with 6 is down because of the surfeit of TE and FB dressing.

That said, Eli still comes in 15+ times a game, including sy.

Vibert really appears to be an Eli clone. Similar size, and can snap. If Eli leaves or quits, it's totally Vibert's spot. Neither will ever be a legit starter.

Don't know if Eli will last another season, once a Natl. displaces him as the next man up, I think they'll let him go to FA rather than send him to the PR.  He's such an easy going guy he might actually accept a PR assignment just to stay where he's comfortable.

[theaardvark]

As long as Eli is an affordable Nat backup, there is absolutely no reason to replace him.  He's a solid performer, and has one of the highest Rec/TD rates...  with Daniels there too, not a bad duo on short yardage

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

As long as Eli is an affordable Nat backup, there is absolutely no reason to replace him.  He's a solid performer, and has one of the highest Rec/TD rates...  with Daniels there too, not a bad duo on short yardage

Sooner or later they need to bring along Neufeld's replacement and at most they have 2-3 years to do so.  It won't be Eli, but he is currently occupying that players roster spot.

[bunker]

Sooner or later they need to bring along Neufeld's replacement and at most they have 2-3 years to do so.  It won't be Eli, but he is currently occupying that players roster spot.

Or maybe snag the hometown boy Vaccaro from Ottawa when his contract is up at the end of  2028.

[Blue In BC]

We're starting to see some teams shuffling PR rosters and adding new candidates today. In some cases it means deletions as position specific candidates are found.

Ottawa has already released one player and it won't be a surprise if we see more activity as they decide on IR players returning.