Bomber Rookies

[Blue In BC]

The DL has been pretty steady all season.

Ceresna:  26 DT, 8 QS.
WJ5:      23 DT, 7 QS.
Fletcher: 20 DT, 6 QS.
Reese:    19 DT, 1 QS.
Lawson:   17 DT, 0 QS.
Jenkins:   8 DT, 1 QS.

So, 47 DTs, and 8 QS, out of our rookies on the DL.

WJ5 with 13 PDs is amazing. I am sure WJ5 will be back next year. Could have 90% of our DL returning next season. 

If Jefferson returns in 2027, I'd like to see a reduced salary as he moves towards more of the rotational player, maybe as a DI. We still have Jenkins, Dixon and Jaworski possibly returning to fight for roles.  His SMS at $186K may be a problem, but he can still contribute.

Finding a spot for a DI is a challenging situation. It's easier if we find a solution to a 3 Canadian OL with Cline possibly.

[tlf]

If Jefferson returns in 2027, I'd like to see a reduced salary as he moves towards more of the rotational player, maybe as a DI. We still have Jenkins, Dixon and Jaworski possibly returning to fight for roles.  His SMS at $186K may be a problem, but he can still contribute.

Finding a spot for a DI is a challenging situation. It's easier if we find a solution to a 3 Canadian OL with Cline possibly.

Why? He's producing steady numbers, is great for marketing (might be some of his salary) and is a fan favorite. With the cap going up I don't see him taking a cut. I could see a one year deal for him though.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

The DL has been pretty steady all season.

Ceresna:  26 DT, 8 QS.
WJ5:      23 DT, 7 QS.
Fletcher: 20 DT, 6 QS.
Reese:    19 DT, 1 QS.
Lawson:   17 DT, 0 QS.
Jenkins:   8 DT, 1 QS.

So, 47 DTs, and 8 QS, out of our rookies on the DL.

WJ5 with 13 PDs is amazing. I am sure WJ5 will be back next year. Could have 90% of our DL returning next season. 

Across the board I think the D-line personnel has done well, the starters seem to have established themselves and the rotational players are still fighting for their spots.  The weakest links being Schmeck and Gatkuoth if they can upgrade their Natl. talent in one spot next season that would be wise as Lawson is still too prone to injury.

Last few games Reese has revealed his true value and that is his flexibility, if he was in the NFL he might be playing LB as he has the ability to drop off and cover shallow routes as well as pursue to the sideline and tackle with good speed. He may not be the physical pass rusher they want playing every down but he's good to use in rotation for different situations.

[Blue In BC]

Why? He's producing steady numbers, is great for marketing (might be some of his salary) and is a fan favorite. With the cap going up I don't see him taking a cut. I could see a one year deal for him though.

I said why already. At some point you have to move on from veterans whose role and effectiveness are declining. We have younger players that are getting better and have not peaked yet at lower SMS.

It's believed the SMS will rise but by how much nobody know with any certainty.  That shouldn't be the deciding issue.

I get the fan favourite concept but teams move on from players like that each season for reasons I covered.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Why? He's producing steady numbers, is great for marketing (might be some of his salary) and is a fan favorite. With the cap going up I don't see him taking a cut. I could see a one year deal for him though.

Agree, Willy looked rejuvenated this year and he would be very difficult to replace, happy to see him come back for another year.

[Blue In BC]

Agree, Willy looked rejuvenated this year and he would be very difficult to replace, happy to see him come back for another year.

He had a better season than 2025. But he does turn 36 in the new year. You don't directly replace a player that will end up in the hall but you do eventually move to " next man " up.  He is an athletic freak of nature so to speak.

As I suggested, a lower SMS and modified role would work for me. I wonder what the rep comparison would be between last year and this year.

It always seemed he was off the field more often.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I said why already. At some point you have to move on from veterans whose role and effectiveness are declining. We have younger players that are getting better and have not peaked yet at lower SMS.

It's believed the SMS will rise but by how much nobody know with any certainty.  That shouldn't be the deciding issue.

I get the fan favourite concept but teams move on from players like that each season for reasons I covered.

Have to be careful it took them 3 seasons to replace Jeffcoat who was always more consistent than Willy.

[Blue In BC]

Have to be careful it took them 3 seasons to replace Jeffcoat who was always more consistent than Willy.

It was an inability to stay healthy for Jeffcoat the required moving on. That's not the same as any issues with Jefferson.

Not finding a good replacement is a different issue and not tied to moving on from any given player. Besides, we have Jenkins, Dixon and Jaworski that have all shown some upside and managed to stick around.

Will any of them by the next Jeffcoat or Jefferson? IDK. That's what scouts are paid to find. Reese looks pretty good for his 1st year. I don't think Jeffcoat was consistent in his 1st year and had to replace someone.

Jeffcoat joined the Bombers in 2017 as the back up to Jamall Westerman who was another fan favourite.

EDIT: Ormilade is a potential free agent. His salary was only about $40K more then Jefferson. I wouldn't mind signing him.

[Pigskin]

Have to be careful it took them 3 seasons to replace Jeffcoat who was always more consistent than Willy.

But, Jeffcoat also spent a lot of time on the IR.

[TBURGESS]

It's time to Buono a bunch of guys.

[tlf]

How many pass knockdowns did Willie J get this year? I know he reached the 100 this year and became 2nd all time with 106 and was zoning in on the 111 record..I don't think he reached it though.  That is valued on this team.  Him and Ceresna together are a good tandem.

[tlf]

He had a better season than 2025. But he does turn 36 in the new year. You don't directly replace a player that will end up in the hall but you do eventually move to " next man " up.  He is an athletic freak of nature so to speak.

As I suggested, a lower SMS and modified role would work for me. I wonder what the rep comparison would be between last year and this year.

It always seemed he was off the field more often.

His numbers were comparable to Ceresna's.  I wonder if he was nursing something at times, but I didn't notice that.

I was told by a DL a few years back (2012 about) that the best DL was the ones you don't notice on the field.  I've always wondered what that meant.