Not sure if everyone saw this article about Jerreth Sterns but, with training camp, around the corner, he is a player to keep an eye on.
https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/02/12/sterns-i-saw-this-as-a-good-opportunity-for-me/
He could make an impression so he is a player to keep tabs on. However at the moment, I think he's in a dogfight with the other imports that we acquired or were here in 2024. He has a different skill set that could be used than a few others.
Noting he's also hungry and sometimes the level of desire wins the day. Obviously all players want to make the team but the difference between making a roster can be what's between the ears.
Good luck to the young man.
Quote from: ModAdmin on March 16, 2025, 05:25:52 AMNot sure if everyone saw this article about Jerreth Sterns but, with training camp, around the corner, he is a player to keep an eye on.
https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/02/12/sterns-i-saw-this-as-a-good-opportunity-for-me/
Sounds familiar to when we signed Demski from Sask.
Quote from: BomberFan73 on March 16, 2025, 04:29:27 PMSounds familiar to when we signed Demski from Sask.
I didn't get that impression, he sounds like a dime a dozen receiver, Demski was a cherished asset.
Quote from: ModAdmin on March 16, 2025, 05:25:52 AMNot sure if everyone saw this article about Jerreth Sterns but, with training camp, around the corner, he is a player to keep an eye on.
https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/02/12/sterns-i-saw-this-as-a-good-opportunity-for-me/
I think he'll do well here and be productive with us this season.
He wasn't going to make the Riders, so going to Winnipeg was a smart move for him. Hope he does well.
I will wait until I see what is here at his position. You don't know who might have a break out year until guys are on the field making plays. He's a strong maybe.
When is camp? Less than 2 months off I think.
Quote from: dd on March 16, 2025, 07:31:14 PMI think he'll do well here and be productive with us this season.
When Demski came here he was only really used as a returner. He signed because he saw what we/LaPo were doing with sweeps and being able to use him as a double threat.
Sterns could be used in the same way.
Oops - meant to quote the poster above you!
Quote from: Ridermania on March 16, 2025, 09:32:02 PMHe wasn't going to make the Riders, so going to Winnipeg was a smart move for him. Hope he does well.
He played for you guys last year, how is it he wasn't going to make the roster this year??
Quote from: Waffler on March 16, 2025, 09:44:15 PMI will wait until I see what is here at his position. You don't know who might have a break out year until guys are on the field making plays. He's a strong maybe.
When is camp? Less than 2 months off I think.
Only 2 of the following will make the starting roster.
Dillon Mitchell
Jerreth Sterns
Reggie White Jr.
Keric Wheatfall
A host of new no-names + a couple returning TC receivers from last season, Kody Case, Myron Mitchell and Jaylen Hall.
Quote from: BomberFan73 on March 16, 2025, 04:29:27 PMSounds familiar to when we signed Demski from Sask.
Just thinking the same thing. Not that this is a slam-dunk, but that we have a habit of taking the SSK cast-offs and turning them into 8-year starting superstars!
Mafia is always good at spotting the guys with promise that no one else spots.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on March 17, 2025, 01:37:07 AMOnly 2 of the following will make the starting roster.
Ya, but half the idea this year was to make sure we have quality depth (not just rookies) on the PR. Wheatie probably goes back to PR, and another can be hidden on the IR, or put on the PR with their full contract pay.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on March 17, 2025, 04:20:02 AMYa, but half the idea this year was to make sure we have quality depth (not just rookies) on the PR. Wheatie probably goes back to PR, and another can be hidden on the IR, or put on the PR with their full contract pay.
Exactly.
Last year it was a list of 5 rookies and 3 of them were starting. Now it's from a list of vet options for Zach to sort through.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on March 17, 2025, 04:20:02 AMYa, but half the idea this year was to make sure we have quality depth (not just rookies) on the PR. Wheatie probably goes back to PR, and another can be hidden on the IR, or put on the PR with their full contract pay.
Again with this? If you're going to pay a player his fully salary, you don't waste a limited number of PR spots to do that. You put him on the 1 game IR.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on March 17, 2025, 04:20:02 AMYa, but half the idea this year was to make sure we have quality depth (not just rookies) on the PR. Wheatie probably goes back to PR, and another can be hidden on the IR, or put on the PR with their full contract pay.
Too much inefficiency and guess work mitigating for a situation that may not arise, what if they prepare for a receiver crisis and they lose half the O-line instead? I don't think they can assume a younger non-rookie player will accept a PR role readily, and if that PR player doesn't play all season (Naaman Roosevelt), they're not likely to fit in seamlessly late in the season or in the playoffs.
Better to go shopping if and when the need arises and
pick the best option available between candidates in house and the open market, like they did with Lucky last year. Rather than only sticking with players they brought to TC for injury replacement like O'Shea has done in the past, they need to widen their approach. When the solution falls short, the strategy has to be re-examined.
Quote from: Blue In BC on March 17, 2025, 12:17:56 PMAgain with this? If you're going to pay a player his fully salary, you don't waste a limited number of PR spots to do that. You put him on the 1 game IR.
I don't care how it's done, what tricks they use, or what it costs them: I'm just happy for once it looks like we're going to have big depth at REC. I'll leave KW to work out how it's structured.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on March 17, 2025, 02:50:55 PMToo much inefficiency and guess work mitigating for a situation that may not arise, what if they prepare for a receiver crisis and they lose half the O-line instead?
It doesn't have to be an either-or, it can be a both-and. It's not like these middling RECs are expensive.
And it seems clear other teams are able to maintain non-rookie depth at REC, so I would say that is somewhat "normal" and certainly doable within the confines of the SMS.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on March 17, 2025, 02:50:55 PMBetter to go shopping if and when the need arises and pick the best option available between candidates in house and the open market, like they did with Lucky last year. Rather than only sticking with players they brought to TC for injury replacement like O'Shea has done in the past, they need to widen their approach. When the solution falls short, the strategy has to be re-examined.
Uh, in '24 the solution did fall short! '25 FA is our "re-examination"! It seems pretty clear. We've never done this in the past. Why this year? It seems obvious.
The problem with the '24 approach is no one was available when the need arose! Lucky, pffft. He was on the outs in the CFL already, and should have never started the GC game.
We started Wheatie and Clercius in a GC game when neither would have been in had our starters not been injured, OR we had legit middling 3rd-4th year guys on the PR.
Hey, I'm not saying I agree or disagree with you. I'm saying it's clear KW is taking a different approach this year, and I bet it's strongly influenced by the 2-6 start to '24 and the complete lack of legit RECs on the field. And I'm not saying Clercius/Wheatie were bad: I'm saying they were thrust into starting roles way too soon in their dev cycle.
How quickly everyone forgets how dire '24 started: an O without Kenny, Schoen or Woli nearly all at the same time! The fact we even got to the cup was a heck of a miracle (and a function of the weak West).
Quote from: TecnoGenius on March 18, 2025, 04:00:01 AMIt doesn't have to be an either-or, it can be a both-and. It's not like these middling RECs are expensive.
And it seems clear other teams are able to maintain non-rookie depth at REC, so I would say that is somewhat "normal" and certainly doable within the confines of the SMS.
Uh, in '24 the solution did fall short! '25 FA is our "re-examination"! It seems pretty clear. We've never done this in the past. Why this year? It seems obvious.
The problem with the '24 approach is no one was available when the need arose! Lucky, pffft. He was on the outs in the CFL already, and should have never started the GC game.
We started Wheatie and Clercius in a GC game when neither would have been in had our starters not been injured, OR we had legit middling 3rd-4th year guys on the PR.
Hey, I'm not saying I agree or disagree with you. I'm saying it's clear KW is taking a different approach this year, and I bet it's strongly influenced by the 2-6 start to '24 and the complete lack of legit RECs on the field. And I'm not saying Clercius/Wheatie were bad: I'm saying they were thrust into starting roles way too soon in their dev cycle.
How quickly everyone forgets how dire '24 started: an O without Kenny, Schoen or Woli nearly all at the same time! The fact we even got to the cup was a heck of a miracle (and a function of the weak West).
This is an awesome point. Sometimes the easy decision of keeping someone on the roster that's been here for a long time isn't the right decision.
Guys like Bighill, Lawler, Alexander will all be replaced with younger guys on the upswing, rather than trying to hang on to what's left. It's hard to do that to someone who has been such a big part of the organizations sucess, but the longer you hang on to it, the more tainted those memories become of them being dominant players for us.
Even letting Augustine go is a good move. Let's open up that spot to someone like Payton Logan who can change the pace on offence and make a big impact on the kick/punt return!
Back to Sterns, I remember him as a Rider, which is saying a lot. The fact he thinks WFC is a better fit for him, well, says a lot about the culture here.
Did Wilson getting a look down south have anything to do with it?
He doesn't bring the pedigree Dressler did, more like Smith. Regardless, having solid prospects in camp never hurts.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on March 18, 2025, 04:00:01 AMIt doesn't have to be an either-or, it can be a both-and. It's not like these middling RECs are expensive.
And it seems clear other teams are able to maintain non-rookie depth at REC, so I would say that is somewhat "normal" and certainly doable within the confines of the SMS.
Uh, in '24 the solution did fall short! '25 FA is our "re-examination"! It seems pretty clear. We've never done this in the past. Why this year? It seems obvious.
The problem with the '24 approach is no one was available when the need arose! Lucky, pffft. He was on the outs in the CFL already, and should have never started the GC game.
We started Wheatie and Clercius in a GC game when neither would have been in had our starters not been injured, OR we had legit middling 3rd-4th year guys on the PR.
Hey, I'm not saying I agree or disagree with you. I'm saying it's clear KW is taking a different approach this year, and I bet it's strongly influenced by the 2-6 start to '24 and the complete lack of legit RECs on the field. And I'm not saying Clercius/Wheatie were bad: I'm saying they were thrust into starting roles way too soon in their dev cycle.
How quickly everyone forgets how dire '24 started: an O without Kenny, Schoen or Woli nearly all at the same time! The fact we even got to the cup was a heck of a miracle (and a function of the weak West).
The most baffling decision in 24 was not re-engaging Bailey as a temp. fix when he was available and there was dire need. If they no longer wanted him they could let him walk after the GC, as they did with Nick Taylor.
As for 25, I repeat.
Only 2 of the following will make the starting roster and pretty sure Dillon Mitchell already has one spot tied up.
Dillon Mitchell
Jerreth Sterns
Reggie White Jr.
Keric Wheatfall
A host of new no-names + a couple returning TC receivers from last season, Kody Case, Myron Mitchell and Jaylen Hall.
I'd predict they'll keep 2 extra around on the PR and there may be a mid-season adjustment if Pokey comes back.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on March 18, 2025, 03:00:45 PMThe most baffling decision in 24 was not re-engaging Bailey as a temp. fix when he was available and there was dire need. If they no longer wanted him they could let him walk after the GC, as they did with Nick Taylor.
As for 25, I repeat.
Only 2 of the following will make the starting roster and pretty sure Dillon Mitchell already has one spot tied up.
Dillon Mitchell
Jerreth Sterns
Reggie White Jr.
Keric Wheatfall
A host of new no-names + a couple returning TC receivers from last season, Kody Case, Myron Mitchell and Jaylen Hall.
I'd predict they'll keep 2 extra around on the PR and there may be a mid-season adjustment if Pokey comes back.
The problem with "re-engaging Bailey" is having said no to him so many times. I'm not sure it makes the best example for the club that you need to go backwards. We had brought him back once already, and the fact he did not stick anywhere else speaks to the fact that there was something more going on than on field production.
Don't get me wrong, I loved the guy and thanked him when I met him at a fan day, and when he made plays on the field, they were good. But we got back to the cup without him, and I don't think he would have made a whiff of difference in the GC game.
Schoen, Demski and Clercius on on the opening day roster, barring injury,
This year, we are going to have to release a guy that came to us because they thought we were a great option. Most of our FA signings are those guys, and there is no way the roster has spots for them all. There are 2 starting spots and a DI, a returner spot:
Dillon Mitchell
Jerreth Sterns
Reggie White Jr.
Peyton Logan
Potential PR spots if they aren't off the charts in TC and steal a spot from the above 4:
Keric Wheatfall
Kody Case
Myron Mitchell
Jaylen Hall
Draft Picks
Recruits
1 NAT Backup spot
Gavin Cobb
Gassamma
Our Receiving corps is going to be just fine.
I think we'll have 1 Canadian back up on the roster. In theory, he'd have to have some ability to also play on ST's.
Returnees from 2024 like Case, Mitchell and Wheatfall might be on a short lease in TC if they don't show more than some of the dozen rookies we'll see early. It's a tough business. They might have some potential but decisions come quickly in TC as new candidates are found in a revolving door situation. Don't get nicked early or it;s curtains.
Quote from: Blue In BC on March 18, 2025, 03:40:43 PMI think we'll have 1 Canadian back up on the roster. In theory, he'd have to have some ability to also play on ST's.
Returnees from 2024 like Case, Mitchell and Wheatfall might be on a short lease in TC if they don't show more than some of the dozen rookies we'll see early. It's a tough business. They might have some potential but decisions come quickly in TC as new candidates are found in a revolving door situation. Don't get nicked early or it;s curtains.
I think Cobb will support Logan on returns replacing Augustine, he'll also be the backup Natl. receiver unless Gassama breaks out.
Not sure why they brought back Myron Mitchell or Kody Case, of the 3 Wheatfall probably has the advantage with more playing time under his belt. Sizewise Jaylen Hall is 6'-3" but a skinny 180 lbs, everyone else is average height, the Bombers don't seem to put much emphasis on size when they shop for receivers.
Quote from: theaardvark on March 18, 2025, 03:19:24 PM1 NAT Backup spot
Gavin Cobb
Gassamma
Our Receiving corps is going to be just fine.
Im not sure that I'd call Cobb/Gassama fine. If needed Im not sure either is an adequate starter. But agree with the rest of it.
Quote from: Pete on March 18, 2025, 09:32:07 PMIm not sure that I'd call Cobb/Gassama fine. If needed Im not sure either is an adequate starter. But agree with the rest of it.
They are backups, as per my post.
You can't have a full team of starters, you need some "backups" who can step in if needed in game. That can also play teams.
agree but as long as the drop off isn't too much.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on March 18, 2025, 03:00:45 PMThe most baffling decision in 24 was not re-engaging Bailey as a temp. fix when he was available and there was dire need. If they no longer wanted him they could let him walk after the GC, as they did with Nick Taylor.
Ya, who here doesn't think our GC may have been better had we obtained Bailey late-season and started him when it was clear Wheatie needed another year of PR dev?
Don't know what the reason is, but you suck up your pride and you ask him nicely to come help us win another cup.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on March 18, 2025, 03:00:45 PMDillon Mitchell
Jerreth Sterns
Reggie White Jr.
Keric Wheatfall
Mitchell is a done deal, doubly so with Jarious here.
Wheatie is almost certainly just a PR/injury-replacement guy for another year.
White & Sterns duke it out in TC, and we may dabble rotating who starts in early weeks. White is more experienced and actually produced in the past, and is a beefy target in the punishing middle. Sterns may be a better home run guy.
Since Mitchell is also the home run guy ("Lawler lite"), that means White may be the favorite as he takes the place of the never-properly-replaced Bailey. Last season we had way too many lanky speed guys and no one that could take the beating on 2nd & mid.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on March 19, 2025, 11:06:06 AMYa, who here doesn't think our GC may have been better had we obtained Bailey late-season and started him when it was clear Wheatie needed another year of PR dev?
Don't know what the reason is, but you suck up your pride and you ask him nicely to come help us win another cup.
Mitchell is a done deal, doubly so with Jarious here.
Wheatie is almost certainly just a PR/injury-replacement guy for another year.
White & Sterns duke it out in TC, and we may dabble rotating who starts in early weeks. White is more experienced and actually produced in the past, and is a beefy target in the punishing middle. Sterns may be a better home run guy.
Since Mitchell is also the home run guy ("Lawler lite"), that means White may be the favorite as he takes the place of the never-properly-replaced Bailey. Last season we had way too many lanky speed guys and no one that could take the beating on 2nd & mid.
Agree, I want to see some beef playing inside, my perfect inside receiver looks just like Nik Lewis, a receiver that could play linebacker.
(https://saustater-9635.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Nik-Lewis-Dave-Chidley-CFL.jpg)
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on March 19, 2025, 03:36:58 PMAgree, I want to see some beef playing inside, my perfect inside receiver looks just like Nik Lewis, a receiver that could play linebacker.
(https://saustater-9635.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Nik-Lewis-Dave-Chidley-CFL.jpg)
Bailey 6'2 212. Clercius 6'2 217. Lewis 5'10 240.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on March 19, 2025, 11:06:06 AMMitchell is a done deal, doubly so with Jarious here.
Since Mitchell is also the home run guy ("Lawler lite"), that means White may be the favorite as he takes the place of the never-properly-replaced Bailey. Last season we had way too many lanky speed guys and no one that could take the beating on 2nd & mid.
Dillon Mitchell also returned punts, kicks for the elks...
And it seems he played in eighteen games in both 24, and 23...
https://www.cfl.ca/players/dillon-mitchell/166027/
Quote from: markf on March 19, 2025, 09:14:20 PMDillon Mitchell also returned punts, kicks for the elks...
And it seems he played in eighteen games in both 24, and 23...
https://www.cfl.ca/players/dillon-mitchell/166027/
Don't think they'll have him doing any of that work, paid too much money to risk injury on returns.
Quote from: theaardvark on March 19, 2025, 07:33:18 PMBailey 6'2 212. Clercius 6'2 217. Lewis 5'10 240.
He was called 'Thick Nik' for a reason!!
Quote from: dd on March 20, 2025, 04:55:34 PMHe was called 'Thick Nik' for a reason!!
Nik confessed, he liked to eat chicken right out of the bucket.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on March 19, 2025, 11:06:06 AMYa, who here doesn't think our GC may have been better had we obtained Bailey late-season and started him when it was clear Wheatie needed another year of PR dev?
me
Quote from: dd on March 20, 2025, 04:55:34 PMHe was called 'Thick Nik' for a reason!!
Love Nik Lewis, he was a beast, great football player.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on March 20, 2025, 05:30:22 PMNik confessed, he liked to eat chicken right out of the bucket.
And it looks like he's eaten his share of buckets!! Tough S o B inside receiver though, a rarity in todays game. I remember him just viciously de-cleating poor unsuspecting D players with wicked blocks..all of which have been outlawed and rightfully so, those were career enders!!
I rewatched the '24 WDF and paid attention to Sterns. He basically did nothing. Got a few targets and I think dropped most or all of them. Many were catchable.
When the team was clearly doomed to lose (by around mid 3rd Q) you could see him massively deflate and basically just go through the motions. He didn't seem to care he was dropping his targets. He was doing the "just get this over with, everyone else screwed up so it doesn't matter if I do too" routine that is quite common.
Neither is a good thing, however maybe a culture and scenery change can help with that.
And who was it (Aards?) who said he was a water bug... ya, so I hadn't noticed, or I had forgotten, but he's a total water bug. Tiny, and as Goldmember (the movie original, not our Goldie) would say: "toight".
But he's got a lot more muscle and beef than Dressler. Dressler was like a short version of Lawler. Sterns looks almost like a scat back.
That might leave White as the only option to take abuse on the crossers, unless Sterns' unique body type can also handle it. But he'll need to solve those dropsies first.
Sterns has only played in 23 CFL games. He's had 450 - 500 yards in each of the last 2 seasons with only playing 11 or 12 games a season.
I'd say he has some upside potential. He's still a young player. That said he needs the opportunity to get more playing time.
That's never a guarantee for any player. We have a new OC and that may change the type of players we keep on the AR. Injuries and competition at receiver is always interesting in TC.
I'd like to see him kept around in some capacity but how that works out is a TBD. I'd also like to find the next Wilson and / or see Wilson return quickly from the NFL.
That's why teams have TC's. lol
Exactly. I think the idea is to kick the tires and see if our hunch & optimism on Sterns can turn into reality. Mafia watches guys on other teams in previous seasons and remembers names when FA rolls around and teams drop potentials that we can snap up cheap.
I do like the idea of having 1 waterbug on the roster. I miss watching Dressler go to work.
I'm hoping it'll work out, though I'm not super optimistic.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on March 21, 2025, 02:00:51 AMThat might leave White as the only option to take abuse on the crossers, unless Sterns' unique body type can also handle it. But he'll need to solve those dropsies first.
Clercius is solid, expect he'll work the inside routes along with Demski.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on March 22, 2025, 01:05:13 PMClercius is solid, expect he'll work the inside routes along with Demski.
I think Demski is getting too old for those. He was often getting dinged up and limping after big whacks late last season and post-season. I'm starting to worry now. It's like Zach taking a hit: you hold your breath for a while.
Demski is (was?) solid, but he's never been a big bruiser. He's more about speed and elusiveness.
Demski works best in the middle and on the sweeps and runs when no one expects it. You would never want to get opponents expecting them and then laying the wood.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on March 23, 2025, 02:19:20 AMI think Demski is getting too old for those. He was often getting dinged up and limping after big whacks late last season and post-season. I'm starting to worry now. It's like Zach taking a hit: you hold your breath for a while.
Demski is (was?) solid, but he's never been a big bruiser. He's more about speed and elusiveness.
Demski works best in the middle and on the sweeps and runs when no one expects it. You would never want to get opponents expecting them and then laying the wood.
Yep Demski's not really inclined to punish DB's like Bailey did, but he is still an effective blocker who puts in the effort to interfere and he embraces the role. As an inside receiver he's well suited for the quick hitters, he's capable of turning a short reception into more through great YAC ability. Sterns may be able to play a similar role as he's built more like a compact running back than a lanky receiver type.
I grade receivers durability and toughness by their arm development, receivers like Lawler and Pokey are obviously not into lifting, they rely on agility, speed and flexibility and are not well suited for lingering in heavy traffic. Players that cover their pipes, don't have pipes.
Demski is deadly on the deep post/corner routes...its a thing of beauty when Collaros hits him on these routes for a TD.
IIRC, Demski is also important in the scramble rules scenario, his deep routes allow him to adjust to the ball when Collaros just hucks it.
Quote from: dd on March 26, 2025, 04:36:44 PMDemski is deadly on the deep post/corner routes...its a thing of beauty when Collaros hits him on these routes for a TD.
I don't think those routes are ever assigned, Demski breaks off and goes deep as soon as he's recognizes a certain formation, and usually Zach sees it too.
[/quote]
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on March 26, 2025, 05:21:15 PMI don't think those routes are ever assigned, Demski breaks off and goes deep as soon as he's recognizes a certain formation, and usually Zach sees it too.
It's a thing of beauty when it happens!!