Blue Bombers Transactions - September 3, 2025 (1)
WINNIPEG, MB., September 3, 2025 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has added Global linebacker Ayo Oyelola to the practice roster.
Oyelola (5-11, 213, Nottingham; born: October 19, 1998, in Dagenham, UK.) has signed with Bombers after three seasons in the NFL (2022-2024) and one in the CFL (2021). Oyelola was selected 22nd overall by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 2021 CFL Global Draft and appeared in one game during the 2021 season. He was also part of the NFL's International Player Pathway Program, spending two seasons (2022–2023) with the Jacksonville Jaguars on the practice squad. In 2024, he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers on a practice squad contract before being released in January 2025.
The Club has also re-added National defensive lineman Collin Kornelson to the roster.
Well that sounds like we're sticking with a 3 Canadian DL. Re-signing Oyelola is interesting. Is this the end for Weitz? We don't need 4 global players spread out on the AR or PR.
Oyelola seems like at upgrade and has NFL experience now as well.
I sure hope that doesn't mean we aren't starting Adams/Woods, if last game showed anything having just 6 dlinemen isn't great
Quote from: Pete on September 03, 2025, 03:54:47 PMI sure hope that doesn't mean we aren't starting Adams/Woods, if last game showed anything having just 6 dlinemen isn't great
Our team's issues have moved from DB & WR to the interior of the DL & OL.
Quote from: Pete on September 03, 2025, 03:54:47 PMI sure hope that doesn't mean we aren't starting Adams/Woods, if last game showed anything having just 6 dlinemen isn't great
That's probably what it means and what I took that to mean.
Quote from: Pete on September 03, 2025, 03:54:47 PMI sure hope that doesn't mean we aren't starting Adams/Woods, if last game showed anything having just 6 dlinemen isn't great
Kinda doubt it, Kornelson is being brought back as an emergency backup, destination likely PR. Adding 2 to the PR, question is who will they delete? One of Adams or Woods moves to the roster as well as Houston, possibly Moore or Echols gets cut with Pokey on his way back.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on September 03, 2025, 04:28:13 PMKinda doubt it, Kornelson is being brought back as an emergency backup, destination likely PR. Adding 2 to the PR, question is who will they delete? One of Adams or Woods moves to the roster as well as Houston, possibly Moore or Echols gets cut with Pokey on his way back.
There was a spot open for another global player on the PR. Now it depends if they plan to move Weitz back as well although IIRC the PR can include 3 spots for global players.
At the moment Kornelson was added to the AR, so I'm not sure we see either import DT's activated.
Oyelola was added to the PR.
Enough with the 2 national DT experiment. It stinks and puts our secondary in a vulnerable position.
Our strength in '19-'21 was the pressure from rotating our exceptional D-line with limited reps for the plugs. Calgary and Sask are using that blueprint and we went away from it. Not a recipe for success. It is for them now....
Good moves to add depth
Will be interesting to see if we have to dump anyone
Quote from: peg_city on September 03, 2025, 03:56:24 PMOur team's issues have moved from DB & WR to the interior of the DL & OL.
Our issues have always been interior DL and OL, specifically guard play.
Kornelson was good and was cut. No point in bringing him back. If they need to get Canadians into the rotation on D, use Smith or Shay.
Quote from: RebusRankin on September 03, 2025, 11:30:12 PMKornelson was good and was cut. No point in bringing him back. If they need to get Canadians into the rotation on D, use Smith or Shay.
Needed an extra CDN DL
Quote from: RebusRankin on September 03, 2025, 11:30:12 PMKornelson was good and was cut. No point in bringing him back. If they need to get Canadians into the rotation on D, use Smith or Shay.
Shay is a rookie LB, who do you want to replace, Kyrie who maybe playing the best football of his career, or Tony Jones who is second in the league in tackles at 73?
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on September 03, 2025, 11:38:12 PMShay is a rookie LB, who do you want to replace, Kyrie who maybe playing the best football of his career, or Tony Jones who is second in the league in tackles at 73?
Agree we are too deep to play Shay (now) but he is learning from all our starting studs
Wilson has been lights out after many doubted him
Jones been great as expected
Shay could do what Woodby did on Sunday. I'd be fine with him or Smith spelling Kyrie or Jones as well. Be much better than giving reps to Kornelson who showed nothing this year and got himself cut. I'm saying you don't need to start 2 Canadian DTs, rotate Jake and Lawson for one spot and if you need a Canadian to take some defensive reps, you're better off playing Shay or Smith than Kornelson. Kornelson only played 4-5 reps a game anyways and yes I'd be fine with either rookie playing that many a game.
Kyrie has been good, not lights out. Jones, yep good.
Quote from: RebusRankin on September 04, 2025, 01:37:41 AMShay could do what Woodby did on Sunday. I'd be fine with him or Smith spelling Kyrie or Jones as well. Be much better than giving reps to Kornelson who showed nothing this year and got himself cut. I'm saying you don't need to start 2 Canadian DTs, rotate Jake and Lawson for one spot and if you need a Canadian to take some defensive reps, you're better off playing Shay or Smith than Kornelson. Kornelson only played 4-5 reps a game anyways and yes I'd be fine with either rookie playing that many a game.
Kyrie has been good, not lights out. Jones, yep good.
Disagree with that plan
Wilson has been excellent
So strange. Everyone here (and MBB) sees that what we really need is a monster beefcake IMP DT, or a DT/DE hybrid. Yet Mafia adds more LBers. It's bizarre. What do they know that we don't know? Or is MOS just LB-myopic because he was one?
A proper set of DTs would have 4 dress and heavy rotation. That's what everyone else does. But we're completely disinterested. Weird.
I don't think dressing 862 LBers each week is buying us much on D. Ya, ST, blah blah. All well and good, but why can't a guy do both? We've seen that teams will often wait until we put in our "special" specialist DB/LB set (like for 2nd & big time), then pick on the (cough cough Kelly) weak link. Or if it's weak LBers they'll run or short pass/YAC play.
Can anyone figure it out?
Quote from: TecnoGenius on September 04, 2025, 06:42:43 AMSo strange. Everyone here (and MBB) sees that what we really need is a monster beefcake IMP DT, or a DT/DE hybrid. Yet Mafia adds more LBers. It's bizarre. What do they know that we don't know? Or is MOS just LB-myopic because he was one?
A proper set of DTs would have 4 dress and heavy rotation. That's what everyone else does. But we're completely disinterested. Weird.
I don't think dressing 862 LBers each week is buying us much on D. Ya, ST, blah blah. All well and good, but why can't a guy do both? We've seen that teams will often wait until we put in our "special" specialist DB/LB set (like for 2nd & big time), then pick on the (cough cough Kelly) weak link. Or if it's weak LBers they'll run or short pass/YAC play.
Can anyone figure it out?
JT has somehow become the cornerstone/building block of this defence. He should be an injury back up at best. Until that thinking changes, nothing changes.
A 30 front with him is completely useless and puts pressure on our backs, if they run up the middle it's easy yards.
Four snaps would still be too many imo.
Korn was not good enough a few weeks ago. Doubt he got better.
The amount of linebackers they dress is overboard. Teams are important but you build your team from the lines out. Protect the QB, pressure their QB.
Quote from: TecnoGenius on September 04, 2025, 06:42:43 AMSo strange. Everyone here (and MBB) sees that what we really need is a monster beefcake IMP DT, or a DT/DE hybrid. Yet Mafia adds more LBers. It's bizarre. What do they know that we don't know? Or is MOS just LB-myopic because he was one?
A proper set of DTs would have 4 dress and heavy rotation. That's what everyone else does. But we're completely disinterested. Weird.
I don't think dressing 862 LBers each week is buying us much on D. Ya, ST, blah blah. All well and good, but why can't a guy do both? We've seen that teams will often wait until we put in our "special" specialist DB/LB set (like for 2nd & big time), then pick on the (cough cough Kelly) weak link. Or if it's weak LBers they'll run or short pass/YAC play.
Can anyone figure it out?
I love O'Shea, and what he's done for us over the past 5 years. But he makes a lot of strange decisions. Sam Hurl, Kuale, Damian Jackson, playing injured players who are not 100% and a detriment to the team, playing favourites like Jake Thomas more than he should, not bringing in any competition for Kolankowski, trotting out Medlock for the 63 yard field goal, its a long list, of which rostering too many linebackers who only play ST over more quality and quantity on the D-line is only the latest.
Last game Saskatchewan rostered 9 defensive lineman, including 4 Americans. We rostered 3 American Defensive lineman, and were down to 6 total by the end of the game due to injury. He seems to have a total different philosophy. They seem to like 30 fronts, and bringing in extra linebackers and DBs on passing downs, and prioritize that over stopping the run and pressuring the QB. There are times where it even looks like the D-lineman are less interested in getting to the QB and more interested in staying in their rushing lanes, and batting down passes or taking away passing lanes (WJ5 especially). Now its true that stopping the pass is far more important than the run in the CFL in most games, so in theory there may be something to their philosophy, but this strategy really relies on talented coverage players in the defensive backfield and Sam position. We have been exposed there this year (especially in the first 7-8 games) more so than in years past, due to talent deficits, particularly Bridges.
We also don't prioritize the interior of the D-line in terms of money. We let all of our better than average DT's go to free agency, and replace them with entry level Americans. That worked well when we scouted well at the position (or got lucky?), but our luck seems to have run out. I don't think we currently scout American talent in the league very well (J. Jones, D. Mitchell, P Logan were all paid good salaries, and none look like they will pan out), and we are paying Vaughters about the same as Carney and Rose are making, even though Rose was a free agent and available.
The bottom line for me is that this kind of scheme can work (we've had one of the best D's in the league the past few years) but like many schemes, its talent dependent, and we have had a fall off in talent over the past few years, losing corners like Alford, Ford and Houston, safety losing BA (especially when he was in his prime), prime Bighill, and a healthy Jeffcoat. You put those players back in, and I think this defense would not only work just fine, but be lights out. So we need to either improve the talent level (which we are starting to do with the addition of Houston, and maybe eventually Vaval), or adjust the scheme to our lower level of talent. Just my 2 cents.
Is the Sept PR expansion in effect?
Quote from: theaardvark on September 04, 2025, 02:24:00 PMIs the Sept PR expansion in effect?
"Practice roster expansion occurs for 30 days coinciding with the period after the NFL roster cut down period increases the roster by five (5) players to a maximum of 17 in the fall. Starting in 2015 teams have the ability to choose when their 30 day expansion period begins within the league window, which in 2015 started Sept. 5 and ended Nov. 8."
JT has been playing fine and is a good rotational Cdn, always has been
Kornelson is a good insurance policy
Building up our LB core might look excessive but it's the corner stone of our defense and it will be our strength for years to come
Good OL are hard to find but yes could use one more
Our D has been average and trending up
If Parker gets healthy, Houston is ready and we get a little boost on the DL I see a good unit here
I believe Woods and Adams will come on at times and provide the depth we need
Quote from: Strevy on September 04, 2025, 12:40:30 PMJT has somehow become the cornerstone/building block of this defence. He should be an injury back up at best. Until that thinking changes, nothing changes.
A 30 front with him is completely useless and puts pressure on our backs, if they run up the middle it's easy yards.
Four snaps would still be too many imo.
Korn was not good enough a few weeks ago. Doubt he got better.
The amount of linebackers they dress is overboard. Teams are important but you build your team from the lines out. Protect the QB, pressure their QB.
Agree on Thomas, WAY over used for what we get out of him being in the game (nothing)
You guys obviously do not watch the interior line play.
JT gets up field almost every play. He gets into the backfield. He may not get the arm on the QB/RB, but he takes up one or two blockers and still disrupts.
Ever at his age, he still has a motor, and goes. And even pulls ST duty.
Quote from: theaardvark on September 05, 2025, 03:47:10 PMYou guys obviously do not watch the interior line play.
JT gets up field almost every play. He gets into the backfield. He may not get the arm on the QB/RB, but he takes up one or two blockers and still disrupts.
Ever at his age, he still has a motor, and goes. And even pulls ST duty.
Obviously we do or we wouldn't be taking about it. We gave up 130 yards rushing to Riders. We lost.
In our previous loss against the Stamps we gave up just over 100 yards rushing. We lost.
In our 1st game against the Argos, we gave up over 100 yards. We lost.
Thomas has 7 DTs in 11 games in 2025. It's his worst output in his career. He can't shed a block if his life depended on it.
Quote from: Blue In BC on September 05, 2025, 04:07:59 PMObviously we do or we wouldn't be taking about it. We gave up 130 yards rushing to Riders. We lost.
In our previous loss against the Stamps we gave up just over 100 yards rushing. We lost.
In our 1st game against the Argos, we gave up over 100 yards. We lost.
Thomas has 7 DTs in 11 games in 2025. It's his worst output in his career. He can't shed a block if his life depended on it.
That's not all on one player.
Quote from: Blue In BC on September 05, 2025, 04:07:59 PMThomas has 7 DTs in 11 games in 2025. It's his worst output in his career. He can't shed a block if his life depended on it.
Playing him and Korn when we don't have to this week is one of the worst roster decisions of the season. That says a lot.
The players available are great, the problem lies with the big headset. This team should have been dominant at this point of the season and in first place.
Quote from: blue_gold_84 on September 05, 2025, 04:19:53 PMThat's not all on one player.
No but he's not part of the solution either. Our DL has been weak since last year. There is a clear path to giving up yardage against the run, losing TOP and often game.
It's how the Bomber win games by a strong run game and winning the LOS and the TOP. Evaluate any game by any team in the CFL. Those that win the LOS and have a strong run game generally are able to protect their QB and have a better chance of winning.
Quote from: Blue In BC on September 05, 2025, 04:33:04 PMNo but he's not part of the solution either. Our DL has been weak since last year.
I don't think anyone's claimed he's part of a solution. The interior DL has gotten smaller and weaker the last few seasons but I think that deficiency had been masked until recently.
Fixating on a single player fails to address the problem, IMO.
Quote from: blue_gold_84 on September 05, 2025, 04:46:36 PMI don't think anyone's claimed he's part of a solution. The interior DL has gotten smaller and weaker the last few seasons but I think that deficiency had been masked until recently.
Fixating on a single player fails to address the problem, IMO.
Sure but the issue is that we have 2 import DT's on our PR and we could make a ratio decision to get one on the AR.
This is even more true now that Schmekel is on the 6 game IR. Adding Kornelson as his replacement if not a lateral move, it's a further downgrade.
Woodbey or Ayers could be exchanged for either Adams or Woods.
Quote from: Blue In BC on September 05, 2025, 05:13:44 PMSure but the issue is that we have 2 import DT's on our PR and we could make a ratio decision to get one on the AR.
This is even more true now that Schmekel is on the 6 game IR. Adding Kornelson as his replacement if not a lateral move, it's a further downgrade.
Woodbey or Ayers could be exchanged for either Adams or Woods.
Bang on, we have the players. They can roster them. They choose not to.
Not sure why or how people can't see it.
I guess if you choose not to you never will but you build your team from the lines out. Not from the linebackers that chase down kicks.
Quote from: theaardvark on September 05, 2025, 03:47:10 PMYou guys obviously do not watch the interior line play.
JT gets up field almost every play. He gets into the backfield. He may not get the arm on the QB/RB, but he takes up one or two blockers and still disrupts.
Ever at his age, he still has a motor, and goes. And even pulls ST duty.
Not that he would know anything about playing the position, but Cam Lawson is highly complimentary of the lessons he's learned from Jake starting at 20:30 of the following video.
I'll loosely transcribe as not many will watch the video.
"I take a lot from Jake in terms of power and headbutting people and stuff like that LOL....and game knowledge, he's a very smart player, he very rarely makes mistakes, he's always in his gap, he's always doing his assignment and that's a big reason why he's played for so long and is such a good player, cause he's able to do his job every single time at a high level."
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on September 05, 2025, 06:25:58 PMNot that he would know anything about playing the position, but Cam Lawson is highly complimentary of the lessons he's learned from Jake starting at 20:30 of the following video.
I'll loosely transcribe as not many will watch the video.
"I take a lot from Jake in terms of power and headbutting people and stuff like that LOL....and game knowledge, he's a very smart player, he very rarely makes mistakes, he's always in his gap, he's always doing his assignment and that's a big reason why he's played for so long and is such a good player, cause he's able to do his job every single time at a high level."
Lawson joined the Bombers in 2022. Nobody said he wouldn't have learned something from Thomas. He might even progress into a coaching career.
Quote from: Blue In BC on September 05, 2025, 04:07:59 PMThomas has 7 DTs in 11 games in 2025. It's his worst output in his career. He can't shed a block if his life depended on it.
No, he can't much. But then again, he never could. And maybe we don't need/ask that of him. Our scheme always has the LBers coming in to help anyhow. That's why Jones has the most tackles.
I think we really do value his gap cancel, sound assignments, double-team-drawing, and bull rush to get him & a OG right beside the QB. Even if he can't shed that OL, it's got to make the QB antsy that a DT is right door!