Can you win with a RB who can't attack the edges? Ya, I'm looking at Brady.
Watching all the other teams these last 2 weeks I find it striking that all of these cheap IMP RBs, of which there are almost too many to count, all gouge D's for massive yards on the edge. They're so fast, and shifty, and powerful.
Look at loser MacMahon in CGY this week, who isn't even their "real" back. Or nobody backup Lawrence in MTL. Look at brand noob Powell in EDM. Then think back to Theis. Or start to talk the real, big CFL stars like Horvath and Rankin. All of those guys are versatile that D's can't home in on one aspect, and so they are a threat for huge (virtually) risk-free ground yards. And that opens everything else up.
So how do you compete against that with a back that can only run between the tackles? Especially when most teams can stop our run cold with just their front 4 and maybe an extra LB coming in.
Did you see Brady try to shift one outside this last game? What a joke that was. Condell & Brady have been reading the press that having no edge threat by Brady is killing us, and tried to do something about it. Failed miserably and they didn't try it again.
Nope, Brady hits the wall, presses, and shifts to 1 of 2 predetermined paths (and I'm being generous by including "2"), and if it's closed he just plows in, gets stood up and doesn't even fall forward. Gain of 0, 1 or 2.
Can you win games like this? Would we be better with Rankin or Horvath for less money?? "But he blocks": ya, so many whiffs this season, including Zach-killers. "But he catches dumps": ya, no he doesn't, not like AH33 used to do 10 times a game. "But he doesn't fumble": haha, gotcha on that one -- find me one non-ELC RB with more fumbles this season. "But his avg YPC is 6": ya, well his TDs are basically zero (and have been for years), and he's not winning games for us. Not like all the other star ones are...
"But he's a WPGer and fans love him": ya got me there. Agreed. But is it enough? Lose with lovable Brady, or win with Rankin. Speaking of which, is Rankin up for FA?? I'm not saying fire/trade Brady, as you can't do that until you have something better lined up. But just continuing on this current path isn't going to win us games, let alone cups.
Yes this weeks games proved that import quality running backs are literally a dime a dozen. We ve heavily committed to Brady who is a north south runner with no shiftiness or breakaway speed, and we re paying him a ton. And sadly that ain't gonna change
Yeah I've been saying that all year and why I said he's over paid. A great player in his style, great team guy and person.
That said, we should have another RB also on the roster that can give us an edge capability in our game plan.
You can't always run between the OT's and expect defences to take that away from your plan. It's compounded by not having a QB that is not a running threat.
At the very least we need a DI on offence that is that variable style in 2027.
A Canadian running back set to break every Canadian running back record is certainly not the reason this team is a below .500 football team set to miss the playoffs this season. When you have coaches and coordinators putting the player and team into positions to fail, they will fail. The O'Shea process of success may have worked in years past, but like many things change so has this process. The Bombers are trending to be the 9th place team in 2027 unless there are changes in the process, coaches and/or management. Amazing how some shyt on the teams best player that's not being used enough.
They need to use him as a pass catcher out of play action more. That's another one of his strengths. If he can start off in a little more space with some momentum, he can really push people around.
I certainly do not think Rankin makes us a winner by himself. QB has long been the biggest determinant in winning in the CFL. Toronto wins with no running game at all. This is why I say go all in for Kelly. The odds of Winnipeg doing that are minuscule but that is how you win. If we used Brady differently, had a running QB, mixed in Peterson it would help. I don't see our best player as a problem.
Quote from: jdrattops on October 18, 2026, 03:38:29 PMA Canadian running back set to break every Canadian running back record is certainly not the reason this team is a below .500 football team set to miss the playoffs this season. When you have coaches and coordinators putting the player and team into positions to fail, they will fail. The O'Shea process of success may have worked in years past, but like many things change so has this process. The Bombers are trending to be the 9th place team in 2027 unless there are changes in the process, coaches and/or management. Amazing how some shyt on the teams best player that's not being used enough.
I don't think anybody is putting the season on his shoulder. He's an excellent player and excels in what he does. The issue is that we need other play makers on offence. Things improved somewhat when Singer started playing regularly.
A better OL would improve things dramatically as well.
We need to reconsider how we manage some of the SMS spend, ratio application and use of our DI's. There is no one solution that fixes everything.
Gaining a Rankin or a Horvath would improve our offence. I don't think either are potential free agents but that's not the point.
A rookie like Powell on the Elks appears faster, more elusive and can get to the edge.
Yes you can win with him and no he's not part of the problem at all.
Quote from: Jesse on October 18, 2026, 05:01:12 PMYes you can win with him and no he's not part of the problem at all.
I wouldn't say he's not part of the problem per se. He's a metric in our play calling and ability on offence. Like I said we need additional play makers so he can't be keyed on as much.
Quote from: Blue In BC on October 18, 2026, 04:34:46 PMI don't think anybody is putting the season on his shoulder. He's an excellent player and excels in what he does. The issue is that we need other play makers on offence. Things improved somewhat when Singer started playing regularly.
A better OL would improve things dramatically as well.
We need to reconsider how we manage some of the SMS spend, ratio application and use of our DI's. There is no one solution that fixes everything.
Gaining a Rankin or a Horvath would improve our offence. I don't think either are potential free agents but that's not the point.
A rookie like Powell on the Elks appears faster, more elusive and can get to the edge.
Agreed, so is it Brady's fault that O'Shea and Condell put together the offensive roster that doesn't include a player like this, or Walters can't find a scat back? As far as the threads question, the answer is yes you can. Harris, and Cornish weren't edge runners and have GCs.
Why they haven't subbed in Peterson is beyond me.
Quote from: jdrattops on October 18, 2026, 06:43:51 PMAgreed, so is it Brady's fault that O'Shea and Condell put together the offensive roster that doesn't include a player like this, or Walters can't find a scat back? As far as the threads question, the answer is yes you can. Harris, and Cornish weren't edge runners and have GCs.
I think Walters brings in decent American running backs almost every year, they're around a couple of weeks and they're gone and I forget their names quickly. 2 TC's ago it was Quinton Cooley the guy called "Short Bus" was the talk of TC, he lasted a few months on the PR before they let him go.
Quote from: Waffler on October 18, 2026, 04:18:08 PMI certainly do not think Rankin makes us a winner by himself. QB has long been the biggest determinant in winning in the CFL. Toronto wins with no running game at all. This is why I say go all in for Kelly. The odds of Winnipeg doing that are minuscule but that is how you win. If we used Brady differently, had a running QB, mixed in Peterson it would help. I don't see our best player as a problem.
Ticats without Bo
Als without Alexander.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on October 18, 2026, 08:12:40 PMI think Walters brings in decent American running backs almost every year, they're around a couple of weeks and they're gone and I forget their names quickly. 2 TC's ago it was Quinton Cooley the guy called "Short Bus" was the talk of TC, he lasted a few months on the PR before they let him go.
They have brought in guys with speed, Cooley wasn't one of those. 5'7", 210. I get your point though. A few times I thought a new guy has potential but where is his roster spot going to be?
I am not against going American here, it would save considerable cap space. Unless we are signing a big ticket QB with the savings then I feel Brady earns his pay, keep him.
Quote from: Jesse on October 18, 2026, 05:01:12 PMYes you can win with him and no he's not part of the problem at all.
Facts are presented above. Heard the same story on a knock against Harris late in his career. People looking for a problem when there is none.
Folks still calling for Peterson to rotate need to check the stats. The king will not be spelled by him.
Quote from: Blueforlife on October 18, 2026, 10:54:09 PMFacts are presented above. Heard the same story on a knock against Harris late in his career. People looking for a problem when there is none.
Folks still calling for Peterson to rotate need to check the stats. The king will not be spelled by him.
Not rotate but throw him in once in a while as a change of pace/fresh legs.
Does Rankin play a whole game, every game?
Quote from: Waffler on October 18, 2026, 11:15:09 PMNot rotate but throw him in once in a while as a change of pace/fresh legs.
Does Rankin play a whole game, every game?
Been there didn't do that. Adding Peterson to the AR was a waste as he wasn't used. Each club has a different circumstance. In our case the additional player that is available by not dressing Peterson is a better option imo.
We can give Demski and MCI a few touches. Screen to Daniels, sweep to a speed guy. These are options we already are not doing and I would mix in long before I start Peterson.
Full disclosure I like Peterson and he will get his shot eventually.
Quote from: Blueforlife on October 18, 2026, 10:54:09 PMFacts are presented above. Heard the same story on a knock against Harris late in his career. People looking for a problem when there is none.
Folks still calling for Peterson to rotate need to check the stats. The king will not be spelled by him.
It would still be a great idea to use another RB with a different skill set along with Brady.
Brady had one very obvious weakness and there's a way to get around it but we refuse.
Brady is the best Canadian we have on either side of the ball. Sure replace hin.
Sure you can win without a no-edge RB, Toronto and BC win with very use of the run game. We use Wilson, Demski and White on jet sweeps and shallow drag routes across the middle when the linebackers drop
Brady is our best NAT and contributes significantly to our offense. Neufeld has been decent on the O line, whiles Demski's contributions have dropped off this year. Same with Kramdi. Lawson has been serviceable at DT but hardly a force to be reckoned with, and Kelly, I can't see him starting for any other team than ours.
So rather than bring in an IMP RB to give us the 'edge' run, I'd like to see us significantly upgrade our NAT talent, its the fundamental building block of any roster. We need a dominant NAT O lineman like Chung and Desjarlais used to be for us
We gave up a league worst number of sacks this year, and upgrading that unit has got to be priority #1 with a bullet!!