Blue Bombers roster - 2020-2021

[GCn19]

Great to get him back. I wasn't sure we'd get either Lawler or Grant back for 2021. I'd also like to see Whitehead back but if we don't we improved our situation for returner.

Whitehead is a take it or leave it for me. I was not impressed by his play at receiver and Grant was clearly the better PR/KR.

[Pigskin]

With Grant back I don't know if we need Lucky. Mr. Walters filling in our roster one at a time. Richardson, Exume, Latour, next please.

[Blue In BC]

Whitehead is a take it or leave it for me. I was not impressed by his play at receiver and Grant was clearly the better PR/KR.

Not every receiver is 1a after their 1st CFL season. I'd expect him to improve significantly in his 2nd year if he re-signs. His speed and field of vision is something you can't teach.  You should re-watch his opening K/O TD against the Argos last summer.

B. Banks wasn't a very good receiver for his first few years. Development and how an OC uses him come into play.

I wouldn't want to overpay to get him. Not sure how much Lawler or Grant got coming off their ELC's.

If there is no or little signing bonus it's worth bringing him to TC until we find new depth. One advantage with a rookie receiver is the ability to stash them on the PR.

Whitehead's 2019 stats. 322 YAC, 10 yard average. Not sure what more you want from a 1st year receiver.

 2019
   WPG    15    52    72    521    322    2    10.0    75

[Blue Guess Who]

Not every receiver is 1a after their 1st CFL season. I'd expect him to improve significantly in his 2nd year if he re-signs. His speed and field of vision is something you can't teach.  You should re-watch his opening K/O TD against the Argos last summer.

B. Banks wasn't a very good receiver for his first few years. Development and how an OC uses him come into play.

I wouldn't want to overpay to get him. Not sure how much Lawler or Grant got coming off their ELC's.

If there is no or little signing bonus it's worth bringing him to TC until we find new depth. One advantage with a rookie receiver is the ability to stash them on the PR.

Whitehead's 2019 stats. 322 YAC, 10 yard average. Not sure what more you want from a 1st year receiver.

 2019
   WPG    15    52    72    521    322    2    10.0    75

 Good point about Banks;  similar resume as Whitehead - coming to the CFL from the NFL where he was more a return specialist.  I thought Banks really struggled when he first played receiver for the Ticats, with drops galore, so i was going to write him off as one of those return guys who couldn't cut it as a full time pro receiver;  but he proved me wrong - developed or improved his hands and route running  to go with the blazing speed = now he's one of the CFL best IMO.  Be nice if Whitehead could make that step too.

[Blue In BC]

Good point about Banks;  similar resume as Whitehead - coming to the CFL from the NFL where he was more a return specialist.  I thought Banks really struggled when he first played receiver for the Ticats, with drops galore, so i was going to write him off as one of those return guys who couldn't cut it as a full time pro receiver;  but he proved me wrong - developed or improved his hands and route running  to go with the blazing speed = now he's one of the CFL best IMO.  Be nice if Whitehead could make that step too.

Yeah, he has potential but that doesn't mean he automatically succeeds either. I'm interested in some of the new rookie signings but it's the same thing. Until they become the next D. Walker or B. Burnham it's just that: potential.

It's a cost / benefit risk analysis. Lawler might be that " next " allstar. He's showed very good promise and I expect he'll be even better in year 2.

I don't know if the Bombers are even trying to sign Whitehead or whether he wants to go elsewhere.

Some posters have made reasonable comments about no need to bring him back. They may be correct. Time will tell but if it was up to me I'd bring him to TC unless his SMS request is off the charts. Nelson is in the mix and similar.

EDIT: take a stroll through annual Bomber receiving stats. It's strewn with receivers that didn't last a season. Compared to those players he's an all star.

[GCn19]

Yeah, he has potential but that doesn't mean he automatically succeeds either. I'm interested in some of the new rookie signings but it's the same thing. Until they become the next D. Walker or B. Burnham it's just that: potential.

It's a cost / benefit risk analysis. Lawler might be that " next " allstar. He's showed very good promise and I expect he'll be even better in year 2.

I don't know if the Bombers are even trying to sign Whitehead or whether he wants to go elsewhere.

Some posters have made reasonable comments about no need to bring him back. They may be correct. Time will tell but if it was up to me I'd bring him to TC unless his SMS request is off the charts. Nelson is in the mix and similar.

EDIT: take a stroll through annual Bomber receiving stats. It's strewn with receivers that didn't last a season. Compared to those players he's an all star.

I'm not against the idea of re-signing Lucky, just imo it would be kind of a redundant signing now that we have Grant. However, if we don't have anyone potentially better in the pipeline and the price is right...

[Blue In BC]

I'm not against the idea of re-signing Lucky, just imo it would be kind of a redundant signing now that we have Grant. However, if we don't have anyone potentially better in the pipeline and the price is right...

I understand what you commented and don't disagree. Redundant is a fair comment. Given a choice I'd prefer Whitehead to Nelson but he showed some promise as well.

Ratio, SMS and roster size. It's a juggling act. One slight injury in TC gets a guy with potential shown the door., for example. Some flash in TC only to fail in regular games.

As I've mentioned some of the rookies sound good but that's true every off season.

[theaardvark]

It seems returners are one of the easiest positions to fill, there are tons of burners out there.  Finding ones that have hands, that's harder. 

Ones that have hands and can make open field moves, those are keepers. 

But until you get them into game action against teams that have tape on them, you don't know if they will have staying power in the league...

[gobombersgo]

BLUE BOMBERS RE-SIGN RECEIVER/RETURNER JANARION GRANT

WINNIPEG, MB., February 4, 2021 - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has agreed to terms with American receiver/returner Janarion Grant on a one-year contract extension. He was scheduled to become a free agent on February 9th.

Grant was originally added to the club`s practice roster in July of 2019, and went on to appear in eleven regular-season games and the three playoff contests as a designated import, lining up occasionally at receiver and serving as the club`s primary kickoff returner.

Despite playing in just 11 games, Grant led the Bombers with 591 yards on 41 punt returns - three for touchdowns - and also led the team with 600 yards on 25 kickoff returns. In addition, he returned one missed field goal for 61 yards.

Grant`s Bomber debut (August 8 vs Calgary) saw him return two punts for touchdowns, finishing the game with 306 yards in punt and kickoff return yards. His 222 punt-return yards established a Bombers club record and ranked as the third-highest single-game total in CFL history.

Grant came to the Bombers after attending training camp with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2019. He first broke into the professional ranks as an undrafted free agent, signing with the Baltimore Ravens on May 7, 2018. He made the Ravens final roster as the primary kick and punt returner, but was released in late September of that season.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2021/02/04/blue-bombers-re-sign-receiver-returner-janarion-grant/

"I WANT TO PLAY ALL PHASES" - GRANT EXTENDED FOR ONE MORE YEAR
https://www.bluebombers.com/2021/02/04/want-play-phases-grant-extended-one-year/


Transactions:
2021-02-04   WPG   NICHOLS, Deatrick   DB   A   South Florida   Add To   Active Roster
2021-02-04   WPG   GRANT, Janarion   WR   A   Rutgers   Add To   Active Roster
2021-02-04   WPG   LAWLER, Kenny   WR   A   California   Add To   Active Roster

[Pigskin]

Richardson, check another one off my list.

[theaardvark]

PLAYER    A/N/G    POS    COLLEGE    STATUS
ALEXANDER, Brandon    A    DB    Central Florida    Extended (01/11/21)
ANTIGHA, Oluwatobi    A    DL    Presbyterian College    Extended (01/08/21)
BAILEY, Rasheed    A    WR    Delaware Valley    Extended (01/14/21)
BRIGGS, Jesse    N    LB    McGill    Extended (01/20/21)
BRYANT, Stanley    A    OL    East Carolina    Extended (01/05/21)
CALVER, Brandon    N    LB    Wilfrid Laurier    
DEMSKI , Nic    N    WR    Manitoba    Extended (01/05/21)
EXUME, Kerfalla-Emmanuel    N    DB    Montreal    
FEOLI GUDINO, Julian    N    WR    Laval    
GAUTHIER, Shayne    N    LB    Laval    Extended (01/08/21)
GRANT, Janarion    A    WR    Rutgers    Extended (02/04/21)
GRAY, Geoff    N    OL    Manitoba    Extended (01/08/21)
HARDRICK, Jermarcus    A    OL    Nebraska    Extended (12/30/20)
HARRIS, Andrew    N    RB    Nanaimo Raiders Jr.    Extended (01/15/21)
JEFFCOAT, Jackson    A    DL    Texas    Extended (01/08/21)
JOHNSON, Josh    A    DB    Purdue    Extended (01/16/21)
LATOUR, Maxime    N    LS    Sherbrooke    
LAWLER, Kenny    A    WR    California    Extended (02/03/21)
LYLES, Chris    A    DB    Mississippi College    
MASTON, Mercy    A    LB    Boise State    Extended (01/07/22)
MCGUIRE, Sean    A    QB    Western Illinois    Extended (12/31/20)
MEDLOCK, Justin    A    K    UCLA    
MILES, Thomas    N    LB    Manitoba    
MILLER, Mike    N    FB    Acadia    Extended (01/07/21)
NEUFELD, Patrick    N    OL    Saskatchewan    Extended (01/19/21)
PETERMANN, Daniel    N    WR    McMaster    
REMPEL, Chad    N    LS    Saskatchewan    
RICHARDSON, Steven    A    DL    Minnesota    Extended (02/05/21)
RUSH , John    N    LB    Guelph    
SPELLER, Cody    N    OL    McMaster    Traded to TOR (01/27/21) Signed w/ TOR (01/31/21)
TAYLOR, Nicholas    A    DB    Florida International    Extended (01/07/22)
THOMAS, Jake    N    DL    Acadia    Extended (01/04/21)
WHITEHEAD, Lucky    A    WR    Florida Atlantic    
WILLIAMS, Darrell    A    OL    South Florida    Retired
WILSON, Kyrie    A    LB    Fresno State    Extended (01/13/21)


Such a small list of "left to decide on", none other than LS, P/K  are "must haves"

[Blue In BC]

PLAYER    A/N/G    POS    COLLEGE    STATUS
ALEXANDER, Brandon    A    DB    Central Florida    Extended (01/11/21)
ANTIGHA, Oluwatobi    A    DL    Presbyterian College    Extended (01/08/21)
BAILEY, Rasheed    A    WR    Delaware Valley    Extended (01/14/21)
BRIGGS, Jesse    N    LB    McGill    Extended (01/20/21)
BRYANT, Stanley    A    OL    East Carolina    Extended (01/05/21)
CALVER, Brandon    N    LB    Wilfrid Laurier    
DEMSKI , Nic    N    WR    Manitoba    Extended (01/05/21)
EXUME, Kerfalla-Emmanuel    N    DB    Montreal    
FEOLI GUDINO, Julian    N    WR    Laval    
GAUTHIER, Shayne    N    LB    Laval    Extended (01/08/21)
GRANT, Janarion    A    WR    Rutgers    Extended (02/04/21)
GRAY, Geoff    N    OL    Manitoba    Extended (01/08/21)
HARDRICK, Jermarcus    A    OL    Nebraska    Extended (12/30/20)
HARRIS, Andrew    N    RB    Nanaimo Raiders Jr.    Extended (01/15/21)
JEFFCOAT, Jackson    A    DL    Texas    Extended (01/08/21)
JOHNSON, Josh    A    DB    Purdue    Extended (01/16/21)
LATOUR, Maxime    N    LS    Sherbrooke    
LAWLER, Kenny    A    WR    California    Extended (02/03/21)
LYLES, Chris    A    DB    Mississippi College    
MASTON, Mercy    A    LB    Boise State    Extended (01/07/22)
MCGUIRE, Sean    A    QB    Western Illinois    Extended (12/31/20)
MEDLOCK, Justin    A    K    UCLA    
MILES, Thomas    N    LB    Manitoba    
MILLER, Mike    N    FB    Acadia    Extended (01/07/21)
NEUFELD, Patrick    N    OL    Saskatchewan    Extended (01/19/21)
PETERMANN, Daniel    N    WR    McMaster    
REMPEL, Chad    N    LS    Saskatchewan    
RICHARDSON, Steven    A    DL    Minnesota    Extended (02/05/21)
RUSH , John    N    LB    Guelph    
SPELLER, Cody    N    OL    McMaster    Traded to TOR (01/27/21) Signed w/ TOR (01/31/21)
TAYLOR, Nicholas    A    DB    Florida International    Extended (01/07/22)
THOMAS, Jake    N    DL    Acadia    Extended (01/04/21)
WHITEHEAD, Lucky    A    WR    Florida Atlantic    
WILLIAMS, Darrell    A    OL    South Florida    Retired
WILSON, Kyrie    A    LB    Fresno State    Extended (01/13/21)


Such a small list of "left to decide on", none other than LS, P/K  are "must haves"

It's a very short list. There appears to be a very good chance that we'll be moving on from most of them.

While there are 5 I'd like to get back, none are more important than the LS and decision on Medlock.

I'm not sure if Medlock is considering retirement or the team is moving on. He's always a late re-signer. We'll know soon enough I suppose.

[Horseman]

My choices to re-sign are:
Medlock for sure.
I would sign the other LS Latour, as Rempel is replaceable with a younger player.
I want Lucky back this year, exciting player when he gets the ball.

The rest can skate.

[Blue In BC]

My choices to re-sign are:
Medlock for sure.
I would sign the other LS Latour, as Rempel is replaceable with a younger player.
I want Lucky back this year, exciting player when he gets the ball.

The rest can skate.

Normally I'd want Medlock back. This year may be a different question for a few reasons.

We drafted and signed Liegghio who reportedly is an excellent dual purpose kicker.

IIRC Medlock was going to be a $180K SMS hit in 2020. Even if he takes a 20% cut that's $144K for 2021. Liegghio as an ELC will be about $65K. That's a big difference and we may be able to utilize the extra SMS elsewhere. In the new era of SMS floor spending that may be a factor.

Liegghio is a Canadian and that gives us back 1 DI spot to use differently.

So I wouldn't say Medlock is a for sure call. He certainly could play for several more seasons and be the best or 2nd best in the CFL.

I wouldn't bet one way or the other which way this will work out.


I'd like Exume and Petermann back. Miles to a lesser degree. Not sure any will be back. We'll have 12 draft choices coming to TC. Exume might be headed to Edmonton and Petermann possibly to Ottawa.

Whitehead has been discussed. I'd like him back but good arguments have been made as to why that might not happen. Without knowing his SMS and / or bonus situation it's difficult to totally understand.

[Pigskin]

My choices to re-sign are:
Medlock for sure.
I would sign the other LS Latour, as Rempel is replaceable with a younger player.
I want Lucky back this year, exciting player when he gets the ball.

The rest can skate.

I am Exume, Latour, Miles, and done. Love Medlock but but at what cost. Also Leggs is suppose to be the real deal so I am okay giving him a shot.

Wasn't there a young Winnipeg Kid that was with the Bomber for a couple weeks last year that was a long snapper.