2022 CFL Drafts May 3, 2022

[Blue In BC]

I look at this group and keep thinking the Bombers must think they have a shot at getting Dobson to TC, or they have something cooking with Desjarlais if he doesn't make the NFL. Ford mite be the best best athlete in the draft. But our OL right now looks a little thin compared to last year.

Yeah, I think they have a shot at getting Dobson back. Looking at all the players drafted this year across the league, there weren't many OL in the top group and our pick #'s weren't in our favour.

Only 12 OL drafted out of 74 picks. We might have had a chance picking at # 8 ( Zerr ) but not as much at # 13 and needed to trade for Lawson.  Only 3 OL were picked after our 2nd pick.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

On one hand, it's "fair" to split them up - gives equal opportunity to players of all positions.

On the other hand, teams should have the freedom to start players wherever they want.

Don't forget, Richie Hall wasn't thought of as a great DC until O'Shea reduced the ratio requirement of his D down to one Natl. on the field at a time.

[TecnoGenius]

Honestly, something is up.... 2 separate drafts yesterday, 4 DB's picked, 4 Cdn DB's on the roster, Rene, it sounds like he is working towards a contract.. Cdn content rule change, perhaps (we now have Cdn guys who can play safety, corner & D-Line on defense)..

Other than here and a brief couple of words in the draft show I haven't heard any "official" word that a ratio change is coming... can someone post more info or links?

If they institute it, I want full credit as I was the one to mention it here first like 6 months ago!    But I hope they remember I said you need to phase it in slowly: 1 NAT forced on D in year 1, 2 the next... I guess they can start at 2 in year 1 because basically every team already has 1.

They can't possibly mandate overnight in a CBA with no advance notice that all teams must field 3 NATs on D!!!  That would be horrifically bad for WPG and some other teams built around a high-NAT O.  Of course, if the goal is to unseat WPG due to the real threat of a threepeat, then mandating 3 NATs would do it.  It would be very unfair as some teams are built around a more-NAT D, and they get to benefit because of sheer luck?  It would be like F1 purposely undermining Merc (which they did).

[theaardvark]

I look at this group and keep thinking the Bombers must think they have a shot at getting Dobson to TC, or they have something cooking with Desjarlais if he doesn't make the NFL. Ford mite be the best best athlete in the draft. But our OL right now looks a little thin compared to last year.

With only 3 NAT Oline... you don't really need that much depth... I think we're fine.  In fact if we get both Dobson and Dejarlais showing up, we are in trouble...  

Other than here and a brief couple of words in the draft show I haven't heard any "official" word that a ratio change is coming... can someone post more info or links?

If they institute it, I want full credit as I was the one to mention it here first like 6 months ago!    But I hope they remember I said you need to phase it in slowly: 1 NAT forced on D in year 1, 2 the next... I guess they can start at 2 in year 1 because basically every team already has 1.

They can't possibly mandate overnight in a CBA with no advance notice that all teams must field 3 NATs on D!!!  That would be horrifically bad for WPG and some other teams built around a high-NAT O.  Of course, if the goal is to unseat WPG due to the real threat of a threepeat, then mandating 3 NATs would do it.  It would be very unfair as some teams are built around a more-NAT D, and they get to benefit because of sheer luck?  It would be like F1 purposely undermining Merc (which they did).

They could make the change in the CBA overnight, and I think we would be fine after this draft...

[TecnoGenius]

I look at this group and keep thinking the Bombers must think they have a shot at getting Dobson to TC, or they have something cooking with Desjarlais if he doesn't make the NFL. Ford mite be the best best athlete in the draft. But our OL right now looks a little thin compared to last year.

I'm pretty sure we are going to bring in Eli.  There really isn't much of a choice.  Note how Eli hasn't been picked up by anyone else.  (I bet) He's had a convo with KW, he knows to just hang on.

Without Eli we basically have no ready-to-field NAT backup.  We normally have 1-2 ready-to-field NAT backups, and 1-2 NAT dev guys / rookies.  Even if Eli can only play the 9 home games + 1 SSK away game, it is probably worth it.  As of right now it's still: Eli>Gray

We went from a surfeit of NAT OL in the past 3 seasons to a paucity.  If no one gets injured, we're golden... but...

[TecnoGenius]

Don't forget, Richie Hall wasn't thought of as a great DC until O'Shea reduced the ratio requirement of his D down to one Natl. on the field at a time.

Ya, but most teams have been trending the same way.  They hide a NAT at FS, and sometimes have a ratio-busting DL or LB.  Think Laurent or Henoc.  Does anyone know off hand what each team started at NAT on D in 2021?  I bet most had 2.  I bet none had 4.  I bet at least 1 other team had 1.

[TecnoGenius]

With only 3 NAT Oline... you don't really need that much depth... I think we're fine.  In fact if we get both Dobson and Dejarlais showing up, we are in trouble...  

They could make the change in the CBA overnight, and I think we would be fine after this draft...

Oh, I thought Desjar was gone for good.  I guess he could pull a Gray and come back promptly... Yes, you definitely hold a spot open for Desjar.  But you can't count on that.  Patriots of all teams aren't stupid: they wouldn't bring him there unless they saw potential worth keeping.  (Personally I think they are insane, but...)

Fine if they mandated 3 NAT D?  Nope, we'd be screwed.  Forget for a moment about the D side: what on earth do you do on the O side?  That means you *can* (i.e. will) sit 2 NAT O starters.  So Woli is benched as a backup.  Who else?  Put an IMP at OL guard?

Hmmm.... that would explain the slight FA splash we made at receiver... We could field both Saunders and Ellingson.  Hmm.

But it still screws us over as a 3-NAT-OL and NAT-RB and superstar Demski NAT SB centered team.  Our DB quality would suffer.  We've gathered the best NAT O talent in the league, and if they screw with the ratio in the CBA it only hurts us.

[Blue In BC]

With only 3 NAT Oline... you don't really need that much depth... I think we're fine.  In fact if we get both Dobson and Dejarlais showing up, we are in trouble...  

They could make the change in the CBA overnight, and I think we would be fine after this draft...

If Dobson and Desjarlais both show up then Kolankowski and Koczwara get bumped to PR, released or 1 as non dressed. It will be a while if ever that we see Desjarlais back IMO. At the very least SMS could be a large issue.

Changing the CBA over night idea and we'd be fine? ARE YOU NUTS?

Most of the import OL look to be OT types and they're rookies. Switching to even one more import on the OL could get Collaros injured.

We certainly don't want to switch to an import RB or take Demski off the field. Ratio not with standing pulling Wolitarsky might be a choice but then we'd have 3 changes at receiver.

What Canadian is going to start and at the expense of who??

[theaardvark]

I'm pretty sure we are going to bring in Eli.  There really isn't much of a choice.  Note how Eli hasn't been picked up by anyone else.  (I bet) He's had a convo with KW, he knows to just hang on.

Without Eli we basically have no ready-to-field NAT backup.  We normally have 1-2 ready-to-field NAT backups, and 1-2 NAT dev guys / rookies.  Even if Eli can only play the 9 home games + 1 SSK away game, it is probably worth it.  As of right now it's still: Eli>Gray

We went from a surfeit of NAT OL in the past 3 seasons to a paucity.  If no one gets injured, we're golden... but...

59      Couture, Michael   OL   N   6'4   305   28   Simon Fraser
68      Gray, Geoff   OL   N   6'6   307   27   Manitoba
   Koczwara, Ben   OL   N   6'3   291   25   Waterloo
67      Kolankowski, Chris   OL   N   6'1   305   30   York
53      Neufeld, Patrick   OL   N   6'6   311   33   Saskatchewan


for 3 spots... plus Dobson, and/or Dejarlais...

Loved what Eli brought, and his upside, but it sounds like he has moved on again... rumours, of course... and vaccine status shouldn't be an issue this year... but I don't think we will miss him.  

In a pinch, there are always the Int players that can fill in whjen you are as deep as we are with NAT starters...

[Blue In BC]

59      Couture, Michael   OL   N   6'4   305   28   Simon Fraser
68      Gray, Geoff   OL   N   6'6   307   27   Manitoba
   Koczwara, Ben   OL   N   6'3   291   25   Waterloo
67      Kolankowski, Chris   OL   N   6'1   305   30   York
53      Neufeld, Patrick   OL   N   6'6   311   33   Saskatchewan


for 3 spots... plus Dobson, and/or Dejarlais...

Loved what Eli brought, and his upside, but it sounds like he has moved on again... rumours, of course... and vaccine status shouldn't be an issue this year... but I don't think we will miss him.  

In a pinch, there are always the Int players that can fill in whjen you are as deep as we are with NAT starters...

Eli was on the 45 AR while Gray spent most of the season as the non dressed reserve.

You go on keep thinking that but we are not deep with Nat starters. You have a lot of confidence in a bunch of pure rookies and 2nd year players that have never started or done anything besides ST's.

It's why we traded with the Als for a DT.

[Pigskin]

CFL FA tracker still shows Cody Speller listed as a FA. Cody played well when he was here.

[TecnoGenius]

CFL FA tracker still shows Cody Speller listed as a FA. Cody played well when he was here.

Oooh.  Nice find.  Except he spent all of 2021 in the tub, no?  Teams avoiding an injury-prone guard?  Bet he won't come cheap, either.  In a pinch, I bet any team would get him on the phone.

BinBC is right, Aards, the 2 K--W-- guys are totally green.  We have our starters, that's it.  Sure, a who-knows could come off the bench and be the next Chungh.  But don't bet on it.  And Gray might never be a legit every-game #1 starter (remains to be seen).

But if we have a (secret) tight line on Eli and/or Desjar then we should be good.  If...

[blue_gold_84]

CFL FA tracker still shows Cody Speller listed as a FA. Cody played well when he was here.

FWIW, he was suspended by the Argos before the 2021 season and never played.

[Pigskin]

FWIW, he was suspended by the Argos before the 2021 season and never played.

Correct, July 16th, 2021 the Argo's suspended him.  So I am thinking it has nothing to do with an injury. Probably more of a vaccination issue.

[TecnoGenius]

Correct, July 16th, 2021 the Argo's suspended him.  So I am thinking it has nothing to do with an injury. Probably more of a vaccination issue.

Makes no sense if the suspension was before the season.  The flight mandates weren't a thing until later.

Perhaps he was AWOL or some other off-field nonsense?  Weird no story ever came out about this.  He seemed solid during his time here.  Maybe he didn't want to play in double blue?  Did he pull a D.Durant and walk away with a big free signing bonus?  Too bad we may never know.

Spooner also fell off the radar almost immediately after leaving WPG.  Guess OL should stay in WPG if they want a good career!!