Official Game Day Thread - Winnipeg at Toronto, July 4, 2022

[ModAdmin]

Lots of drama with Andrew Harris vs Blue Bombers!  3 Western teams tied for 1st place and the Bombers need to keep the pressure on.

Player changes for the game...

In:   #00 Maruo, #29 McCrae, #30 Rose
Out: #10 Demski, #22 Glass, #52 Mack III

Blue Bomber Depth Chart...

https://twitter.com/Wpg_BlueBombers/status/1543587867015802881/photo/1

Let's Go Bombers!

[Blue In BC]

Interesting roster changes. I was wrong about Walker coming back on and Wilcots coming off. In fact Mack III came off. Since we didn't have many Canadian choices to add we added Maruo as the 2nd Global player.

The big addition is getting Rose back at CB.

[BBRT]

I took at look at the TO lineup and it does appear AH will be starting (at least on the chart). It will be interesting to see how he does. We always seem to have problems with TO in TO therefore this will be an interesting match up.

[pdirks67]

I'll be very interested to see how McCrae is used. Assuming that this signals a desire to mix things up in our running game, why not just give Johnny Augustine a few more carries before we insert an import?

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Interesting. It would appear that Houston has not only played his way onto the roster but also the boundary corner. Rose is playing with Taylor over on the field side which we have never seen before.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

I'll be very interested to see how McCrae is used. Assuming that this signals a desire to mix things up in our running game, why not just give Johnny Augustine a few more carries before we insert an import?

My guess is it doesn't have much to do with running back despite where he's listed. We're probably going to be using Grant a ton more in the passing game and therefore McCrae will be the primary returner. It may also be a way of getting some more speed onto the field on offense which we are going to miss with Demski out.

[Blue In BC]

Interesting. It would appear that Houston has not only played his way onto the roster but also the boundary corner. Rose is playing with Taylor over on the field side which we have never seen before.

The changes at CB could be temporary while Rose gets back into game form and he may not be 100% yet. Either way glad to see Houston earning a starting role. MBT can pile up the yardage if we don't contest his passes.

We needed additional receiver depth and McCrae could be a similar skill set to Demski? I'll be watching him and hope he provides a different spark tomorrow.

[The Zipp]

Always exciting to see new players in action...want to see how the O'Leary-orange does...what does he bring to the offense...mccrae may provide a spark on returns...we have completely botched these TO games  in the past so need to see some high quality intensity right at kickoff.

[LXTSN]

I'll be very interested to see how McCrae is used. Assuming that this signals a desire to mix things up in our running game, why not just give Johnny Augustine a few more carries before we insert an import?

I'll second this. From the start of the season I've been trying to push for Augustine to start in front of BO, but for some reason that doesn't seem like an option for MOS... In limited preseason action, McCrae shined. I'm excited to see if & how they use him!

[The Zipp]

From Twitter:


And more from CFL stats: Toronto comes into this game having won 9 of their last 10 home games. That stretch will go up against Winnipeg's current road form of wins in 5 of their last 7 away games overall. Winnipeg last won in Toronto in 2018.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I'll second this. From the start of the season I've been trying to push for Augustine to start in front of BO, but for some reason that doesn't seem like an option for MOS... In limited preseason action, McCrae shined. I'm excited to see if & how they use him!

O'Shea may have dropped a clue yesterday when he said QB protection is first and foremost over running and pass receiving for the RB's, because the CFL is primarily a passing league.  My guess is Brady is more capable of blocking than Johnny due to his bulk, but it could be that he also reads his blocking assignments better.  A few weeks ago O'Shea commented that A.H. always scored 100% with his blocking reads, so they have a very high standard to live up to.

[The Zipp]

Wishing this game was tonight....

[Blue In BC]

Any way to find out with import is not the DI? That makes a difference whether McCrae for example can alternate at RB or for O-Leary-Orange for example without requiring an import receiver to come out.

[LXTSN]

O'Shea may have dropped a clue yesterday when he said QB protection is first and foremost over running and pass receiving for the RB's, because the CFL is primarily a passing league.  My guess is Brady is more capable of blocking than Johnny due to his bulk, but it could be that he also reads his blocking assignments better.  A few weeks ago O'Shea commented that A.H. always scored 100% with his blocking reads, so they have a very high standard to live up to.

I agree that pass blocking is important, but to me it's definaly not the most important thing. If it was, we would just play a FB all the time. I don't feel that BO is much better at pass blocking then Augustine, but I do think Augustine is a much better ball carrier. That being said, I know MOS sees every practice so he obviously sees something I don't lol

Just want JA to get his chance sooner rather than later, but I know it will happen eventually!

[Pigskin]

Well I am here in Toronto for the game tomorrow. Been to 3 out of the last 4 Blue Jays games and there is not much interest in the Argos. Most of the people we talked to didn't even know there was a game this week. Another group thought it was a stupid time and had decided not to attend.