Hansen

[LXTSN]

I think Dobson has established his worth on the heavy team, he's a beast inside, so I see him replacing Kolankowski as the vital 6th man when Couture resumes play.  I expect Dobson to be a starting OG eventually, once Neufeld, Bryant or Hardrick call it quits, there will be some required shuffling of positions and I think Gray ends up as an OT.

This is actually a bit of a scary issue for us. If Bryant retires after this year, we need to make sure that we have someone to replace him.
I don't love Gray at that spot. I think Gray provides the most value as the 6th OL on heavy sets. He is big and fast, so pulling on run blocks is probably his best skill at this point in his carreer.
I think that there's a better chance of us taking a shot with one of our American guys on the PR. Maybe there's a chance for us to give a break to Bryant and slide someone in later in the season?

[kkc60]

This is actually a bit of a scary issue for us. If Bryant retires after this year, we need to make sure that we have someone to replace him.
I don't love Gray at that spot. I think Gray provides the most value as the 6th OL on heavy sets. He is big and fast, so pulling on run blocks is probably his best skill at this point in his carreer.
I think that there's a better chance of us taking a shot with one of our American guys on the PR. Maybe there's a chance for us to give a break to Bryant and slide someone in later in the season?

Can?t really worry about an off-season retirement right now. Good chance the replacement for Bryant would be either a free agency signing or currently injured (they seem to like Drew Richmond).

Probably would put Eric Lofton in for Bryant near the end of the year depending how the standings unfold

[Blue In BC]

Can?t really worry about an off-season retirement right now. Good chance the replacement for Bryant would be either a free agency signing or currently injured (they seem to like Drew Richmond).

Probably would put Eric Lofton in for Bryant near the end of the year depending how the standings unfold

We may see several PR or IR players at the end of the season. Normal to want to avoid injuries to the starters and to see what the depth players can do. Could well be that our last two games are meaningless in the standings at that point.

If the Lions slump at all due to injuries at QB, we may lock up 1st place early.

[theaardvark]

I think Dobson has established his worth on the heavy team, he's a beast inside, so I see him replacing Kolankowski as the vital 6th man when Couture resumes play.  I expect Dobson to be a starting OG eventually, once Neufeld, Bryant or Hardrick call it quits, there will be some required shuffling of positions and I think Gray ends up as an OT.

I guess it depends on who your backup C is... can Neufeld or Gray, or Dobson back up at C?

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I guess it depends on who your backup C is... can Neufeld or Gray, or Dobson back up at C?

Neufeld has done it in the past, although it's been a very long time since he's had to.

[Tiger]

This is actually a bit of a scary issue for us. If Bryant retires after this year, we need to make sure that we have someone to replace him.
I don't love Gray at that spot. I think Gray provides the most value as the 6th OL on heavy sets. He is big and fast, so pulling on run blocks is probably his best skill at this point in his carreer.
I think that there's a better chance of us taking a shot with one of our American guys on the PR. Maybe there's a chance for us to give a break to Bryant and slide someone in later in the season?

Nobody can replace Bryant.  Maybe best ever Blue Bomber blind side tackle.

[LXTSN]

Nobody can replace Bryant.  Maybe best ever Blue Bomber blind side tackle.

100% Agree.
I will say that he isn't as good this year as he has been the previous 6 years for us.
I'd go as far to say he has been our greatest OL of all time, but it's really hard to compare guys with no stats lol

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Nobody can replace Bryant.  Maybe best ever Blue Bomber blind side tackle.

Unfortunately they have to prepare to do so, I believe Gray has the capability to play OT, he's big enough, strong enough and has the mobility and balance to do so.  He's more of a pure athlete than any of the other O-linemen so it may look different, but I think he has the capability to do the job well once he learns the tricks of the trade, hopefully Stanley passes on his knowledge before he goes.

[Blue In BC]

No news yet on Hansen might be good news relatively speaking. Nothing has been said about him going onto the 6 game IR which often tends to happen immediately when " bad news " is determined.

So fingers crossed he's just moved to 1 game IR and may be back in a few weeks. Realistically I think he does go on the 6 game IR but that is more of a wait and see how it goes.

O'Shea was his usual self in just saying Hansen would be out for awhile without real specifics. However I think that was somewhat encouraging.

EDIT: Today's IR report and comments suggest an achilles injury for Hansen. That's not good. I'm not aware of any injury of that nature that recovers in a short time. Could be the end of his season unfortunately.

[pjrocksmb]

keep drafting Canadian linemen and bringing in US talent!

[TecnoGenius]

I think Gray ends up as an OT.

That's a bold statement.  Maybe one day, but way too premature a thought for now.  Gray has clearly been the weak link this season.  I think he's gotten better, and we can blame Ko-man for some of the A-gap trouble, I guess.  But he's still not at the stage I think we all expected by this point in his career.

It wasn't a good sign when Desjar leap-frogged Gray for the starting spot when he did.

Gray would have to develop into "outstanding" territory before we'd bother to go 4 NAT OL.  No, the guys here are right: we're likely to keep our 2 IMP tackle concept for a long time.  We're so flush with NATs at all positions that why wouldn't we find the "next Bryant/Hardrick" down south when the time comes?

You are right about Gray's best qualities: speed and athleticism.  But he needs more game reps to keep increasing that football IQ.

[TecnoGenius]

EDIT: Today's IR report and comments suggest an achilles injury for Hansen. That's not good. I'm not aware of any injury of that nature that recovers in a short time. Could be the end of his season unfortunately.

Funny you say that as when I watched it on the PVR when I got home I was thinking it sure looked like a non-contact injury even though there was some contact.  He just sort of crumbled.  I was thinking achilles.  But I was wrong about the severity of AH's injury in '21 (it looked similar) so I didn't want to jump the gun.

Achilles injuries aren't as numerous as '21, but I think they are still elevated for '22??  I'm curious to see what the season-end numbers will be.

[Blue In BC]

Funny you say that as when I watched it on the PVR when I got home I was thinking it sure looked like a non-contact injury even though there was some contact.  He just sort of crumbled.  I was thinking achilles.  But I was wrong about the severity of AH's injury in '21 (it looked similar) so I didn't want to jump the gun.

Achilles injuries aren't as numerous as '21, but I think they are still elevated for '22??  I'm curious to see what the season-end numbers will be.

I saw him crumble as well when watching the game. I re-watched the injury a few times on the PVR. Initially I thought it could be an achilles but in review thought he might have just rolled his ankle.

The medical team was checking everything from the calf down through the foot and ankle including the back on the ankle ( achilles area ).  Maybe it was wishful thinking on my part it was a less serious injury than it might be.

The reality is that I don't know anything more than what was posted on the daily IR report. Even that doesn't indicate the severity.

Perhaps we hear something more definitive this week but the team is pretty tight lipped about extent of injuries.

Wishing Hansen well. It could be something that limits his 2023 season potentially.

[DM83]

 I had high hopes for Gray.  and he is still young.
One question:  would you want to run a play over his gap?

Zac rolls out for a reason.  The left side does not do to well.

[LXTSN]

I had high hopes for Gray.  and he is still young.
One question:  would you want to run a play over his gap?

Zac rolls out for a reason.  The left side does not do to well.

I thought he was a really good run blocker, is that incorrect?