Rider at Blue Bombers pre game thread

[Pigskin]

I am expecting both Wilcots to start on Friday, backed up by Massie. Can't go out there with just two DE's.

[TecnoGenius]

Techno,
Although you have not directly said it, I see for the firs time? this season, you are expressing concerns of a serious nature.  Some posters, may say all will be fine, but based on the lack of play making....... our defence sucks.  You are right, If I am Sask I am running the entire game.  The front seven have been  on a downword slide for a few games now.  Point being we are not going to win a play-off game with this shoddy performance.

Hey, that's sharp of you to notice.  Ya, I'm more often the PJ rah-rah type around here.  But when your team gets 48 put up on you by a heretofore garbage East team and you can't make a stop with 9 mins left to save your life... you have to start looking at why.  I took the cue from many other posters who saw it before I did.  They were right.  And it's not the DBs per se... it's those front 7...

There is a chance we're too negative and the guys just needed their bye as they were all gassed.  Maybe.  The next game will answer that question.  We'll all be happier if we put up 48 on SSK whilst they get 3.  But just being able to stop drives will be a big win for our D.

We still have one of the best teams in a long time, and are still better than basically every team.  But we're not '19 or '21 Bombers, so we are all starting to notice the cracks as we may have peaked and are on the downward slope.  The hope is it won't be too obvious until after a deep playoff run.

But I'm now on board with the idea that come '23 we'll be seeing a lot of new faces at DL/LB and more than a couple retirements/releases.  I'm sure KW's already on it.  I just hope we handle the vets and faves with style.

In any event, even if we our D plays like hot garbage we should win vs the completely hopeless Greenies this week.

[Blue In BC]

I am expecting both Wilcots to start on Friday, backed up by Massie. Can't go out there with just two DE's.

If Jeffcoat comes out then Wilcots makes sense. Which other DI would you take out to put Massie in? Cooper would seem to be the odd man out. I only base that on the fact Cole has been on the roster much longer.

[M.O.A.B.]

With Riders' seemingly not having Morrow or Hickson for this game, I can see the Bombers sitting Walker in favor of Wilcots. If Jeffcoat is nicked then Massie will draw to the lineup.
I think we will use a heavy rotation of DE's with Jefferson, Wilcots, Cooper and Massie to get to Fajardo. Probably, that's the only changes we will see this week.

I expect Bryant to play.

[Jesse]

With Riders' seemingly not having Morrow or Hickson for this game, I can see the Bombers sitting Walker in favor of Wilcots. If Jeffcoat is nicked then Massie will draw to the lineup.
I think we will use a heavy rotation of DE's with Jefferson, Wilcots, Cooper and Massie to get to Fajardo. Probably, that's the only changes we will see this week.

I expect Bryant to play.

As long as we're doing this, I'll be happy. Been keeping the Jeff's on the field far too much.

[DM83]

Well we  have had a few great years around the old ballyard these past few years.  Thanks Bombers.

But now in 2022, its a whole new season.  Teams have been surprised by their lousy QB play.  Except the Bombers.  Never before in my 65 years have I seen tree QBs I would pay to watch ply (and I am  with those pinnacle lounge no amenities seats.. Man service  must have plumetted 200% since the stadium opened.)

However, I fear its time to start re-tooling. Ya can't make the club from the tub.  It seems like our talented roster is all nicked up.  Kudos to everyone for fighting through it.  I think we are seeing the slow decline beginning.

Defensively since the first bye, what are we 1-2, and its the way we lose, is concerning.
Defensively we are not competitive.

Bighill?is he still playing?
Rose what happened to him? He  can't cover anyone
Outside LBs, oye vey?  really bad.
D Line  Willie seems to be taking the year off, not much determination getting to the QB, Thomas  his usual self, Jefferson would still be the best if he wasn't injured.  The other American defensive tackle... what's his name?  I will assume he is a run stopper, gap control, blocker eating guy, taking 2 o linemen to control him, thereby freeing up the ends.??

Defenses called.  Well we don't blitz  because traditionally  that equates to man coverage.  So that means a  zone defence, to not expose the DBs.  So what does Hall do?

If it's me, I am re-installing a zone blitz.  Almost 1/2 of the QBs can not read coverages. Fajardo, Adams, Arbuckle, Hamilton's guy,
But everyone has  players out with injury, so as we say, the real season starts after Labor Day.  As already noted Bombers are 1-2, and with the  Hamilton game Ritchie Hall has to be feeling a huge change in Lack of effort by the front seven......zero sacks.  When is the last time that happened.

Defending Fajardo is easy.
1.) if his first read is covered he is dead.
2.) contain to his right, he is good on the roll right plays
3.) He's got the best weakside spin move in the world.  Put a spy (which would be an agile guy)
4.) He has surprisingly lousy accuracy on deep balls
5.) That leaves crossing patterns short, and the run game.

Take it away, and voila 48-0 Bombers.  If not we could see them be successful.

[Blue In BC]

With Riders' seemingly not having Morrow or Hickson for this game, I can see the Bombers sitting Walker in favor of Wilcots. If Jeffcoat is nicked then Massie will draw to the lineup.
I think we will use a heavy rotation of DE's with Jefferson, Wilcots, Cooper and Massie to get to Fajardo. Probably, that's the only changes we will see this week.

I expect Bryant to play.

Has Cooper actually had any reps on defence? He has no stats and I haven't noticed him on the field except for ST's. In that sense I don't see Walker coming off in order to keep him on the roster.

In theory Cooper should have the size and skills to rotate in at DE. If we don't plan on having him do that, then Walker shouldn't be bumped. Even with a lesser run game from the Riders we need to collapse the pocket with an inside rush as well as from the outside.

Against the Ti Cats we did neither. We gave 10 yard cushions to receivers as well and that's a formula for failure.

Note that I'm not particularly impressed with Walker but at least he's getting some reps on defence.

[Blue In BC]

Rhetorical question: We have a bunch of players that have been on the 1 game IR for some time. None seem to be practising or even expected to be back for more considerable time, possibly not in 2022.

Why weren't those players placed on the 6 game IR? Other teams are adding players to the 6 game IR. Teams can, have and will have players off 6 game IR early before the end of the season.

So what's the deal?  Is this good financial management of SMS? Is there an expectation that Hansen or Taylor could be back before the end of the season?

I can see Woli back soon in theory. I'm not sure why Clements will miss his 5th game this week if his injury indicated a 6 game IR stint?

So much for transparency about injuries and the daily IR report.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Rhetorical question: We have a bunch of players that have been on the 1 game IR for some time. None seem to be practising or even expected to be back for more considerable time, possibly not in 2022.

Why weren't those players placed on the 6 game IR? Other teams are adding players to the 6 game IR. Teams can, have and will have players off 6 game IR early before the end of the season.

So what's the deal?  Is this good financial management of SMS? Is there an expectation that Hansen or Taylor could be back before the end of the season?

I can see Woli back soon in theory. I'm not sure why Clements will miss his 5th game this week if his injury indicated a 6 game IR stint?

So much for transparency about injuries and the daily IR report.

What is not transparent about it? If they went to the 6-game they would have no possibility to practice and no updates at all. Since they are on the one game we can at least see if they practice or not. As for your question about whether it is good financial management I think I'll give Walters the benefit of the doubt as he has significantly more data than we do on all of these players.

[Pigskin]

With Riders' seemingly not having Morrow or Hickson for this game, I can see the Bombers sitting Walker in favor of Wilcots. If Jeffcoat is nicked then Massie will draw to the lineup.
I think we will use a heavy rotation of DE's with Jefferson, Wilcots, Cooper and Massie to get to Fajardo. Probably, that's the only changes we will see this week.

I expect Bryant to play.

I agree. Bryant will play. Also, we have to have three DE's in the games. If Hassell or Cooper have to come out, so be it. Cooper at 223lb. is not a DE. he's more LB but bombers have him list as a DB.

[LXTSN]

Has Cooper actually had any reps on defence? He has no stats and I haven't noticed him on the field except for ST's. In that sense I don't see Walker coming off in order to keep him on the roster.

In theory Cooper should have the size and skills to rotate in at DE. If we don't plan on having him do that, then Walker shouldn't be bumped. Even with a lesser run game from the Riders we need to collapse the pocket with an inside rush as well as from the outside.

Against the Ti Cats we did neither. We gave 10 yard cushions to receivers as well and that's a formula for failure.

Note that I'm not particularly impressed with Walker but at least he's getting some reps on defence.

I haven't really seen him at DE at all. If he has actually played a snap or 2, I missed it.
Bombers are at their best when they are able to sub in and out on the D-line. The OL has to stay in all game, but if the DL can keep fresh, that's a huge advantage!

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I haven't really seen him at DE at all. If he has actually played a snap or 2, I missed it.
Bombers are at their best when they are able to sub in and out on the D-line. The OL has to stay in all game, but if the DL can keep fresh, that's a huge advantage!

I believe it's the key to the Richie Hall's defence, if they sustain a strong rush fewer flaws in the secondary are exposed.

[Blue In BC]

What is not transparent about it? If they went to the 6-game they would have no possibility to practice and no updates at all. Since they are on the one game we can at least see if they practice or not. As for your question about whether it is good financial management I think I'll give Walters the benefit of the doubt as he has significantly more data than we do on all of these players.

Every week nearly every player is listed as DNP or questionable to play on Bomber daily IR report. That would make sense for a player on the 6 game IR but not as much as a player on the 1 game IR for the 5th straight week ( Clements ).  Where or what are the " updates " you mention??? The only possible update is when the new depth chart is posted before the game. Aside from that we have no idea what changes might happen.

Miller has been DNP and questionable nearly all year and yet he plays every week.

I mentioned Taylor who we believe is lost for the season. He's not practising so why isn't he on the 6 game IR?

This seems transparent to you? Walters obviously has more data than us but that's the point of transparency.

Other teams have players seriously injured: Hickson, Burnham and Dennis last week. Those teams immediately announce surgery required, probably done for the season and placed on 6 game IR a few days after their last game. That's transparent

[Horseman]

With both Rider RB's out, I would expect to see Kienan LaFrance carrying the rock for the Riders.

[Blue In BC]

With both Rider RB's out, I would expect to see Kienan LaFrance carrying the rock for the Riders.

12 carries from 2019 to date and only 3 carries in 2022. He should have the white flag available early.