Biggest surprises 2022

[bwiser]

What do you think was the biggest surprises with the Bombers and what do you think were the biggest surprises in the CFL?
I think the biggest surprise as far as the Bombers go was how well the receiving core played. The Bombers lose Adams and Lawler from their receiving core and Ellingson misses almost half the season and the receiving core is stronger this season.
I think the biggest surprise in the CFL was the collapse of the Riders. The Riders were in the Western Final in back to back years and are now arguably the worst team in the league.

[The Zipp]

Rourke is probably the biggest CFL surprise/story.

I expected a bit more from Edmonton, Ottawa and Sask

[TecnoGenius]

In the pre-season I predicted SSK would be mediocre.  The surprise even for me is that they ended up being basically worst in the West.  Yes, worst, because if starting today there were 3 weeks of EDM vs SSK I think EDM wins them all.

I'm also surprised at how OTT managed to move backwards this year.  From zero to negative one.

Yes, Rourke is the biggest shock league-wide.

WPG surprise?  BO20 being as effective as he's become.  Credit for that.  Another surprise is losing like a third of our starters on D and O and still being #1.  That's really amazing.

[Pigskin]

DS83. The kid came out of nowhere and is lighting it up. When you watched this kid in TC he looked like he had skills. But man, this kid has been nothing but amazing. 

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Biggest surprises for me:

- Dalton Schoen leading the league in receiving yards and TDs
- Paul LaPolice completely failing as a head coach (again)
- Nathan Rourke emerging as a generational talent destined for the NFL
- Hamilton's regression to one of the league's worst teams
- Winston Rose struggling nightly (hard to believe he's only 12 months removed from an NFL roster)

[Lincoln Locomotive]

Being 14-2 and clinching first place with all our injuries....Dalton Schoen has been a very special player from day one....Nic Demski is so underrated yet so irreplaceable and makes our offence multi-faceted.....Brady Olivera helping us get over losing Harris....he has a good set of hands too.....Legghio recovering from that botched FG against the Als and playing near perfect since plus making 2 key tackles and avoiding what looked like a sure blocked punt.....our D as maligned as it's been has still given up the fewest points in the CFL!    Also having 3 QBs that can get the job done....and having Zach leading the league as MOP and staying upright all season!!

The biggest surprises other than from the Bombers were:  Rourkes phenomenal  play of course....Jake Maier bumping BLM to backup QB although you could kinda see it coming.....Derek Taylor replacing the irreplaceable Bob Irving and doing well (I follow all Bomber games on OB).....just how bad the Riders and the Red Blacks turned out....

There have been many surprises and the biggest for me was thinking early in the season that our offence would not be as as strong as last season.....and here we are!!  Boy was I wrong and I'm happy to admit it!

[dd]

Biggest surprise league wide is Nathan Rourke, hands down.

Biggest surprise locally is dalton shoen, the guys been a gift from above.

[GOLDMEMBER]

Rourke and Schoen are the 2 massive huge surprises.

To me not much else, team or player performance, have been at all surprising to me.

I thought Hamilton would regress they have. I thought Lapo Redblacks would still be terrible and they are. I thought the Riders would suck mainly due to weak OL and they sure as heck do. East mediocre yup I thought that as well.

[TecnoGenius]

I thought Hamilton would regress they have. I thought Lapo Redblacks would still be terrible and they are. I thought the Riders would suck mainly due to weak OL and they sure as heck do. East mediocre yup I thought that as well.

Riders forums had an interesting post that may be true.  Dude said that SSK was only good because of C.Jones and CD came in to ride out the coattails.   That's why after '19 they have regressed every year.

Same theory with HAM: good only because of J.Jones, then OS comes in and they regress every year.

In other words, the previous coaches set up a winning team and leave, then the inheritors get 1 great year and then regress as the previous picks/players/coaches move away from the team.

Not my theory, but does explain SSK/HAM going from top-3 to dumpster over the last few years.

[BLUEBOMBER]

For me the biggest surprises was Schoen, Rourke, Sask and Ham being so bad, BLM benching and also the win streak the Bombers had.

[ichabod_crane]

I would add in how Leggio has solidified into a good kicker this season. No more whining about the kicking game thankfully.

Bradley Olivera has also continued to improve all year. Trevor who? Bombers made right choice there

[M.O.A.B.]

CFL biggest surprise - Rouke
Bombers biggest surprise - Dalton "End"-Schoen

[GCn19]

Riders forums had an interesting post that may be true.  Dude said that SSK was only good because of C.Jones and CD came in to ride out the coattails.   That's why after '19 they have regressed every year.

Same theory with HAM: good only because of J.Jones, then OS comes in and they regress every year.

In other words, the previous coaches set up a winning team and leave, then the inheritors get 1 great year and then regress as the previous picks/players/coaches move away from the team.

Not my theory, but does explain SSK/HAM going from top-3 to dumpster over the last few years.

I agree somewhat with this take on the Riders as Chris Jones filled that locker room with attitude but is very good at managing those types of players. CD simply could never get his locker room under control and couldn't win with essentially the team he inherited.

I disagree, actually pretty vehemently, with that assessment of Hamilton. June Jones didn't do all that much in Hamilton and really didn't build that much nor did the team really have much success under him. They went back to back Grey Cup appearances under Steinhauer. That's a performance that exceeded his predecessor. The rebuild in Saskatchewan was actually done by Chris Jones as GM/HC the building of Hamilton was not done by J.Jones..he was there for a cup of coffee really.

[blue_gold_84]

CFL: Nathan Rourke's emergence as a top tier QB. And a Canadian, no less.

Blue Bombers: Dalton Schoen. What a stud.

[Sec227]

Best Surprise...The fans came back, in DROVES, this season. Made Home Field advantage the real deal. Who would of thought 5 or so years ago. Bomber games would be the "must go to event" of the week! Great to see, and even better for the club.