Blue Bombers Vs Lions WDF Pre-game thread

[Pigskin]

Nice,thanks. Kramdi out there?

He was, but I did not see him practicing.

[TecnoGenius]

Anyone have thoughts on out-of-left-field strategies either team might employ?

I think WPG (Hall/Buck) take this game extremely seriously, as winning this may be harder than the GC.  I expect to see many new wrinkles.  Think like what BC did vs CGY (like that brilliant Pipkin TD pass on 3rd & inches).  No, MOS would never allow that insanity, but I think we throw a lot of creativity at this game.  Plain Jane hard-nosedness might not be enough.  We're not as good a team (especially D/ST) as '19 and (especially) '21.

I'd pull a CGY and switch from our normal M.O., for us this means change pass-heavy O to a run-heavy O.  Like extremely run-heavy.  With many different pieces, not just BO.  Not only does it help in a cold game, but it will confuse BC and keep the ball away from their extremely good DBs.  And it exploits their not-so-hot DL/LB (yes, I mean that!).  Milk that for all it's worth for a couple Q's then drop in some deep killshots when they least expect it.

On D, I would bring tons of pressure.  Rourke is good enough to beat the DBs with accurate passes if he has time and isn't flustered.  We have to keep him nervous.  We really haven't blitzed much all year, and when we have, it's been pretty fruitless.  I think that will be our "fakeout" and we get a ton of pressure, and use a lot of blitz, for this one.  At least if/until it's ineffective.  This exploits a weakened and not great BC OL, and the inexperience of Rourke.

Hall will have to dial up a lot of smoke & mirrors for this one.  I expect a lot of looks that are fakeouts.  I expect Biggie to be roaming everywhere.  I wouldn't be surprised if Biggie gets an INT this game.  Having a better WILL back on the AR, to stop the run, will help Biggie go back to his "normal" role.

On BC, I'd expect more trick plays.  They won't win with just straight up football.  They need the tricks.  Watch the 3rd & whatever for fakes.  Watch those FBs/TEs, those will be the go-tos on tricks.

I expect a not-much-run and lots-of-quick-passes O from BC.  They'll counter our pressure with SSK-style dink & dunk.  Rourke is so quick it'll make defending it tough.  But them driving the field with 10+ plays in the cold will be difficult.  Bend, don't break.  I hope our pressure D plan will make the deep pass very tough.

The more we make Rourke move on that foot, the less capable he'll be.

[ModAdmin]

Sunday Weather...

Low -10, High -4.  Mix of sun and clouds. No precipitation. Wind SE at 12 km/h.

Not bad for mid-November.

[GOLDMEMBER]

Sunday Weather...

Low -10, High -4.  Mix of sun and clouds. No precipitation. Wind SE at 12 km/h.

Not bad for mid-November.

very good!

[Waffler]

No precip Sunday but there could be some snow before then.  If so, who would that favor? Or a non -factor? Both teams are capable of improvising on offense. I have to think Collaros has the better ability to extend plays right now and that would be huge.

[M.O.A.B.]

my guess for the lineup:

QB: COLLAROS (Brown, Prukop)
RB: OLIVEIRA (Agustine, Miller)
REC: BAILEY, SCHOEN, DEMSKI, ELLINGSON, WOLITARSKY (O'leary-Orange)
OL: BRYANT, GRAY, COUTURE (Kolankowski), NEUFELD (Dobson), HARDRICK
      I think if Kolankowski is not good to go then it would be Machino

DL: JEFFERSON, SAYLES (Walker), THOMAS (Lawson), JEFFCOAT (Adams)
LB: GAUTHIER (Briggs, Cadwallader, Clements), BIGHILL (Maruo#), DARBY (Rutledge)
SEC: ROSE, NICHOLS, ALEXANDER (Ni Hallett, No Hallett), PARKER, HOUSTON (Ford)
     I think this depends if Houston is good to go. If not, Parker at corner, Darby at half-back, backed up by Holm and Rutledge at SAM

ST: Grant, Legghio, Benson

[GOLDMEMBER]

my guess for the lineup:

QB: COLLAROS (Brown, Prukop)
RB: OLIVEIRA (Agustine, Miller)
REC: BAILEY, SCHOEN, DEMSKI, ELLINGSON, WOLITARSKY (O'leary-Orange)
OL: BRYANT, GRAY, COUTURE (Kolankowski), NEUFELD (Dobson), HARDRICK
      I think if Kolankowski is not good to go then it would be Machino

DL: JEFFERSON, SAYLES (Walker), THOMAS (Lawson), JEFFCOAT (Adams)
LB: GAUTHIER (Briggs, Cadwallader, Clements), BIGHILL (Maruo#), DARBY (Rutledge)
SEC: ROSE, NICHOLS, ALEXANDER (Ni Hallett, No Hallett), PARKER, HOUSTON (Ford)
     I think this depends if Houston is good to go. If not, Parker at corner, Darby at half-back, backed up by Holm and Rutledge at SAM

ST: Grant, Legghio, Benson

Looks good, real good! Noah Hallet was hurt I thought though?

[M.O.A.B.]

Looks good, real good! Noah Hallet was hurt I thought though?

Thing is no other Cdn DBs on the roster so if Noah H and Kramdi is on the mend. We either put in Lavigne or FB Burtenshaw for ST purposes just to meet the count.

[GOLDMEMBER]

Thing is no other Cdn DBs on the roster so if Noah H and Kramdi is on the mend. We either put in Lavigne or FB Burtenshaw for ST purposes just to meet the count.

ok I did mention Kramdi as he looks like is out.closed practise today right?

[M.O.A.B.]

ok I did mention Kramdi as he looks like is out.closed practise today right?

open today. close tomorrow and closed walkthru on Sat too.

[Blue In BC]

Thing is no other Cdn DBs on the roster so if Noah H and Kramdi is on the mend. We either put in Lavigne or FB Burtenshaw for ST purposes just to meet the count.

Not necessarily as I've eluded to in other posts. In order to get Demski back on the game day roster, he'll take the opening that Noah Hallett creates due to injury.  Obviously that didn't fill the need on ST's but that's the 1 for 1 switch roster wise IMO.

I still think Kolankowski gets on the roster replacing Machino as a 7th OL.  Noting that the 2nd global player effectively takes a Canadian roster spot. We also don't have a deep PR with other Canadians and I think the extra OL would be important than either of those two choices. It's also a better ratio issue if there is an OL injury.

If Kramdi can't play than 1 of the 2 Canadians you mentioned would take his spot on the roster. However neither have much game experience and only 1 ST between them. So they fall into the category of warm Canadian body but not much advantage in adding to the roster at this point.

The question then becomes what do we do to beef up depth at SAM which opens a spot for Rutledge who could also play on ST's.

Potentially adding Holm, Houston and Rutledge will create some shuffling with DI's. Game strategy on defence may decide whether we load up the secondary and SAM as DI's at the expense of Adams on the DL for example. McCrae could be another player moved out.

Considering Rourke is such a quick release passing QB and Butler ( injured to some degree ) their offence might be more pass heavy than close to balanced. So I lean towards the back 5 with DI's than the front 7.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Not necessarily as I've eluded to in other posts. In order to get Demski back on the game day roster, he'll take the opening that Noah Hallett creates due to injury.  Obviously that didn't fill the need on ST's but that's the 1 for 1 switch roster wise IMO.

I still think Kolankowski gets on the roster replacing Machino as a 7th OL.  Noting that the 2nd global player effectively takes a Canadian roster spot. We also don't have a deep PR with other Canadians and I think the extra OL would be important than either of those two choices. It's also a better ratio issue if there is an OL injury.

If Kramdi can't play than 1 of the 2 Canadians you mentioned would take his spot on the roster. However neither have much game experience and only 1 ST between them. So they fall into the category of warm Canadian body but not much advantage in adding to the roster at this point.

The question then becomes what do we do to beef up depth at SAM which opens a spot for Rutledge who could also play on ST's.

Potentially adding Holm, Houston and Rutledge will create some shuffling with DI's. Game strategy on defence may decide whether we load up the secondary and SAM as DI's at the expense of Adams on the DL for example. McCrae could be another player moved out.

Considering Rourke is such a quick release passing QB and Butler ( injured to some degree ) their offence might be more pass heavy than close to balanced. So I lean towards the back 5 with DI's than the front 7.

They can't afford to take out Adams, last season they had Kongbo and Hansen to rotate with the 2 Jeffs, this year it's Adams and Sayles filling in spot duty.  Keeping the D-line fresh and effective is the key to the entire D's success IMO.

[Pete]

I believe They are allowed 4 DI's. Assuming clements starts at LB.  I think they would be:
Adams
Walker
Brown (you are allowed two qbs, if you have a 3rd they replace another import)
Grant
So one of Holms. Houston, Lawrence would start at cb/hb. For another to get in the lineup one of the above would sit.

[Pigskin]

She's nippy out there today. That wind is pretty strong. Glad Sunday the wind should only be around 4 KMPH.

[Blue In BC]

I believe They are allowed 4 DI's. Assuming clements starts at LB.  I think they would be:
Adams
Walker
Brown (you are allowed two qbs, if you have a 3rd they replace another import)
Grant
So one of Holms. Houston, Lawrence would start at cb/hb. For another to get in the lineup one of the above would sit.

QB's are not DI's and we have 3 of them as imports.

Walker, Adams, Cole and McCrae are probably the current DI's.  One of Grant or McCrae may be listed as an extra non starting import to be eligible to come in on offence.

As soon as we add an import starter back at CB ( Houston ), then we have to drop an import. If we choose to add another import like Holm and / or Rutledge then we have to drop other DI's.

I'd like to be able to keep Adams but it comes down to where we most need depth. That could be at SAM due to Kramdi not being able to play.

Blame on the ratio and pick your position. I made the comment that stronger depth in the secondary could be more valuable due to how fast Rourke gets rid of the ball.