Elks at Blue Bombers pre-game thread

[dd]

Yup he seems to be in proper position nearly all the time.

He is a gamer for sure. I think he ll be our candidate for rookie of the year and may win it for the league

[Lincoln Locomotive]

They enter the line up when 100% ready and they rotate if possible but that might be difficult.  Need game action agree.

I have faith in our current OL.  Yes had some weak games and giving up sacks.

Disagree about BO.  He is having a good year minus last game.

Yes protect Zach but a player with less experience could also leave him venerable.  Tweak the system to protect him and give the OL a few more games imo.

I think you mean vulnerable.....it got me because i had this line in a play I acted in last fall.....the line was "you look so beautiful when you're venerable"....the response from my co-actor was "vulnerable" to which I responded "I meant vulnerable".   Sorry, couldn't let that one slip by

[pjrocksmb]

Eli and Dobson are not rookies and they have experience plus they are younger. So your argument for less experience doesn't hold.

They have less experience than our starters and have the possibility of getting burnt because of that fact.  The OL plays as a unit, its the backbone of the club.  You can't just plug and play pieces without possible issues.  We have the luxury of some decent backups but my money is still on the old guard. They are still our best bet imo.  Takes a lot of time and a special talent to start at OL in this league.  Yes a more youthful OL has some advantages but also has some drawbacks that I believe are being understated here.

the issue with our OL isn?t inexperience or coaching. It?s age. it?s an old line and age catches up to everyone eventually. sure they might be able to put a good game or two together but it?s concerning how gassed they already appear not even halfway into the season

Age is one factor but not the only one. It's the schemes, matchups, in game adjustments, etc. that impact the play of the unit.  Yes they are an older group but there is more to the story than just that.  Too early to pull the plug imo.  Seen this story before when BO 1st broke out.  He and OL struggled.  Now this time around its more just the OL that needs to step up.  I think they will find their way.

I agree the OL needs work but I also have been impressed with their play at times.  The good games or stretches of good play gives me hope.

I think you mean vulnerable.....it got me because i had this line in a play I acted in last fall.....the line was "you look so beautiful when you're venerable"....the response from my co-actor was "vulnerable" to which I responded "I meant vulnerable".   Sorry, couldn't let that one slip by

Yup thanks for the correction

Agree about Holm.  He won't sit. He is our future. 

[M.O.A.B.]

We have the same coaches so I dont think there's a significant changes from last year to this year, scheme-wise.
I honestly think, it's a case of body cant keep up with what the brain wants to do.
BC has given the other teams the blue-print to beat the Bombers OL - speed because our OL will not able to keep up for so long.

[pjrocksmb]

We have the same coaches so I dont think there's a significant changes from last year to this year, scheme-wise.
I honestly think, it's a case of body cant keep up with what the brain wants to do.
BC has given the other teams the blue-print to beat the Bombers OL - speed because our OL will not able to keep up for so long.

Speed kills can argue with that.  But maybe we can find a way to slow em down.  We shall see!

[bunker]

They have less experience than our starters and have the possibility of getting burnt because of that fact.  The OL plays as a unit, its the backbone of the club.  You can't just plug and play pieces without possible issues.  We have the luxury of some decent backups but my money is still on the old guard. They are still our best bet imo.  Takes a lot of time a

Age is one factor but not the only one. It's the schemes, matchups, in game adjustments, etc. that impact the play of the unit.  Yes they are an older group but there is more to the story than just that.  Too early to pull the plug imo.  Seen this story before when BO 1st broke out.  He and OL struggled.  Now this time around its more just the OL that needs to step up.  I think they will find their way.

I agree the OL needs work but I also have been impressed with their play at times.  The good games or stretches of good play gives me hope.
Yup thanks for the correction

Age and experience is a factor, but talent is just as important. Desjarlais was starting in year one, and playing at a very high level. Other O-lineman that started and played well early in their careers for us...Goosen, Chung, Couture all come to mind.

My bet is that if Eli and Dobson are not starting, its because the coaches don't think they are an improvement over what we've got. Neufeld was actually names an all star last year by his peers in the CFL PA (as was Hardrick and Bryant) so its hard to believe they've gone from all stars to terrible in 6 months. They really have not looked good against either BC or Hamilton. But they dominated Calgary's O-line in the 4th quarter running the ball. I can see the logic in giving them and the coaches time to figure things out, but they don't seem as dominant as last year for whatever reason, and that's really costing us games right now, and putting Zach at risk of injury.

[Waffler]

Neufeld was actually names an all star last year by his peers in the CFL PA (as was Hardrick and Bryant) so its hard to believe they've gone from all stars to terrible in 6 months.

To me what happens with an older player is that he has still has games where he looks as good as ever but those become fewer. That's what I see now. The sack against stats don't lie. We are in the bottom 3rd. After what happened to QB's the last couple weeks, I worry Zach is going to land "wrong" one day. Used to be he had a clean jersey pretty well the whole game.

[Lincoln Locomotive]

To me what happens with an older player is that he has still has games where he looks as good as ever but those become fewer. That's what I see now. The sack against stats don't lie. We are in the bottom 3rd. After what happened to QB's the last couple weeks, I worry Zach is going to land "wrong" one day. Used to be he had a clean jersey pretty well the whole game.

Agreed....the forces of time and gravity are irrefutable and in the end wear players down....if we struggle against the Elks D which is actually pretty good....then that will spell trouble on the horizon.   They need to get their mojo back entering the bye and mentally prepare to take on the Lions who are going to try and prove that the first game wasn't just an anomaly.    These next two games will be pivotal and if we win both back to back home games we will be back on top of the standings.    Losing one or both games really isn't an option if we want home field advantage in the Western Final.   

[Jesse]

They have less experience than our starters and have the possibility of getting burnt because of that fact.  The OL plays as a unit, its the backbone of the club.  You can't just plug and play pieces without possible issues.  We have the luxury of some decent backups but my money is still on the old guard. They are still our best bet imo.  Takes a lot of time and a special talent to start at OL in this league.  Yes a more youthful OL has some advantages but also has some drawbacks that I believe are being understated here.Age is one factor but not the only one. It's the schemes, matchups, in game adjustments, etc. that impact the play of the unit.  Yes they are an older group but there is more to the story than just that.  Too early to pull the plug imo.  Seen this story before when BO 1st broke out.  He and OL struggled.  Now this time around its more just the OL that needs to step up.  I think they will find their way.

I agree the OL needs work but I also have been impressed with their play at times.  The good games or stretches of good play gives me hope.
Yup thanks for the correction

Agree about Holm.  He won't sit. He is our future. 

Remembering that Kolankowski isn't this all-star vet at the end of a long career. He was a guy sitting on the street who only got in because Couture got hurt.

I think the time is soon coming when the guy we drafted to be our centre gets slotted in.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Bombers release WR Jones and DB Muhammad, I guess the later got tired of waiting for an opportunity to play, he was definitely good enough to contribute, just not enough openings.

[Jesse]

Bombers release WR Jones and DB Muhammad, I guess the later got tired of waiting for an opportunity to play, he was definitely good enough to contribute, just not enough openings.

We have Lawler coming back and a couple DBs coming off the 6-game.

Their insurance policies were no longer needed.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Agreed....the forces of time and gravity are irrefutable and in the end wear players down....if we struggle against the Elks D which is actually pretty good....then that will spell trouble on the horizon.   They need to get their mojo back entering the bye and mentally prepare to take on the Lions who are going to try and prove that the first game wasn't just an anomaly.    These next two games will be pivotal and if we win both back to back home games we will be back on top of the standings.    Losing one or both games really isn't an option if we want home field advantage in the Western Final.   

Have to agree, the tide has changed and the team has to start thinking about pushing certain players towards the exits, whether they want to go or not.  The change is sometimes imperceptible, except after awhile it keeps recurring every few games, smart coaches act on these warning signs early.

Another issue is that DC's are now very familiar with Buck's offence and Zach's tendencies, if they have the personnel and the discipline to adjust to those tendencies properly it's not that difficult to disrupt them.  Playbooks have to evolve continually adding in new wrinkles when old wrinkles become less effective.

[LXTSN]

Have to agree, the tide has changed and the team has to start thinking about pushing certain players towards the exits, whether they want to go or not.  The change is sometimes imperceptible, except after awhile it keeps recurring every few games, smart coaches act on these warning signs early.

Another issue is that DC's are now very familiar with Buck's offence and Zach's tendencies, if they have the personnel and the discipline to adjust to those tendencies properly it's not that difficult to disrupt them.  Playbooks have to evolve continually adding in new wrinkles when old wrinkles become less effective.

The offence we watch looks very familiar to years past, and that can be an issue when teams start to catch on. It seems like our offence is best when there is a lot of motion in the backfield to keep the LB's from playing too tight.

One thing that I've noticed is Zach's mobility. We used to constantly see him dodge the DL blitzing and rip off a long throw to Schoen and Lawler breaking off a route. It feels like almost a sure sack right now if the DL get's through...

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

The offence we watch looks very familiar to years past, and that can be an issue when teams start to catch on. It seems like our offence is best when there is a lot of motion in the backfield to keep the LB's from playing too tight.

One thing that I've noticed is Zach's mobility. We used to constantly see him dodge the DL blitzing and rip off a long throw to Schoen and Lawler breaking off a route. It feels like almost a sure sack right now if the DL get's through...

Yah, I think some teams are able to contain Zach within the pocket, which gives him less time to make a good decision or a good throw.

[Pigskin]

Was going to head down to practice today, but our BB border said it was a closed practice. To bad, would have been interesting to see who is on the field today taking #1 reps.