Elks at Blue Bombers pre-game thread

[Stats Junkie]

I think the Blue Bombers are missing Mike Miller on offence as a fullback. Miller has been a regular part of the offence for several years now and his contributions for the most part go unnoticed because he does a great job.

Miller was often used in pass protection as a FB, as a TE in both single TE & double TD formations. Miller would also be involved in pass patterns from time to time (though rarely targeted) just to mix up tendencies.

Without a fullback, Oliveira seems to be picking up some of the extra pass protection assignments.

The single TE formation has Dobson at TE. The double TE formation has Eli & Dobson at TE. The Bombers have also run a set with Dobson at TE, Eli at LG & Gray at FB. All these formations have a tendency towards a run play.

The challenge you run into with Dobson & Eli in the offence is that the extra O-Linemen have to report as eligible for each play. When they report, it gives the defence a heads up that a run play is the call and they get an extra 10+ seconds to react. With a FB like Miller on offence, he does not have to report which means the defence has to react to where he lines up, possibly creating a mismatch.

[pjrocksmb]

Folks are all presenting some good points about the past and future of our OL.  I would agree with bunker where he suggests that the organization doesn't see our backup OL as an improvement.  People making good points about the familiarity with teams and our schemes.  While continuity is our strength, it also forces us to constants evolve as teams figure us out as they have plenty of film and game experience with what we do.  Big test on Thursday.  We need to blow them away on both lines with a statement game.  I would like to see better protection for Zach and our RB to produce and be consistent.  Good point someone made about the Calgary game.  Feels so good to dominate the LOS like that.  Go Blue. 

To bad about practice

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I think the Blue Bombers are missing Mike Miller on offence as a fullback. Miller has been a regular part of the offence for several years now and his contributions for the most part go unnoticed because he does a great job.

Miller was often used in pass protection as a FB, as a TE in both single TE & double TD formations. Miller would also be involved in pass patterns from time to time (though rarely targeted) just to mix up tendencies.

Without a fullback, Oliveira seems to be picking up some of the extra pass protection assignments.

The single TE formation has Dobson at TE. The double TE formation has Eli & Dobson at TE. The Bombers have also run a set with Dobson at TE, Eli at LG & Gray at FB. All these formations have a tendency towards a run play.

The challenge you run into with Dobson & Eli in the offence is that the extra O-Linemen have to report as eligible for each play. When they report, it gives the defence a heads up that a run play is the call and they get an extra 10+ seconds to react. With a FB like Miller on offence, he does not have to report which means the defence has to react to where he lines up, possibly creating a mismatch.

When was Mike Miller injured and how can it be 6 games into the season and we still have no clue what ails him?

[Blue In BC]

When was Mike Miller injured and how can it be 6 games into the season and we still have no clue what ails him?

Injured in TC. We have no clue on most injuries and the daily IR report seems to always show " questionable " for most players even though most dress that week.

Technically he's eligible to come off but if he wasn't practising last week I suspect he won't be this week. In theory he gets extended on 6 game IR.

[bunker]

Biking to the game Thursday. Friend says he prefers to just lock his bike to a rack outside IGF, that valet takes too long. Any experience with this. Is just locking up outside safe? Does bike valet really take that long after the game?

[Stretch]

Biking to the game Thursday. Friend says he prefers to just lock his bike to a rack outside IGF, that valet takes too long. Any experience with this. Is just locking up outside safe? Does bike valet really take that long after the game?

Anytime I've biked I've used the valet. The wait can be a little long especially if you take your time getting to it after the game is over but I don't know if I'd call it "too long" - they move you through pretty good. A lot of people lock their bikes to the fences and railings in that vicinity as well.

[bunker]

Folks are all presenting some good points about the past and future of our OL.  I would agree with bunker where he suggests that the organization doesn't see our backup OL as an improvement.  People making good points about the familiarity with teams and our schemes.  While continuity is our strength, it also forces us to constants evolve as teams figure us out as they have plenty of film and game experience with what we do.  Big test on Thursday.  We need to blow them away on both lines with a statement game.  I would like to see better protection for Zach and our RB to produce and be consistent.  Good point someone made about the Calgary game.  Feels so good to dominate the LOS like that.  Go Blue. 

To bad about practice

For anyone interested, this is PFF's rating of the CFL o-line performance up to prior to our Ottawa game. I was skeptical of some of their numbers at first, but if you look at their methodology on their website, it seems pretty reasonable. Winnipeg's O line ranked second in the league, with Hardrick the best of our starters overall at about 70, and Grey lagging at 26.7 on pass blocking, ranking 23rd of 25 guards.

https://www.pff.com/news/cfl-week-5-offensive-line-rankings-montreal-alouettes-shoot-up-the-board

[bunker]

Just noticed Kolankowski is top rated centre on week 6 also.
https://www.pff.com/news/cfl-week-6-pff-team-of-the-week-player-awards
For those skeptical, I understand.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Just noticed Kolankowski is top rated centre on week 6 also.
https://www.pff.com/news/cfl-week-6-pff-team-of-the-week-player-awards
For those skeptical, I understand.

CB: Abu Daramy-Swaray, Winnipeg Blue Bombers is right there again.

[drahgon]

Biking to the game Thursday. Friend says he prefers to just lock his bike to a rack outside IGF, that valet takes too long. Any experience with this. Is just locking up outside safe? Does bike valet really take that long after the game?

I've done both (bike valet and locked at the bike racks) and yes, if you dawdle after the game the lineup to retrieve can be a bit long. Also, depending on your seat location, you might have to walk all the way through or around the the stadium to get back to valet area whereas you could strategically pick the bike rack closest to your exit. I like the valet for security and ability to leave my helmet/bag/etc. with my bike and not having to carry that stuff around at the game.

[M.O.A.B.]

Agudosi, Kelly and Burtenshaw are all moved to PR.

Kelly on PR must mean Kramdi will go back to the lineup.

[Blue In BC]

Agudosi, Kelly and Burtenshaw are all moved to PR.

Kelly on PR must mean Kramdi will go back to the lineup.

Sounds that way. I think Agudosi has fallen out of favour a bit. Not enough impact when he was on the roster and how it fits our offence.

[GOLDMEMBER]

Sounds that way. I think Agudosi has fallen out of favour a bit. Not enough impact when he was on the roster and how it fits our offence.

Indeed. Where has that magic gone from that 1 gamer last week? 1 game fluke I guess. Disappointing he has been.

[Lincoln Locomotive]

Indeed. Where has that magic gone from that 1 gamer last week? 1 game fluke I guess. Disappointing he has been.

Based on his small sample size last year...I had expectations however being injured immediate after and for as long as he was off.....it's difficult to know what he might have been had he not been injured immediate after.    Didn't hear much from him against Ottawa....did he even catch a pass?    McCrae didn't have a good game either.....our O was just a bit off all around.   Quite a downer for him cracking the lineup from TC and now being relegated to the PR!

[dd]

Just noticed Kolankowski is top rated centre on week 6 also.
https://www.pff.com/news/cfl-week-6-pff-team-of-the-week-player-awards
For those skeptical, I understand.

wow, that's not much of a statement for the other centres around the league. He and Gray are our weak links on the O line