Official Game Day Thread - Winnipeg at Edmonton, August 10, 2023

[TecnoGenius]

Bombers start a few games in " slow mode " and I can't explain why that happens. Made for an entertaining game when you still find a way to win.

1. Didn't see Jackson on the field except for ST's.
2. Didn't see Darby at all.
3. McCrae as a returner is not the spark we need and doesn't help field position.

MOS even accused the team of still "sleeping" in his interview at halftime.  Haha, just what we were saying here.  Slow mode indeed.

I didn't see Jackson either, but O got almost no time in 1st half, and we were never in garbage time when the "other guys" would get deployed more.  Have no idea what's up with Darby.  Is he about to get Gaitor'd and Rutledge'd?

McCrae not only didn't fumble last night, he also didn't bobble.  And he made them pay on that one very nice run-up no yards.  I'm still very happy if he just secures it and runs north for a couple.  Y'all need to be careful what you wish for!!  Just secure that ball until Grant is back (what on earth is up with him, anyway?).

[TecnoGenius]

Edmonton went away from the running game that was working so well in the first half. They should have kept running on most first downs to stay away from 2nd and 10's where we blitz.

They tried in H2.  Hall adjusted (finally!) to focus on the run and did more stuffing and run blitzing.  He basically switched to what I told him 3 mins into the game 

Watch the EDM run plays in H2 and you'll see how we stuffed them very effectively.  You are correct that even with the stuffing they should have kept with it and gotten more creative.  I will say that hitch to Swerve on our 11 man run blitz was a genius play call.  I'd love a thread just to talk about this play and how to defend it.

It's funny but on all but 1 pass virtually all of Ford's passing yards were YAC!  If an OC is ever faced with a can't-throw QB they need to study this game, as it's the best all-run/all-YAC O I've ever seen.

[TecnoGenius]

Brady ran hard but so did Demski,

I love watching Demski up the gut.  2-3 games in a row now where he gets significant YAFC being small and slippery in the middle.  I think a lot of D's don't realize he has the ball at first because it's such an unorthodox play to send the lanky guy up the gut (instead of just using as a decoy).  Then they try to grasp him and for whatever reason he's covered in butter.  And he's tough because he always takes a beating in there.

[TecnoGenius]

Agree. I thought the official was reaching back for his flag too but saw it was caught and just gave the touchdown signal instead. Loved how Lawler pointed to his one arm as if to say this is all I need. haha. Maybe it was hot dogging but that catch was spectacular.

A flag should have come out on the amazing one-handed TD catch by Lawler.
The late tackle with the forearm shiver to the head received by Bailey was in clear view but yet no flag! A review by the league and fine should be handed out.

Ridersfans forum thought it was OPI on Lawler, not the other way around.  They said Lawler was using his arm to keep the defender away.  I have not rewatched it yet, and not studied it.  Live I thought it was a clean play both ways, but I was in a euphoria haze 

When was the Bailey hit you mentioned?  I'd like to take a look.

[TecnoGenius]

I like Dru's accuracy last night. Hope that's not just for this game.

I am not sure why so many are surprised at DB6 performance. Anytime DB6 has had the opportunity to play, he has played well. I am sure a few teams will take a run at him in FA.

I don't know. Last year when he came in against Hamilton and lead us to a win, you could see this kid had some talent and had control of the O. 1.5 years late I expected him to go out there and play well and put up points. It was going to be up to the D to stop there O, and give him the chance to bring us back. And, that's what he did.

Yup, Dru has done this before.  He has been lights out coming in on injury relief.  I'm not surprised he showed well at first, I'm surprised he showed well virtually the entire 3Q's of game like he was some Ray or Burris.

But Dru kind of stunk up the 1 or 2 starts he had in garbage-season.  It's always different when teams prepare for you vs coming in in relief.  What we saw here was a great sign, but by no means shows he can succeed as the every-game starter, especially once teams get film.  Not saying he can't do it, in fact I have a hunch he might turn out legit, but we have to be careful extrapolating.  The best thing going for Dru is that he's had this massive success whilst being a traditional pocket passer.  It's the running QBs (Crum, etc) that often start hot then fail when teams wise up.

[TecnoGenius]

Dru Grit

I like it!  But that might be more of a nickname for Dru than a moniker for this game.  We could also have an "Edmonton E..."-something name.  Edmonton Emplosion?  Ya, wrong spelling.  DDD game: "Dru's Deadly to Deer"; ya it's Elk, but hey close enough.

Everyone get their thinking cap on, this game is name-worthy.

[TecnoGenius]

Might want to retract that "fact"... He was playing with the full playbook, didn't see much difference between him and Zac... other than execution and quicker feet.

Ya, I already ate my crow on Dru.  He definitely had >50% of the playbook.  They had all the misdirection and confusion plays in there.  They had answers for zone, man, blitz, whatever.  It looked like 75% of the book we've seen so far (keep in mind much is hidden for later in the season.)

I'm shocked at how well the coaches have Dru up to speed on the playbook.  This shows a level of development we don't always see in a #2.  MOS isn't lying when he often says every guy on the roster can play and there are no #2's.

If this is Dru's contract year I think we need to try hard to keep him rather than start over with a rookie.  We should dangle the carrot of taking over for Zach in 2-4 seasons, as he will retire sometime.

[TecnoGenius]

Rose is blowing it
Where is Willie

I'm only up to halftime on the rewatch, but so far, I hate to say it, this is one of Willie's "taking the day off" games.  He's jogging everywhere even when he's close to the play.  I don't think he had a stat and our entire pass rush was mostly useless, except I think one Jeffcoat play and a good tackle by Fatboi.

Willie is weird and the fans of the other teams he's played for have noticed his "day off" thing.  It's like he already decided to mail it in, don't need to try, whatever.  What I find weird is when he realizes they're losing badly he doesn't flip the switch back on?  Maybe he gets frustrated when he sees there's no play for him to make (all run, all quick pass).  Maybe he still has a soft spot for his mentor Jones? 

Part of that is Ford 97% of the (passing) time got rid of the ball in under 1.5s.  You can't pass rush if there's no pass, and can't if it's all instant hitches and short angles.  That's why I wanted to see Hall adjust to forgetting about pass rush and deploying the troops how they could be useful.

[theaardvark]

I'm only up to halftime on the rewatch, but so far, I hate to say it, this is one of Willie's "taking the day off" games.  He's jogging everywhere even when he's close to the play.  I don't think he had a stat and our entire pass rush was mostly useless, except I think one Jeffcoat play and a good tackle by Fatboi.

Willie is weird and the fans of the other teams he's played for have noticed his "day off" thing.  It's like he already decided to mail it in, don't need to try, whatever.  What I find weird is when he realizes they're losing badly he doesn't flip the switch back on?  Maybe he gets frustrated when he sees there's no play for him to make (all run, all quick pass).  Maybe he still has a soft spot for his mentor Jones? 

Part of that is Ford 97% of the (passing) time got rid of the ball in under 1.5s.  You can't pass rush if there's no pass, and can't if it's all instant hitches and short angles.  That's why I wanted to see Hall adjust to forgetting about pass rush and deploying the troops how they could be useful.

Pretty sure the DL was in "contain" mode most of the time, the fact the DE's were trying t keep Ford inside was a key.  The DT's were the ones getting to him, because he had to stay in the pocket, because the DE's were outside...

[M.O.A.B.]

Going to the stat page of last game, looks like Willie did not appear the stat page. So much for talking like this:

?We know what kind of player he is because he had the offseason to get better, as he should. We know for a fact that he is a running quarterback, he likes to have the ball in his hands, he likes to be in open space, he can make you miss, he?s an RPO (run/pass option) kinda guy and he?s got a tall offensive line so he can?t really see over the offensive line.

?He obviously wants to come in and make a spark for that team. But going against our defence with me, Jackson (Jeffcoat), Bigs (Adam Bighill), BA (Brandon Alexander), the guys in the back end talking to him, trying to make it hard for him? he?s going to have a long game.?

[Bomber Diehard]

On the negative side I think Bighill is starting to show his age.
Too much running down the centre.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

On the negative side I think Bighill is starting to show his age.
Too much running down the centre.

Yeah. It's true. Just a step too slow now. He'll be okay for the rest of the year but I question whether or not he can continue to compensate further speed loss with smarts and playing positionally sound. It's not a position you can hide.

[dd]

Bighill has lost more than a step. Similar to Harris, it?s sad when Father Time pulls you back a step or 2. I d be pursuing sankey hard this off season

[theaardvark]

Bighill has lost more than a step. Similar to Harris, it?s sad when Father Time pulls you back a step or 2. I d be pursuing sankey hard this off season

All the more reason to chase Sankey...

[BBRT]

All the more reason to chase Sankey...

Yeah - I almost did not what to say anything regarding Biggy - I am a long time fan of his both on and off the field. But I do think time has caught up to him (as it does to us all) and he is just a step or two behind on the play or so it seems.

I hope I am wrong but after watching him in a number of games I think he has slowed down just a step or two. Sorry to have to say it!