Blue Bombers Transactions - September 24, 2023

[TecnoGenius]

I think one of the reasons they might be sticking with Kramdi is to build more Natl. flexibility on D for the future.  Say Jake, Briggs or Gauthier retires after this season, they would still have the option of starting 2 Natls.

Future smuture.  Need best roster now.

Besides, I don't forsee PR'ing Kramdi, I think he stays dressed for SAM/DB depth and ST.  He's more than good enough for that.

But I think many are coming around to the stark thought that we need a real IMP SAM. (?)  I'm being slowly swayed.

I've lost track about when Gauthier and Darby were moved to the 6 game IR. If they''re practising this week that would suggest they could come off the IR after this week?

From what I saw yesterday, Gauthier, Darby, and Grant will be back soon.

Darby hasn't been gone!  He's been on the AR as depth to Kramdi for weeks now.  He just seems gone because he's getting zero D snaps and only seen doing something useful occasionally on ST.  The Darby situation is a complete mystery.  Goes from coveted acquisition (decently paid vet!) to benched in favor of a NAT??  This is not how CFL teams are run.  Unless he's nursing wounds or completely fallen out of favor.

The same way we did when Darby was starting. The question is what import comes off the roster if we activate Lawrence. The 2nd question would be whether Lawrence would be better than Kramdi, switching from CB. The fact he was starting a CB suggests he can cover receivers.

Well that's easy.  Darby goes IR/PR or apple-route and Lawrence gets his chance at SAM (or shuffle another DB to SAM).  I was really low on Lawrence since he joined, hasn't really shown well at all, but at this point it's worth a try to see if Lawrence > Kramdi > Darby.

Our run-D went up 3-fold when we got Wilson back.  Imagine how much everything would go up if we had  Moe-like SAM again?

[TecnoGenius]

There is a benefit realized by the team that uses Fake Nats the least, is there not?

As long as you're keeping in mind the distinction between 8th NAT/FAKENAT (7+1 rule) and the DNA/DNS rule.  We aren't benefiting squat from DNA/DNS because as far as anyone can tell we don't specify one anymore.

I don't see how we benefit at all from making our +1 in 7+1 a real-NAT.  You make your +1 a FAKENAT / vetIMP, and we have a ton to choose from.  Whether the +1 is a real- or fake-NAT he'd still need to be replaced in-game by a real-NAT, right?  So no difference there.  Pick a guy who never comes out except for a NAT, like Biggie, and call him our +1 and start a real IMP at SAM.  This isn't rocket science Mafia!!

[Blue In BC]

Future smuture.  Need best roster now.

Besides, I don't forsee PR'ing Kramdi, I think he stays dressed for SAM/DB depth and ST.  He's more than good enough for that.

But I think many are coming around to the stark thought that we need a real IMP SAM. (?)  I'm being slowly swayed.

Darby hasn't been gone!  He's been on the AR as depth to Kramdi for weeks now.  He just seems gone because he's getting zero D snaps and only seen doing something useful occasionally on ST.  The Darby situation is a complete mystery.  Goes from coveted acquisition (decently paid vet!) to benched in favor of a NAT??  This is not how CFL teams are run.  Unless he's nursing wounds or completely fallen out of favor.

Well that's easy.  Darby goes IR/PR or apple-route and Lawrence gets his chance at SAM (or shuffle another DB to SAM).  I was really low on Lawrence since he joined, hasn't really shown well at all, but at this point it's worth a try to see if Lawrence > Kramdi > Darby.

Our run-D went up 3-fold when we got Wilson back.  Imagine how much everything would go up if we had  Moe-like SAM again?

? Darby was moved to the 6 game IR weeks ago and we added Parker to the AR after he was injured in pre season.

I agree we won't put Kramdi on the PR. He has earned his spot on the AR although IMO we need to upgrade the starter at SAM.

[theaardvark]

As long as you're keeping in mind the distinction between 8th NAT/FAKENAT (7+1 rule) and the DNA/DNS rule.  We aren't benefiting squat from DNA/DNS because as far as anyone can tell we don't specify one anymore.

I don't see how we benefit at all from making our +1 in 7+1 a real-NAT.  You make your +1 a FAKENAT / vetIMP, and we have a ton to choose from.  Whether the +1 is a real- or fake-NAT he'd still need to be replaced in-game by a real-NAT, right?  So no difference there.  Pick a guy who never comes out except for a NAT, like Biggie, and call him our +1 and start a real IMP at SAM.  This isn't rocket science Mafia!!

The rule is 8 Nats, and you can sub in one fake nat.  And the fewest fake nat snaps gets some sort of advantage next year, I think a draft pick of some sort.

Not even specifying a fake nat, you never use a fake nat snap.  No rule against not specifying a fake nat, jus that you can't use a fake nat if he's not declared.  Just like you don't need to dress 20 Americans, you could dress 19 or 18 if you wanted...

[Sir Blue and Gold]

The rule is 8 Nats, and you can sub in one fake nat.  And the fewest fake nat snaps gets some sort of advantage next year, I think a draft pick of some sort.

Not even specifying a fake nat, you never use a fake nat snap.  No rule against not specifying a fake nat, jus that you can't use a fake nat if he's not declared.  Just like you don't need to dress 20 Americans, you could dress 19 or 18 if you wanted...

...If you wanted to lose.

[theaardvark]

...If you wanted to lose.

Not the point. But thanks for the observation. 

Unless, of course, you are saying we need to take advantage of the "fake nat" to win...

[TecnoGenius]

The rule is 8 Nats, and you can sub in one fake nat.  And the fewest fake nat snaps gets some sort of advantage next year, I think a draft pick of some sort.

You're doing what I warned against: conflating the 7+1 starter rule with the DNA/DNS sub rule.  They are different rules.  The 7+1=8 rule is a starting / ratio rule, and was in place prior to this season.  The DNA/DNS thing that is new this year is nothing but a substitution rule.  It's the DNA/DNS rule that has the vague "extra DP" thing.

There's no benefit to starting a NAT as your +1 in the 7+1=8.  None.  That's why very few teams do it unless they are hampered by IMP injuries.

[Blueforlife]

If you put DL22 at SAM, what do you do with Kramdi?  How do you start 8 Nats to circumvent the fake nat issue? Kramdi is doing just fine at SAM, IMHO

Agree on Kramdi

I think one of the reasons they might be sticking with Kramdi is to build more Natl. flexibility on D for the future.  Say Jake, Briggs or Gauthier retires after this season, they would still have the option of starting 2 Natls. in Kramdi and Lawson.  Unless they get Ford back, there are not many Natls. currently on the roster that could graduate to a starting job on D.  Looking at other rosters this is an area the Bombers have fallen behind, probably due to Hall's preference for Imports and O'Shea's obsession with LB type Natls. that can realistically only contribute on ST's.

I like your thought process.  This organization is great because of its medium to long term vision.  It's what builds dynasties.  One year means nothing.  A decade of dominace is the goal imo.

Future smuture.  Need best roster now.

Besides, I don't forsee PR'ing Kramdi, I think he stays dressed for SAM/DB depth and ST.  He's more than good enough for that.

But I think many are coming around to the stark thought that we need a real IMP SAM. (?)  I'm being slowly swayed.

Darby hasn't been gone!  He's been on the AR as depth to Kramdi for weeks now.  He just seems gone because he's getting zero D snaps and only seen doing something useful occasionally on ST.  The Darby situation is a complete mystery.  Goes from coveted acquisition (decently paid vet!) to benched in favor of a NAT??  This is not how CFL teams are run.  Unless he's nursing wounds or completely fallen out of favor.

Well that's easy.  Darby goes IR/PR or apple-route and Lawrence gets his chance at SAM (or shuffle another DB to SAM).  I was really low on Lawrence since he joined, hasn't really shown well at all, but at this point it's worth a try to see if Lawrence > Kramdi > Darby.

Our run-D went up 3-fold when we got Wilson back.  Imagine how much everything would go up if we had  Moe-like SAM again?

Future is important to me and it appears the organization and some posters would agree.

[Pigskin]

? Darby was moved to the 6 game IR weeks ago and we added Parker to the AR after he was injured in pre season.

I agree we won't put Kramdi on the PR. He has earned his spot on the AR although IMO we need to upgrade the starter at SAM.

Wow. I have been watching Darby at practice for a few weeks now, and he and Gauthier both did a monster workout on Monday. Both are running full out spirits. Darby is also very vocal in practice, really helping out the D.

[TecnoGenius]

Not sure how anyone that follows this team wouldn't know Darby is on the 6 game IR.

At the time, I was going through my depth chart printout pile and saw he was on the AR most of the summer and was still on as of Aug 24, the last game I had a printout for.  I forgot he was switched for Parker shortly after that, but it's an easy thing to forget because he was a non-entity on the AR and thus him being gone changed nothing vis a vis his visibility.  (I have a lot going on right now and it just slipped my mind.)  We never saw a specific play he got injured on, I don't think.  And his IRing seemed more like a "Parker is healthy, find a way to get him on the AR".

My point still stands though that all mid/late summer (when Darby was AR as backup to Kramdi) he was invisible on rare D snaps, and ST.  And if he's not a legit starting IMP he needs to stay IR, go PR, or get cut.  What do you do with the AR if you have Darby, Parker and Lawrence healthy??  If Darby couldn't beat a NAT for SAM then you sit Darby.  The only way this wouldn't hold true is if Darby's suckage has merely been a result of lingering injury and he's really the second coming of Leggett about to be unleashed.

[Blue In BC]

Wow. I have been watching Darby at practice for a few weeks now, and he and Gauthier both did a monster workout on Monday. Both are running full out spirits. Darby is also very vocal in practice, really helping out the D.

Darby has only been off the AR for 3 weeks prior to this week. Gauthier is less clear. He was on the 6 game then came back for 1 game and then back to 6 game IR. So are they working out or actually practising?  Gauthier MIGHT be eligible to actually practice but I don't think Darby would be at this point.

They'd be allowed on the sidelines with their teammates though.

ST's could use Gauthier back when he's healthy even if we take him off as one of the " early " choices. We're down to 4 regular season games so we're down to pulling some one off or not shortly.

Whether Darby's performance was restricted due to lingering injury is not as clear. We're probably past veteran cut down date and I'm not suggesting we should have released him earlier or even now. It's just an interesting question as to what exactly was going on.

[GCn19]

Not the point. But thanks for the observation. 

Unless, of course, you are saying we need to take advantage of the "fake nat" to win...

I think most people would agree that would improve our club. That being said, one depth roster spot isn't going to win/lose games for us. There are bigger issues we need to fix, most of them being between our player's ears coming out soft in games or ending soft. Focus and motivation are our biggest issues.

[Pigskin]

Darby has only been off the AR for 3 weeks prior to this week. Gauthier is less clear. He was on the 6 game then came back for 1 game and then back to 6 game IR. So are they working out or actually practising?  Gauthier MIGHT be eligible to actually practice but I don't think Darby would be at this point.

They'd be allowed on the sidelines with their teammates though.

ST's could use Gauthier back when he's healthy even if we take him off as one of the " early " choices. We're down to 4 regular season games so we're down to pulling some one off or not shortly.

Whether Darby's performance was restricted due to lingering injury is not as clear. We're probably past veteran cut down date and I'm not suggesting we should have released him earlier or even now. It's just an interesting question as to what exactly was going on.

I have clearly said in all my reports, working out. Not practice, just working out.

[Blue In BC]

I have clearly said in all my reports, working out. Not practice, just working out.

You said watching them at practice in your 1st sentence. So obviously it wasn't clear. If you had just said watching them workout that would have been clearer. Practice is both a noun ( location ) and a verb ( activity ).

Regardless, thanks for the update.

[Blue In BC]

It will be interesting to see how well Hansen does tomorrow. His game conditioning and reaction time will take awhile to be up to full speed. However, I think it will be a boost in the teams morale to see him returning. I might expect him to be more prominent on ST's than defence this week.

Glad he's back. Too bad Maruo had to be moved to PR since he played well on ST's.