Lawler to the slot

[TecnoGenius]

Didn't Lawler previously play slot for us in '19 and '21?  Maybe I'm misremembering, but this rings some bells.

My question is: why are we wasting him out wide at weak side WR?  The weak-side isn't as short as it used to be with the hash changes.  Lawler isn't getting many looks out there, and when he does, he's not making any use of them (drops, whiffs, screwups).  Except for that 200 yard game he's done mostly diddly squat (I know, because I often pick him in fantasy, waiting for him to wake up, but he doesn't).

I know he's a skinny guy who could be creamed in the dangerous crossers from the slot, but it seems to me we could see a lot more of those zone-deconstructions that he was so good at before, and more post routes in the middle.  For whatever reason, Zach's high-angle (horizontally) throws are not as accurate this season, making it even harder to connect with Lawler.  And being skinny high-skill vs a bruiser he's not as good at blocking, and may squawk at being tasked as such.

But something has to be done.  I would move Bailey to weak side wide out WR: didn't he play that a lot for us before?  I know he's a great blocker, but we can bring him in tight for blocking plays, or make use of the fact we often have a TE (OL or Jackson), even on pass plays.

Something has to be done to get Kenny more productive or I'm pretty sure we'll find ways to shed him in the off-season and it will feel like 2023 was a wasted Kenny opportunity (with much of it on Kenny's shoulders).

[Tiger]

We need to throw him the ball period.  On 50/50 balls it is more like 80/20.  L

[Jesse]

I'm pretty sure I saw him line up in many different spots.

[theaardvark]

We need to throw him the ball period.  On 50/50 balls it is more like 80/20.  L

Not sure if it was Collaros or Lawler, but last night it seemed like the 50 50 balls he had no chance on at all, and he was struggling to get open, and even dropped one/had one stripped...

Not sure if he hasn't become the leagues most expensive decoy... which isn't a bad thing.

[Blue In BC]

It wasn't Lawler's best game but he was well covered. IMO it was more of a timing issue with Collaros because of pressure and being off target as a result with his placement. The Argos may have schemed more to taking away Lawler instead of Schoen but that left him and Woli open often. Lawler is more the deepest most dangerous of our receivers but the others are really great at YAC.

Either way OL and or schemes need to provide better protection.

[Blueforlife]

They shut down the deep ball.  We will adjust.

[J5V]

They shut down the deep ball.  We will adjust.

Agree. Lawler was double-teamed most of the night. Throwing into double coverage is rarely a good idea although with Lawler, he is likely to come down with the ball and Zach knows it! LOL!

[TecnoGenius]

I'm pretty sure I saw him line up in many different spots.

I was watching Lawler pretty closely, as I had him in fantasy and I wanted to know where he was lined up most plays.  I didn't see him out of his wide out spot at all except maybe on that sweep (which was brilliant and lots of fun, and never used before).  But I may have missed a couple of plays.

[TecnoGenius]

We need to throw him the ball period.  On 50/50 balls it is more like 80/20.  L

But it's not lately.  His great game was the 2nd BC game week 9, but since then he's been pretty invisible.

week rec attempts
10 2 7
11 2 5
12 2 4
13 2 5
14 4 7 (his only other good game, the BB)
15 3 7
17 3 6 (vs TOR)

He's been whiffing and dropping a lot lately, and losing battles with the coverage.  His week 15 and 17 particularly had him losing out on very (for a top-3 receiver) catchable balls.  Does Mack or Gino make those catches?? ??

Ya, some of it is on Zach and Buck, but when the ball is around Kenny, you expect a completion 80% of the time.

The best hope will be that he's just getting back to speed and will find his mojo for the post season.

[J5V]

But it's not lately.  His great game was the 2nd BC game week 9, but since then he's been pretty invisible.
...
The best hope will be that he's just getting back to speed and will find his mojo for the post season.

He was completely invisible in the first half. I don't remember Zach targeting him at all but if the Argos had him blanketed, which may well be the case, then Zach can't and shouldn't force the ball, hence the production by Woli and Shoen. It was that kind of night. As was mentioned, it was a very Stubler-ish D the argos were playing.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

He was completely invisible in the first half. I don't remember Zach targeting him at all but if the Argos had him blanketed, which may well be the case, then Zach can't and shouldn't force the ball, hence the production by Woli and Shoen. It was that kind of night. As was mentioned, it was a very Stubler-ish D the argos were playing.

Meh, Lawler was a luxury the Bombers probably couldn't afford but signed anyway, he's not Superman and he's having trouble living up to the billing.  Zach trying to redeem his value by throwing long bombs into double coverage is likely to get them both killed. 

This team needs to focus on what actually works and stop pissing around with thinking they can do whatever they want, whenever they want.  They have lost the advantage of being a dominant team and have been surpassed on a number of fronts.  This season they can be considered one of the better teams, but they have shown they can be beat by almost any team, on any given Sunday.

[dd]

We tried to get the ball into Lawler s hands in a variety of ways, but give credit to #28 of the Argos, he was outstanding defensively and often it was only he and Lawler going for the ball and just flat out beat Lawler to the ball.

[Pigskin]

Lawler has had a few sub-par games. We need him to step up in the big games.

However with that said. His year hasn't been terrible. 9 games, 32/58 649 yards, 6 TDs, 20.2 Avg. 64 yards longest.

At the end of the season, Bombers will have to make some decisions. BO20, DS83, and RB88, will all need new contracts. Must sign BO20 and DS83.

His first 2 games back, 7 catches. After that mostly 2 catch games. His two biggest games as far as yardage goes, BC and Sask. at IG.

[TecnoGenius]

However with that said. His year hasn't been terrible. 9 games, 32/58 649 yards, 6 TDs, 20.2 Avg. 64 yards longest.

That's the worst part to me.  Is that he's not catching catchable balls.  Sure, many are contested, but he's paid to win those contests.

I think the key to Lawler is to overthrow him every time if he gets behind coverage.  That way the defender cannot catch up.  It's either Lawler makes a circus diving grab or it falls on the turf (or he draws DPI).  These ones where it's thrown right between the D in his hip pocket and Kenny aren't working.

Then again, we brought in Kenny mostly to be the puzzle piece that was missing in the '22 GC... a clutch guy who could make the tough catches on the biggest stage.  Kenny may still be that guy, and in that regard may still be a huge success this year and worth the money and patience.  If he does in the GC what he did in the TOR game on Fri then he'll be a bust.

[LXTSN]

He has that second gear that he doesn't really get into very often.
Remember in the Hamilton where they called that catch incomplete? He got up the next play, ran a perfect route with purpose and came up wide open in the endzone.
When he plays with anger or vengence he is a force to be reckoned with! Just needs some bulletin board material!
I can see him having a BIG playoffs!