Bomber Coaching Changes

[bwiser]

Jordan Younger is the new defensive coordinator and Richie Hall will remain as a consultant. I guess Hall is easing his workload and is helping in the transition. Mike Miller is the new special teams coordinator. The greatest special teams player of all time will get the opportunity to be the best special teams coordinator of all time.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

BLUE BOMBERS ANNOUNCE COACHING STAFF CHANGES

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has named Jordan Younger as Defensive Coordinator and Mike Miller as Special Teams Coordinator, the latter replacing Paul Boudreau whose contract was not renewed by the club. Richie Hall remains on the defensive coaching staff.

Younger returns to the Blue Bombers for a sixth season in 2024 and his first as the Defensive Coordinator after previously serving as the Defensive Backs Coach. Winnipeg?s secondary has been a force under Younger?s watch, ranking first in passing yardage allowed per game (229.4 yards) and opponent completion percentage against (59.7) in 2023.

Over the last three seasons, the Blue Bombers have finished first or tied for first in passing yards allowed per game, allowing just 216.4 in 2021, tying with the B.C. Lions at 253 in 2022 and then dropping that number to last season?s 229.4. During Younger?s tenure, the Blue Bombers have had two players lead the league in interceptions in Houston (2023) and Winston Rose (2019) while the club has developed Deatrick Nichols, Evan Holm, Houston, Rose, Brandon Alexander, Dee Alford, Taylor Loffler and Marcus Sayles into all-stars.

Younger came to the Blue Bombers in 2018 after working as the defensive backs coach with the Toronto Argonauts (2015-16) and previously with the Ontario Football Conference?s Oakville Titans and the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.

Hall will remain in the organization, working with the defensive staff, and 2024 will mark his ninth season as a member of the Blue Bombers coaching staff.

Hall?s association with the league dates back to the beginnings of his playing career with the Calgary Stampeders in 1983 and then with the Saskatchewan Roughriders from 1988-91. His first coaching job in the CFL was with Saskatchewan in 1994 and he remained on staff there as defensive backs coach (1994-2000) before serving as the defensive coordinator from 2001-08.

He was the head coach in Edmonton from 2009-10 before returning to Saskatchewan as the defensive coordinator from 2011-14. Hall is a five-time Grey Cup champion, winning as a player with Saskatchewan in 1989, as a Riders assistant in 2007 and 2013 and with the Blue Bombers in 2019 and 2021.

?JY (Younger) has been an intelligent, creative and passionate leader for many years, and this transition is something that we had discussed a couple of years back,? said Head Coach Mike O?Shea. ?Having Richie remain with the organization and provide his decades of experience is something we are all very grateful for.?

Miller moves directly from the playing ranks to coaching after spending the 2023 season working with the specialists in a non-playing role. The CFL?s all-time leader in special teams tackles with 226, Miller missed the entire 2023 season after suffering an injury in training camp. An undrafted prospect out of Acadia University, Miller began his playing career in Edmonton in 2011. In his more than six seasons in Alberta, he established himself as a superb contributor on special teams, further building on that reputation after joining the Blue Bombers in 2017. Blue Bombers President and CEO Wade Miller held the record for most special teams tackles with 184 when he retired in 2005, he was first passed by Jason Arakgi (190) in 2016, before Mike Miller became the all-time leader in 2021.

?Making any staff changes is never an easy decision, and we are very appreciative of the years Bou (Boudreau) spent with us,? O?Shea said. ?Mike Miller is a guy who is very well respected across our league, and I think will make a great coach. He is one of, if not the best, special teams player of all-time, and I?m looking forward to seeing him transition into this new role.?

Miller was twice named the Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Special Teams Player (2019, 2021), was the team?s Most Outstanding Canadian in 2019 and was selected as the West Division?s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player in 2019 and 2021. He is a three-time Grey Cup champion, having won with Edmonton in 2015 and with the Blue Bombers in 2019 and 2021.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2024/01/08/blue-bombers-announce-coaching-staff-changes/#:~:text=The%20Winnipeg%20Blue%20Bombers%20today,on%20the%20defensive%20coaching%20staff.

[Blue In BC]

Good moves. I didn't think Miller would return as a player in 2024 and he could become a very good ST coach. Experienced and well liked by his team mates.

Younger begins the transition of being the DC. Obviously Hall is still with the team and participating but now more responsibility is being taken by Younger. 

[horatio montoya]

is there a new contract with former DC Hall or is he serving in some kind of unofficial capacity as this might be important if NE moves on from Belichick and wants to talk to Hall

[blue_or_die]

At STC, we get:

- The GOAT
- A CFLer familiar with the system, the org and the city
- A development/succession/transition plan of a player to a coach
- A changeup in the most underwhelming phase of our game the past few years
- A more ops SMS-friendly situation

At DC, we get:

- Lock-up of our obvious succession plan for Hall's retirement
- A fresh look at defense but from someone very familiar with our current (very successful) system & players
- An example that Winnipeg promotes assistants when they perform well consistently and are loyal
- An iconic, storied, successful former DC in the background making sure everything continues to go as planned going forward, with less workload to keep him focused on the big picture

This is a W

[horatio montoya]

i wouldnt count on Hall being around WPG too long

a lot of the buzz in NE circles is that Belichick is relieved of his duties this week and that Hall is the heir apparent

[Pete]

Looks like we were all right Hall isnt leaving and Younger is taking over as dc.
I really like Miller as special teams, he certainly has instant credibility
I would assume we are not replacing dc coach

[horatio montoya]

it might be too soon to say Hall is not leaving

a lot of Twitter noise in Patriots circles is that Hall is their next HC

kinda ironic hed replace Belichick considering all the praise Beli has thrown his  way in the last 20 years

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

it might be too soon to say Hall is not leaving

a lot of Twitter noise in Patriots circles is that Hall is their next HC

kinda ironic hed replace Belichick considering all the praise Beli has thrown his  way in the last 20 years

This sounds like crazy talk, can't imagine Hall taking on a HC job in the NFL this late in his career, the pressure to succeed in NE would be enormous.

[horatio montoya]

i cant say how likely it is im just sharing the Twitter noise which has always been there for a while but really picked up today and yesterday

[theaardvark]

Well, this keeps Younger from getting poached by someone... should be an easy transition, especially if Hall remains in an active role.

Miller at STC, pretty solid idea.  Having MOS as a mentor, should be another easy transition.

Moving on from Hall was something that eventually had to be done, this prevents us losing Younger in the process.

Well done, Mafia.

[Pete]

Its ironic that many talk of the need for the Bombers to get younger, and we do so...with the coaches!

[Blueforlife]

Sure hope Hall can transfer some knowledge before he goes.  One of the best in biz!

[BlueGold8597]

This sounds like crazy talk, can't imagine Hall taking on a HC job in the NFL this late in his career, the pressure to succeed in NE would be enormous.

This person is obviously a troll

[blue_gold_84]

is there a new contract with former DC Hall or is he serving in some kind of unofficial capacity as this might be important if NE moves on from Belichick and wants to talk to Hall

LOL

Lay off the silly juice.

[horatio montoya]

This person is obviously a troll

hey bluegold i actually took his comment as good faith and just assumed he was unaware of the Twitter buzz

[Sir Blue and Gold]

hey bluegold i actually took his comment as good faith and just assumed he was unaware of the Twitter buzz

You wrong. The "Twitter buzz" is he's running for president. Get your facts right at least.

[horatio montoya]

i dont wanna call you a liar but do you have any screenshots of said tweets

[blue_gold_84]

You wrong. The "Twitter buzz" is he's running for president. Get your facts right at least.

LOL

#trollthetroll

[Sir Blue and Gold]

i don?t wanna call you a liar but do you have any screenshots of said tweets

Yes but I can't show you due to forum rules. I hear the RiderFans forum will allow it though. You should go back there and continue to be flummoxed about why no one can fix the offensive line.

[horatio montoya]

well I dont know how offensive they are but if its as bad as you say no external force can help them as change will have to start within

[GCn19]

Richie Hall to coach the Patriots....good gravy....this is an all time low for rumor mongering.

[horatio montoya]

there is no harm in repeating the Twitter buzz for those who avoid Twitter but would appreciate the information

[Pigskin]

I said last week that I thought Miller would become our new ST coach. However, didn't see Younger, replacing Hall this season.

[BLUEBOMBER]

As predicted, Hall is going to take it easy or retire soon. Younger was the obvious choice as he knows the players and the system that Hall runs. Miller as STC is a surprise but I guess it couldn't get any worst with Boudreau at the helm the past few seasons.

[Horseman]

i wouldnt count on Hall being around WPG too long

a lot of the buzz in NE circles is that Belichick is relieved of his duties this week and that Hall is the heir apparent

No way, no how, NE hires Hall as their new HC, that is almost laughable. The NFL will not be hiring a CFL'er too be a HC in their league.

[horatio montoya]

i guess well have to wait and see im just repeating the Twitter buzz right now in Pats circles its no secret Belichick and I presume Robert Kraft are huge Hall fans but yeah I guess well have to wait and see as nothing is certain this shift in responsibilities in WPG I think is a sign that Hall needs to be freed up to take the job if NE comes with a request

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

i guess well have to wait and see im just repeating the Twitter buzz right now in Pats circles its no secret Belichick and I presume Robert Kraft are huge Hall fans but yeah I guess well have to wait and see as nothing is certain this shift in responsibilities in WPG I think is a sign that Hall needs to be freed up to take the job if NE comes with a request

How would those guys even know who Hall is, and why would they be "huge fans"? 

[horatio montoya]

i mean Belichick has mentioned him lots through the years idk know about Kraft though im not sure how involved he is I assume hes good to go though if Hall is having his name thrown around Pat circles right now as a serious contender

[Blueforlife]

Don't feed em after midnight

[Pete]

i mean Belichick has mentioned him lots through the years idk know about Kraft though im not sure how involved he is I assume hes good to go though if Hall is having his name thrown around Pat circles right now as a serious contender

You must think we're as dumb as rider forum members

[theaardvark]

The only mentions of Hall and Belichick on twitter are about "Hal of Fame" and "Breece Hall" who scored a TD against him in the last game...

[bwiser]

Twitter is blowing up with the news that Bwiser is being considered for the Commanders head coaching job. It seems that the Commanders brain trust have been following Bwiser's posts and are impressed with his football knowledge.

[dd]

Twitter has blown up, as Richie Hall is now coaching all of the teams in the NFL, all at once!!! Seems everyone is impressed with his football knowledge!!

[ModAdmin]

Certainly, you gotta love the off season!!

[Stretch]

i mean Belichick has mentioned him lots through the years idk know about Kraft though im not sure how involved he is I assume hes good to go though if Hall is having his name thrown around Pat circles right now as a serious contender

(Checks calendar)

Nope, not April Fools Day yet.

[blue_gold_84]

Twitter has blown up, as Richie Hall is now coaching all of the teams in the NFL, all at once!!! Seems everyone is impressed with his football knowledge!!

And I, for one, welcome our new NFL coaching overlord.

[Waffler]

Would love to know what goes on behind the scenes but what I have noticed is that for years Boudreau was attached at the hip to MOS on the sidelines. This year it would be rare to find them in the same tv frame. The famous O'Shea loyalty went where and for what reason? Something happened.

Hall looks older than he actually is. Only 63, many coaches go longer, even Stubler coached until he was 73. I wonder if he is easing into retirement or just getting a second wind to reincarnate at a later time.

[Pigskin]

Millers degenerative neck condition explains why he has retired and did not play at all last season.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Millers degenerative neck condition explains why he has retired and did not play at all last season.

That's a revelation, we waited all year to hear what was wrong with him and now we know.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Sounds like the decision to promote Younger was not Hall's plan to step back, O'Shea made the decision so they wouldn't lose Younger to another team.  O'Shea is grateful Hall decided to accept the lesser role and stick around, but in a way it is a demotion.

https://3downnation.com/2024/01/08/if-you-dont-make-a-move-youre-gonna-lose-him-oshea-addresses-youngers-promotion-halls-demotion-in-winnipeg/

[ModAdmin]

"We need a guy like Mike that the players are going battle for." - Ed Tait

The transition from playing to coaching - from hanging up the proverbial cleats to doing the Xs and Os thing and piecing together a playbook - could hardly be portrayed as seamless for Mike Miller.

Fact is, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers new special teams coordinator was admittedly still trying to process the whole thing Monday afternoon, not long after his retirement and his addition to the club's coaching staff was made official earlier in the day along with the promotion of Jordan Younger to defensive coordinator, with Richie Hall remaining on board as a defensive assistant.

Some evidence of Miller's whirlwind few days came during his first media session as special teams coordinator when he was asked for a highlight from a Canadian Football League career which began in 2011 in Edmonton as an undrafted free agent.

"I honestly didn't even think that me taking this job would also be me announcing my retirement, so I never really thought about it," said Miller with a chuckle from his offseason base in New Brunswick. "That kind of hit me today when people were like, 'Congrats on retirement!' and I was like, 'Ahhh, sh?? I don't remember retiring."

What has unfolded over the last few days has undoubtedly become a bit of a blur for Miller, the CFL's all-time special teams tackle leader who missed last season with what he revealed Monday as a neck injury. Doctors and the team's medical staff explored all possibilities throughout the year before it was determined there was no solution that pointed to a return to the field.

"In the season I had never given up hope that I was going to somehow find a way to get back on the field," he said.

"So, I was really focussed on rehabbing and doing whatever I needed to do to for there to be any glimmer of me potentially playing again. And then when the season ended and after the Grey Cup, I did start kicking the tires on what I was going to do to provide for my family.

"I didn't know it was going to be in coaching; there were a few people who did ask me, 'Did you ever think about getting into coaching?' and I couldn't give them a straight answer. It was still too fresh being done playing. So, I don't know if I ever really thought if I was going to get into it, but when the offer came about it just felt right, it felt like the right thing to do. It's probably the easiest transition. A lot of people have told me it (coaching) is the next best thing to playing. I'm excited for that opportunity."

Miller replaces Paul Boudreau, who spent the last seven years as the Blue Bombers special teams coach but did not have his contract renewed for 2024. Indirectly, Miller did get some some on the job training all through last year in helping on special teams and it?s his work ethic, his attention to detail and love of the craft that has long impressed head coach Mike O?Shea and led to this opportunity.

Asked Monday from the CFL's coaches meetings in Nashville what has led him to believe Miller is ready to transition from player to coach, O'Shea provided some runway for the club's new assistant coach - the same runway he got when he first turned to coaching in 2010 with the Toronto Argonauts.

"I guess that's probably hard to describe. There was a point where Jim Barker (then the Argos head coach) thought I was ready,? said O'Shea. "It?s just you know he can do it.

"We're not looking for it to be perfect. We don't need an unbelievable lecture style - stand up in front of everybody and deliver great prose. We need a guy like Mike that the players are going battle for. Is it always going to sound perfect? Is the technology piece going to work out every time? No, but it's OK. If I can go back and remember my first week, I didn't know how to turn on a computer, so Mike's well ahead of the game in that regard."

The Younger/Hall decisions, meanwhile, certainly were longer in coming. O'Shea has the utmost respect for Hall - the 63-year-old CFL legend who has been his defensive coordinator since 2015 - but Younger's name was becoming more and more prominent around the league for the work he's done with the Blue Bombers defensive backs.

O'Shea didn't say this promotion was made because of the risk of losing him to a CFL rival, but added, "I just know the climate. He's doing great work, everybody's noticing, and you've got to strike first.

"JY's been on this trajectory for quite some time, even as far back as his playing career. He's just really intelligent and creative. So, these conversations go back, and you just know there's going to come a time where if you don't make a move, you're going to lose him, and I didn?t want to get to that point.

"I had this conversation with Richie over the course of time. It's not an easy decision... you're talking about two guys I have long-standing relationships with and value a whole lot. To be able to have both on staff was certainly what the aim was, but you can't really guarantee that. I'm just so excited Richie agreed to stay on."

The Younger/Hall decisions, meanwhile, certainly were longer in coming. O'Shea has the utmost respect for Hall - the 63-year-old CFL legend who has been his defensive coordinator since 2015 - but Younger's name was becoming more and more prominent around the league for the work he?s done with the Blue Bombers defensive backs.

O'Shea didn't say this promotion was made because of the risk of losing him to a CFL rival, but added, "I just know the climate. He's doing great work, everybody's noticing, and you've got to strike first.

"JY's been on this trajectory for quite some time, even as far back as his playing career. He's just really intelligent and creative. So, these conversations go back, and you just know there's going to come a time where if you don't make a move, you're going to lose him, and I didn't want to get to that point.

"I had this conversation with Richie over the course of time. It's not an easy decision... you're talking about two guys I have long-standing relationships with and value a whole lot. To be able to have both on staff was certainly what the aim was, but you can't really guarantee that. I'm just so excited Richie agreed to stay on."

https://www.bluebombers.com/2024/01/08/we-need-a-guy-like-mike-that-the-players-are-going-battle-for/

[Jesse]

Sounds like the decision to promote Younger was not Hall's plan to step back, O'Shea made the decision so they wouldn't lose Younger to another team.  O'Shea is grateful Hall decided to accept the lesser role and stick around, but in a way it is a demotion.

https://3downnation.com/2024/01/08/if-you-dont-make-a-move-youre-gonna-lose-him-oshea-addresses-youngers-promotion-halls-demotion-in-winnipeg/

Probably a little bit of both, as Richie was probably planning to step back/retire sometime in the near future.

[Lincoln Locomotive]

Both coaching moves were solid decisions and will benefit the club going forward.....Richie Hall staying on staff as a "consultant" is the best part of this equation.    Mike Miller transitioning to STs coach is also a natural fit for the GOAT special teamer......
Now that we have locked in our coaching staff my greatest concern is getting our FAs signed and that is all pending on whether or not two high end players decide what they're going to do in the next few weeks.....and we all know who these two players are.

[blue_or_die]

Jeff Hamilton reporting today that the Younger situation was motivated by Buck threatening to take him as DC to Regina

[theaardvark]

Jeff Hamilton reporting today that the Younger situation was motivated by Buck threatening to take him as DC to Regina

I wouldn't doubt that Younger was getting interest from any team without a DC.  Or even teams with DC's who were underperforming.

And next year, if he does well, he will be a candidate, like Buck, for a HC job...

[TBURGESS]

The coaching changes aren't much of anything really. Same guys with different designations on defence + replacing the Special Teams coach with a guy who has never coached before. 

[Blue72]

Who will be the DB coach?

[horatio montoya]

for all you guys accusing me of trolling if you kept up with the news sure enough NE has transitioned away from Belichick. I realize haters gonna hate hate hate but maybe next time youll get in on the scoop

[ModAdmin]

Might make sense that Hall would assume that responsibility since he is a former DB.

[blue_gold_84]

for all you guys accusing me of trolling if you kept up with the news sure enough NE has transitioned away from Belichick. I realize haters gonna hate hate hate but maybe next time youll get in on the scoop

The two parties agreed to part ways. And that has literally nothing to do with Richie Hall who's still employed by the WFC.

You okay?

[ModAdmin]

for all you guys accusing me of trolling if you kept up with the news sure enough NE has transitioned away from Belichick. I realize haters gonna hate hate hate but maybe next time youll get in on the scoop

The issue was that you made the statement  that "Hall is the heir apparent" to Belichek.  There is no evidence of that  but if you have a reliable source for that comment you can share it here.

[LXTSN]

The issue was that you made the statement  that "Hall is the heir apparent" to Belichek.  There is no evidence of that  but if you have a reliable source for that comment you can share it here.

Jerod Mayo is the new coach in New England.

I may have completely missed this statement/argument. Sounds like it was hilarious though lol

EDIT: HA! I'm reading it now and that's awesome!

[Blueforlife]

This is just great I can keep my nose clean and enjoy the ride and peanut galley.  Hall sure will be a good mentor.

[TecnoGenius]

Sounds like the decision to promote Younger was not Hall's plan to step back, O'Shea made the decision so they wouldn't lose Younger to another team.  O'Shea is grateful Hall decided to accept the lesser role and stick around, but in a way it is a demotion.

I'm late to the Hall discussion, and it definitely needs more attention from us because it's probably the biggest change to our team this off-season.  Yes, even as big as "what happens to Brady".

The messaging around the move was very sketchy, and not very transparent.  So what is Hall going to get paid?  Was he still under contract and thus will be earning DC-level salary whilst just sitting around as an advisor?  Or are we now paying him a junior-level salary?

The answer to that will help answer the next question: Is this really a move to retain Younger, or is this a move that finally explains how we found more $$ for KW and Buck, and their mysteriously cleared up re-signings?

If Hall now earns way less, then this probably was all part of the plan when finding the $ to bump up KW/Buck.  Which means the Hall demotion was a done deal weeks ago, even if Hall/public didn't know about it yet.  Kind of like the Boudreau move: which almost certainly was decided when finding the extra coaches' SMS.  They announce these things at different times, making them seem unrelated, but they are probably all part of one big plan.

If Hall earns the same as last year (full DC salary), then it becomes murkier.  We still have Boudreau's salary to bump KW and Buck, but was that enough?  Then I start to wonder if Younger is just a DCINO (DC in name only) and it's really Hall still calling the overall strategy... I wonder what the booth will look like in 2024: will it be Hall right next to Younger, both with headsets on?  Did we then make Younger the DCINO just to protect him from "promotion" moves by other teams?  Now no other team can interview him unless they offer him a HC job, because hiring him as DC would be a lateral move!

Or if Hall keeps his full DC salary it could be that he's not happy with these changes and might really now have "no show" job, no different than if he had been cut outright (with the CFL coach guaranteed salary thing).  Maybe WFC is playing make believe for optics?  Hall is much-loved and won us 2 cups (2019 was 99% on the D).  Just cutting him so other coaches can have pay raises isn't good optics.  I don't think this is the case, but it certainly is possible.

When is the last time in the CFL you saw such a strange announcement about such a strange move?  In general people don't work this way, as egos make it difficult.

And lost in all this is what was Hall's desires and how does he feel about all of this?  We think he's getting close to retirement and/or ailing physically, but Hall hasn't said so, and no other WFC person has either.  Is Hall happy about this or is he seething?  Well, if Hall still was on contract and gets his big DC payday, maybe he's fine with it.  If Younger is the DCINO and Hall is still "D boss" then maybe he's fine with it.  Not saying that's reality, we're just left totally in the dark about this massive coaching change with very, very little transparency -- not that that's atypical for WFC, mind you.  What happens in those hallowed IGF halls, stays in those hallowed halls.

Bottom line: I have no idea how to interpret the Hall/Younger moves because other than "we didn't want to lose Younger" we haven't been told squat.  I'm not sure anyone knows what happened to his salary.  I also have no idea what Hall's "real" role with the team will be come week 1.  What I do know is we all owe Hall our gratitude for putting together the best D for quite a few of the seasons he has been here.  While our D could have won the '22 and '23 GC had they made stops on the final drives, I personally blame the O's for pooping the bed on their final drives when they could have run out the clock.

By making Hall an advisor vs him retiring or being cut, he's kind of in this limbo state where he can be forgotten and miss out on the accolades and celebration he deserves.

Personally I'm glad to see Younger take over DC, even if he's doing it a year or three earlier than most here had guessed.  Losing him would have stunk, and I believe The Mafia when they say there was a risk of that.  I think most here guessed that Younger was being groomed for DC just as Buck was for OC.  But I'm not sure I'm happy as to how this all shook out for Hall, and unless he chimes in, we may never know.  He always was a class act, and I won't be surprised if he "takes one for the team" and doesn't complain about it.

[TecnoGenius]

Would love to know what goes on behind the scenes but what I have noticed is that for years Boudreau was attached at the hip to MOS on the sidelines. This year it would be rare to find them in the same tv frame. The famous O'Shea loyalty went where and for what reason? Something happened.

Great point.  Boudreau always was tagging along right behind MOS.  In-game.  Pre-game.  Practice.  They really seemed to click, or have a lot to talk about, or maybe Boudreau was like that little dog in the Bugs Bunny cartoons: a hanger-on yes-man booster to the big dog?  My gut says they were close, not Bugs Bunny, but who really knows.

I hadn't thought about your second point, but now that you mention it, they may not have been together as much as previous years.  As I rewatch 2023, I'll keep an eye out.  But I do remember seeing less of Boudreau+MOS in the IGF warm ups.  I always get there 1.5+ hours before KO and check everyone out with the binocs.  In previous years Boudreau and MOS would always come out of the tunnel at the same time and hang around a lot.

MOS is loyal when he loves you, but you need to keep up your side of the bargain and not disappoint him with things he sees as a lack of character or effort.  We all saw that with AH33 and his coming to camp in '21 out of shape and not in the correct headspace due to his personal issues.  You could see the change in how MOS interacted with him on the sidelines all year: contrast MOS/AH33 interactions on tv in the '19 GC vs the '21 GC.

So maybe the Boudreau situation was something similar, and not just a money move.  It'll be hard to ever know, unless Boudreau is miffed and decides to spill the beans.  I wouldn't hold my breath for that, though it has been known to occur (Leggett's podcast anyone?).

At the end of the day, I'll have to retire my little quip about our STC always looking like one of Biff's friends from Back To The Future (visor, pen-chewing; only thing missing is the 3D glasses).  Every Bomber fan I ever tell that to in real life always chuckles and says "ya".  They never know his name, but they know the guy I'm talking about! 

And, like Hall, Boudreau deserves some recognition for the huge amount of years he put in here and the many successes he had, including a few P/K returns for TDs by Grant in post-season games.  I hope he gets a jumbotron nod at one of the IGF games this season.

[Jesse]

I'm late to the Hall discussion, and it definitely needs more attention from us because it's probably the biggest change to our team this off-season.  Yes, even as big as "what happens to Brady".

The messaging around the move was very sketchy, and not very transparent.  So what is Hall going to get paid?  Was he still under contract and thus will be earning DC-level salary whilst just sitting around as an advisor?  Or are we now paying him a junior-level salary?

The answer to that will help answer the next question: Is this really a move to retain Younger, or is this a move that finally explains how we found more $$ for KW and Buck, and their mysteriously cleared up re-signings?

If Hall now earns way less, then this probably was all part of the plan when finding the $ to bump up KW/Buck.  Which means the Hall demotion was a done deal weeks ago, even if Hall/public didn't know about it yet.  Kind of like the Boudreau move: which almost certainly was decided when finding the extra coaches' SMS.  They announce these things at different times, making them seem unrelated, but they are probably all part of one big plan.

If Hall earns the same as last year (full DC salary), then it becomes murkier.  We still have Boudreau's salary to bump KW and Buck, but was that enough?  Then I start to wonder if Younger is just a DCINO (DC in name only) and it's really Hall still calling the overall strategy... I wonder what the booth will look like in 2024: will it be Hall right next to Younger, both with headsets on?  Did we then make Younger the DCINO just to protect him from "promotion" moves by other teams?  Now no other team can interview him unless they offer him a HC job, because hiring him as DC would be a lateral move!

Or if Hall keeps his full DC salary it could be that he's not happy with these changes and might really now have "no show" job, no different than if he had been cut outright (with the CFL coach guaranteed salary thing).  Maybe WFC is playing make believe for optics?  Hall is much-loved and won us 2 cups (2019 was 99% on the D).  Just cutting him so other coaches can have pay raises isn't good optics.  I don't think this is the case, but it certainly is possible.

When is the last time in the CFL you saw such a strange announcement about such a strange move?  In general people don't work this way, as egos make it difficult.

And lost in all this is what was Hall's desires and how does he feel about all of this?  We think he's getting close to retirement and/or ailing physically, but Hall hasn't said so, and no other WFC person has either.  Is Hall happy about this or is he seething?  Well, if Hall still was on contract and gets his big DC payday, maybe he's fine with it.  If Younger is the DCINO and Hall is still "D boss" then maybe he's fine with it.  Not saying that's reality, we're just left totally in the dark about this massive coaching change with very, very little transparency -- not that that's atypical for WFC, mind you.  What happens in those hallowed IGF halls, stays in those hallowed halls.

Bottom line: I have no idea how to interpret the Hall/Younger moves because other than "we didn't want to lose Younger" we haven't been told squat.  I'm not sure anyone knows what happened to his salary.  I also have no idea what Hall's "real" role with the team will be come week 1.  What I do know is we all owe Hall our gratitude for putting together the best D for quite a few of the seasons he has been here.  While our D could have won the '22 and '23 GC had they made stops on the final drives, I personally blame the O's for pooping the bed on their final drives when they could have run out the clock.

By making Hall an advisor vs him retiring or being cut, he's kind of in this limbo state where he can be forgotten and miss out on the accolades and celebration he deserves.

Personally I'm glad to see Younger take over DC, even if he's doing it a year or three earlier than most here had guessed.  Losing him would have stunk, and I believe The Mafia when they say there was a risk of that.  I think most here guessed that Younger was being groomed for DC just as Buck was for OC.  But I'm not sure I'm happy as to how this all shook out for Hall, and unless he chimes in, we may never know.  He always was a class act, and I won't be surprised if he "takes one for the team" and doesn't complain about it.

I don't find any of this strange at all. It's a succession plan. We're watching the same thing in Calgary as Huff has moves up and out. Wally did the same thing with BC. We saw the first real risk of losing some of our coaches this year with Buck potentially leaving and taking Younger with him - so we acted. Maybe a year earlier than planned, or maybe a year or two later than they originally planned.


Boudreau I see as a very separate move due to performance. Getting Miller in as his replacement was certainly two tiered as he comes in as a MOS loyalty hire and as a cost saving measure.

[TecnoGenius]

I don't find any of this strange at all. It's a succession plan. We're watching the same thing in Calgary as Huff has moves up and out. Wally did the same thing with BC. We saw the first real risk of losing some of our coaches this year with Buck potentially leaving and taking Younger with him - so we acted. Maybe a year earlier than planned, or maybe a year or two later than they originally planned.

The strange part is keeping the demoted/cut/canned guy on in a lesser role, perhaps against his will (who knows).  When have we ever seen that?  Name one team/instance.  Usually the old guy disappears, goes off to a new team, or gets a promotion (i.e. coord turns to HC, HC to GM...).

I could see a lot of guys getting the shaft like this saying "bleep you" and leaving, and taking any guaranteed salary they are owed with them.

Also, don't you find it a bit unnerving that outside teams are basically deciding (forcing our hand) who and how we structure our coordinators (if the rumor you mentioned is true)?  Who's really in control then?

It's all a very odd situation, and I'm just very thankful they (so far) have made it all work.  This has got to be some high stress for KW/WM and kudos to them for probably making the best moves given the situation and budget constraints.

[Jesse]

The strange part is keeping the demoted/cut/canned guy on in a lesser role, perhaps against his will (who knows).  When have we ever seen that?  Name one team/instance.  Usually the old guy disappears, goes off to a new team, or gets a promotion (i.e. coord turns to HC, HC to GM...).

I could see a lot of guys getting the shaft like this saying "bleep you" and leaving, and taking any guaranteed salary they are owed with them.

Also, don't you find it a bit unnerving that outside teams are basically deciding (forcing our hand) who and how we structure our coordinators (if the rumor you mentioned is true)?  Who's really in control then?

Yeah, I can't say I agree with you at all on this one. I don't think it's an uncommon practice at all for a retiring staff member to stay on as an advisor to a new staff (Pete Carroll was just fired as HC of the Seahawks and is staying on as an advisor and he 100% didn't agree to step down). But in the case of Hall, I completely believe it came as a mutual decision that's probably been talked about for the past couple of years.

And in my previous post I talked about Wally and Huff who simply acted as advisors to other GMs late in their careers. Yes, they reached higher in the organization than Hall, but they still eventually moved on from their roles and let others take over.

The control thing you mention is weird, but obviously coaches (and players) switch teams all the time, and everyone is constantly trying to either keep their own or find the best from other staffs and re-organizing based on that. The people themselves are in charge of where they go. If Buck chose to leave to take a HC job, we'd have to replace him. If we don't want coordinators to leave, you try and give them a pay raise or ***. Hc. title. This is really common stuff.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

As far as finding room for Richie, I believe the Bombers borrowed a page from the Ti-Cats old book of trickery by keeping him on as a "consultant", doubt his salary counts towards the coaching cap and doubt he took much of a pay cut for operating in the background.  Under the two salary caps they might be maxed out, but in the real world the team has to be swimming in revenue.

[Ridermania]

Halls' salary does count against the coaching cap.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Good phone interview with Coach Mike Miller.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2024/01/08/mike-miller-conference-call-january-8/

[TecnoGenius]

Good phone interview with Coach Mike Miller.

That phrase sounds strange to me!  Still hasn't sunk in...

[DM83]

Hall is a good coach. I don't agree with a passive defense.  But a lot of coaches do like it. Football is an aggressive game. So as Jim used to say, GATAs.