Blue Bombers re-sign running back Johnny Augustine

Jesse · January 27, 2024, 12:16:37 PM

Quote from: TecnoGenius on January 27, 2024, 01:17:26 AMI think all posters covered the possibilities already. I think this may indeed hint Brady is coming back.

We have to establish one thing: Can JA27 be the franchise RB? I say no. When he & Brady were earning similar pay and had to duke it out in TC and early games, it became very clear Brady was better. Johnny can't shed first contact with brute force. He can snake and weasel around and make you miss, and he has better top speed, but he can't do the every-down up-the-gut must-break-first-contact like Brady.

I do think Johnny could be good enough as starter if we shifted to a run-last O, like BC. However, I would put the odds of that scheme shift at zero.

So if Brady is leaving and we can't get a Brady-level NAT replacement (one does not exist, even Antwi wouldn't be as good), then why on earth do you want a higher-paid (higher than ELC) backup RB?

If we are rolling with an IMP franchise RB, then either we buy a high $ FA, or we risk it all on some new ELC scouting find. In either case you hire an ELC scouting find as the backup, or you retain a multi-threat guy like McCrae and he's the backup (and DI) and thus can sub in as receiver sometimes.

What I find most peculiar is why not tie him to a 2-year like most of our other signings? We can always release him after year 1. That would hint JA27 wanted 1 year. Interesting. That would imply he thinks he can do better $$ in 2025... he'll have to show it on the field!

I personally don't view the signing of JA27 as a hint of anything. For all intents and purposes, he's a special teamer, not a running back.

Even in early 2022, when Harris first left and Brady struggled for the first half of the season. Even when Brady was getting hammered in a game for a 0.9 rushing average. Augustine was never used. This coaching staff does not see him as a viable option.

Blue In BC · January 27, 2024, 01:31:52 PM

Quote from: TecnoGenius on January 27, 2024, 01:19:30 AMWhy do you say that? BO20 was pretty good at catching passes last season, though we don't scheme those very often.

I'm not sure I've ever seen Johnny take a pass in a reg-season game?? Sure you're not thinking McCrae? That TD grab of his was epic.

He has taken a few passes in regular season games including 1 for 58 yards. I say I think he's better if given more opportunity because of his speed and ability to shake and bake in open spaces.

Pigskin · January 27, 2024, 04:21:44 PM

Surprised we haven't signed Hallett and Exume yet.

Blue In BC · January 27, 2024, 05:29:11 PM

Quote from: Pigskin on January 27, 2024, 04:21:44 PMSurprised we haven't signed Hallett and Exume yet.

I'm pretty sure we get Hallett back but not as sure about Exume. Exume is not a bad ST player. However I'm wondering whether Noah Hallett will be back and whether Ford returns from NFL tryouts.

The fact we'll have 10 draft picks this year means players like Exume may be in tough due to possible options and roster size.

Pigskin · January 27, 2024, 07:20:12 PM

Quote from: Blue In BC on January 27, 2024, 05:29:11 PMI'm pretty sure we get Hallett back but not as sure about Exume. Exume is not a bad ST player. However I'm wondering whether Noah Hallett will be back and whether Ford returns from NFL tryouts.

The fact we'll have 10 draft picks this year means players like Exume may be in tough due to possible options and roster size.

Exume is excellent on teams. Probably one of our fastest players, and doesn't get injured. I am keeping him before Noah. Exume has played in 32 games and has 42 ST tackles as a Bomber. Under Miller he will do very well.

Pigskin · January 27, 2024, 07:27:13 PM

JA27: 75 Games as a Bomber. 14 catches for 130 yards, Avg. 9.3, Longest 58 yards. Rushing 195/1135 yards, Avg. 5.8 yards, longest 55 yards. 21 ST tackles, with his best year in 2023 with 8.

TecnoGenius · January 30, 2024, 04:29:04 AM

Quote from: Blue In BC on January 27, 2024, 01:31:52 PMHe has taken a few passes in regular season games including 1 for 58 yards.

Hmm, don't recall, must have been mostly YAC?? Like a hitch screen, or even a pass sweep? I only recall McCrae pulling in a deep bomb spectacular catch.

TecnoGenius · January 30, 2024, 04:37:36 AM

Quote from: Jesse on January 27, 2024, 12:16:37 PMI personally don't view the signing of JA27 as a hint of anything. For all intents and purposes, he's a special teamer, not a running back.

Even in early 2022, when Harris first left and Brady struggled for the first half of the season. Even when Brady was getting hammered in a game for a 0.9 rushing average. Augustine was never used. This coaching staff does not see him as a viable option.

JA27 is here as the backup to RB. Period. If he was some WLB or something he would have been cut already. He's a good STer, but not among the really good ones.

So, if BO20 gets injured in-game, then JA27 is the #1 RB the rest of the game. If BO20 is still injured next week and the week after, JA27 is starting. But then if BO20 is out with a season ender... that's where it gets interesting. Do we roll all the way with JA27?? Or are we hitting the phone immediately??

I think the answer to that would depend on how good JA27 did in that first 1.5 games as #1...

The other posters made a good point, though... if we started an IMP RB, would we still have JA27 as the backup? And the answer is maybe; probably yes, because of the oddities of the ratio. However, with capable McCrae often dressing as backup WR, we could make our O work with an IMP RB plus McCrae as the backup. In that scenario there would be zero reason to retain JA27. The fact we did retain him means that scenario is off the table.

TecnoGenius · January 30, 2024, 04:43:56 AM

Quote from: Pigskin on January 27, 2024, 04:21:44 PMSurprised we haven't signed Hallett and Exume yet.

Hallett The Less Injured may be looking for a payday. For 2 seasons he's really stood out as an athletic guy who can make special plays. As a mostly-STer his ceiling is limited, however, he certainly warrants a fair bit more than ELC. If he asks $110, can KW justify it? Probably not. Hopefully Hallett will take the "playoff discount" and stay for less.

Throw Long Bannatyne · January 30, 2024, 05:44:23 PM

Quote from: TecnoGenius on January 30, 2024, 04:43:56 AMHallett The Less Injured may be looking for a payday. For 2 seasons he's really stood out as an athletic guy who can make special plays. As a mostly-STer his ceiling is limited, however, he certainly warrants a fair bit more than ELC. If he asks $110, can KW justify it? Probably not. Hopefully Hallett will take the "playoff discount" and stay for less.

Not sure Mike Miller ever earned more than $100k and he was the GOAT.

Pigskin · January 30, 2024, 07:24:03 PM

I am sure Mike Miller would want Nick Hallett back on this team. Best STs player and backup safety.

TecnoGenius · January 31, 2024, 01:24:27 AM

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on January 30, 2024, 05:44:23 PMNot sure Mike Miller ever earned more than $100k and he was the GOAT.

Didn't the ELC just get bumped up to $87k? Or was that $78k. I'm just looking at the relative amounts, assuming you need to bump up the top performers at least $5-$10 a season??

Surely Miller was bumped $5k a season over all the seasons he was GOAT? Which is at least 5?

Argh, it's so hard talking $ on this forum as no one has any clue since nothing is published. At the end of the day, though, I'm thinking you have to dangle more $$ in front of Hallett than you do Cadwallader? (And I love me some Cadwallader.)

Pete · January 31, 2024, 01:30:55 AM

Last year Miller was signed to a 95K salary according to 3 down. I believe the minimum salary is 70K for 2024 and doesn't increase til 2027 (to 75K). For us to afford to keep Schoen or Olivera would mean a number of cuts of lower end salary players, which might explain the holdup in signings.

TecnoGenius · January 31, 2024, 01:36:21 AM

Quote from: Pete on January 31, 2024, 01:30:55 AMLast year Miller was signed to a 95K salary according to 3 down. I believe the minimum salary is 70K for 2024 and doesn't increase til 2027 (to 75K).

Hmm, well that does amount to around $4-$5k/season bump in pay during his top-performing years then. Just that the ELC baseline was less when he started ($60?).

So all this Miller talk then hints that Hallett should be content with maybe $80-$85 max? If someone wants to steal him for $5k more, I'd say give him the extra $5k. If he keeps up his performance and also improves, he's worth it. As someone else said, he also is the #1 backup guy to step in when a DB gets injured. I don't think he's starter material yet, but he doesn't cost us games, either.

Hallett is the fastest and most gifted kick blocker we've had in a looong time.