Re-signed Kolankowski

theaardvark · January 29, 2024, 04:28:22 PM

Two year deal, through the Grey Cup.

Dru Brown must be sad... this would have been a great pick up for Ott.

With Kolankowski and Eli under wraps, we're good up the middle. Now, if only MS55 could get healthy... oh wait...

New_Earth_Mud · January 29, 2024, 04:30:13 PM

I like this

Blueforlife · January 29, 2024, 04:31:37 PM

Great news you beat me to punch by a minute, I deleted my thread

Game is won in the trenches and ours continue to shine

ModAdmin · January 29, 2024, 04:41:45 PM

Blue Bombers re-sign centre Chris Kolankowski

WINNIPEG, MB., January 29, 2024 - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension with centre Chris Kolankowski. He was scheduled to become a free agent on February 13th.

Kolankowski (6-1, 309; York; born: February 7, 1992, in Etobicoke, Ont.) returns in 2024 for his seventh CFL season and fourth with the Blue Bombers.

Originally selected by the Toronto Argonauts in the sixth round, 49th overall, of the 2016 CFL Draft, Kolankowski dressed for 22 games during his days with the Argos before joining the Blue Bombers in February of 2020.

Kolankowski stepped in for an injured Michael Couture at centre in 2022 and started 15 games that season. Last year he became the Blue Bombers starting centre while starting all 18 regular-season games, plus the Western Final and Grey Cup. He was at the heart of a dominant offensive line that helped the offence finish first in scoring and saw Zach Collaros lead the league in passing.

Kolankowski spent five years at York, winning the Mike Benevides Lineman of the Year Award in 2015 and the Tom Arnott Award for Hard Work and Character in 2013

Pete · January 29, 2024, 04:45:00 PM

This is a very good signing, Kolankowski was one of the top rated centers ly. The oline has always been a key to success for us

Jesse · January 29, 2024, 04:45:07 PM

To be honest, I was kind of hoping Eli would beat him out for the starting spot.

theaardvark · January 29, 2024, 05:05:45 PM

Quote from: Jesse on January 29, 2024, 04:45:07 PMTo be honest, I was kind of hoping Eli would beat him out for the starting spot.

Well, unless we re-signed Kolankowski, Eli can't compete with him, so... this signing was necessary for your conjecture.

blue_gold_84 · January 29, 2024, 05:18:11 PM

Good signing. Keeping the trenches intact is crucial.

Noeller · January 29, 2024, 05:18:56 PM

Oooof... Can't remember when Kyle had a move this bad. Koala is maybe the 7th or 8th OL on this roster. Eli SHOULD BE the Day 1 C out of camp. Dobson at LG. Gray as the 6th OL. Unless someone isn't coming back this year, this move makes no sense. Apparently got a massive raise too. I don't get this at all unless we're losing multiple pieces from the line.

blue_or_die · January 29, 2024, 05:47:41 PM

Quote from: Noeller on January 29, 2024, 05:18:56 PMOooof... Can't remember when Kyle had a move this bad. Koala is maybe the 7th or 8th OL on this roster. Eli SHOULD BE the Day 1 C out of camp. Dobson at LG. Gray as the 6th OL. Unless someone isn't coming back this year, this move makes no sense. Apparently got a massive raise too. I don't get this at all unless we're losing multiple pieces from the line.

Not sure if joking?

I like Eli just fine but if he was the better player, he would have started last year.

Pete · January 29, 2024, 05:49:58 PM

Quote from: Noeller on January 29, 2024, 05:18:56 PMOooof... Can't remember when Kyle had a move this bad. Koala is maybe the 7th or 8th OL on this roster. Eli SHOULD BE the Day 1 C out of camp. Dobson at LG. Gray as the 6th OL. Unless someone isn't coming back this year, this move makes no sense. Apparently got a massive raise too. I don't get this at all unless we're losing multiple pieces from the line.

Not sure what games you watched but Kolankowski was consistantly one of the top rated centers week to week
You dont have a rb run for1500 yds with a weak center
Looks like we have another poster trying to create a stir

theaardvark · January 29, 2024, 06:08:54 PM

Doesn't look like there will be a lot of movement between teams for Oline this year, most teams have thier hoggies under contract. We still have Hardick and Gray unsigned, might be as much of a whether to play decision as a where to play decision for Hardrick... and for Gray, possibly just a matter of when he signs being a local boy...

Blueforlife · January 29, 2024, 07:06:05 PM

Quote from: Noeller on January 29, 2024, 05:18:56 PMOooof... Can't remember when Kyle had a move this bad. Koala is maybe the 7th or 8th OL on this roster. Eli SHOULD BE the Day 1 C out of camp. Dobson at LG. Gray as the 6th OL. Unless someone isn't coming back this year, this move makes no sense. Apparently got a massive raise too. I don't get this at all unless we're losing multiple pieces from the line.

Sorry but imo you are a wee bit off base here. Key member of our club and a proven vet. While competition is great, you need depth and experience on the lines and this is a core, key signing. If he got a raise he earned every penny.

Jesse · January 29, 2024, 07:28:48 PM

Quote from: theaardvark on January 29, 2024, 05:05:45 PMWell, unless we re-signed Kolankowski, Eli can't compete with him, so... this signing was necessary for your conjecture.

Fair enough, but when we signed Eli to the 3-year deal, I was hoping he'd come in and just blow the competition out of the water. It obviously didn't happen. Re-signing Chris means he's the starter.

Now Gray remains unsigned, so we may be seeing a comp at LG still.

GOLDMEMBER · January 29, 2024, 09:59:50 PM

Awesome signing. Great to have him return.

theaardvark · January 29, 2024, 10:18:22 PM

Bryant, Gray, Kolankowski, Neufeld and Hardrick

Dobson, Eli, Richmond

(BOLD under contract)

Pretty solid Oline, with 10 picks this draft, we should have a couple more in the pipeline. If we sign Hardick and Gray, great. If we can't, nothing to worry about. We would still have one of the best Olines in the league, and they've been together a while...

Pigskin · January 29, 2024, 11:28:50 PM

I like the size of Eli at 6'4" 326. He also has a nasty side to him. I would have been okay with Eli at C. Signing Kolski gives us more depth and flexibility. Like it.

Pete · January 30, 2024, 12:06:06 AM

With Eli's size I could see him also being able to play guard. Be good to have an oline man be versatile.

Throw Long Bannatyne · January 30, 2024, 01:10:21 AM

Quote from: Pigskin on January 29, 2024, 11:28:50 PMI like the size of Eli at 6'4" 326. He also has a nasty side to him. I would have been okay with Eli at C. Signing Kolski gives us more depth and flexibility. Like it.

I don't think he's carrying 326 lbs. any longer, noticed last season he was getting thinner as the season went on, working himself into better shape. First year he was a huge blob.

Jesse · January 30, 2024, 01:53:36 AM

Quote from: theaardvark on January 29, 2024, 10:18:22 PMBryant, Gray, Kolankowski, Neufeld and Hardrick

Dobson, Eli, Richmond

(BOLD under contract)

Pretty solid Oline, with 10 picks this draft, we should have a couple more in the pipeline. If we sign Hardick and Gray, great. If we can't, nothing to worry about. We would still have one of the best Olines in the league, and they've been together a while...

Yeah, I think we still have enough there. I'm slightly concerned at guys like Kolankowski and Neufeld blocking the paths of guys like Dobson and Eli, but they obviously have to earn it. But at some point your draft picks have to play or they'll leave.

We definitely need to starting putting more in the pipeline. Our last couple of drafts haven't been impactful and we've lost the ones that have made an impact.

Lincoln Locomotive · January 30, 2024, 03:19:42 AM

Bluto was pretty high on Mr K on Bonfire Sports.....I trust his wisdom steeped in actual experience.....good signing

TecnoGenius · January 30, 2024, 04:59:08 AM

I'm a fan, but not a huge fan; but he's certainly the best option we have right now. With Eli as a capable backup, we're set.

Couture was better, probably on par with Goosen. But what are you gonna do. Kolankowski has shown he can learn and improve. Him & Gray got way better at their A-gap problem as time went on. I feel the group can gel even more and be even better. It might be nice if we get a year where we can have 0 changes on the starting OL. Could be an advantage for the first few weeks.

Blue In BC · January 30, 2024, 01:13:40 PM

We'll have to wait and see whether we have enough money to re-sign Gray and Hardwick. It would be good to retain all of our OL but that may not be possible from an SMS point ov view.

theaardvark · January 30, 2024, 03:17:12 PM

Quote from: TecnoGenius on January 30, 2024, 04:59:08 AMI'm a fan, but not a huge fan; but he's certainly the best option we have right now. With Eli as a capable backup, we're set.

Couture was better, probably on par with Goosen. But what are you gonna do. Kolankowski has shown he can learn and improve. Him & Gray got way better at their A-gap problem as time went on. I feel the group can gel even more and be even better. It might be nice if we get a year where we can have 0 changes on the starting OL. Could be an advantage for the first few weeks.

BO20 had a record setting year. Running primarily behind Kolankowski. Pretty sure that puts him up there with Couture and Goossen. I was hesitant at the start of last year, but a believer by the end.

Throw Long Bannatyne · January 30, 2024, 05:07:27 PM

Quote from: theaardvark on January 30, 2024, 03:17:12 PMBO20 had a record setting year. Running primarily behind Kolankowski. Pretty sure that puts him up there with Couture and Goossen. I was hesitant at the start of last year, but a believer by the end.

The majority of running plays Brady runs to the left of Center behind Gray, to me it seems like Gray and Neufeld are the two most active in getting downfield to help out blocking and take on LB's. The other 3 help out occasionally, but not nearly as much.

TecnoGenius · January 31, 2024, 01:31:11 AM

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on January 30, 2024, 05:07:27 PMThe majority of running plays Brady runs to the left of Center behind Gray, to me it seems like Gray and Neufeld are the two most active in getting downfield to help out blocking and take on LB's. The other 3 help out occasionally, but not nearly as much.

Ya, Ko-man isn't the key on run plays. Pay careful attention if you rewatch any 2023 games. It's the guards doing the heavy lifting, or often Yoshi immediately swinging around into an A-gap or opposite B-gap. Ko-man is often parked in the middle just trying to cling to 1 or 2 DL to keep them engaged. He does have a lot more to worry about than the other OL, so harder for him to be the lead freight train engine.

P.S. In one of this last week's NFL games a DL jumps offside and trucks an OL. UR called. That was the exact same play we saw near the end of the CFL season against us (Ko-man? or Neuf? got trucked), and I was screaming here that the refs should have called UR, but they didn't. What a joke when the NFL gets the player-protection call better than the CFL.

Waffler · January 31, 2024, 01:18:04 PM

Quote from: TecnoGenius on January 31, 2024, 01:31:11 AMP.S. In one of this last week's NFL games a DL jumps offside and trucks an OL. UR called. That was the exact same play we saw near the end of the CFL season against us (Ko-man? or Neuf? got trucked), and I was screaming here that the refs should have called UR, but they didn't. What a joke when the NFL gets the player-protection call better than the CFL.

Agree! I said at the time being offside does not give you a free shot. I was sure I'd seen it called too but could not remember an example. Calling a penalty puts a stop to it and needs to happen.