We Are League Worst (officially)

[dd]

Getting Kolankowski out of there and inserting the superior Eli at Centre would make a world of difference to the o-line, but O'shea is stubborn and overly loyal to inferior players who are not good enough or past their best-before date.  Played a big role in us losing the Grey Cup last year.

As for Zach, he has lost his elusiveness to extend plays.  Look back at his very first start against Calgary in 2019 and that TD pass late in the game.  Today's Zach would not be able to extend the play like that in a similar situation.  His mobility has regressed significantly.  This actually started to become a little noticeable in 2022, but now it is very obvious.  It's unlikely Zach does as well as Strevelor in the fourth quarter.

Agree on getting kowlankowski out and putting Eli in seems logical we have ratio room,nope won't do it

[Pete]

looks like elks have signed Oakman (according to Naylor), Hamilton picked up Deionte Knight from argo practice roster and we continue to bring back players that couldn't make our opening day roster.
 It is frustrating to see this team's attitude of doing whatever it takes to keep the culture going vs doing whatever it takes to improve to win. We refuse to act on poor performances by vets such as ALexander, Thomas, and to a lesser extent Kolankowski and Kramdl.
Mtrl got to where its at by continually trying to improve. getting Sankey and Lemon last year, moving on from Stanbeck, bringing in Titus wall, while we hear the familiar refrain of everyone in this lockerroom is capable of being a starter.

[Blueforlife]

Getting Kolankowski out of there and inserting the superior Eli at Centre would make a world of difference to the o-line, but O'shea is stubborn and overly loyal to inferior players who are not good enough or past their best-before date.  Played a big role in us losing the Grey Cup last year.

As for Zach, he has lost his elusiveness to extend plays.  Look back at his very first start against Calgary in 2019 and that TD pass late in the game.  Today's Zach would not be able to extend the play like that in a similar situation.  His mobility has regressed significantly.  This actually started to become a little noticeable in 2022, but now it is very obvious.  It's unlikely Zach does as well as Strevelor in the fourth quarter.

Eli has hip injury and practiced one day this week.  Hard pass.

[Tecno]

Agree on getting kowlankowski out and putting Eli in seems logical we have ratio room,nope won't do it

We've seen Eli start @C in a few garbage-time games, and do in-game injury spelling.  He got trucked a whole lot and was whiffing on the A-gaps.  The whiffing he might be able to solve, but not the trucking.

Eli looks very small out there.  Like Lofton, and maybe Dobson, he feels undersized.

If Ko-man continues to screw up, I guess you could give Eli a try for 3-4 weeks so he can gel with the main unit.  But don't be surprised if he's a bust too.  If he was miles away better MOS would be starting him already.

I still think the best hope is an IMP, or we have to wait for FA to $ign a big FA C $$.  If it was my team I'd be trying to stack as many IMP on the OL as possible, and doing better OL scouting (as they failed us on RT scouting for 5+ years).  We have the ratio flexibility to go 4 IMP OL... and they are also cheaper, to boot.

[J5V]

Kolankowski was part of the best OL in the CFL just last year. Losing Gray and Yoshi has proven to be a tough problem. Thankfully we still have Stan and Paddy to build off of and I believe this club will keep working on this until they resolve it. Once they do, look out! Zach with a clean pocket to throw from will see him shred secondaries again.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Kolankowski was part of the best OL in the CFL just last year. Losing Gray and Yoshi has proven to be a tough problem. Thankfully we still have Stan and Paddy to build off of and I believe this club will keep working on this until they resolve it. Once they do, look out! Zach with a clean pocket to throw from will see him shred secondaries again.

According to a few armchair QB's Neufeld is all of a sudden washed up, which I find rather hard to believe. I think he is less settled as he has to keep one eye on Kona and one on his new RG Lofton.  Overall I think the O-line has suffered a downgrade, Lofton is not as effective as an aging Yoshi was, and Dobson is a major downgrade from Gray in both run blocking and pass protection, which doesn't help Kona focus on his job when he's already playing on the edge of his abilities.  I think the main skill that keeps him in place is his ball snapping ability is pretty good compared to the others.

[Tecno]

Kolankowski was part of the best OL in the CFL just last year. Losing Gray and Yoshi has proven to be a tough problem.

I think our OL was already on the decline in 2023.  I'm not sure I would have called it "best OL".  Compare the pressure we allowed in 2023 GC vs what MTL OL allowed.  Ya, that was a better OL by far.  And TOR's.  And probably BC's... and... and...

Things started to get worse when we lost Couture & Desjar.  The line with them in was the best we ever had, followed closely by the last year of Goosen.

[Tecno]

which doesn't help Kona focus on his job when he's already playing on the edge of his abilities.  I think the main skill that keeps him in place is his ball snapping ability is pretty good compared to the others.

Ko-man almost never botches a snap, for sure.  And I bet he's great at the coverage calling pre-snap.  He has many strong points.  But he gets pushed around and has trouble with stunts.  So a real mixed bag.  And I'm not sure he can improve from here... and what he's doing clearly isn't good enough.

Now, it could be Ko-man looks worse than he is because he has poor LG support, or like you guys said he has poor LG & RG support because Neuf is covering for Lofton...

But I can't remember the last time I was blaming the C for so many whiffs!  We take for granted the C is solid.  We weren't having such discussions when C was Couture or Goosen!  Who was before The Goose again?  Ya, not sure we ever blamed him either.

I leave it to the highbrains @WFC to decide if Ko-man is weak or he just looks weak because of poor LG support.  Either way someone needs to up their game or be replaced.

I also think Dobson, Eli & Lofton need to pack on 10-30 more pounds.  They are too small, often appearing outsized and out-muscled by DTs!!  They are the ones who are supposed to be pushing people around!

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Ko-man almost never botches a snap, for sure.  And I bet he's great at the coverage calling pre-snap.  He has many strong points.  But he gets pushed around and has trouble with stunts.  So a real mixed bag.  And I'm not sure he can improve from here... and what he's doing clearly isn't good enough.

Now, it could be Ko-man looks worse than he is because he has poor LG support, or like you guys said he has poor LG & RG support because Neuf is covering for Lofton...

But I can't remember the last time I was blaming the C for so many whiffs!  We take for granted the C is solid.  We weren't having such discussions when C was Couture or Goosen!  Who was before The Goose again?  Ya, not sure we ever blamed him either.

I leave it to the highbrains @WFC to decide if Ko-man is weak or he just looks weak because of poor LG support.  Either way someone needs to up their game or be replaced.

I also think Dobson, Eli & Lofton need to pack on 10-30 more pounds.  They are too small, often appearing outsized and out-muscled by DTs!!  They are the ones who are supposed to be pushing people around!

Don't know about the other 2 but Eli has dropped substantial weight since coming back to the Bombers the second time, probably due to better fitness.  When he first showed up his belly was hanging over his belt.

[Tecno]

Don't know about the other 2 but Eli has dropped substantial weight since coming back to the Bombers the second time, probably due to better fitness.  When he first showed up his belly was hanging over his belt.

For a hoggie muffin-top is a good thing!  You need the beef on jumbo.  Speed at the expense of weight isn't necessarily going to make you a better hoggie.  If you're regularly getting trucked and/or manhandled, something is wrong.

[blueandgoldguy]

Kolankowski was part of the best OL in the CFL just last year. Losing Gray and Yoshi has proven to be a tough problem. Thankfully we still have Stan and Paddy to build off of and I believe this club will keep working on this until they resolve it. Once they do, look out! Zach with a clean pocket to throw from will see him shred secondaries again.

The o-line was good in spite of Kolankowski.  Eli was superior when he played. 

Lofton wasn't good enough on a weak Saskatchewan team so he shouldn't be anything more than an emergency backup here.  Just terrible decision-making by O'Shea over the past few years to let it get to this point.

[Tecno]

The o-line was good in spite of Kolankowski.  Eli was superior when he played. 

I'm starting to agree with you no Ko-man.  But as for Eli, I'll believe it when I see it.  Tell me one game he started or injury-replaced from '23 where he was better, and I'll go watch it and get back to you.  Not saying he can't be better: just saying I haven't seen it yet.

Lofton wasn't good enough on a weak Saskatchewan team so he shouldn't be anything more than an emergency backup here.  Just terrible decision-making by O'Shea over the past few years to let it get to this point.

You mean KW.  MOS doesn't have as much to do with player choices and SMS juggling.  I'm sure he has some (lots of) input, but the final choice is by KW (or in the case of Brady: WM).

[theaardvark]

Eli is a perfect 6th man, emergency C.  Whether he is ready to start at C full time, we have to leave that up to Costello. No doubt he may end up as the successor to Ko man, being 4 years younger.  No need to rush him.

Wallace will bring some pressure on the roster, dressing as 7th Oline in his rookie year.  Is he the successor to Neufeld? 

[Tecno]

Wallace will bring some pressure on the roster, dressing as 7th Oline in his rookie year.  Is he the successor to Neufeld? 

It's very hard to tell what Wallace will bring so far.  I try to watch him on jumbo, and he's in a fair bit on those, but I just don't really notice him much.  I think he's supposed to be more an edge sealer than a lead run blocker, but he has to be able to shift over and take those A & B gaps sometimes.  I'll try to get more data on Wallace.

But ya, don't know why, but I have a good feeling about him.  He's a monster beast man.  At the very worst he's on the normal "WFC OL dev path", which gives him 1-2 more seasons to see if he can be a starting guard.

At his size: couldn't he be a tackle??  But I guess everyone lambasting his lack of speed might ixnay that idea.

[Tecno]

ATTENTION  ATTENTION  ATTENTION

I do believe we are no longer the league worst!  Are we now 2nd or 3rd worst?  I'll take it, for now!

Moving on up... to the East side (of PAS)... we finally got a piece of the piiiiiiiieee.