Do the Bombers Have a "Championship Calibre Defense"?

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I think the addition of Bonds Terrell Bonds has helped the secondary. Losing Houston and losing Parker to injury  has not hurt at all.

I'm thinking we see more late season transition like last season, can't be sure those coming off the 6 game are going to get their old jobs back.

[TecnoGenius]

Younger on a learning curve as a first year DC is figuring it out, Garbutt helps, Jones is better than Wilson and Holm has played better. Less Thomas last game really helped.

Jones is doing great in replacement... but I wouldn't go that far!  Wilson is often our top 1 or 2 tackler.  He's a run-stop demon, and can keep up with the mobile QBs.  If we can find a way to keep both, that'd be great.  Wilson may not last much beyond '25, and for once it'd be nice to have the replacement in-house.  (Or is Jones just as old as Wilson??)

[TecnoGenius]

I'm thinking we see more late season transition like last season, can't be sure those coming off the 6 game are going to get their old jobs back.

We've always been extremely flexible and quick to stick with hot-hand DBs.  Way more than any other unit.  No starting spot is guaranteed in that corps.  However, I doubt we outright release any starting-caliber guy.  Vet cutdown day has passed or is passing as we speak.

It's a great problem to have.  Who we keep long term can sort itself out in FA.

[TecnoGenius]

The BC game (and a bit less so the TOR game) showed that Younger/Hall can out-think and out-plan great O's.  What they were doing was astounding.  I think our D has kept us in all but maybe 1-2 games.  It's been the O letting us down for most of the L's.

If you want a summary of what the D was doing vs BC, rewatch the Lu/Campbell interview right after halftime.  He wasn't lying.

"They got our offence out of sorts.  We're in there working hard trying to have some answers for our players."

Total shellshock and no answers.

I think what our D did to BC was do nothing that we did in previous weeks.  I really love stuff like this.  We never jump routes, so what did we do vs BC?  We jumped routes.  We always play 5Y off.  So what did we do?  We played tight.  Our DL wasn't getting pressure on anyone and we often tried useless blitzes.  So this time we brought pressure with 4.  We never spy QBs, MOS says outright we don't need to.  So what did we do?  We had Biggie spy on every other down.

BC is lucky they got this whooping now rather than a WDF in a few months.  Maybe they'll find a counter.  Or maybe we'll morph again by then and fool them once more...

All I know is Younger (and Hall whispering up in the booth) has taken a much weakened (FA, injuries), and ageing, D that should be bottom-tier, and turned them into one of the league best.  Now that is worth celebrating.

[The Zipp]

I think the addition of Bonds Terrell Bonds has helped the secondary. Losing Houston and losing Parker to injury  has not hurt at all.

so true..Ford, Bonds, Holm and Nichols - quality 4 young guys.  Alexander is the weak spot and he is serviceable and has some great experience but father time is tapping him on the shoulder.

[J5V]

so true..Ford, Bonds, Holm and Nichols - quality 4 young guys.  Alexander is the weak spot and he is serviceable and has some great experience but father time is tapping him on the shoulder.

Two key positions, MLB and Safety, need upgrades. Is Grady Cavness or Mickey Doyle available? :-)

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Jones is doing great in replacement... but I wouldn't go that far!  Wilson is often our top 1 or 2 tackler.  He's a run-stop demon, and can keep up with the mobile QBs.  If we can find a way to keep both, that'd be great.  Wilson may not last much beyond '25, and for once it'd be nice to have the replacement in-house.  (Or is Jones just as old as Wilson??)

I feel bad for Kyrie, everytime he approaches his greatness injuries wipe him out, next season they might have to consider him in a secondary role if they can afford to keep him around, would hate to see him finish out his career anywhere else.

[Blueforlife]

Wilson and Parker will get their jobs back imo.  A luxury of depth.  The negativity on Alexander is overstated imo.  He helped keep BC off the score board.  Older yes, but still a key vet and piece of our evolving puzzle.  Next year is just a guess.  See how this year plays out 1st.

[Blue In BC]

Wilson and Parker will get their jobs back imo.  A luxury of depth.  The negativity on Alexander is overstated imo.  He helped keep BC off the score board.  Older yes, but still a key vet and piece of our evolving puzzle.  Next year is just a guess.  See how this year plays out 1st.

Not sure if either Wilson will be healthy in 2024 due to current injury. IIRC, reports are that Parker was finished for the year. Not quite as sure about Wilson.

Wilson, Parker and Jones are all on the end of their current contract. SMS, injury history and free agency will play into this going into 2025.

Alexander is also in his final contract year.

Nichols, Holm and Ford are also potential free agents.

So who knows what 2025 brings.

[J5V]

Wilson and Parker will get their jobs back imo.  A luxury of depth.  The negativity on Alexander is overstated imo.  He helped keep BC off the score board.  Older yes, but still a key vet and piece of our evolving puzzle.  Next year is just a guess.  See how this year plays out 1st.

Agree. Like BLM, Alexander is not what he once was but is getting by on experience and smarts. Same goes for Biggie and many of our vets. A lot of this game is between the ears and that is one of the things this team looks for when we bring in players. It's not always about the youngest, most talented guy.

[Pigskin]

Not sure if either Wilson will be healthy in 2024 due to current injury. IIRC, reports are that Parker was finished for the year. Not quite as sure about Wilson.

Wilson, Parker and Jones are all on the end of their current contract. SMS, injury history and free agency will play into this going into 2025.

Alexander is also in his final contract year.



Nichols, Holm and Ford are also potential free agents.

So who knows what 2025 brings.

In December 2023 Nichols signed a 2 year extension. So, he is signed for next season.

[stevieb751]

Absolutely looking that way, I thought it was trending that way the previous two games but wanted to wait until we played a starting QB and especially a dangerous O like BC.  Not only did they prove it but to me served notice to the rest of the league.  We really should have won 4 of our last 5 as the Argo game was total domination minus the ridiculous turnovers.  Beat BC again after the bye and teams start to fear us again.

[Blue In BC]

In December 2023 Nichols signed a 2 year extension. So, he is signed for next season.

Perfect, I missed that. We'll probably get the other two re-signed but there are always offsets on the roster to make it fit the SMS.

[Jesse]

I feel bad for Kyrie, everytime he approaches his greatness injuries wipe him out, next season they might have to consider him in a secondary role if they can afford to keep him around, would hate to see him finish out his career anywhere else.

I would have liked to see what his career would have looked like without all the injuries. As it stands, I wouldn't really blink an eye if they allowed him to move on or at least have to compete for his spot.

[TecnoGenius]

I would have liked to see what his career would have looked like without all the injuries.

WILL is always getting injured.  Remember Ian Wild?  A not-so-big guy usually, trying to stop a beefy downhill runner every third play = injuries.  I think Wilson is even smaller than Wild.  Amazing he gets injured as little as he does.