Rough Riders at Blue Bombers pre-game Discussion

[GOLDMEMBER]

Looking like some excellent November weather for Saturdays game.

Here here, gonna be moocho sports extravaganza with GoldMember making a Jets game appearance and bolt to stadium!!!!! Bottoms up!

[Jesse]

Is Cole even above Ayers on the depth chart? I believe Ayers was starting at WIL the majority of time Wilson was out.  Could be Ayers has been banged up thus Cole getting more reps in that spot recently.

I think Ayer's only got in when Cole was also hurt.

Had trouble keeping any of our LBs healthy this year.

[Pigskin]

Here here, gonna be moocho sports extravaganza with GoldMember making a Jets game appearance and bolt to stadium!!!!! Bottoms up!

Can't get a better day of sports in Winnipeg. Stars and Jets, and then Riders and Bombers. Both should be excellent games.

[ModAdmin]

Couple of things to note..

On game day when the Riders visit the Blue Bombers...

Tailgate opens at 2:00 pm.

Be a part of watching the Eastern Final with other Bomber fans at PA Stadium.

Enjoy the $5.00 Beer, the $3.50 Hot Dogs and the $3.50 fountain drinks.

There will be heated tents and fire pits available for your comfort.

Also be aware that a new Bomber Store will open until December 29th in the Kildonan area.  Visit it and support the Blue Bomber organization.

[blue_gold_84]

[Blue In BC]

How would you know? Kyrie Wilson hasn't played a game since July 20.

Because he has been our starter for several seasons and always played well. Around the league he was regarded as under valued / appreciated.

Just because a player hasn't played for an extended time doesn't mean he is not the better choice when healthy. The only question is game speed and conditioning level.

Bighill has been out nearly as long. Would you question his return if he was healthy?

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Because he has been our starter for several seasons and always played well. Around the league he was regarded as under valued / appreciated.

Just because a player hasn't played for an extended time doesn't mean he is not the better choice when healthy. The only question is game speed and conditioning level.

Bighill has been out nearly as long. Would you question his return if he was healthy?

I 100% do not want Wilson or Bighill starting in the playoffs. Wilson has played 20 of the last 38 games (including playoffs), hasn't played since July 20 when we were 2-5, and didn't make it through warm-ups the last time he tried.

Bighill is a season ender anyway but I think we've gotten better play out of Tony Jones who ended the season on a heater (17 tackles and a sack in the last two games).

[Blue In BC]

I 100% do not want Wilson or Bighill starting in the playoffs. Wilson has played 20 of the last 38 games (including playoffs), hasn't played since July 20 when we were 2-5, and didn't make it through warm-ups the last time he tried.

Bighill is a season ender anyway but I think we've gotten better play out of Tony Jones who ended the season on a heater (17 tackles and a sack in the last two games).

Bighill certainly won't back but if he was, the Jones slides to WIl. He's a better choice than Cole and Cole is better than Ayers. So overall our defence would be upgraded.

However, it's quite possible that Bighill has played his last game.

I get that Wilson has not been able to stay healthy. It doesn't change the fact he's our best WIL. Again, Ayers would get bumped off the AR and Cole would be used differently and in rotation.

Whether he gets activate is a TBD. Bringing a player back that's missed so much time for a playoff game is a concern. OTOH, if he becomes the rotation LB with Ayers coming off, then maybe less of a risk.

I guess we'll see what changes we see on the AR. At worst it gives us injury insurance for the Grey Cup if we have further injuries and win the WDF.

I don't expect Wilson back in 2025 due to extensive injury history but for the the next two weeks, that's a different question.

[TBURGESS]

We're better without Bighill & Wilson. I'd go as far as to say we'd have lost more games if they played the whole season.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Bighill certainly won't back but if he was, the Jones slides to WIl. He's a better choice than Cole and Cole is better than Ayers. So overall our defence would be upgraded.

However, it's quite possible that Bighill has played his last game.

I get that Wilson has not been able to stay healthy. It doesn't change the fact he's our best WIL. Again, Ayers would get bumped off the AR and Cole would be used differently and in rotation.

Whether he gets activate is a TBD. Bringing a player back that's missed so much time for a playoff game is a concern. OTOH, if he becomes the rotation LB with Ayers coming off, then maybe less of a risk.

I guess we'll see what changes we see on the AR. At worst it gives us injury insurance for the Grey Cup if we have further injuries and win the WDF.

I don't expect Wilson back in 2025 due to extensive injury history but for the the next two weeks, that's a different question.

Wilson might have been our best weakside linebacker going into the season but the West Final is being played on November 9. Is he our best weakside linebacker on Saturday after not playing a live snap in three and a half months? Will he be in game shape? Can he hold up all game? Will he be at his best compared to a guy who has been playing throughout the entire winning streak? I doubt it, who knows and no.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Bighill certainly won't back but if he was, the Jones slides to WIl. He's a better choice than Cole and Cole is better than Ayers. So overall our defence would be upgraded.

However, it's quite possible that Bighill has played his last game.

I get that Wilson has not been able to stay healthy. It doesn't change the fact he's our best WIL. Again, Ayers would get bumped off the AR and Cole would be used differently and in rotation.

Whether he gets activate is a TBD. Bringing a player back that's missed so much time for a playoff game is a concern. OTOH, if he becomes the rotation LB with Ayers coming off, then maybe less of a risk.

I guess we'll see what changes we see on the AR. At worst it gives us injury insurance for the Grey Cup if we have further injuries and win the WDF.

I don't expect Wilson back in 2025 due to extensive injury history but for the the next two weeks, that's a different question.

Ayers, Cole and Jones are all valuable on ST as well, they have to be careful bringing Kyrie back so they don't short staff another position like the D or O-Line of a rotational backup.  If possible I hope they ease Wilson back in slowly as he hasn't played much this season or last.  It could be the end of the road for him and Biggie.

[Blue In BC]

Wilson might have been our best weakside linebacker going into the season but the West Final is being played on November 9. Is he our best weakside linebacker on Saturday after not playing a live snap in three and a half months? Will he be in game shape? Can he hold up all game? Will he be at his best compared to a guy who has been playing throughout the entire winning streak? I doubt it, who knows and no.

The point is that he doesn't have to be the starter. He would improve the depth for rotation and injury insurance. The player that would come off would be Ayers.

Predicting whether we have an injury at LB during the WDF is impossible. Ayers is very good on ST's so that's a trade off that would have to be made if Wilson is added to the AR.

It's a very valid point that Wilson has not played for several months. It's also true that during our winning streak we won 4 games by a combined 11 points so we weren't exactly as dominating as previous seasons.

I like Cole and think he could be the WIL in 2025. That doesn't change my view that I'd bump Ayers to add Wilson as the rotation LB. All of this is contingent on Wilson up to game speed. Being able to practice doesn't guarantee that so it's a concern. It does give him fresh legs and he's a fast LB.

If we have an injury at LB, even for a series or two, I suspect we'd see Gauthier in before Ayers. He'd go in at MLB and then we'd see a domino effect depending on who was injured. That's the reality of choices we'd have. If Wilson isn't on the roster and Cole gets injured Ayers might move to WIL as the in game LB. If Jones is injured then it's more likely Gauthier at MLB.

If you're ok with that then fine. I hope we don't have an injury and that is the best option. Best laid plans of mice and men.

We can continue this after we see what our AR looks like and what happens in the game. If we win, none of this discussion will matter. Gauthier and Cadwallader could end up getting reps. Winning is all that matters.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

The point is that he doesn't have to be the starter. He would improve the depth for rotation and injury insurance. The player that would come off would be Ayers.

Predicting whether we have an injury at LB during the WDF is impossible. Ayers is very good on ST's so that's a trade off that would have to be made if Wilson is added to the AR.

It's a very valid point that Wilson has not played for several months. It's also true that during our winning streak we won 4 games by a combined 11 points so we weren't exactly as dominating as previous seasons.

I like Cole and think he could be the WIL in 2025. That doesn't change my view that I'd bump Ayers to add Wilson as the rotation LB. All of this is contingent on Wilson up to game speed. Being able to practice doesn't guarantee that so it's a concern. It does give him fresh legs and he's a fast LB.

I am pretty adamant we don't take off Ayers.

[Blue In BC]

I am pretty adamant we don't take off Ayers.

That's an interesting position to take for a back up. It may not happen but if we have an injury you may regret that position. Ayers is another player that I think will become better in 2025 with a more significant role but 2025 is not the WDF in 2024.

Noting I'm not adamant that Wilson make the roster. I just think it would be wise depending on how he looks in practice this week. Depth can never be over looked and I stated why I might have a concern.

[Blue In BC]

Another interesting conversation was about whether Alexander or Taylor get activated.

We didn't get an accurate explanation of his injury aside from hand injury. Could be finger, wrist or forearm? That could limit his ability to tackle, hit or knockdown passes. OTOH, Taylor hasn't played in a year and I still don't remember him playing safety. I think he could and if IIRC both have been taking reps with 1st team defence.

In either case either could be activated as a back up rotation player and would not necessarily have to start. Bridges would come off I think.

That said, IMO if either gets activated he will be starting.

Some feedback from anyone at practice might be useful.