Good Bad & Ugly

[55StickCar]

GOOD

Absolutely nothing!

BAD

Everything

UGLY

EVERYTHING

[BlueInCgy]

You're not wrong.

[BomberFan73]

At this point you have to wonder if the bright lights of the big game get to Zach now? 
So much wrong with this game. Hopefully some big changes for next year.

[dd]

The Good - the game is over!!

The Bad - several boneheaded plays by several players, notably the loose ball interference by Wilson.

The Ugly - Collaros. Single handedly cost us this game. Tire of his stage fright in the big game, please move on and bring in someone new next year, I m thinking Vernon Adams. but it won't happen. MOS will stay loyal to his overpaid/underperforming Qb and we'll have to suffer another year

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Willie Jefferson was ready to play. Had a great game. Probably the best of the season.

Too bad Collaros wasn't very good, Demski picked a bad day to struggle and Lucky couldn't hold on to the ball. It wasn't only those things but those were the biggest issues.

[Tiger]

15 of 30 for 202 yards and 0 TD and 4 Ints. 

You have MOP and MOC and go away from him early.

Offense calls horrific. 

Ours to lose and we implode.

Time to Sign Ford as back up QB and make it his show after next year.

I need to sober up and fly home before I fully digest.

[markf]

I tried to listen online, to cjob post game...... site won't load.... methinks

server overloaded....

thousands of drunk, angry fans want answers! firings!  leave (insert names here)   in Vancouver!


😂

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I tried to listen online, to cjob post game...... site won't load.... methinks

server overloaded....

thousands of drunk, angry fans want answers! firings!  leave (insert names here)   in Vancouver!


😂

Sounds like you have connection problems, change providers if possible. TSN stream and CJOB work fine for me and I'm located out in the sticks.  Try listening to CJOB on your phone.

[markf]

Sounds like you have connection problems, change providers if possible. TSN stream and CJOB work fine for me and I'm located out in the sticks.  Try listening to CJOB on your phone.

ok, thanks... could be duck duck go lol

[BBFANDM]

The 2 Turning points for me the 1st half int by Collaros no reason to take that chance at that time. And the Second Lucky Fumble was the game changer he hasn't been good as a return since he got the position yet the Coaches didn't make any changes he didn't bring anything as a returned and also cost us the lead in the game a point we couldn't recover from. Also the D Scheme was wrong all game not putting pressure on a below average QB was a huge mistake.

[John T.]

Very odd statistic:
The Bombers haven't won a Grey Cup against an Eastern team other than Hamilton since 1941, when they beat the Ottawa Rough Riders.
Since then, they've won nine Cups, seven against Hamilton and one each against BC and Edmonton.

[Pigskin]

BO20: 13 touches for 102 yards.

WJ5: 6 DTs, 2 Sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF.

Wilson: 5/99 yards.

OL: only gave up 1 sack.

[Blueforlife]

Good
Wille beast
Bad
Everything else
Ugly
Zach's injury and no dynasty (I will still call it a mini dynasty like I did last year)

[Cool Spot]

These things are supposed to be about the game, but I thought I'd describe my own experience.

The Good
* I've been a football fan for 3+ decades, and this is the first Grey Cup game I've ever attended. In fact, it's the first game I've been to in many years where there were lots of Bomber fans. This is because I live in the Seattle area, so I head up to Vancouver sometimes to watch (away) Bomber games, but they are always a small contingent.

* I attended the game with my cousin, who is also a lifelong Bomber fan. We've wanted to attend a game together for some time, so it was great to be able to do it at the Grey Cup.

* Because this was my first ever Grey Cup, I bought the tickets several weeks ago before I knew who was playing. I was okay with whoever made it, and while this is heresy on this forum, not only would I be okay if the Riders made it to the Cup, I'd be okay even if they won it. I was just happy to be at my first Grey Cup with my cousin.

* The singer of the Canadian national anthem did a fantastic job, it was very moving for me. I am a dual US/Canadian citizen, and I'm not happy about the state of US politics (you take the good and the bad). I felt very proud to be a Canadian in that moment.

* Maybe it's because I'm getting older and the dopamine doesn't hit as hard, or because I'm now getting used to seeing the Bombers lose in Grey Cups, but the pain of this loss didn't sting as hard as the previous ones. Maybe getting blown out is preferable to losing in the last minute.

* LOL at the streaker!

* I would have preferred the Bombers to win, but congrats to the Argos and their fans - the ones around me were very gracious.

The Bad
* Winnipeg was definitely outplayed this game. I thought defense was tough in the first half, but so was Toronto's. But in the second half, Winnipeg's offense was quite poor while Toronto executed well nearly the entire game (Winnipeg's two-and-out on their first possession was a harbinger of doom).

The Ugly
* Nothing. I made it to the game, had a good time, enjoyed some good food before and after the game, and got home safe. What else is there to ask for?

[bluengold204]

We suck and over performed during the year.  Everything  no about that game was ugly

[dd]

Good
Wille beast
Bad
Everything else
Ugly
Zach's injury and no dynasty (I will still call it a mini dynasty like I did last year)

Stop it with the dynasty bs. As bo Levi said I the telecast, Calgary won 2 cups in 5 years and he doesn't consider them a dynasty and back then Calgary clobbered everyone.

Being totally embarrassed and humiliated like that clearly puts the dynasty discussion to bed. And so much for your patience as well!! Bombers were a joke tonight. Total joke

[bluengold204]

Stop it with the dynasty bs. As bo Levi said I the telecast, Calgary won 2 cups in 5 years and he doesn't consider them a dynasty and back then Calgary clobbered everyone.

Being totally embarrassed and humiliated like that clearly puts the dynasty discussion to bed. And so much for your patience as well!! Bombers were a joke tonight. Total joke

Couldn't have said it better myself.  We are again the laughing stalk of the league.  Whoever thought losing 3grey cups in a row is a dynasty is a laughing stock.  Probably be another 26year doughy till we win another

[ModAdmin]

Any team that makes it to the Grey Cup and loses doesn't deserve to be condemned.  Certainly the Bombers did not play well as a team today but, unlike 7 other teams, they did make it to the big game and deserve credit for that.

Changes are inevitable and the team will make changes to improve the weaker areas.  It doesn't negate, however, the fact they worked and succeeded in making it to the Grey Cup.

It was a disappointing loss and a less than stellar performance.  But they were in Grey Cup.  Only 2 teams in the league can claim that.

[bluengold204]

Any team that makes it to the Grey Cup and loses doesn't deserve to be condemned.  Certainly the Bombers did not play well as a team today but, unlike 7 other teams, they did make it to the big game and deserve credit for that.

Changes are inevitable and the team will make changes to improve the weaker areas.  It doesn't negate, however, the fact they worked and succeeded in making it to the Grey Cup.

It was a disappointing loss and a less than stellar performance.  But they were in Grey Cup.  Only 2 teams in the league can claim that.

Just because they make the grey cup game they shouldn't be praised as this all mighty entity and have statues built for them.  They lost for the 3rd time in a row .  2nd place is just as bad as last in my opinion.  Outside of the participation trophy for winning the west you are still haven't won anything meaningful and are in line with the rest of the league

[ModAdmin]

Just because they make the grey cup game they shouldn't be praised as this all mighty entity and have statues built for them.  They lost for the 3rd time in a row .  2nd place is just as bad as last in my opinion.  Outside of the participation trophy for winning the west you are still haven't won anything meaningful and are in line with the rest of the league

I just disagree with your assessment.  In fact, any win is important.  But to reach the Grey Cup, especially after their start and dealing with a series of injuries to key players, is impressive and to say they "haven't won anything meaningful and are in line with the rest of the league" is simply ridiculous IMHO.

[Blitzer]

I tried to listen online, to cjob post game...... site won't load.... methinks

server overloaded....

thousands of drunk, angry fans want answers! firings!  leave (insert names here)   in Vancouver!
😂

You should be able to listen to the CJOB Audio Vault for a replay: https://globalnews.ca/pages/audio-vault-cjob/

[Blue In BC]

Bombers were out played and out coached yesterday. We can sugar coat it all we like but the reality is that we knew what the weaknesses were going into TC. Either due to SMS constraints or unwillingness to move on from some players was a management /coaching issue.

Early injuries also were part of the issue but every team had some major injuries this season. We lost to the Argos # 2 QB.

Let the re-build begin. Some fan favourites are going to need to be sent into retirement.

Let's ban the word " patience " from the forum and stick to reality this off season. We need to make some deep changes in free agency.

[blue_gold_84]

Couldn't have said it better myself.  We are again the laughing stalk of the league.  Whoever thought losing 3grey cups in a row is a dynasty is a laughing stock.  Probably be another 26year doughy till we win another

What a pathetic post. I understand last night's loss stings but this commentary above is beyond infantile.

Imagine going to five straight championship games and thinking this team or organization is a laughing stock.

Talk about unhinged.

But I agree: no dynasty.

[markf]

You should be able to listen to the CJOB Audio Vault for a replay: https://globalnews.ca/pages/audio-vault-cjob/

thanks very much

[The Fresh Prince Of Belair, MB]

Jefferson was outstanding
Olivera had a good game with limited touches

Demski got owned by McManis all game
Lucky puts another one on the turf 

Buck Pierce's play calling was horrendous. Ignored the MOP/MOC
Collaros 0 TDs 6 picks in his last 3 Grey Cup games
The loose ball interference penalty. The worst penalty in Grey Cup history since the 13th man. It's literally a turnover. Just let the Toronto player pick it up 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage on 3rd down SMH

[VictorRomano]

Things I'd like to see next year:

New OC
New QB
New MLB (I'll take Tony Jones)
New KR/PR

[markf]

3downnation

Collaros:

"For the record, the veteran passer has now thrown for 621 yards, zero touchdowns, and six interceptions over the last three Grey Cups.  In all of his Grey Cup appearances with Winnipeg, he has thrown just two touchdown passes compared to eight interceptions."

it would be interesting to see the Red zone statistics for those games.

[markf]

double post

[Horseman]

Collaros. Single handedly cost us this game. Tire of his stage fright in the big game, please move on and bring in someone new next year, I m thinking Vernon Adams. but it won't happen. MOS will stay loyal to his overpaid/underperforming Qb and we'll have to suffer another year

Yes, I agree, it is time to move on from ZC, I would pursue the following QB's in this order:

Alexander from Mtl
Tre Ford from Edm
VAJ from BC

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Yes, I agree, it is time to move on from ZC, I would pursue the following QB's in this order:

Alexander from Mtl
Tre Ford from Edm
VAJ from BC

Zach isn't going anywhere, the 2 young guys you listed would be fine if they came in as backups for a year or two.  What they really need is an experienced backup option that can take over in times of trouble or as a much needed change of pace.  Twice the Bombers have gone into the playoff without viable backup experience and twice they've been burned.  Every other position is backed up 3 ways to Sunday, why not the most important position on the team???

Chop $100k from Collaros to help pay for MBT, Arbuckle, Maier, Powell or anyone else that is no longer in favour but still wants to play football. They can retain Wilson for short yardage as he looks to have very good athletic skills, give him a year or two more to see if he can develop into a future starter.

[dd]

I'd like to see us bring Alexander here as our #2 and see if he can develop into our #1 Qb under ZC, as ZC probably retires after 2025..

[Blue In BC]

I'd like to see us bring Alexander here as our #2 and see if he can develop into our #1 Qb under ZC, as ZC probably retires after 2025..

I wouldn't mind making a pitch to him in free agency. The problem is he may want to go where he has a chance to start. In any case, he's not going to come particularly cheap. It depends on what teams move on from which QB's and where some potential free agents land in what order.

We really don't have an idea of whether T. Wilson has a future down the road. He only had 1 pass during the regular season.

IMO we won't be bringing Streveler back unless there is a further SMS reduction and an agreement to be the # 3 QB. I don't see him agreeing to that.

Alexander only had 21 attempts in 19 games. 1 in 2022 and 18 in 2023.

[dd]

Strevs is a hard no. We know what he is and what he isn't and he isn't going to be our future #1, so no.

Alexander would like to be a #1, and may go to Calgary or Edmonton, but if I was those teams, I'd be going after VA vs Alexander. I think Alexander still needs development. He can get that here, with the opportunity of being #1 and I'd make that very pitch to him. He'll never be #1 as long as Cody is in Montreal, so he'll be moving on.

[TBURGESS]

I liked what I saw from Alexander in his limited reps on good team with a great O line, but I don't see him as a starter on any team next year. If he's going to be a backup anyway, he might as well stay with Montreal where he knows the system.

My guess is VAJ to Calgary, and I don't see any other starting QB spots available. 

[Blue In BC]

I liked what I saw from Alexander in his limited reps on good team with a great O line, but I don't see him as a starter on any team next year. If he's going to be a backup anyway, he might as well stay with Montreal where he knows the system.

My guess is VAJ to Calgary, and I don't see any other starting QB spots available.

I think Fajardo mentioned he would be deciding whether to retire and spend more time with his family. Harris is not guaranteed a role next year either if they go after VAJ.

So I think there might be more open spots than we can currently see. Edmonton is a giant question on what direction they take. Once the HC is decided we'll see how things shake out.

[theaardvark]

Alexander, Adams, Paterson, Powell, there are a lot of guys that are where Arbuckle was a few years ago.  Or that Drew Willy was at...

None have proven anything except they are worth watching, and none will prove anything until they are handed the ball as a starter.  Except Adams, who has proven that when he has his helmet on straight he can be a very effective starter.  Problem is keeping his helmet on straight.

That brings us to Ford.  Who did pretty well on a very bad team during upheaval.  He got starts, he got wins.  Can he take it to the next level?  Until he gets a legit shot, who knows. 

Zach was ready to retire years ago, had already made live plans.  He has taken home a couple million unexpected dollars in his time here.  You're welcome.  Can we sign Ford to a 3 year deal, backloaded and with guarantees, playing as #2 this year?  Keeping his brother here as well?  Strev or Wilson as #3 / SY, or even moving to a FB for short yardage?

Even if Zach has an MOP year next year, I think we need a progression plan for 2026.   

[CrazyCanuck89]

Zach isn't going anywhere, the 2 young guys you listed would be fine if they came in as backups for a year or two.  What they really need is an experienced backup option that can take over in times of trouble or as a much needed change of pace.  Twice the Bombers have gone into the playoff without viable backup experience and twice they've been burned.  Every other position is backed up 3 ways to Sunday, why not the most important position on the team???

Chop $100k from Collaros to help pay for MBT, Arbuckle, Maier, Powell or anyone else that is no longer in favour but still wants to play football. They can retain Wilson for short yardage as he looks to have very good athletic skills, give him a year or two more to see if he can develop into a future starter.

Both Ford and Alexander have experience.  The CFL needs to stop recycling backup QB, just because they've been in the league forever.

Talent>experience

[TecnoGenius]

Couldn't have said it better myself.  We are again the laughing stalk of the league.  Whoever thought losing 3grey cups in a row is a dynasty is a laughing stock.  Probably be another 26year doughy till we win another

We'll be back next year for the 6th year in a row, and dynasty talk will come up again.  When we're at our 10th straight, I think we get dynasty status no matter how many wins we got.

No matter whether we win or lose these cups, we are locking every other W team out of the cup.  That is good enough for me for now.

Every other W team can laugh but inside they are coping and seething knowing the can't even win a WSF or WDF.

[dd]

As our lineup ages, and with Free agency a repeat is tougher and tougher and I am certainly not 'expecting' us to get to the cup next year, we will be competitive, but there's so much that goes into getting there.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

We'll be back next year for the 6th year in a row, and dynasty talk will come up again.  When we're at our 10th straight, I think we get dynasty status no matter how many wins we got.

No matter whether we win or lose these cups, we are locking every other W team out of the cup.  That is good enough for me for now.

Every other W team can laugh but inside they are coping and seething knowing the can't even win a WSF or WDF.

I think the script has been flipped in the last 3 years, for decades it was the strong West Division vs.the weak East Division.  Now the East are the ones sporting around buxom plums and the West is making do with shrivelled raisins. Sad reality, but the best team in the West is now arguably ranked the 3rd best in the East.

[TecnoGenius]

GOOD
OL, including jumbo
D until Kramdi injured
Locking out all the competition in the West 5 years in a row
Willie
ST coverage

BAD
Buck & the lame plan
RECs
Zach
(un)Lucky

UGLY
Zach's injury
Kramdi's injury
INTs
3rd & 3 charade
final score

[bwiser]

Good-I didn't go to BC to see the game
    -didn't stay up half the night celebrating
Bad-the Bombers
Ugly-the Bombers

[dd]

I think the script has been flipped in the last 3 years, for decades it was the strong West Division vs.the weak East Division.  Now the East are the ones sporting around buxom plums and the West is making do with shrivelled raisins. Sad reality, but the best team in the West is now arguably ranked the 3rd best in the East.

I agree. Calgary, Edmonton and Hamilton are the bottom dwellers in the league. BC, Ottawa and Sask are mid tier teams. Toronto, Montreal and Winnipeg, in that order, are the top 3 teams in the league.

That said, Toronto did have its #2 Qb in the game, and no way should they have beaten us. A very poor offensive game plan, dumb penalties (wilson loose ball interference, Nichols interfering with the snap of the ball) and poor execution are the reasons we lost to a backup Qb. We thought it was going to be easy, we thought we were going to walk all over TO, we thought wrong.

[55StickCar]

My question,if we had managed to win who the heck would they had picked as player of the game.
Most likely still Arbuckle. Can't think of any bomber deserving.

[Blueforlife]

Stop it with the dynasty bs. As bo Levi said I the telecast, Calgary won 2 cups in 5 years and he doesn't consider them a dynasty and back then Calgary clobbered everyone.

Being totally embarrassed and humiliated like that clearly puts the dynasty discussion to bed. And so much for your patience as well!! Bombers were a joke tonight. Total joke

I called it a mini dynasty last year and I'll stick to that.

I am entitled to my opinion no need to pile on like that.  Patience has paid off.  You have routinely called for just about everyone during our incredible run (few years ago) to be fired.  The game was very bad and Bombers laid an egg.  Just one game after years of dominance.

Couldn't have said it better myself.  We are again the laughing stalk of the league.  Whoever thought losing 3grey cups in a row is a dynasty is a laughing stock.  Probably be another 26year doughy till we win another

Heavily overstated on the negative. 
We are not the laughing stalk of the league.  Yes those loses hurt but it's so rare to make the big show that many times.  We will win a couple more cups minimum in the next few decades. 

Things I'd like to see next year:

New OC
New QB
New MLB (I'll take Tony Jones)
New KR/PR

Pass on new OC
Backup Qb yes
Tony yes
New returner yes

Bombers were out played and out coached yesterday. We can sugar coat it all we like but the reality is that we knew what the weaknesses were going into TC. Either due to SMS constraints or unwillingness to move on from some players was a management /coaching issue.

Early injuries also were part of the issue but every team had some major injuries this season. We lost to the Argos # 2 QB.

Let the re-build begin. Some fan favourites are going to need to be sent into retirement.

Let's ban the word " patience " from the forum and stick to reality this off season. We need to make some deep changes in free agency.

There will be no banning of words on the forum.  Patience is relevant when you are at the top, middle or bottom of the league.  It's the one of the pillars of any great organization imo.  Don't get too high or low, don't over react or make too quick of judgments.  Stick to the plan and create consistency in players, schemes, coaches and management.  But for sure change is in the air.  We do need to take a long look in the mirror and be honest of the failings of the club (early season and GC).  I'll preach patience as long as I'm on here. Patience brought us two cups and 5 apperances to the big show.  Pretty happy with that.  Many others on this forum have taken the long view and had the patience in the early days of MOS/Hall/Walters to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  That light certainly dimed a wee bit but it will still show us the way imo.  There is no clear definition of reality on a football forum.  Just a lot of debate and opinions.

A good debate about a rebuild but I don't see it.  Retool for another cup run.  Likely rebuild in 2026.  New paint job maybe, leave the old engine and transmission for another year.

We suck and over performed during the year.  Everything  no about that game was ugly

Yeah winning the West sucks.  Winning the Final sucks.  We suck.

Just because they make the grey cup game they shouldn't be praised as this all mighty entity and have statues built for them.  They lost for the 3rd time in a row .  2nd place is just as bad as last in my opinion.  Outside of the participation trophy for winning the west you are still haven't won anything meaningful and are in line with the rest of the league

None of this makes any sense imo.

I would like to see us bring in a decent #2 QB that could we develop and fill in as needed.  I would like Wilson to be our #3.  Strev will find work elsewhere if he is healthy.

[Blue In BC]

I called it a mini dynasty last year and I'll stick to that.

I am entitled to my opinion no need to pile on like that.  Patience has paid off.  You have routinely called for just about everyone during our incredible run (few years ago) to be fired.  The game was very bad and Bombers laid an egg.  Just one game after years of dominance.Heavily overstated on the negative. 
We are not the laughing stalk of the league.  Yes those loses hurt but it's so rare to make the big show that many times.  We will win a couple more cups minimum in the next few decades.  Pass on new OC
Backup Qb yes
Tony yes
New returner yesThere will be no banning of words on the forum.  Patience is relevant when you are at the top, middle or bottom of the league.  It's the one of the pillars of any great organization imo.  Don't get too high or low, don't over react or make too quick of judgments.  Stick to the plan and create consistency in players, schemes, coaches and management.  But for sure change is in the air.  We do need to take a long look in the mirror and be honest of the failings of the club (early season and GC).  I'll preach patience as long as I'm on here. Patience brought us two cups and 5 apperances to the big show.  Pretty happy with that.  Many others on this forum have taken the long view and had the patience in the early days of MOS/Hall/Walters to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  That light certainly dimed a wee bit but it will still show us the way imo.  There is no clear definition of reality on a football forum.  Just a lot of debate and opinions.

A good debate about a rebuild but I don't see it.  Retool for another cup run.  Likely rebuild in 2026.  New paint job maybe, leave the old engine and transmission for another year. ;)Yeah winning the West sucks.  Winning the Final sucks.  We suck. None of this makes any sense imo.

I would like to see us bring in a decent #2 QB that could we develop and fill in as needed.  I would like Wilson to be our #3.  Strev will find work elsewhere if he is healthy.

Clearly you've never run a business. Have you ever heard of " continuous improvement " which is the hallmark of successful businesses. Did we improve in 2024? Overall the answer would have to be no.

What an improvement is or isn't can be debated. Business adds and deletes / fires staff all the time. When to make a given move it is at times a calculated risk.

Edmonton fired their HC this year. Should they have been patient? Will BC fire their HC? Other teams have already released OC's and DC's. More will follow shortly.

I'm on board with a change at OC although I'd like to hear who might be a new candidate. A year from now that might be Collaros. Today, who knows. A change for the sake of change alone is not a good idea.  OTOH, did we see one new wrinkle from our OC?

Perhaps what we need is a consultant to add another set of eyes or ideas. Something similar to Younger and Hall this season where we did see change in strategy.

[Blueforlife]

Clearly you've never run a business. Have you ever heard of " continuous improvement " which is the hallmark of successful businesses. Did we improve in 2024? Overall the answer would have to be no.

What an improvement is or isn't can be debated. Business adds and deletes / fires staff all the time. When to make a given move it is at times a calculated risk.

Edmonton fired their HC this year. Should they have been patient? Will BC fire their HC? Other teams have already released OC's and DC's. More will follow shortly.

I'm on board with a change at OC although I'd like to hear who might be a new candidate. A year from now that might be Collaros. Today, who knows. A change for the sake of change alone is not a good idea.  OTOH, did we see one new wrinkle from our OC?

Perhaps what we need is a consultant to add another set of eyes or ideas. Something similar to Younger and Hall this season where we did see change in strategy.

Don't say things about me that you have no idea about.  You have routinely done that recently.  Don't say things about me that are not true.  This is a football forum, not a PJ forum.  Stop taking personal shots.  Thanks. I have used continous improvement in my career and in my businesses.  It can be a part of patience.  It's hard to improve if you keep blowing up the house but that is a fine line.  This was evident in the decade before this run.  I like consistency; yes we need change and improvement, never said we didn't. I have well versed in continous improvement and organisation change management;it's a key pilar of my degree in Industrial Engineering which has been polished during my 20 years of work experience and a decade of running my current business.

When your organization is a tire fire yes you need to gut it and start again.  I don't see a rebuild (yet) and I would to retain Buck.  Offensive consultant sure, fresh ideas yes.  Edmonton is a tire fire, not sure what they need to do.  BC I would tweek as they are getting close.  I am an Oilers fan, they are in a similar situation as the Bombers.  Old team that needs to win now or soon.  Both have had a lot of success as of late and have fell short in the playoffs.  Both will need  a rebuild but not immediately imo.

[Blue In BC]

Bombers are a team with a few too many older players. It's time to move on from several. In 2024 we lost about 24 players from the overall 2023 roster. Some of the replacements came from the 2023 PR like Garbutt, Haba etc.

I'd say we'll see something similar going into 2025. Retirements, losses in free agency or players being released.

Who falls into which category is fluid but pat is never an option. Making SMS room for those that earned it has a cost elsewhere.

More interesting transactions today with what seems to be outright release of 5 players from the PR. Early we saw players moved from PR to IR and then back to PR and now released. I'm not sure if that is the end or the temporary cancellation of the PR post season.

Released: Murphy, Hubert, Smith, Karamoko and Ogbevoen.   Two of those were drafted in 2024 in the Canadian and global drafts. Karamoko was from 2022.

That leaves us with only 2 global players on our entire roster. Sheehan and Weitz.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

My question,if we had managed to win who the heck would they had picked as player of the game.
Most likely still Arbuckle. Can't think of any bomber deserving.

Willie had an excellent game, his best of the season.

[Jesse]

Don't say things about me that you have no idea about.  You have routinely done that recently.  Don't say things about me that are not true.  This is a football forum, not a PJ forum.  Stop taking personal shots.  Thanks. I have used continous improvement in my career and in my businesses.  It can be a part of patience.  It's hard to improve if you keep blowing up the house but that is a fine line.  This was evident in the decade before this run.  I like consistency; yes we need change and improvement, never said we didn't. I have well versed in continous improvement and organisation change management;it's a key pilar of my degree in Industrial Engineering which has been polished during my 20 years of work experience and a decade of running my current business.

When your organization is a tire fire yes you need to gut it and start again.  I don't see a rebuild (yet) and I would to retain Buck.  Offensive consultant sure, fresh ideas yes.  Edmonton is a tire fire, not sure what they need to do.  BC I would tweek as they are getting close.  I am an Oilers fan, they are in a similar situation as the Bombers.  Old team that needs to win now or soon.  Both have had a lot of success as of late and have fell short in the playoffs.  Both will need  a rebuild but not immediately imo.

He didn't take a single personal shot or talk about anything that wasn't a response to your post.

[Blue In BC]

Our potential free agents list just came out and we have 29 players listed at the moment. It's a little bigger than last year IIRC but a few other teams have even longer lists.

Let the work begin to see if we can re-sign a few before the end of the year if we have any SMS left. Certainly need to lock up some others in the new year before free agency. We'll have an idea of who is going to test free agency by then.

[Blueforlife]

He didn't take a single personal shot or talk about anything that wasn't a response to your post.

He took a shot that I have never run a business nor that I had heard of continous improvement, which both were not true.  He brought that up, I never talked about that in my post.  There was absolutely no need for him to bring that up.  Nice try though, I like to stick to the facts. 

He has been focusing on me at times and not Football and has said things about me that are not true; there is no value in continuing the debate about this.  I have asked him repeatedly to not make me the subject of his posts and to not post things that are not true, which he shown he can't stop doing.

This argument had nothing to do with challenging opinions.  I'll always call people out for saying things about me that are not true. 

The truth shall set you free.

Let's just leave it.  This place is for talking about ball not me.

[55StickCar]

After thinking about it I am putting 1 player in the Good;

Willie Jefferson.

I think that is all though.

Boy did we have a bunch of uncharacteristic Bomber mistakes in that game. Everything that could go wrong went wrong.

[Pete]

if you had told me that Jefferson would have his best game of the year, that our oline would have a strong game, Grant would be pretty much a non factor, and Kelly would be injured I would have thought we'd win easily.
  But the Performance by Zac and the game plan by Buck/O'Shea offset all that

[ModAdmin]

He took a shot that I have never run a business nor that I had heard of continous improvement, which both were not true.  He brought that up, I never talked about that in my post.  There was absolutely no need for him to bring that up.  Nice try though, I like to stick to the facts. 

He has been focusing on me at times and not Football and has said things about me that are not true; there is no value in continuing the debate about this.  I have asked him repeatedly to not make me the subject of his posts and to not post things that are not true, which he shown he can't stop doing.

Let's just leave it.  This place is for talking about ball not me.

Yet you continue to talk about you and make it about you.  I don't see anything in B in BC's post that warrants a response like that from you.

Let's continue to talk about football, yes, but don't take every post that challenges your opinion as a personal attack.

[TecnoGenius]

Willie had an excellent game, his best of the season.

I think Willie really got motivated by the 2nd & 17 whiff on Cody in the '23 GC.  Willie could have won the game right there had he caught Cody instead of slipping on the ground.  He had his hand nearly on him.

I'm so proud of Willie.  He tried to put the game on his back and win it all.  In a sane world he would have, but so many on O let him down.

I really hope we keep him and he keeps playing and he gives it the same effort in the '25 home GC.  Maybe the supporting cast will finally rise to the occasion around him.

[TecnoGenius]

if you had told me that Jefferson would have his best game of the year, that our oline would have a strong game, Grant would be pretty much a non factor, and Kelly would be injured I would have thought we'd win easily.
  But the Performance by Zac and the game plan by Buck/O'Shea offset all that

This is totally it.  We completely took care of the big risks/fears.  All of them.

The done-deals / just-play-bomber-ball aspects then laid the biggest egg ever.  And almost every break went TOR's way.

[Stats Junkie]

Just an observation from the Grey Cup

On the successful DPI that O'Shea challenged in the 4th quarter, the officials placed the ball at the wrong spot.

The ball was placed at the T47 which is where the DPI occurred. That was only an 8 yard gain from the previous LOS (W55). By rule, the minimum gain on a DPI penalty is 10 yards which means that the ball should have been placed at the T45.

This error did not cost the Blue Bombers the game and Winnipeg did score a TD on that drive.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I think Willie really got motivated by the 2nd & 17 whiff on Cody in the '23 GC.  Willie could have won the game right there had he caught Cody instead of slipping on the ground.  He had his hand nearly on him.

I'm so proud of Willie.  He tried to put the game on his back and win it all.  In a sane world he would have, but so many on O let him down.

I really hope we keep him and he keeps playing and he gives it the same effort in the '25 home GC.  Maybe the supporting cast will finally rise to the occasion around him.

Willie knows when his contract expires and when he needs to make a big statement, it's been reported he's at the head of the line outside Walters office waiting to re-negotiate his contract.  No problem paying him the same that he earned last season, but his days of receiving bumps are probably over.

[TecnoGenius]

On the successful DPI that O'Shea challenged in the 4th quarter, the officials placed the ball at the wrong spot.

I'll check it out.  At that point in the stadium nobody cared and just wanted it to be over.  People were booing the challenge.

P.S. I haven't gotten to that part on the PVR yet, so I don't know how egregious the DPI was, but command only overturned 4-6 uncalled DPIs after the "memo" mid-season.  I got the feeling in the stands they were showing us pity.

[dd]

Just an observation from the Grey Cup

On the successful DPI that O'Shea challenged in the 4th quarter, the officials placed the ball at the wrong spot.

The ball was placed at the T47 which is where the DPI occurred. That was only an 8 yard gain from the previous LOS (W55). By rule, the minimum gain on a DPI penalty is 10 yards which means that the ball should have been placed at the T45.

This error did not cost the Blue Bombers the game and Winnipeg did score a TD on that drive.

No, DPI is a spot foul. If it's less than 10 yards, its spotted at the point of foul. The refs got it right. If there's a situation where there's dual fouls, one by the offense and one by the defense, the DPI yardage is changed to a 10 yard foul

[Stats Junkie]

No, DPI is a spot foul. If it's less than 10 yards, its spotted at the point of foul. The refs got it right. If there's a situation where there's dual fouls, one by the offense and one by the defense, the DPI yardage is changed to a 10 yard foul

From the CFL Rule Book
See point (ii) below

If Team B Commits the Pass Interference Foul:
(i) If interference is ruled accidental – L10 PLS and AFD for Team A.
(ii) If interference is ruled deliberate – AFD awarded to Team A at PF or 10 yards in advance of PLS (whichever is closer to Team B Goal Line). If the infraction occurs in the Team B Goal Area — AFD to Team A at Team B's 1-yard line.
(iii) If interference is on a convert attempt – attempt repeated by Team A at PF, or L10 PLS, or 1-yard line if the foul is in Team B's goal area.