Can we win 2025 with this coaching staff.

[Blue In BC]

It's how the forum works.  We fail once and they forget years of success.

I see promise with Buck.

Geez. We lost the last 3 Grey Cups in a row. We came out flat footed on offence in all of them. For that matter we didn't look great on offence in the two we won.

While the failures aren't soley his fault, much of it has been. Where was the run game on Sunday?

[blue_gold_84]

It's how the forum works.  We fail once and they forget years of success.

I see promise with Buck.

Did you miss the last three Grey Cup games? The offense has been trash in all of them. Someone needs to be held accountable for that - who else besides the OC?

That status quo is clearly not working when it matters most.

[Blueforlife]

Did you miss the last three Grey Cup games? The offense has been trash in all of them.

That status quo is clearly not working when it matters most.

Failed in the big show yes.  Failed in general no.  I don't mind Buck but don't love his play calling.  With Zach I see consistency in the offensive system critical for one more year.  My hope is we can improve and learn from falling on our face.

[theaardvark]

You can make calculated guesses who your next WDF and GC opponent will be.  And they will be right most of the time.  You can make a plan for the possibilities, putting as much effort into each as the odds dictate.  And you can modify your predictions as the season progresses.

For example, in 2021 it would have been a fair bet to assume we'd face HAM in the GC.

'22 would have been hard to guess TOR, though, as they were pretty stinky for a few years.  Same with '23.

But '24 you could bet the farm we'd be facing either TOR or MTL.

WDF since '21 it was clear we'll be facing BC or SSK.

You can't save it all until GC week where everybody is flown out of town like 5 days ahead of time.  Everybody is partying and doing awards shows and soaking it up.  You can't be doing your biggest brain work during that time, and even if you do, you don't have time to transfer that info effectively into the players.

I bet you anything both MTL and TOR braintrust (HC, coords) were working on plans and plays to beat the Bombers all season long (with less work on BC/SSK).

If I was running the ship, that's what I'd be doing.  I'd have turned the team into a TOR & MTL killer.

Maybe that was the problem.  We were planning for BC in the WF and MTL in the GC?

[blue_gold_84]

Failed in the big show yes.  Failed in general no.  I don't mind Buck but don't love his play calling.  With Zach I see consistency in the offensive critical.

This big show is all that matters, especially when you're the loser in three-in-a-row of said shows.

[Blueforlife]

This big show is all that matters, especially when you're the loser in three-in-a-row of said shows.

Agree it's critical but often one builds on success from the past.  We shall see what happens next.

[theaardvark]

When Wilson goes in, you pound jumbo/BO20.  They expect it, doesn't matter.  Occasionally, if you see the DB's sleeping one play, the next you do the run fake, drop back and hit the open guy over the sleepy DB.

But you RUN THE BALL.  MOP RB and 7 OL and a FB dressed, you RUN THE BALL. 

You don't need a big play, you need ball control, get the lead and to run out the clock.  17-13 going into the 4th.Had them exactly where we wanted them.

[Blue In BC]

Agree it's critical but often one builds on success from the past.  We shall see what happens next.

Pierce has been here for 10 years with 4 as OC. How much longer can you wait?

[Blueforlife]

Pierce has been here for 10 years with 4 as OC. How much longer can you wait?

I am willing to wait for 1 and move on when Zach does as starting QB.

[theaardvark]

I am willing to wait for 1 and move on when Zach does as starting QB.

This is "all in to win" season, GC at PAS.  Not a time for "one more year"...

[Blue In BC]

Maybe that was the problem.  We were planning for BC in the WF and MTL in the GC?

No I don't think so. There are no secrets at the end of the year. Teams know their strengths and their opponents weaknesses. We didn't take advantage of that information with the run game in particular. We won or lost several games this year but small margins. In each, game plan was a factor, preparation and execution.  There were lots of comments about that but there was relief when we squeaked through week to week.

Bombers were last in scoring in 2024 after several years finishing as the highest scoring team. Obviously we had some personnel issues, but clearly we've become very predictable on offence.

Would that game plan have succeeded against another opponent? Bombers win when we use bully ball as a major part of our game plan.

[Blueforlife]

This is "all in to win" season, GC at PAS.  Not a time for "one more year"...

Agree, good debate if Buck or someone else will get us there.  I would bet on Buck doesn't mean  I'm right, we will find out in November the answer.

[Blue In BC]

This is "all in to win" season, GC at PAS.  Not a time for "one more year"...

I disagree about thoughts of all in just because the game is in Winnipeg. Teams want to win every year. Winning at home is nice but the goal is winning regardless. Was their any less emphasis on winning this year?

It will be interesting to see how much the Lions went over the cap in an all in year concept. The team that spent the most money isn't guaranteed winning.

Bombers were slightly over last year and IIRC the Als didn't exceed the cap did they?

[theaardvark]

Agree, good debate if Buck or someone else will get us there.  I would bet on Buck doesn't mean  I'm right, we will find out in November the answer.

I truly think we do not see November with Buck.

Reading the media coverage of the post game comments from the players, and the lack of Buck being there, speaks volumes.  There is no doubt in my mind that "Buck has lost the room".  Not sure what you can say to the MOP to justify 11 carries in the most important game of the year, especially when your QB1 is unable to grip the ball to throw it.

This is not longer a debate about whether to stick with Buck. It has rapidly become a discussion about who replaces him.

[Blue In BC]

I truly think we do not see November with Buck.

Reading the media coverage of the post game comments from the players, and the lack of Buck being there, speaks volumes.  There is no doubt in my mind that "Buck has lost the room".  Not sure what you can say to the MOP to justify 11 carries in the most important game of the year, especially when your QB1 is unable to grip the ball to throw it.

This is not longer a debate about whether to stick with Buck. It has rapidly become a discussion about who replaces him.

It's unfortunate because he has had great success in the past. Time has passed him by it appears. There is no clear replacement that comes to mind and that is an issue. I suggested a 2nd set of eyes in a consultant role. That might be an option but no one comes to mind for that either.

At some point it's time to move on even if it's a temporary downgrade. We spend a ton of money on our offence, possibly the most we've ever spent. Yes we lost some key players early but at the end of the season we were generally fairly healthy on offence.