Bomber Free Agents

Jesse · February 04, 2025, 05:08:47 PM

Quote from: Waffler on February 04, 2025, 03:53:44 PMIf true it just makes me wonder even more why he didn't get to play in the Grey Cup. All I can think of is loyalty.

We all saw the Grey Cup. When Zach can't play, and he turns 37 this year, we don't have a chance. Dolegala and young guys ain't gonna get this done.

Old guy off the scrap heap isn't going to get it done after Zach either. You prioritize bring in the young guys so you can find they guy after Zach.

dd · February 04, 2025, 05:54:28 PM

Wow, Lawler and Dobson to Hamilton....Hamilton needed talent and has went out and got it!!

GOLDMEMBER · February 04, 2025, 06:17:42 PM

Losing Dobson sucks.
Losing Lawler does not bother me that much. He says I love this city blah blah leaves for worthless Edm comes back here blah blah I love this coach team and city then leaves for sucky Hamiton. I'm done with thy guy.
Hamilton wins the off season but how many times have we said that they Hammy falls flat on there face when the lights are on.

Blueforlife · February 04, 2025, 06:30:06 PM

Dobson a huge loss!

theaardvark · February 04, 2025, 06:52:11 PM

Quote from: Blueforlife on February 04, 2025, 06:30:06 PMDobson a huge loss!

Much less of a loss than Couture, Hardrick, Desjarlais or Chungh. Dobson was good, but I think Wallace can be as good or better, just due to his size. And if not, we have the ratio to dress Randolph there.

We continue to supply teams with expensive Oline.

Throw Long Bannatyne · February 04, 2025, 07:15:24 PM

Quote from: Waffler on February 04, 2025, 03:53:44 PMIf true it just makes me wonder even more why he didn't get to play in the Grey Cup. All I can think of is loyalty.

We all saw the Grey Cup. When Zach can't play, and he turns 37 this year, we don't have a chance. Dolegala and young guys ain't gonna get this done.

Yah, I can't see the reason to stick with Dolegala, watched him in Sask. and BC and didn't see any spark of talent. Honestly saw more from Cornelius, at least he could run well. As it stands Wilson is the future QB until someone else comes along, maybe Jackson will help him progress quickly if they give him a fair amount of playing time.

Here's my ghastly prediction, Zach retires after this season and the unwanted hobo Cody Fajardo slips into his empty shoes the following season. Hah!

Blueforlife · February 04, 2025, 07:26:50 PM

Quote from: theaardvark on February 04, 2025, 06:52:11 PMMuch less of a loss than Couture, Hardrick, Desjarlais or Chungh. Dobson was good, but I think Wallace can be as good or better, just due to his size. And if not, we have the ratio to dress Randolph there.

We continue to supply teams with expensive Oline.

Make the league broke on stud OL at a time!

theaardvark · February 04, 2025, 07:32:10 PM

Adding Jackson does make development of the next QB a much better prospect. I think we are going to see a lot of arms in camp. And JJ will probably be at some sort of mini camps, we need to do that.

With all the new scouting talent, there must be some arms on the radar, might need for them to fall off other neg lists, or trade for their rights.

With Zach's impending retirement and JJ as QB coach, this has to be an attractive landing spot for a young QB. If Dolegala finishes camp on the roster, I think we have missed the boat. Wilson needs to progress to a solid #2 QB and SY guy, and we need 1 AR and 1 PR guy pushing him. And those guys shouldn't be anyone whose name we know today.

Pete · February 04, 2025, 07:44:03 PM

At the beginning of free agency I was feeling optimistic as a bomber fan. But the further we go into the week the more disillusioned I'm getting. We lose 3 allstars in Lawler, Ford and Dobson
and nothing about who's replacing them. Every year we seem to be trying to patch over these losses, but it feels like the air is escaping faster
I mean seriously we lose Ford and Lawler and sign Haggerty and Cobbs? Wade needs to step in

theaardvark · February 04, 2025, 07:53:12 PM

Quote from: Pete on February 04, 2025, 07:44:03 PMAt the beginning of free agency I was feeling optimistic as a bomber fan. But the further we go into the week the more disillusioned I'm getting. We lose 3 allstars in Lawler, Ford and Dobson
and nothing about who's replacing them. Every year we seem to be trying to patch over these losses, but it feels like the air is escaping faster

Lawler - Mitchell
Ford - Parker
Dobson - Wallace/Randolph

We re-signed most of our other FA's and have added Vaughters and a few other pieces (Jones, Cobb, Payton) that won't hurt at all...

Not sure the source of your pessimism, we've lost more and bigger assets in the past, and have 5 straight GC appearances to show for it.

blue_gold_84 · February 04, 2025, 07:56:23 PM

Quote from: theaardvark on February 04, 2025, 07:53:12 PMLawler - Mitchell
Ford - Parker

These aren't 1:1 replacements. And even you know that.

Pete · February 04, 2025, 08:15:14 PM

Quote from: theaardvark on February 04, 2025, 07:53:12 PMLawler - Mitchell
Ford - Parker
Dobson - Wallace/Randolph

We re-signed most of our other FA's and have added Vaughters and a few other pieces (Jones, Cobb, Payton) that won't hurt at all...

Not sure the source of your pessimism, we've lost more and bigger assets in the past, and have 5 straight GC appearances to show for it.

every year we have regressed, as is to be expected as grey cup winning teams tend to get raided, but at some point we need to become more aggressive
as for your comparisons
Mitchell covers off wilson maybe
and we havent even addressed what we are doing at safety. We still need help on oline as well

theaardvark · February 04, 2025, 08:22:38 PM

Quote from: blue_gold_84 on February 04, 2025, 07:56:23 PMThese aren't 1:1 replacements. And even you know that.

Who said they were 1:1 replacements. They are replacements. That's who will line up in their positions. The OP was saying "there is no mention of their replacements". Yes there was.

Some replacements will be less talented, and some will be more talented.

Are you concerned that we lost Haba/Garbutt and only replaced them with Vaughters?

Or that we will lose Lucky and only replace him with Logan?

theaardvark · February 04, 2025, 08:27:55 PM

Quote from: Pete on February 04, 2025, 08:15:14 PMevery year we have regressed, as is to be expected as grey cup winning teams tend to get raided, but at some point we need to become more aggressive
as for your comparisons
Mitchell covers off wilson maybe
and we havent even addressed what we are doing at safety. We still need help on oline as well

Someone mentioned that there are 6 potential safetys on the current roster. Not sure that many, but there are options.

Why do we need help on the oline? We lost one OG. We have 2 Nats on the roster that can fill that spot (Eli/Wallace) and one Int (Randolph). One will with the spot, and we will still have the full oline, plus 1 Nat and 1 Int backup. Plus we have draft picks coming back, and may draft more. Dobson was a luxury we didn't need to overpay.

The WFC with the Mafia in charge has always drafted and recruited well, so much so that, as you say, we get raided. "Being raided" proves we can produce talent, and there is no reason to believe that will stop. or even slow.

I believe that Walters has done a great job of getting better at some spots while not losing too much at others, and has $SMS left to pick up some extra pieces.

blueandgoldguy · February 04, 2025, 08:42:54 PM

Very disappointed that the club choose not to re-sign both Lawler and Dobson who was coming into his own as the 2024 season progressed...yet the Walters (with likely a big nudge from O'Shea) saw fit to spend money on bring back an aging and mostly useless Jake Thomas who I think we can all agree is the worst interior starting lineman in the CFL.