Blue Bombers re-sign kicker Sergio Castillo

[ModAdmin]

Blue Bombers re-sign kicker Sergio Castillo

WINNIPEG, MB., November 21, 2024 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has re-signed veteran kicker Sergio Castillo to a one-year contract.

He was scheduled to become a free agent in February of 2025.

Castillo (5-9, 197; West Texas A&M; born: November 1, 1990, in La Joya, TX) returns to the club after serving as the club's placekicker since 2023.

The 34-year-old is in his third stint with the Blue Bombers where he began his Canadian Football League career in 2015 and returning in 2021 via trade. He then signed in Edmonton in 2022 before rejoining the club in 2023 as a free agent.

Castillo was named the Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Special Teams Player for a second consecutive season in 2024 after connecting on 79.7 percent of his field goals (51-of-64), and hitting on 38-of-39 converts.

His 51 successful field goals – third highest in Blue Bombers history -- came from an average distance of 37.1 yards and the average attempt from 39.2 yards – both league-highs. He also established a new CFL record with 11 field goals of 50 yards or more, including two makes from 60 yard – breaking the previous team record of 58, first set by Bernie Ruoff in 1975 and tied by Justin Medlock in 2016.

[markf]

Related....are people happy with out punter?

[Blue In BC]

Related....are people happy with out punter?

Not especially but it's a decent use of the mandatory global spot. He was better in 2024 than in 2023 so he might improve in 2025.


Add to that were some of the bad kicks influenced by ST coach wanting to keep the fall away for returners?

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Glad to have him locked up - It's pretty unlikely we could find anyone better.

[Blue In BC]

Glad to have him locked up - It's pretty unlikely we could find anyone better.

Maybe. Many players in the global drafst have been kickers or punters. If it wasn't for global mandate and it was converted to an import DI spot, there would be lots of alternatives. I won't be surprised if we draft another global punter as depth this year.

Having Castillo as a DI limits our choices for a punter.

[blue_gold_84]

Good.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Maybe. Many players in the global drafst have been kickers or punters. If it wasn't for global mandate and it was converted to an import DI spot, there would be lots of alternatives. I won't be surprised if we draft another global punter as depth this year.

Having Castillo as a DI limits our choices for a punter.

The thing with field goal kicking is that nobody cares where you're from when the game starts. Canadian, American, Australian, it doesn't matter. You need someone who can make the kicks. There's lots of positions you can tolerate play for passport to some degree but field goal kicking is not one.

[Waffler]

Related....are people happy with out punter?

Ive never been happy with him but he seems super safe here. I'd like to see some real competition at 2025 TC.

Also Benson I think the same.

[Blue In BC]

The thing with field goal kicking is that nobody cares where you're from when the game starts. Canadian, American, Australian, it doesn't matter. You need someone who can make the kicks. There's lots of positions you can tolerate play for passport to some degree but field goal kicking is not one.

That's not what I meant. A global is a free spot when a Canadian can't be found. It's a strange subset of DI's.

I've made previous comments that I'd prefer that they roll the global spots over to DI's and then you'd see more opportunity for competition.  That doesn't impact the Canadian ratio anymore then 2 globals on the roster.

Globals make rosters by default. We draft 2 each year and they spend time on the PR. Aside from kickers not much impact.

I doubt the rule changes anytime soon but I can hope.

I see the Riders just re-signed their global punter after releasing him from their PR earlier. Their normal global punter Korsak might be a potential free agent.  Sheahan is a potential free agent.

[Blue In BC]

Ive never been happy with him but he seems super safe here. I'd like to see some real competition at 2025 TC.

Also Benson I think the same.

Good chance Leroux challenges Benson. Obviously younger, less expensive and under contract.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

That's not what I meant. A global is a free spot when a Canadian can't be found. It's a strange subset of DI's.

I've made previous comments that I'd prefer that they roll the global spots over to DI's and then you'd see more opportunity for competition.  That doesn't impact the Canadian ratio anymore then 2 globals on the roster.

Globals make rosters by default. We draft 2 each year and they spend time on the PR. Aside from kickers not much impact.

I doubt the rule changes anytime soon but I can hope.

I see the Riders just re-signed their global punter after releasing him from their PR earlier. Their normal global punter Korsak might be a potential free agent.  Sheahan is a potential free agent.

Sheahan probably provides the best value from the Global spot we're ever going to get. You're right though, a Canadian would have a chance to beat him but unless they change the rules on Globals now that Ambroise is gone he'd be hard to beat because you still need a global if it's not Sheahan and you'd still be subtracting a Canadian off your roster for the punter.

To put that in to 2024's frame of reference, in practice, that means: Weitz in for Sheahan, new punter in for Feltmate/Noah Hallet/Samson, something like that anyway. Doesn't sound like a good swap to me unless the Canadian punter was significantly better.

[Jesse]

One off the list.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Sheahan probably provides the best value from the Global spot we're ever going to get. You're right though, a Canadian would have a chance to beat him but unless they change the rules on Globals now that Ambroise is gone he'd be hard to beat because you still need a global if it's not Sheahan and you'd still be subtracting a Canadian off your roster for the punter.

To put that in to 2024's frame of reference, in practice, that means: Weitz in for Sheahan, new punter in for Feltmate/Noah Hallet/Samson, something like that anyway. Doesn't sound like a good swap to me unless the Canadian punter was significantly better.

People have to realize the Global designation is not protecting Aussie punters from Natls. taking back their jobs, the Aussie punters are clearly more abundant and more talented. 

[Blue In BC]

People have to realize the Global designation is not protecting Aussie punters from Natls. taking back their jobs, the Aussie punters are clearly more abundant and more talented. 

Also didn't mean that necessarily. If we rolled the global designation into just another import DI spot, then we could have an import as a kicker and one as a punter. At the very least it would create additional competition. The global punter could still be retained. He'd just be considered another non Canadian, thus an import.

It would also allow better use of 2 spots on the PR for Americans rather than forcing default spots for Globals.

Finding a Canadian punter is difficult and as mentioned then we have to add a different global to maintain the 1 player minimum.

I wonder if we'll hear how much his new deal is worth and compared to his last deal. He's not getting Medlock money but he's not getting ELC either.

[Blueforlife]

Awesome signing

Our punting was over criticized early by some with other teams finding success with the big leg.

Our punting is average, consistent and cheap.  Non issue handled internally.

[dd]

Sergio had a decent year, was consistent, only had one off night and they all have off nights.

We got a kicker, we need to find us a decent kick returner. Every punt exchange we were losing 20-25 yards, and that adds up in a game. That's gotta change

[Blueforlife]

Sergio had a decent year, was consistent, only had one off night and they all have off nights.

We got kicker, we need to find us a decent kick returner. Every punt exchange we were losing 20-25 yards, and that adds up in a game. That's gotta change

We didn't lose that much everytime.  Our punting was average and our returns were consistent but didn't break any.  Yes to a new returner.

[GOLDMEMBER]

Good signing.

[TecnoGenius]

I wonder if we'll hear how much his new deal is worth and compared to his last deal. He's not getting Medlock money but he's not getting ELC either.

Castillo has always been affordable.  I would think he took a small cut or status quo for 2025.  He may have cost us 2 games in '24... and his success average was one of the worst.  Oh ya, and his dumb KO in the GC gave TOR early momentum which is at least 10% to blame for the loss.

Yes, I appreciate we put him out there for much longer kicks than every other team, and he often made them.  Yes, I take that into account.

For bang for the buck, I think we made the right choice.  And I'm satisfied they made the right choice to move on from Leggs.

[Blue In BC]

Awesome signing

Our punting was over criticized early by some with other teams finding success with the big leg.

Our punting is average, consistent and cheap.  Non issue handled internally.

If you looking for average or cheap then he's your man. Also note he's a potential free agent and will want more money so cheap may be out the window. The salaries for global players was allowed to be increased in the last CBA once they hit free agency.

In the Grey Cup Haggerty punted 5 times for an average of 54.8 yards ( longest 70 yards ). Sheahan also punted 5 times for an average of 45.8 yards ( longest 50 yards ).

What exactly did we handle internally? The best we can say is we used our necessary global roster spot.

NOTE: Haggerty is also a potential free agent and is a global. He may not reach free agency or he may want more money, but how much more? Interesting.

Sheahan was 9th ( dead last ) of all 9 CFL punters in season average.

[Blue In BC]

Castillo has always been affordable.  I would think he took a small cut or status quo for 2025.  He may have cost us 2 games in '24... and his success average was one of the worst.  Oh ya, and his dumb KO in the GC gave TOR early momentum which is at least 10% to blame for the loss.

Yes, I appreciate we put him out there for much longer kicks than every other team, and he often made them.  Yes, I take that into account.

For bang for the buck, I think we made the right choice.  And I'm satisfied they made the right choice to move on from Leggs.

Costing us the two games is a concern and something to watch for in 2025. Not so much whether misses actually costs us games but missing PAT's and what we'd consider easy FG's, can come back to haunt us. As mentioned, it did cost us 2 games in 2024.

I would still be bringing in some competition to TC.

[Waffler]

I would still be bringing in some competition to TC.

My money is on NOT. MOS loves him some Sergio. Best we can hope for is snapper and holder (whoever they may be) become something approaching perfection.

Which brings up another point I wonder about. With an Aussie kicker holding there was never a chance for a fake or a successful scramble if botched. Prukop used to do the holding and I think it should be someone that has throwing/scrambling ability. I think the argument is that the kickers can practice together more but doing that you lose a player that can maybe make a play out of disaster.

[Blue In BC]

My money is on NOT. MOS loves him some Sergio. Best we can hope for is snapper and holder (whoever they may be) become something approaching perfection.

Which brings up another point I wonder about. With an Aussie kicker holding there was never a chance for a fake or a successful scramble if botched. Prukop used to do the holding and I think it should be someone that has throwing/scrambling ability. I think the argument is that the kickers can practice together more but doing that you lose a player that can maybe make a play out of disaster.

We brought in other kickers for TC last year didn't we? That doesn't mean we make a roster change but injuries happen. Development on the PR happens.

I had been wondering about a new holder in 2025. Nothing wrong with the punter as the holder but a QB does give you some other opportunities if there is a problem.

Benson had some issues which Sheahan handled well but it's also possible we go younger for our snapper. Whether Benson retires of is released in order to keep Leroux, we'll see before free agency.

[Waffler]

We brought in other kickers for TC last year didn't we?

We did? I only recall a punter. Add to that the speed at which the re-up was announced makes me think it's Sergio, period. MOS is stubborn once he has his guy and I see that being the case here.

[TecnoGenius]

Sheahan was 9th ( dead last ) of all 9 CFL punters in season average.

Go back and look at Sheahan's coffin corner rate: basically league best.  Junkie's stats told the tale.

Our cover teams also vastly improved this season, and part of that may be Sheahan being told to aim for things other than the big boomer.

I'm fine with Sheahan.  As  GLOB even if he gets a slight $ bump, it'll be tiny and affordable.  No other team will want him as, like you said, his "distance avg" is garbage... only we know the secret!

[Blue In BC]

Go back and look at Sheahan's coffin corner rate: basically league best.  Junkie's stats told the tale.

Our cover teams also vastly improved this season, and part of that may be Sheahan being told to aim for things other than the big boomer.

I'm fine with Sheahan.  As  GLOB even if he gets a slight $ bump, it'll be tiny and affordable.  No other team will want him as, like you said, his "distance avg" is garbage... only we know the secret!

I already had looked. Here are some of the highlights.  Maybe you can take another look?

From our side of field:

1. Net 8th
2. Inside 1-10, 3 tied for 4th
3. Inside 11-20 9th

From opponent side of field:

1. Average 6th
2. Inside 1-10 1 tied for 7th
3. Inside 11-20 7 4th


More bad there than possible good.

[Blue In BC]

We did? I only recall a punter. Add to that the speed at which the re-up was announced makes me think it's Sergio, period. MOS is stubborn once he has his guy and I see that being the case here.

Wasn't the Canadian punter a dual role guy?

Fair point about how quickly he was re-signed but you still need TC competition IMO. MOS can't continue to be overly stubborn.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Wasn't the Canadian punter a dual role guy?

Fair point about how quickly he was re-signed but you still need TC competition IMO. MOS can't continue to be overly stubborn.

See who turns up from U-Sports, hasn't been much to get excited about lately.

[ModAdmin]

We did? I only recall a punter. Add to that the speed at which the re-up was announced makes me think it's Sergio, period. MOS is stubborn once he has his guy and I see that being the case here.

Last year's training camp - Dante Mastrogiuseppe, punter and field goal kicker.

[Blueforlife]

Go back and look at Sheahan's coffin corner rate: basically league best.  Junkie's stats told the tale.

Our cover teams also vastly improved this season, and part of that may be Sheahan being told to aim for things other than the big boomer.

I'm fine with Sheahan.  As  GLOB even if he gets a slight $ bump, it'll be tiny and affordable.  No other team will want him as, like you said, his "distance avg" is garbage... only we know the secret!

Yup he punts well and know where to place them.  Don't need a massive leg to be effective.  He is consistent and is going no where.

You nailed it about out coverage teams, were good and worked well with our directional punting.  We need to improve a bit on coverage and our ST will be great.

If you looking for average or cheap then he's your man. Also note he's a potential free agent and will want more money so cheap may be out the window. The salaries for global players was allowed to be increased in the last CBA once they hit free agency.

In the Grey Cup Haggerty punted 5 times for an average of 54.8 yards ( longest 70 yards ). Sheahan also punted 5 times for an average of 45.8 yards ( longest 50 yards ).

What exactly did we handle internally? The best we can say is we used our necessary global roster spot.

NOTE: Haggerty is also a potential free agent and is a global. He may not reach free agency or he may want more money, but how much more? Interesting.

Sheahan was 9th ( dead last ) of all 9 CFL punters in season average.

He will be cheap again, sign him for 2 years, he will take it.

The handle internally is an old joke, just having a little fun at a ridiculous (and funny imo) saying from a previous coach.

You want change at a lot positions it seems.  I want to tweak what we got and find a few more studs.  Good debate.  My plan would be save on the punter who we can rely on and buy a stud somewhere else.  Can't all be excellent.  SMS is a balancing act. 

[Blue In BC]

I don't WANT a lot of change but change is the nature of the sport. Age, injuries, free agency, retirements and SMS. We have 28 potential free agents and some will be gone one way or another. In 2024 we had 23 players from 2023 not longer with the team. Change on the PR is inevitable. Players tend to move up or out.

At some point it's time to move on or put another way, improve where needed. We can't be excellent at every position but ST's are an important facet.  Injuries in TC force change. Injuries in the season as well.

Clercius, Wallace, Chris-Ike, T.Wilson, Dolegala, Feltmate, Lofton, Jones, Ayers, Bonds, Bridges, Case, Griffin and Wheatfall. Streveler and Ford returning to the CFL.

As I've suggested, I expect 6 new starters in 2025. If there was no SMS there wouldn't be questions about retaining Lawler and / or Schoen for example. Because there is an SMS, there are questions whether we can.

SMS issues go a long way in determining where those changes happen. Last year it was Hardrick, Gray, Jeffcoat, Brown, Grant, Houston, Bailey, Walker, Hansen that come to mind.  There were 6 starters in that group alone.

It's just a guess and discussion where we expect possible change and for the most point it will revolve around SMS as a large criteria. It's not the only one but it's always in play.