Khari Jones

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Bougoin knows the offence and players. You'd think he'd have the edge but we'll see. Jackson might be a good choice.

Either way, we'll be down 1 coach on offence and need to add a +1.

Bighill as a coach / emergency replacement is not a bad idea other than fitting him into the coaches salary cap. If Hall departs, then perhaps there is a role with the gap created.

If Hall departs they would be wise to replace him with a future choice at DC, as it might be a few short years before Younger follows Buck's lead and starts applying for HC jobs as well. If Bighill is interested in coaching, this could be a very easy way for him to side-step years of toil most coaches have to go through to elevate their careers in the professional ranks, within 2-3 years he could be the new DC.

[Blue In BC]

If Hall departs they would be wise to replace him with a future choice at DC, as it might be a few short years before Younger follows Buck's lead and starts applying for HC jobs as well. If Bighill is interested in coaching, this could be a very easy way for him to side-step years of toil most coaches have to go through to elevate their careers in the professional ranks, within 2-3 years he could be the new DC.

It's not clear whether Hall will consider retirement. If not I'd expect him back. However the idea of Bighill taking on a coaching role might still exists if he's interested.

Bighill says he want's to continue playing in 2025 and coaching may not be part of his current plan.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

It's not clear whether Hall will consider retirement. If not I'd expect him back. However the idea of Bighill taking on a coaching role might still exists if he's interested.

Bighill says he want's to continue playing in 2025 and coaching may not be part of his current plan.

Richie Hall is interviewing for the DC job in Ottawa, so this probably isn't his last year coaching.  As for Bighill, it appears Tony Jones may have stolen his job.

[Blueforlife]

If Hall departs they would be wise to replace him with a future choice at DC, as it might be a few short years before Younger follows Buck's lead and starts applying for HC jobs as well. If Bighill is interested in coaching, this could be a very easy way for him to side-step years of toil most coaches have to go through to elevate their careers in the professional ranks, within 2-3 years he could be the new DC.

Keep Younger as he is good and developing.  He learned from Hall.  Hopefully both stay but I could see Hall leaving for more money.

We have had one of the best runs at defense in Bomber history.  This is on the back of Hall's brilliance/experience, Youngers ability to change and continously improve / innovate and experiment.  Oh yeah and like Ritchie said "the players play", they have contributed a wee bit to our D (backed my great scouting and roster management).  GO BLUE.

Conisitency gets you cups.  Patience pays off.

[TecnoGenius]

Richie Hall is interviewing for the DC job in Ottawa, so this probably isn't his last year coaching.  As for Bighill, it appears Tony Jones may have stolen his job.

Maybe, maybe not.  If Kyrie isn't re-upped, Jones could slide to WILL and Biggie could QB-the-D again.  That might be an effective combo.

Also, I've never seen any indication Biggie wants to coach.  I think Zach's idea of CFLPA prez is just as likely.  Or he switches from making sacks to making stacks full time, with his finance gig.

[DM83]

The guy at defensive coordinator is a passive guy.  No pressure in rushing a jiurneyman QB just handed the cup to Toronto.  You have to admit no pressure on a guy who hasn't done well against zone defenses was a sin.

However we need an offensive coordinator.  Lapo fits the bill.  How long is O'Shea signed for?
The last hurrah of the southern Ontario boys seems a possibility after the teams last hurrah in 2025.

[TecnoGenius]

The guy at defensive coordinator is a passive guy.  No pressure in rushing a jiurneyman QB just handed the cup to Toronto.  You have to admit no pressure on a guy who hasn't done well against zone defenses was a sin.

Our DL simply wasn't good enough all season to base our D on pressure.  We chose coverage instead, and probably wisely.  I think Younger did the best he could with what he had.

Add to that the fact that TOR had probably the league-best OL and it was a pretty safe bet our front 4 wasn't going to get through very often.  The fact our DL out-performed and got some pressure/sacks doesn't make this any less true.

If we obtain a superstar DE or DT in FA, maybe we can get back to '21 pressure packages.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Our DL simply wasn't good enough all season to base our D on pressure.  We chose coverage instead, and probably wisely.  I think Younger did the best he could with what he had.

Add to that the fact that TOR had probably the league-best OL and it was a pretty safe bet our front 4 wasn't going to get through very often.  The fact our DL out-performed and got some pressure/sacks doesn't make this any less true.

If we obtain a superstar DE or DT in FA, maybe we can get back to '21 pressure packages.

I hope they move back in that direction of a strong front 4, don't know if they played a 3 front out of necessity or by choice but lining up in that formation the majority of downs sucks when the opposition is expecting it. Funny they never experimented with a 3-4, but perhaps they never had enough LB's healthy at one time to make that formation work. Cole, Jones, Ayers and one of Bighill or Wilson would have been fun to watch.

[blue_gold_84]

I hope they move back in that direction of a strong front 4, don't know if they played a 3 front out of necessity...

They let Jeffcoat walk without an adequate replacement. I'd put money on it being by necessity.

[Jesse]

They let Jeffcoat walk without an adequate replacement. I'd put money on it being by necessity.

Younger has said as much; it's not a secret.

[dd]

They let Jeffcoat walk without an adequate replacement. I'd put money on it being by necessity.

Agreed. Our 'other' DE was totally invisible in most games. Jeffcoat was a game changer. You can't tell me if we had him in our lineup, we don't win the GC this year, Collaros injury and all. Arbuckle would have been dead like Dane Evans was when we played the Ticats. Our pass rush was non existent and we were relying on Arbuckle to screwup and not complete passes, which he didn't. He made us look foolish.

[theaardvark]

Agreed. Our 'other' DE was totally invisible in most games. Jeffcoat was a game changer. You can't tell me if we had him in our lineup, we don't win the GC this year, Collaros injury and all. Arbuckle would have been dead like Dane Evans was when we played the Ticats. Our pass rush was non existent and we were relying on Arbuckle to screwup and not complete passes, which he didn't. He made us look foolish.

We all loved Jeffcoat.  But you can't tell me that if we had signed him, he'd have been healthy for the GC.

Our DE's stats were affected by JY's unique schemes, its tough the get sacks when you are rushing 3...

[dd]

We all loved Jeffcoat.  But you can't tell me that if we had signed him, he'd have been healthy for the GC.

Our DE's stats were affected by JY's unique schemes, its tough the get sacks when you are rushing 3...

But as others have pointed out, the reason we rushed only 3 is our 4 man rush wasn't getting the job done, so we dropped another player into coverage hoping our secondary could make up for our weak DL. It did most games, and even in the GC, its the offensive 6 pixes that were the daggers to the heart.

[Bomber Diehard]

Just a side-note it was 68 years ago today when the plane went down carrying the all star players coming home from all star game in Vancouver.
The blue bombers lost the All-Star Cal Jones.
Ken Ploen Gordie Rowland and Bud Grant caught an earlier flight.

[TecnoGenius]

We all loved Jeffcoat.  But you can't tell me that if we had signed him, he'd have been healthy for the GC.

Our DE's stats were affected by JY's unique schemes, its tough the get sacks when you are rushing 3...

The best way to approach Jeffcoat in '24 would have been to hire him just for the playoff run!  Then he'd be guaranteed healthy!  Assuming he stayed in shape...

That said, Garbutt had his best game on the other side and made a big impact.  Same with Willie.  It just wasn't enough.

I wouldn't blame the DEs for that game as much as I would the DTs.  Invisible mostly.  Garbutt may turn into Okpa or Roh level which is pretty good, especially with Willie.  What we need is some stud DTs... some guys that can actually get to the QB once a game, or collapse pockets faster.  If we still had '19 Stove, we likely fare better.