Willie Jefferson

[TecnoGenius]

I agree he has been non existent in several games.
He sure is not the player he used to be.

Until you see the GC...

I really am ok with a "puts on the jets when it really counts" DE -- when his jets are so powerful.  Besides, we knew for years Willie was badly hampered without another stud on the other side.  So, get another stud on the DL.  Puzzle pieces.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Until you see the GC...

I really am ok with a "puts on the jets when it really counts" DE -- when his jets are so powerful.  Besides, we knew for years Willie was badly hampered without another stud on the other side.  So, get another stud on the DL.  Puzzle pieces.

I fully expect him to sign so this is kinda irrelevant but a couple observations:

One -- who is this stud DL? Where does he come from, free agency?

Two -- even if we were successful in getting a "stud defensive end" to play opposite him he's still going to need to beat double teams in a three man front for half the game.

Three - he's got more in the tank, for sure, but it seems pretty clear his days of being a game wrecker week in and week out are over. What is that worth then, again, not totally sure.

[TecnoGenius]

One -- who is this stud DL? Where does he come from, free agency?

KW's problem.  Other GMs get 2 or 3 or 4 stud DL.  Surely we can find a measly extra 1.  Scouting, FA, dev guys... who knows.  Just git er dun!

Two -- even if we were successful in getting a "stud defensive end" to play opposite him he's still going to need to beat double teams in a three man front for half the game.

No he won't, because as soon as we have a 2021-type DL again Younger won't be forced to go 3-man.  (He doesn't go 3-man because he's dumb, he does it because that was the best use of his lower-end DL.)

Get a Stove-esque and/or Jeffcoat-esque stud (preferably both) and we're instantly back to 2019-2021 pressure packages.

[Blue In BC]

KW's problem.  Other GMs get 2 or 3 or 4 stud DL.  Surely we can find a measly extra 1.  Scouting, FA, dev guys... who knows.  Just git er dun!

No he won't, because as soon as we have a 2021-type DL again Younger won't be forced to go 3-man.  (He doesn't go 3-man because he's dumb, he does it because that was the best use of his lower-end DL.)

Get a Stove-esque and/or Jeffcoat-esque stud (preferably both) and we're instantly back to 2019-2021 pressure packages.

Nearly all of our DL players are potential free agents. Various injuries to some of them may have restricted development. It's difficult to know what the organization thinks about their upside: Fox, Garbutt, Haba, Jefferson and Thomas are on the potential free agent list.

I can't see outside competition to these players in free agency. OTOH, I don't really know which the team wants back.

In theory re-signing them shouldn't be difficult and letting them challenge for spots on the roster based on TC 2025.  Whether we choose / or can acquire replacements in free agency is unknown. There will be some good ones to choose from, but it could be expensive.

[theaardvark]

Good point, in almost every case were they've lost a veteran in the last few years the player has commented later that they felt a sense of disrespect for their contribution after providing the Bombers with many years of solid service in the prime of their careers. 

A lack of communication through the off-season leading up to F.A. is the worst possible strategy, even if they don't know how much money they have to spend the team needs to  keep the channels of communication flowing so that valuable players like Willy, don't feel they're being ghosted. 

A player personnel job comes down to having the right personality in place to handle the good and the bad news, it's easy to see Ted Goveia had those qualities in their natural state, even if it wasn't his main role with the team, the man can talk. Just as easy to see from his podcasts Darren Cameron lacks the same communication skills, he can hand out the good news which is the easy part of the job, but not the bad.  As the goose once said to the gander, "you've done okay, but I think we can do much better".

No player should ever be paid out of the $SMS for what they've brought in the past.  They have to be performing at the level they are paid on their contract.

Sure, the likes of Harris or Jeffcoat gave us years of service, and were paid handsomely for those services. But at the tail end of careers, there is no $SMS space to pay players who may not contribute.  Harris did not agree to a physical, and ended up in Toronto making lots more than we offered, but probably was worth just about our offer from a performance standpoint.  Jeffcoat, well, love the guy, but you can't pay a guy to sit in the tub, especially if most of those missed games aren't one the 6 game IR. 

[theaardvark]

KW's problem.  Other GMs get 2 or 3 or 4 stud DL.  Surely we can find a measly extra 1.  Scouting, FA, dev guys... who knows.  Just git er dun!

No he won't, because as soon as we have a 2021-type DL again Younger won't be forced to go 3-man.  (He doesn't go 3-man because he's dumb, he does it because that was the best use of his lower-end DL.)

Get a Stove-esque and/or Jeffcoat-esque stud (preferably both) and we're instantly back to 2019-2021 pressure packages.

Where do other teams get stud DL from?  They overpay guys like Stove, Nevis, Sayles to pru them away... and we find the next one. 

Scooping a stud DL doesn't always work, and sure, you don't always hit it out of the park in recruiting.  But I'd rather whiff on an ELC DL than a $200k+ FA.

[blue_gold_84]

Jeffcoat, well, love the guy, but you can't pay a guy to sit in the tub, especially if most of those missed games aren't one the 6 game IR.

He contributed more to the team's success than not, even with his injury troubles. And FWIW, the 2023 season was the healthiest* since his rookie season in 2017.

It's easy to dump on him after the fact but the D-line lost an asset in 2024 - which negatively impacted the front 7.

[TBURGESS]

Quite frankly, if I'm Jefferson, I sign with a team that makes use of my talents instead of just taking up 2 blockers most of the time. 

[theaardvark]

Quite frankly, if I'm Jefferson, I sign with a team that makes use of my talents instead of just taking up 2 blockers most of the time.

You think on some other team, the opponent won't use 2 blockers on him?

The WFC knows his talents and takes full advantage of them.  We cannot control how other teams play against him.  Rushing 3 means hh is likely double teamed by default.  Rushing 4, he can still be double teamed, especially if they are running Jumbo, or using a FB.  He's going to draw double teams regardless our D setup, he's Willie Freakin Jefferson, you gotta stop him from getting near teh QB with that wingspan.

Plus, his family is here, all the more reason to stay.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

You think on some other team, the opponent won't use 2 blockers on him?

It's a good point, Aardvark.

[theaardvark]

It's a good point, Aardvark.

Sorry, I didn't mean to exceed expectations... 

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Quite frankly, if I'm Jefferson, I sign with a team that makes use of my talents instead of just taking up 2 blockers most of the time.

That would be a sad way for Willie to go out, he has maybe 2-3 great years left before he physically declines, I don't think he tries to play forever like Bighill.

[dd]

You're right, Willie has only a couple of seasons left, so he's likely to sign only with a team that gives him a bonafide chance of winning a Grey Cup. Right now, I'd say that's us and Toronto and I can see Pinball backing the truck up for him like he did for Harris, and the Argos D would be just that much better than they already are.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

You're right, Willie has only a couple of seasons left, so he's likely to sign only with a team that gives him a bonafide chance of winning a Grey Cup. Right now, I'd say that's us and Toronto and I can see Pinball backing the truck up for him like he did for Harris, and the Argos D would be just that much better than they already are.

I don't think GC's are his focus at this point, more important is setting himself up in the community for life after football.  Don't know what that would be for Willy, as he doesn't seem to be the type that would want to get into coaching and I don't know what skills he has to offer a business.  Most won't just pay for a big personality.

[Jesse]

I don't think GC's are his focus at this point, more important is setting himself up in the community for life after football.  Don't know what that would be for Willy, as he doesn't seem to be the type that would want to get into coaching and I don't know what skills he has to offer a business.  Most won't just pay for a big personality.

GC's never have been the focal point for Willy (I'm sure he wants team success - but it doesn't enter the equation during off season negotiations). He has always been a guy who goes where he is valued. He knows how to be a fan favourite on every team he's a part of. He knows the business and takes advantage.