Bombers add Jarious Jackson, promote Hogan to OC

[Jesse]

I really think you are off base here.  Buck was promoted from within with little experience, and 3 seasons later, you're lamenting his loss?

The team interviewed many prospects and no doubt discussed many more.  No doubt that there are more qualified or more proven candidates, but do they fit with MOS, our team structure or $SMS? 

If he fails, have at it, rake the management team over the coals.  Until then, lets give the guy that helped BO20 be the dominant player he is a chance to prove himself.

Buck had a long career as a CFL QB and spent 6 years, starting as a RB coach and then working up to QB coach before getting the promotion.

You're comparing that to someone who never played professionally and has 3 years of experience solely as a RB coach?

And I only read one report of us asking to interview anyone: Mike Miller.

[TecnoGenius]

The resume inspires very little confidence and it seems an unnecessarily large gamble for a veteran offence going into a Grey Cup hosting year but let's hope they have this one right. Feels a bit like giving your teenager keys to the Porsche.

I like the choice.  I was wondering who the "next man up" was and why we weren't going internally, since we do it so often.

I don't care if he's not "experienced" like all the other choices... I only care if he's a play calling genius.  Playing QB or whatever doesn't mean you can design and call the right plays.  Hogan might be the next big thing!

To be chosen he must be well respected and he must be really smart.

I think this is great, and far better than just doing the tired trope of going with the old retread (McAdoo, Jarius...).  (Though I would have been fine with retread Lapo!)

[TecnoGenius]

It sure feels like the Bombers are loping along at the back of the field, surprise, surprise when unwanted scraps are left by the time they make important coaching decisions. They lost Buck months ago and decided to go on holiday and let the task of replacing him slide.

I bet the decision was made ages ago.  Or maybe they were trying to get some big name (Lapo) and held out until the last minute when they were for sure unavailable.

Nothing wrong with going with your 2nd choice.

Hiring in-house has the huge advantage of continuity, which is so very key in this league.  If we can keep the OL continuity too, then we should start winning week 1 instead of week 7.

[TecnoGenius]

Why on earth would Tait say this hire would not be a surprise?  I don't anyone expected Hogan.

Ya, that was a strange quote.  The Hogan choice surprises every fan in Canada!  The only "non-surprise" is that WFC does like to promote internally, and that's what we did in the end.

[TecnoGenius]

I just don't get why they didn't give the OC job to Jackson outright and have Hogan apprentice under him. Sorry, anyone associated with our offensive game planning the last 3 years gets a demerit in my books, especially last Grey Cup's fiasco. But sure, give the OC job to your Qb coach, who was obviously in on letting Zach continue to throw without the use of his right arm, seems totally logical to me, NOT!!!!

Ya, winning the division and getting to the cup year after year sure sucks eh! 

Jarius inspires nothing in me.  He's retread of retreads and was lost on the sidelines in EDM, and wasn't great as OC in the booth (on any team).  There's a reason he's bounced through a ton of teams.  Could be a major case of Peter Principle.

That said, Jarius does know QBs and QBing and I think he'll be a great QB coach.  If he's also our "emergency backup OC" should Hogan poop the bed, then bonus.

[TecnoGenius]

Maybe the Coaching Cap played a part in this decision, surely they would spend right to the limit among the coaches they employ. Depends how much they had to pay Younger to keep him on board without insulting Richie with a huge pay cut. Could be keeping Richie Hall on staff at a higher salary than most assistant DC's receive limit what they could offer Jackson?  Must be a fair step down from OC to QB coach, commensurate with hours put into the job.

Ding ding ding.  I like it when people see the hidden subtext.

The Younger move last year was to keep MOS/KW/WM well-paid (read: nice pay bumps).  Hogan is the same thing.  A rookie OC can be paid less than half what a "real" OC will cost.  This lets the Mafia Three (and Younger now) get more pay bumps.

It's the same as cutting some all-star vet players and replacing them with ELCs so you have enough to retain the elite superstars, just on the coach's side.

Eventually something's gotta give, though.  Once you start this paradigm, you gotta keep the churn going every few years... unless the CFL ditches the coach cap or increases it substantially, that is.

I think it's smart, and so far has been very successful.

[Blueforlife]

The negativity posted on here about the OC by some is so over the top.  Props to those that can see the forest through the trees.

How about we let the two coaches don't their jobs for at least half a season before we push the panic button.

[TBURGESS]

There is nothing in his resume to suggest that he's ready for an OC job, let alone be a "play calling genius".

[Blue In BC]

There is nothing in his resume to suggest that he's ready for an OC job, let alone be a "play calling genius".

Everyone starts somewhere before a resume in created. Many OC's were QB's which is good but that doesn't always equate to being a good OC. We've seen very good football players as OC's, DC's and HC's that failed.

Having J. Jackson on board is a bit of a safety net. We'll see how this works out.

[Blueforlife]

Everyone starts somewhere before a resume in created. Many OC's were QB's which is good but that doesn't always equate to being a good OC. We've seen very good football players as OC's, DV's and HC's that failed.

Having J. Jackson on board is a bit of a safety net. We'll see how this works out.

I see the key is to make sure Zach, the OC and QB coach all on the same page to use the players we have to the best of their abilities.  A few new pieces but mostly the same.  I see continuity with this move and some growing pains but I believe it will work out just fine.  Biggest thing for me is a strong OL and good running game.  Rest can work itself out on those two pillar of strength.  I am confident in the running game, not sure about the OL (yet).  Having a consistent deep ball is key to our offense I believe, which might take a 1/3 of the season to figure out.

[pdirks67]

We fans really have absolutely no idea whether Hogan will be in way over his head, or whether he is a savant-OC-in-Waiting. I think that we'll know halfway through the 2025 season whether he is one, the other, or just meh.

O'Shea isn't stupid, and he has seemed to have a really good idea of what kind of person would fit into each role on our staff. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and completely reserve judgement on this decision.

One possibility - Jarious Jackson could be the safety net. If Hogan struggles well into the season, perhaps Jarious takes over.

A similar situation took place with Ben Johnson with the Detroit Lions in 2022. A relative nobody who got promoted out of the blue (outwardly to fans, but no-brainer to those within the coaching staff) who turned out to be one of the best OCs in the NFL.

[Waffler]

I'd be MORE willing to give Hogan the benefit of the doubt if someone could tell me why it took us 2 months to realize his genius, and also why Buck didn't take him to BC.  It just seems to me MOS being MOS. I am just glad Jackson was willing to come in a lesser capacity.

[peg_city]

I remember thinking promoting Buck was going to end up badly and I was completely wrong.

[blue_gold_84]

I remember thinking promoting Buck was going to end up badly and I was completely wrong.

It just went badly in three straight Grey Cup games.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

There is nothing in his resume to suggest that he's ready for an OC job, let alone be a "play calling genius".

Remember in 2023 when Craig Dickenson took a chance and elevated QB Coach Kelly Jeffrey to OC??? One season later, they cleaned house.