State of the roster

[TecnoGenius]

The guy has no OC experience in competitive programs? I just don't see any proof of prior success. Congrats! But how is this guy going to provide anything to Zac?

Everyone has to start somewhere.  Since his pay is probably tiny, there's no downside to giving him a shot... if he stinks, we can pick up McAdoo or promote Jarious mid-season!

I'm all for "The Expriment"!  Let's see what he's got.  If he's BOLD, smart and creative, them I'm all in.

[TecnoGenius]

And the QB coach, isn't really climbing. The ladder to success.  He was head coach, now he is  only a QB coach. ****! I just can't get excited about that!

There is a chance that Jarious & Hall situations are creative ways to deal with the very tight coaches cap...

[DM83]

It's a fricken Grey Cup year! And you want experiment and someone has to start somewhere?

[ModAdmin]

It's a fricken Grey Cup year! And you want experiment and someone has to start somewhere? Are you nuts?

He's been with the organization.  O'Shea, Walters and company know him far better than any of us here.  They hired him for reasons they believe will see him successful. You call it an "experiment"  They call it "progression".  Given their experience, I will defer to them for the time being.

[TecnoGenius]

It's a fricken Grey Cup year! And you want experiment and someone has to start somewhere? Are you nuts?

It's pretty much the WFC/Mafia M.O. to promote from within after a couple of seasons of grooming.  So in that sense it's not an experiment at all.

Going out and hiring McAdoo and blowing up the entire O training and calling scheme would be an experiment!

Besides, from our FA moves so far you would think this was "just another season".  I see no moves at all that look like there's any special thought being given to the fact it's a "fricken Grey Cup year".

Business as usual.  It's worked so far!

[Jesse]

It's pretty much the WFC/Mafia M.O. to promote from within after a couple of seasons of grooming.  So in that sense it's not an experiment at all.

Going out and hiring McAdoo and blowing up the entire O training and calling scheme would be an experiment!

Besides, from our FA moves so far you would think this was "just another season".  I see no moves at all that look like there's any special thought being given to the fact it's a "fricken Grey Cup year".

Business as usual.  It's worked so far!

When have they promoted after a couple of years of grooming?

Buck played professionally for 9 years and then coached for 6, moving from RB coach, to QB coach, to OC in his 7th year of coaching.

Younger played for 13 years and coached for another 11 years, the last 6 of those with the Bombers.

Hogan may turn out just fine, but this is not the MO at all. His only CFL experience is these 3 years as an RB coach.

[Blueforlife]

He's been with the organization.  O'Shea, Walters and company know him far better than any of us here.  They hired him for reasons they believe will see him successful. You call it an "experiment"  They call it "progression".  Given their experience, I will defer to them for the time being.

Facts are presented above, heavy agree all

It's pretty much the WFC/Mafia M.O. to promote from within after a couple of seasons of grooming.  So in that sense it's not an experiment at all.

Going out and hiring McAdoo and blowing up the entire O training and calling scheme would be an experiment!

Besides, from our FA moves so far you would think this was "just another season".  I see no moves at all that look like there's any special thought being given to the fact it's a "fricken Grey Cup year".

Business as usual.  It's worked so far!

Agree all

When have they promoted after a couple of years of grooming?

Buck played professionally for 9 years and then coached for 6, moving from RB coach, to QB coach, to OC in his 7th year of coaching.

Younger played for 13 years and coached for another 11 years, the last 6 of those with the Bombers.

Hogan may turn out just fine, but this is not the MO at all. His only CFL experience is these 3 years as an RB coach.

I believe it is their MO, next man up is how its done in Bomber ville.  We develop our players and coaches and we promote them when ready.

[theaardvark]

It's a fricken Grey Cup year! And you want experiment and someone has to start somewhere? Are you nuts?

Yeah, he's sucked so bad coaching BO20 to running title after running title... you really have no idea, do you?

[J5V]

It's pretty much the WFC/Mafia M.O. to promote from within after a couple of seasons of grooming.  So in that sense it's not an experiment at all.

Going out and hiring McAdoo and blowing up the entire O training and calling scheme would be an experiment!

Besides, from our FA moves so far you would think this was "just another season".  I see no moves at all that look like there's any special thought being given to the fact it's a "fricken Grey Cup year".

Business as usual.  It's worked so far!

A lot of the experimenting has already taken place, player-wise. We put a team on the field that took us to yet another Grey Cup appearance in spite of Chicken Little. Frankly, every year is a Grey Cup year and no other CFL team in the last 5 years has been as successful as we have at making it to the Big Show. Why is that? It has become apparent to me that it has less to do with the players we sign as it does the process we use. Whatever this club is doing works and I see no reason to believe it won't work again as long as we have Wade Miller, Kyle Walters, and Mike O'Shea steering the ship.

[theaardvark]

The "Grey Cup Year" has huge $$$ implications.

We own the game, so getting max crowd, with max concessions means max profit.  And our team being in the game means just that.  If we aren't, there will be stubhub tickets for the game at $50, and probably 10k empty seats.

Could be a swing of a million dollars in club profit.

So, spending a little over the cap is OK.

Question, what is the penalty for going over the Front Office cap?  Purely monetary?  Is there ever a draft pick at risk?  Or other sanctions?

[DM83]

 Going over, and maybe losing a draft pick?  A Canadian draft pick? Oh my god! The number .1 draft pick?  Come on you guys.  Sign a game changer, for a can draft pick?  Signing rourkes little brother, and we go over the cap?  Shame, shame.  A franchise player vs. a cdn draft pick. Come on!

[blue_gold_84]

Going over, and maybe losing a draft pick?  A Canadian draft pick? Oh my god! The number .1 draft pick?  Come on you guys.  Sign a game changer, for a can draft pick?  Signing rourkes little brother, and we go over the cap?  Shame, shame.  A franchise player vs. a cdn draft pick. Come on!

[markf]

Any opinions on these players?
Since O line is an area of concern for people.

Kendall Randolph -60  OL  A  re-signed May 21 2024        2025
Micah Vanterpool -68  OL  A  signed Feb 2 2024        2025
Chris Walker  OL  A  signed Dec 6 2024    2025  2026
Antonio Garcia  OL  A  signed Jan 13 2025    2025  2026

[Blue In BC]

Any opinions on these players?
Since O line is an area of concern for people.

Kendall Randolph -60  OL  A  re-signed May 21 2024        2025
Micah Vanterpool -68  OL  A  signed Feb 2 2024        2025
Chris Walker  OL  A  signed Dec 6 2024    2025  2026
Antonio Garcia  OL  A  signed Jan 13 2025    2025  2026

I don't think we expect to go with 3 imports on the OL. Randolph and Vanterpool might be in competition at RT with Lofton and as emergency depth on the PR. That's if they are willing to stay on the PR again.

The other two will battle the two from 2024 but will they replace one or the other? Possibly but it might come down to who is willing to sit on the PR as mentioned.

That's not to say none are any good, but ratio and roster size come into play.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I don't think we expect to go with 3 imports on the OL. Randolph and Vanterpool might be in competition at RT with Lofton and as emergency depth on the PR. That's if they are willing to stay on the PR again.

The other two will battle the two from 2024 but will they replace one or the other? Possibly but it might come down to who is willing to sit on the PR as mentioned.

That's not to say none are any good, but ratio and roster size come into play.

In his press conference Walters praised Gabe Wallace but also said they would be looking at a few Americans along the O-line. He indicated there will be more competition than normal this TC and a lot of experienced Natl's will be competing for undecided support roles to fill out the roster.