Roster changes from 2024

Blue In BC · February 11, 2025, 09:01:57 PM

Just a quick summary of current losses. Subject to change.

Offence:

Lawler, O.Wilson, Woli, Dobson, Augustine, Feltmate, Whitehead

Defence:

Bighill, Cole, Ford, Haba, Garbutt, Fox, Alexander

PR:

McGhee, Karamoko, Murphy, Hubert, Smith

Returning from long term injuries last year:

Streveler, Lawson, Schoen, K.Wilson, Parker

Let the good times roll and the competition decide who make a new impression.

DM83 · February 11, 2025, 10:45:18 PM

Nothing too. Concerning.
I guess we should ask. Zac.
No stud for left guard.

Pete · February 12, 2025, 12:46:32 AM

Returning from long term injuries last year:

Streveler, Lawson, Schoen, K.Wilson

you can also add Parker.. When assessing our roster for this year these injury additions are significant.
to me the key losses are; Fod/Lawler/Dobson/Alexander. Lawler I feel is covered off with Schoen & our receiver additions and Logan. Dobson we may have to go with an import. I would have/still like to see a cdn olineman added. Parker offsets ALexander , while Lawton gives us a quality national starter.
Hopefully we can again find a quality rookie db and a defensive end.

TecnoGenius · February 12, 2025, 12:55:05 AM

Quote from: Pete on February 12, 2025, 12:46:32 AMto me the key losses are; Jones/Lawler/Dobson/Alexander.

Jones? MLB Jones? He re-signed.

DM83 · February 12, 2025, 01:30:21 AM

Hey Pete get with the program fifo!

Pete · February 12, 2025, 02:00:59 AM

Quote from: TecnoGenius on February 12, 2025, 12:55:05 AMJones? MLB Jones? He re-signed.

that should have been Ford! (fixed it) my bad

Quote from: DM83 on February 12, 2025, 01:30:21 AMHey Pete get with the program fifo!

maybe its time we backed off a bit from that fifo and look at actual talent!

Blue In BC · February 12, 2025, 04:24:03 PM

There are more open spots on the AR than we usually see. Some will be filled by 2nd year players that advanced up the depth chart last year. A few may be filled from free agency signings.

Then there will be some import rookies and 2025 draft choices that will make the roster.

It will be a year of transition but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

TecnoGenius · February 13, 2025, 12:53:56 AM

Quote from: Pete on February 12, 2025, 02:00:59 AMthat should have been Ford! (fixed it) my bad

maybe its time we backed off a bit from that fifo and look at actual talent!

Maybe. Maybe not. Unit cohesion is a real thing in football. FIFO got us 2 cups and 3 more div championships.

The downside is I think FIFO may have chased some talent out of town. I think the Gaitor and Rutledge incidents (why always SAMs?) were part of this. Maybe the Bowman fiasco too? Granted, those weren't top talents...

I'd be more concerned if FAs who have never been Bombers were saying they don't want to come here because FIFO. So far I haven't seen that.

Brotherhood within the team is a good thing.

blue_gold_84 · February 13, 2025, 01:37:16 PM

Quote from: Pete on February 12, 2025, 02:00:59 AM...backed off a bit from that fifo and look at actual talent!

It's strange that you think it's one or the other. It really isn't.

Throw Long Bannatyne · February 13, 2025, 04:49:31 PM

Quote from: TecnoGenius on February 13, 2025, 12:53:56 AMMaybe. Maybe not. Unit cohesion is a real thing in football. FIFO got us 2 cups and 3 more div championships.

The downside is I think FIFO may have chased some talent out of town. I think the Gaitor and Rutledge incidents (why always SAMs?) were part of this. Maybe the Bowman fiasco too? Granted, those weren't top talents...

I'd be more concerned if FAs who have never been Bombers were saying they don't want to come here because FIFO. So far I haven't seen that.

Brotherhood within the team is a good thing.

Speaking of Donald Rutledge who played well for the Bombers in early 2022 and disappeared shortly after, he signed with the Argos mid Dec.for this season. Also former Bomber Natl. Safety Malcolm Thompson is available as a Stamps FA, looks like he's been mostly a STer the past 2 seasons but I remember he had pretty good mobility.

TecnoGenius · February 14, 2025, 06:30:30 AM

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on February 13, 2025, 04:49:31 PMSpeaking of Donald Rutledge who played well for the Bombers in early 2022 and disappeared shortly after, he signed with the Argos mid Dec.for this season.

Rutledge was doing pretty well for us and then boom... didn't he get moved to "suspended"? Do players get released from that or does WFC still have some rights to him?

Rutledge was a very strange situation and we never got the whole story. Even stranger than the Gaitor incident.

Coming back to play now after 2 seasons off... odd.

Blue In BC · February 14, 2025, 03:14:01 PM

Quote from: TecnoGenius on February 14, 2025, 06:30:30 AMRutledge was doing pretty well for us and then boom... didn't he get moved to "suspended"? Do players get released from that or does WFC still have some rights to him?

Rutledge was a very strange situation and we never got the whole story. Even stranger than the Gaitor incident.

Coming back to play now after 2 seasons off... odd.

He spent the last couple of years in the USFL. That would indicate he was released at some point by the Bombers. IIRC he didn't like the idea of being demoted ( similar to Gaitor situation ). That resulted in release.

A player can remain on the suspended list in certain situations. Usually for failing to report for TC, failing drug or medical tests etc. We see a few of those just as TC is set to begin.

Throw Long Bannatyne · February 14, 2025, 03:34:52 PM

Quote from: Blue In BC on February 14, 2025, 03:14:01 PMHe spent the last couple of years in the USFL. That would indicate he was released at some point by the Bombers. IIRC he didn't like the idea of being demoted ( similar to Gaitor situation ). That resulted in release.

A player can remain on the suspended list in certain situations. Usually for failing to report for TC, failing drug or medical tests etc. We see a few of those just as TC is set to begin.

Rutledge could have been a FIFO causality, I've heard them mention they judge people on how they treat the staff, also they don't like slobs that have to be cleaned up after in the dressing room. Doesn't seem the bar culture among young players is as big a thing as it used to be, but that lifestyle caused a lot of trouble between players. Wasn't it Chris Matthews who got stabbed during his brief second stop?

Blue In BC · February 14, 2025, 03:37:11 PM

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on February 14, 2025, 03:34:52 PMRutledge could have been a FIFO causality, I've heard them mention they judge people on how they treat the staff, also they don't like slobs that have to be cleaned up after in the dressing room. Doesn't seem the bar culture among young players is as big a thing as it used to be, but that lifestyle caused a lot of trouble between players. Wasn't it Chris Matthews who got stabbed during his brief second stop?

I had the impression he had a slower learning curve adjusting to the faster CFL game. He seemed athletic but mnay rookies are a combination of great plays, decent plays and mistakes. He seemed to be fairly consistent in the USFL.

TecnoGenius · February 15, 2025, 07:37:22 AM

I think I recall Rutledge being directly replaced by Kramdi, and going into the post-season(?). We may have already identified Kramdi as the future starter and would have had no need for a IMP SAM, except as a PR backup.

Worked out pretty well for us. But let's not minimize what Rutledge did: he was pretty much lights out all season until he got benched. I really thought he had a bright future here: another Moe.