Blue Bombers Transactions - April 22, 2025

ModAdmin · April 22, 2025, 03:10:15 PM

Blue Bombers Transactions - April 22, 2025

WINNIPEG, MB., April 22, 2025 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has released National linebacker Max Charbonneau.

Blue In BC · April 22, 2025, 04:12:37 PM

I kind of expected this. We're fairly deep at LB both imports and Canadians. Then there are the possibilities of a global LB remaining on our PR as depth.

After drafting 9 more Canadians next week, roster spots are going to be hard fought and something had to give somewhere. Just a guess but Makonzo fills that open spot on the AR. He creates depth at SAM while Charbonneau had been depth at WIL and we have a lot of players at that spot for depth. Griffin is moving to safety so we needed extra depth at SAM.

I think he might still end up somewhere as an ST player and I wish him well.

He's from Ottawa so maybe that's where we see him turn up.

Pigskin · April 22, 2025, 05:50:55 PM

Little surprised. Max only played in 12 games last season and had 7 STs, not to bad for a 1st. year player. He also has good size at 6'3", 225.

Blue In BC · April 22, 2025, 05:54:16 PM

Quote from: Pigskin on April 22, 2025, 05:50:55 PMLittle surprised. Max only played in 12 games last season and had 7 STs, not to bad for a 1st. year player. He also has good size at 6'3", 225.

I agree he may become a good ST player. Football is a matter of being in the right spot at the right time. Roster size is limited and releasing him early gives him a chance to catch on before TC elsewhere.

theaardvark · April 22, 2025, 09:33:50 PM

He was the second last pick in the 2023 draft... he was a fringe player who managed to get on the roster for 12 games, which is pretty good.

Will he catch on elsewhere? He showed well enough on one of the leagues best teams to at least get a look with a team that needs NAT depth.

Blueforlife · April 23, 2025, 12:14:05 AM

Hopefully get a job elsewhere

Blue In BC · April 23, 2025, 03:04:59 AM

Quote from: Blueforlife on April 23, 2025, 12:14:05 AMHopefully get a job elsewhere

I mentioned Ottawa earlier since he's from that area and Ottawa might have an ST need. OTOH, there is a connection in Hamilton with 8 of our other ex players now going to their TC.

Those would be where I think he'd have the most interest and vice versa.

TecnoGenius · April 23, 2025, 03:16:58 AM

You gotta shine and stand out fast. He didn't. I didn't really notice him at all, and I pay more attention to ST than the average bear.

Contrast with Cadwallader, who stood out and wowed many times within his first few games.

Jesse · April 23, 2025, 11:52:14 AM

Quote from: TecnoGenius on April 23, 2025, 03:16:58 AMYou gotta shine and stand out fast. He didn't. I didn't really notice him at all, and I pay more attention to ST than the average bear.

Contrast with Cadwallader, who stood out and wowed many times within his first few games.

I don't recall any ST play for the most part, but do want to point out that Cadwallader had zero ST tackles in the first half of his rookie season. 8 weeks of nothing.

Charbs had a couple.

Obviously that is only one puzzle piece, however.

theaardvark · April 23, 2025, 04:39:13 PM

Quote from: Jesse on April 23, 2025, 11:52:14 AMI don't recall any ST play for the most part, but do want to point out that Cadwallader had zero ST tackles in the first half of his rookie season. 8 weeks of nothing.

Charbs had a couple.

Obviously that is only one puzzle piece, however.

ST tackles are the only recorded ST stat, and only on cover teams, but not the only ST job.

Many ST tackles do not get made if the contain guys don't do their jobs, likewise, many are made because of good ST blocking up in the lanes.

So, evaluation of an ST player includes film study, to see if he is accomplishing his assignments appropriately.

Walters and O'Shea are ST guys at heart, and both would know whether a player will make a roster purely with their ST play. We obviously have a lot of competition for that player, and I don't think Max stood out enough to do that. It certainly isn't an $SMS thing, just numbers.

He should catch on elsewhere.

Jesse · April 23, 2025, 05:23:29 PM

Quote from: theaardvark on April 23, 2025, 04:39:13 PMST tackles are the only recorded ST stat, and only on cover teams, but not the only ST job.

Many ST tackles do not get made if the contain guys don't do their jobs, likewise, many are made because of good ST blocking up in the lanes.

So, evaluation of an ST player includes film study, to see if he is accomplishing his assignments appropriately.

Walters and O'Shea are ST guys at heart, and both would know whether a player will make a roster purely with their ST play. We obviously have a lot of competition for that player, and I don't think Max stood out enough to do that. It certainly isn't an $SMS thing, just numbers.

He should catch on elsewhere.

Just responding to Techno saying Cadwallader "popped" in his first few games. Wondering how he was able to do that.

theaardvark · April 23, 2025, 07:36:20 PM

Quote from: Jesse on April 23, 2025, 05:23:29 PMJust responding to Techno saying Cadwallader "popped" in his first few games. Wondering how he was able to do that.

Players on ST can "pop" when you see them make big hits, or cut down players, or make a big tackle.

ST is orchestrated chaos across the field, and when a returner gets out of his lane, any player can end up making the tackle. But if every player covers his assignment, the returner is presented to the primary tacklers.

Fatboi used to impress me on ST by his hustle. Watching him get downfield on a FG or punt was quite fun. He didn't make a lot of tackles, but he was in the picture alot.

TecnoGenius · April 23, 2025, 09:30:20 PM

Quote from: Jesse on April 23, 2025, 11:52:14 AMI don't recall any ST play for the most part, but do want to point out that Cadwallader had zero ST tackles in the first half of his rookie season. 8 weeks of nothing.

Cadwall only dressed for 7 games in '21 (out of 10?). And had 8 ST.

I can't recall the exact moment I noticed him, but it didn't take long. He was popping off the page in '22, that's for sure. At least to me. Between '21 and '22 he dressed for 18 games (a full season), and had already stood out. In the early '23 season I was already singing his praises on the forum (just search "Cadwall").

And Aards is right, it's not just ST tackles that you can notice. Closing speed, closing off holes and routes, cutting off angles, manhandling their assigned blocker, etc. And I'm clearly in sync with MOS because while other (semi-)youngsters fall off the roster (Hallett The Injured, Exume, Charboneau, etc) The Mafia kept Cadwall.

My guess is he'll be a Bomber for many years to come.

The point is, you can often quickly see which players have the "it" factor, no matter the position.

Blueforlife · April 24, 2025, 01:04:15 AM

Quote from: TecnoGenius on April 23, 2025, 09:30:20 PMCadwall only dressed for 7 games in '21 (out of 10?). And had 8 ST.

I can't recall the exact moment I noticed him, but it didn't take long. He was popping off the page in '22, that's for sure. At least to me. Between '21 and '22 he dressed for 18 games (a full season), and had already stood out. In the early '23 season I was already singing his praises on the forum (just search "Cadwall").

And Aards is right, it's not just ST tackles that you can notice. Closing speed, closing off holes and routes, cutting off angles, manhandling their assigned blocker, etc. And I'm clearly in sync with MOS because while other (semi-)youngsters fall off the roster (Hallett The Injured, Exume, Charboneau, etc) The Mafia kept Cadwall.

My guess is he'll be a Bomber for many years to come.

The point is, you can often quickly see which players have the "it" factor, no matter the position.

He showed an early spark agreed

dd · April 24, 2025, 02:15:08 AM

Quote from: TecnoGenius on April 23, 2025, 09:30:20 PMCadwall only dressed for 7 games in '21 (out of 10?). And had 8 ST.

I can't recall the exact moment I noticed him, but it didn't take long. He was popping off the page in '22, that's for sure. At least to me. Between '21 and '22 he dressed for 18 games (a full season), and had already stood out. In the early '23 season I was already singing his praises on the forum (just search "Cadwall").

And Aards is right, it's not just ST tackles that you can notice. Closing speed, closing off holes and routes, cutting off angles, manhandling their assigned blocker, etc. And I'm clearly in sync with MOS because while other (semi-)youngsters fall off the roster (Hallett The Injured, Exume, Charboneau, etc) The Mafia kept Cadwall.

My guess is he'll be a Bomber for many years to come.

The point is, you can often quickly see which players have the "it" factor, no matter the position.

Cadwallader is a very decent ST player for sure. Flies around the field and crushes guys. Definitely see why we kept him on the roster