TC battles to watch

[Pigskin]

With ZC8 out for our home opener against BC. This should ramp things up a little in TC for the backup QB position. Someone has to be ready to start for our home opener on June 12th against BC. Might be a good thing we have a bye the first week of the season.

[TecnoGenius]

So at the moment, he is the most experienced Canadian OL that is a free agent. It's worth considering but he may not be a fit for a multiple of reasons.

Rice is still available, AFAIK.  He has way more experience, seniority, and GP.  And he can also play tackle!  I'd rather have Rice (a GC winner with MTL and TOR).

You don't want to upset the system just because this Elk might be modestly better.   He'd have to be star-studded level good to make such a large deviation from Mafia norms.

[TecnoGenius]

Easy to say but that's never proven to be true at cut down day, especially for OL. There is also the cohesiveness on the OL gained in TC. Today is better than tomorrow so to speak.

If you want cohesiveness out of the gate, you start Randolph (or Wallace) because they've been here a full season (or more), and actually started a few games with our core OL group.

The only reason you'd go into FA is to if we literally had no viable option at that spot, like we did Lofton when Yoshi left.  We have 2 viable options at LG right now, one who is guaranteed very good.

[TecnoGenius]

reminds me of the discussions we had two years ago when a number of us were advocating signing Lemon, instead Mtrl did and he was a difference maker in their run to the cup.
Bombers very rarely look at high profile cuts from other teams much to a lot of fans dismay

Yes, and no.  We can't compare nobodysville Elk OL to perennial all-star Lemon.

But yes, Mafia only ever seems to sign 0 to 1 all-star level guys in FA.  I guess you could say Vaughters is this year's guy.  Ellingson in years past.

For the most part (even with the above) we look for the "value pick".  We wants guys we think will play above their pay scale.  And we are often successful.  This year that's a guy like J.Jones.

Is it right or wrong?  Hard to say.  5 GC appearances would hint that it works for them.  Ain't broke...?

[TecnoGenius]

Might be a good thing we have a bye the first week of the season.

Yes, that garbage bye timing might actually be a blessing.  ID the best guy in TC/PS and have an extra week to prep.

[Blue In BC]

If you want cohesiveness out of the gate, you start Randolph (or Wallace) because they've been here a full season (or more), and actually started a few games with our core OL group.

The only reason you'd go into FA is to if we literally had no viable option at that spot, like we did Lofton when Yoshi left.  We have 2 viable options at LG right now, one who is guaranteed very good.

That wasn't quite what I mentioned but also valid. I was speaking of any player getting the full benefit of a TC rather than airlifted in in 2 weeks later. We also have a new OC, so that's a factor too.

I don't agree that you only go into free agency if you have viable options. You do that if the FA is better and / or if you choose to start 3 Canadians and need to improve Canadian depth.

So there are many factors besides conceptually having viable options.

[Blue In BC]

Rice is still available, AFAIK.  He has way more experience, seniority, and GP.  And he can also play tackle!  I'd rather have Rice (a GC winner with MTL and TOR).

You don't want to upset the system just because this Elk might be modestly better.   He'd have to be star-studded level good to make such a large deviation from Mafia norms.

He was released in February and no one has made him an offer he accepted if one was made. So a player just released would seem to have a bit more interest to me, but that's a bit bias I suppose.

[TecnoGenius]

He was released in February and no one has made him an offer he accepted if one was made. So a player just released would seem to have a bit more interest to me, but that's a bit bias I suppose.

Ya, because he's getting old.  Like Big Stan and Neuf old.  But those 2 are still going strong.

I'd take Rice over noname because:

a) He's a MB kid
b) He's a former Bison
c) He'd probably love to finish up in WPG
d) He can play both G and T

and most importantly

e) He's the new GC horseshoe good luck charm.  MTL had him: won.  TOR had him: won.  (And we could debrief him on all of TOR/MTL's O secrets...)

[TecnoGenius]

I don't agree that you only go into free agency if you have (no) viable options. You do that if the FA is better and / or if you choose to start 3 Canadians and need to improve Canadian depth.

I'm not disagreeing with you in general.  I'm saying WFC doesn't do this.  Especially not at OL!

KW really does concentrate on hidden gems (value picks) and downside ageing vets (Ellingson) in FA.  We seem to only spend big on retaining the stars, and getting back prodigal sons (Kenny).

When's the last time we spent big for league-leading players who weren't ex-Bombers?  The days of going out in FA and spending big on Big Stan and Yoshi are long gone.

We may all pine for a Lemon/Sankey type deal, but I think we've mostly learned to just forget it.  We'll only ever be disappointed.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I'm not disagreeing with you in general.  I'm saying WFC doesn't do this.  Especially not at OL!

KW really does concentrate on hidden gems (value picks) and downside ageing vets (Ellingson) in FA.  We seem to only spend big on retaining the stars, and getting back prodigal sons (Kenny).

When's the last time we spent big for league-leading players who weren't ex-Bombers?  The days of going out in FA and spending big on Big Stan and Yoshi are long gone.

We may all pine for a Lemon/Sankey type deal, but I think we've mostly learned to just forget it.  We'll only ever be disappointed.

Yoshi wasn't a big ticket FA signing, the Bombers signed him after he was cut by the Riders in early 2016. He probably only started making good money when he returned to the Riders last season, wish him all the best but it was time to move on. 

Key to the Bombers O-line success has been the establishment of their pipeline that has sustained them the last decade, plus the O-line coaching they receive from Marty Costello. 

[Blueforlife]

https://3downnation.com/2025/05/10/seven-position-battles-to-watch-in-winnipeg-blue-bombers-training-camp-in-2025/

[markf]

3down article:


" Patterson has been a member of seven professional teams across four different leagues. "

This Does not seem like a reason he should be the backup qb.