OL whispers

[Blue In BC]

So we have 2 OL spots up for grabs. All 3 import receivers and our returner. That doesn't give me great feeling of comfort at the moment.

That's not to say we don't have some very good talent but cohesion and short pre-season!!! Collaros not able to play game 1.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Ya, it's not that we don't do mid/late season cut pickups, it's that we don't do big splash pickups.  We're always looking for the value player: the guy who could perhaps be an all-star, but hasn't yet found the right home.

That's why we didn't pick up Lemon or Sankey in '23, or make a big play for Henoc way back when.  I expect this trend will continue as long as Mafia does.

Sure, they don't chase the stars because Kyle probably doesn't have the budget to land them. Those mid-season pick ups tend to be solid experienced vets that can contribute immediately, signed at bargain basement prices. 

[Pete]

Sure, they don't chase the stars because Kyle probably doesn't have the budget to land them. Those mid-season pick ups tend to be solid experienced vets that can contribute immediately, signed at bargain basement prices. 

yeah but as a fan its frustrating when we have an area of need and we see players that could make a difference go to other teams. Right now there's a few positions we could look at other teams cuts;
1. Oline Canadian . we are light and with 2 of 4 di's on specialty (kicker and kr) going import here will limit us. 
2. cdn receiver if either Demski or Clercius go down, asking Cobb, Corocan, or Gassama to replace then would be trouble.
3. Rotational de, although we need to see what we have in rookies.( I still think we should have kept Garbutt)

[TecnoGenius]

So we have 2 OL spots up for grabs. All 3 import receivers and our returner. That doesn't give me great feeling of comfort at the moment.

3 REC?  Nah, Schoen is a schoe in (hehe).  Another was supposed to be D.Mitchell... that was the big splash FA signing.  But it would appear his spot isn't safe.  So call it 2 REC positions.

And 2 OL?  Nah, just Dobson's spot.  Everyone else is safe.  I'm assuming you think Lofton is the other guy on the bubble?  Nah, he's perfectly fine, and it would take a big showing by some other IMP to oust him.

Neuf gets to play as long as he's not injured.  And Ko-man is safe until we find a better C (which Eli is not).

[TecnoGenius]

2. cdn receiver if either Demski or Clercius go down, asking Cobb, Corocan, or Gassama to replace then would be trouble.
3. Rotational de, although we need to see what we have in rookies.( I still think we should have kept Garbutt)

Demski, yes.  Clercius, meh.  Clercius is no Woli (yet).  Our best next-man-up NAT WR would probably do nearly as well, or we outsource.

We haven't been too huge on rotating the DL in the last few seasons.  Ya, when we have an extra body or 2, esp NAT, we will rotate more... but we also expect our starters to play the bulk of snaps, and then we sort of "cheat" by putting in backups for special sets based on whether it's run or pass.  We do a lot of that.

Bottom line, even with no other IMP DE on AR, they'll cycle enough to get spelled, and if they get tired, they'll just have to lump it.

[Blue In BC]

3 REC?  Nah, Schoen is a schoe in (hehe).  Another was supposed to be D.Mitchell... that was the big splash FA signing.  But it would appear his spot isn't safe.  So call it 2 REC positions.

And 2 OL?  Nah, just Dobson's spot.  Everyone else is safe.  I'm assuming you think Lofton is the other guy on the bubble?  Nah, he's perfectly fine, and it would take a big showing by some other IMP to oust him.

Neuf gets to play as long as he's not injured.  And Ko-man is safe until we find a better C (which Eli is not).

I made that comment before Schoen was moved off the injured veteran list. I had thought he might not be available for the 1st few games. So yes, he solves that spot.

Interesting comments about receivers fighting for spots. What we thought before TC may or may not have changed. The veteran acquisitions in free agency may take the other two spots.

Lofton has been injured and not practising so similar comment about whether he's even available to start the season. Since we've brought in so many import OL, that also makes me feel he could get pushed regardless of his health.

Anyway, IMO I think we might see some surprises.

[Pete]

Demski, yes.  Clercius, meh.  Clercius is no Woli (yet).  Our best next-man-up NAT WR would probably do nearly as well, or we outsource.

We haven't been too huge on rotating the DL in the last few seasons.  Ya, when we have an extra body or 2, esp NAT, we will rotate more... but we also expect our starters to play the bulk of snaps, and then we sort of "cheat" by putting in backups for special sets based on whether it's run or pass.  We do a lot of that.

Bottom line, even with no other IMP DE on AR, they'll cycle enough to get spelled, and if they get tired, they'll just have to lump it.

we haven't been effective rotating in dl because of talent
 We did try with Haba and Garbutt but didn't get job done hence both gone.
As for lumping it even Argos who arguably had the top dline ly would carry 7-8 dlinemen .
Our pass rush last yr was the weakest part of our defence and we need to fix that

[Sir Blue and Gold]

we haven't been effective rotating in dl because of talent
 We did try with Haba and Garbutt but didn't get job done hence both gone.
As for lumping it even Argos who arguably had the top dline ly would carry 7-8 dlinemen .
Our pass rush last yr was the weakest part of our defence and we need to fix that

Largely correct last year especially, I think. It doesn't do you any good to roster eight defensive lineman if they can't collapse the pocket and get pressure as a group. But additionally, if we're dropping eight into coverage as a standard look then the calculus changes a little bit too. Last year we mainly settled on seven defensive lineman and stuck with it with only a couple exceptions.

The question is whether last year's defense was a response to the personnel we had or an overall strategic choice.  Based on how we drafted and who's in camp, I'd say it's a choice. Versatile athletes are in on defense and although James Vaughters is a big signing for us there's not much else to suggest we're loading up along the line this year. I think we start week one with seven defensive lineman and if we can find one of those hybrid type guys we might even see some six lineman and a linebacker/DE hybrid at times throughout the year.

[theaardvark]

So we have 2 OL spots up for grabs. All 3 import receivers and our returner. That doesn't give me great feeling of comfort at the moment.

That's not to say we don't have some very good talent but cohesion and short pre-season!!! Collaros not able to play game 1.

If by "up for grabs" you mean quality competition vying for the starting position, sure.  But the way you phrase it, you seem to suggest these are weaknesses.

2 OL positions?  Yes, LG Dobson leaving left that spot open, but it sounds like Wallace is ready to step up, if not, your boy Randolph is there, if Vanterpool doesn't outplay him.  Plus Eli is in the mix.  Not sure "up for grabs" is the proper phrase.

3 IMP Rec's, well, Schoen is not a debate, it sounds like Sterns has gained the confidence of coaches and QB's, leaving 5 IMP WR's with CFL experience vying for the final spot, plus rookies.  What will be option 4 or 5 in the decision tree, I think we will find someone for that spot.

With a previous STC as your GM and your HC, returner isn't going to be an issue.  We have a number of options on the roster, and I expect that between preseason games we will have that decided.

If those are our "issues", I think we are in pretty darned good shape.

[Blue In BC]

If by "up for grabs" you mean quality competition vying for the starting position, sure.  But the way you phrase it, you seem to suggest these are weaknesses.

2 OL positions?  Yes, LG Dobson leaving left that spot open, but it sounds like Wallace is ready to step up, if not, your boy Randolph is there, if Vanterpool doesn't outplay him.  Plus Eli is in the mix.  Not sure "up for grabs" is the proper phrase.

3 IMP Rec's, well, Schoen is not a debate, it sounds like Sterns has gained the confidence of coaches and QB's, leaving 5 IMP WR's with CFL experience vying for the final spot, plus rookies.  What will be option 4 or 5 in the decision tree, I think we will find someone for that spot.

With a previous STC as your GM and your HC, returner isn't going to be an issue.  We have a number of options on the roster, and I expect that between preseason games we will have that decided.

If those are our "issues", I think we are in pretty darned good shape.

I'm just saying we can't define who the starters are at the moment for more spots than normal.  Going into 2024 we knew Ford would fill one CB spot and Alexander would be the safety. This year there are several good choices but who wins is a TBD. In that sense they are up for grabs.

We never really found a good solution for a returner last year so it's not as easy as that. Whitehead may have been a comfortable choice and decent rotation receiver. He was no J. Grant

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I'm just saying we can't define who the starters are at the moment for more spots than normal.  Going into 2024 we knew Ford would fill one CB spot and Alexander would be the safety. This year there are several good choices but who wins is a TBD. In that sense they are up for grabs.

We never really found a good solution for a returner last year so it's not as easy as that. Whitehead may have been a comfortable choice and decent rotation receiver. He was no J. Grant

Yah, no one else will be either, Grant was arguabally the best returner ever and they let him drift away because someone failed to tie up the raft.

[Blue In BC]

Yah, no one else will be either, Grant was arguabally the best returner ever and they let him drift away because someone failed to tie up the raft.

No but those we used were all in the bottom half of the league. Logan will be an improvement when he's healthy. We'll have to wait and see who they use in pre-season.

[TecnoGenius]

Interesting comments about receivers fighting for spots. What we thought before TC may or may not have changed. The veteran acquisitions in free agency may take the other two spots.

Anyway, IMO I think we might see some surprises.

One thing I've learned about Mafia is they'll almost always go with:

1) The how-can-you-not-roster-this-guy rookie (Schoen, D.Alford)
2) The incumbent
3) The expensive FA guy

The cheaper FA guys, the "looking better" PR guys, they usually end up cut or on the PR.  Yes, no matter how much better they are looking (and being talked about) in camp.

Only if the contenders for a spot are tied in the above 3 aspects is there truly a chance of an "upset" in who gets the spot.

As such, it's pretty easy to predict what we're going to do:

1. Lofton gets RT if healthy, otherwise someone else subs in until he's off the IR.

2. LG is anyone's guess, as there's no real "incumbent", except maybe Randolph/Wallace who have started at OG for us in '24.

3. Vaughters gets the other DE spot.

4. DT could be 2 NAT starters, if Lawson is healthy.  (Though Fox or Adams might get it as they are also "incumbents".)  Some of this might depend on how effective Fatboi is still.

5. REC open spot 1: D.Mitchell unless he royally screwed up his opportunity by being disinterested and entitled and ticking off MOS.  In which case he gets the A.Bowman/C.Matthews treatment (apple & map).

6. REC open spot 2 (and maybe 1 as well): a truly open competition because no one fits any of the 3 criteria above.  Well, unless Sterns is working towards criteria #1...

My point is TC hopefuls and PS standouts are cut just as often as not, and there's often no rhyme or reason.  The above rules are pretty good heuristics for WFC if you want to be able to at least have a hope at predicting the AR.

[TecnoGenius]

Our pass rush last yr was the weakest part of our defence and we need to fix that

It doesn't look like it's been a huge priority, at least on the interior.  Vaughters should let the DEs get back within sight of the "2 J's" era.

But DT we're relying on a not-played-in-a-year Lawson, the same ol' Fatboi, and the haven't-found-our-real-starter-yet Adams/Fox.  None of these people is Stove or Nevis.

If we really, really wanted to fix the DL we would have FA'd a top-3 DT.  Since we didn't, our success this season may depend on Lawson staying healthy and picking up where he left off, Fatboi not degrading, and Adams or Fox stepping up to be the next Casey.  It's possible, but lots of stars have to align.

[Jesse]

It doesn't look like it's been a huge priority, at least on the interior.  Vaughters should let the DEs get back within sight of the "2 J's" era.

But DT we're relying on a not-played-in-a-year Lawson, the same ol' Fatboi, and the haven't-found-our-real-starter-yet Adams/Fox.  None of these people is Stove or Nevis.

If we really, really wanted to fix the DL we would have FA'd a top-3 DT.  Since we didn't, our success this season may depend on Lawson staying healthy and picking up where he left off, Fatboi not degrading, and Adams or Fox stepping up to be the next Casey.  It's possible, but lots of stars have to align.

Fox is not on the roster anymore, our two holdovers are Woods and Adams (who I both really like). You're going to see them both, depending on how many snap we give to a NAT and how often we see 4 DL+ sets.