Official Game Day Thread - Sask. at Winnipeg, May 24, 2025

[BomberFan73]

I think my fav part of the Vaughters run back was Holm speeding in from behind to join them. Man, he's got speed.

[Waffler]

Can he return?  That's the only way he'll make the roster: if Logan is out/hurt and Cooley can also return.  Otherwise the only way he'll see squat is if Brady is out for weeks and we shuffle the ratio.

Well... if he can catch too, there is a slim chance he could be this year's McCrae.  So far I've seen nothing to indicate he can do anything other than run.

I agree, he looked quite nice out there.  My son read me his height off the chart and he sounds like a Pinball type -- but with more beef.

I don't think he has fielded any returns in practice.

As far as body type I thought of the "Little Ball of Hate" Josh Ranek.  5'8" 205.

In school Cooley was called the Bowling Ball?
https://www.facebook.com/LibertyFlamesFootball/photos/the-bowling-ball-is-rolling-up-north-%EF%B8%8Fquinton-cooley-has-signed-with-the-winnipe/1060161909492403/?_rdr

[Blue In BC]

The coaches got a good look at some of the rookies. Not everybody will play in the last pre-season game so some semi final decisions are going to be needed to be made.

The game may have given some indication of who the starters will be. It didn't appear to indicate many of the free agent players acquired are at the top of the list.

Teams don't have to make any cuts before the next game, but I wouldn't be surprised to 6 - 10 or so players released.

Some of the rookies and 2nd year players made an impression. It wasn't really a game for stats.

[BomberFan73]

So, I guess many of the vets won't dress next week so we can get a better look at the bubble guys.
Corcoran was another guy who looked good. PR for this year, and hopefully a player down the road.
Was Cobb hurt?  He didn't dress.  Not sure if I even saw Gassama.
Clercius is a stud.  Chris/Ike had some good blocking.

As far as the American WRs M Mitchell (red shoes) stood out the most. Did Case play?  Harris, Daughtry, Wallis, Brown, Hall were all meh.   We could probably drop a couple of these guys this week even.
Oh, and KEEP COOLEY!

I might also be in the Allen at safety camp, especially since our biggest guy in the secondary is Holm at 5'11 180.

[Jesse]

So Eli did indeed start the game at LG. Randolph is still at tackle.

Cam Allen was talked about early and walked the talk.

Bridges at corner for now. It wouldn't surprise me to see Parker moved to corner and Bridges used as a multi-purpose player throughout the secondary.

We're going to see a lot of Devin Adams this year.

Ayers played later in the game than I would have expected. I'll be disappointed if he's the odd man out.

Same with Sterns. Early camp talk pegged him as a Collaros favourite, but he only got in later in the game. It was all Myron Mitchell earlier.

Hard to notice players from the live feed, plus you get caught up in the game and forget to look at who's in there.

[Blue In BC]

So Eli did indeed start the game at LG. Randolph is still at tackle.

Cam Allen was talked about early and walked the talk.

Bridges at corner for now. It wouldn't surprise me to see Parker moved to corner and Bridges used as a multi-purpose player throughout the secondary.

We're going to see a lot of Devin Adams this year.

Ayers played later in the game than I would have expected. I'll be disappointed if he's the odd man out.

Same with Sterns. Early camp talk pegged him as a Collaros favourite, but he only got in later in the game. It was all Myron Mitchell earlier.

Hard to notice players from the live feed, plus you get caught up in the game and forget to look at who's in there.

If Bridges is the multi purpose guy then where does that leave Griffin?

[Jesse]

If Bridges is the multi purpose guy then where does that leave Griffin?

Need more than one guy for depth. We used both last year when everyone was healthy in the secondary, I'm sure we'll need both (and more) this year.

[BomberFan73]

If Bridges is the multi purpose guy then where does that leave Griffin?

I think Griffin has been lined up as the SAM backup to Kramdi

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

So Eli did indeed start the game at LG. Randolph is still at tackle.

Cam Allen was talked about early and walked the talk.

Bridges at corner for now. It wouldn't surprise me to see Parker moved to corner and Bridges used as a multi-purpose player throughout the secondary.

We're going to see a lot of Devin Adams this year.

Ayers played later in the game than I would have expected. I'll be disappointed if he's the odd man out.

Same with Sterns. Early camp talk pegged him as a Collaros favourite, but he only got in later in the game. It was all Myron Mitchell earlier.

Hard to notice players from the live feed, plus you get caught up in the game and forget to look at who's in there.

Dillon Mitchell's signing bonus was $62k, that's got to hurt, totally unnecessary expenditure but may force them to keep him over cheaper options. After this game Myron Mitchell and Reggie White are my top 2 contenders for the open receiver slots.  It could come down to Myron Mitchell or Sterns for quick hitters, Reggie White or Dillon Mitchell for medium-long stretching the field. Wheatfall might earn a spot on the PR to continue his progress. Zach's preference will probably play a huge role in who they keep, he boosted Myron Mitchell and Kody Case in yesterdays interview.

[Blue In BC]

Need more than one guy for depth. We used both last year when everyone was healthy in the secondary, I'm sure we'll need both (and more) this year.

I was asking more specifically on the AR and how it relates to the ratio.  Griffin was a regular on the AR while Bridges was mostly on the PR in 2024. I'm not saying Bridges is not improving or shouldn't be retained.

It's simple math and we can't keep everybody. Rookies might be willing to be moved to the PR. Gowan and Avery for example. Vaval might make the AR in the short term while Logan is out.

Based on yesterday I think Brini, Dandy and Lawson get the short straws in the secondary.

[theaardvark]

Good - beer was $6 pre-game (up from $5, but still way less than other venues).  Pita chips and garlic dip at Khan still $5.  Great treat.
Strev looked great - I am less nervous about game 1 now.  Others looked good as well.  As much as the talk was that Sask has way better depth at qb, I am not so sure.  Maier looked pretty pedestrian today.  Only one game, but I liked what I saw with our qb's.

Bad - only complaint is the concourse, as usual.  Stadium was half empty (no way 27k+ attended as announced - paid or ticketed maybe, but nowhere near that many there) and still painful to walk around.  So many people oblivious to the world, standing in a circle right in the middle of the concourse throughout, bottle-necking traffic to single file each way.  I mean - how narcissistic do you have to be to not care about everyone else in the stadium, and just stand there casually talking with others while no one can get by?

Still think a simple painted floor would suffice with Canadians.

Green in the traffic areas, red for socializing.  Maybe even directional arrows.

And let people walking in the green zone go "elbows up" on people standing in the green zone.

WOuld change things quickly.

[Pigskin]

Can't remember Chris-Ike touching the ball yesterday. Second season with the team, and no touches. Big RB with excellent speed. Not sure what's up.

[BomberFan73]

Can't remember Chris-Ike touching the ball yesterday. Second season with the team, and no touches. Big RB with excellent speed. Not sure what's up.

He was used as a FB, made a few good blocks.

[Jesse]

He was used as a FB, made a few good blocks.

That's what he was drafted as. It's entirely fan dreams of him being a RB.

He's a FB and special teamer.

[Pigskin]

Bertrand-Hudon is a FB for the Riders and occasionally he carries the ball. With Ike's speed there has to be a couple plays in the book for him.