Official Game Day Thread - Winnipeg at Calgary, July 3, 2025

[ModAdmin]

Game Preview #4 | WPG at CAL

Game 4: Blue Bombers (3-0) at Stampeders (2-1)

Kickoff: Thursday, July 3rd, 8 p.m. CDT; McMahon Stadium, Calgary
TV/Streaming: TSN, CBS SportsNetwork; CFL+
Radio: 680 CJOB (pre-game begins at 6 p.m. CDT); Play-by-play: Derek Taylor/analyst: Doug Brown; Sirius XM (ch. 167)

Scene Setter

It was this week a year ago — 369 days, to be exact — that the Winnipeg Blue Bombers travelled into Calgary and then tumbled into a deep, dark hole with their fourth consecutive loss to open the 2024 Canadian Football League season.

They had dropped a sloppy 22-19 decision to the Stamps in overtime and, in the process, had also lost star quarterback Zach Collaros with what was later referred to as a 'chest contusion.' And seemingly overnight the narrative across the land fixated on how a team which had appeared in four consecutive Grey Cups now looked tired and old.

In that moment, as the old saying goes, 'they had one foot on the gravel and one foot in the grave.'

Of course, we all know how the rest of the story unfolded. That 0-4 start became 2-6 and then the club won 10 of its last 11 before falling to the Toronto Argonauts in last year's Grey Cup.

The point here — and yes, we do have one — is to compare that putrid start from this time last season to where the 2025 Blue Bombers find themselves now as they prepare again to meet the Stampeders in Calgary. They are a perfect 3-0 and, yes, with some rough edges that need smoothing, but clearly again among the CFL's elite.

The deep, uber-analytical take here? Losing sucks. It can be mentally draining and physically taxing.

Winning, well, it is absolutely glorious.

"I've kind of tried to blank out the first half of last year, to be honest," said veteran guard Pat Neufeld when asked to bite into the compare-and-contrast analogy to this time a year ago. "I would say we weren't connected as a team back then. We were just all over the place and weren't making those little plays that in years prior got us through those tight games.

"There were some days that were brutal where we had to go over things. There was just this general feeling that we were not the team we envisioned we were going to be, and it just wears on you mentally. There's a stress of being a professional football player. And if you're a good pro you're putting pressure on yourself every single day because everything is on tape and your job is on the line every time. We all understand that.

"This season we're playing more cohesively and it's a lot more complimentary where we're connected to each other. If there's a lull, then it's the other group coming onto the field that helps picks up the other. It's getting us back to where we want to be. We just re-established a baseline in training camp. Despite the amount of turnover we've had, there's still a good core of veteran guys here. Even those guys who are in their second and third year here now understand that standard and we're trying to maintain it in practice and in meetings.

"We just feel now that we're a better team in a better spot," Neufeld added. "We still have that high pressure, but it's not in a negative way. It's not dreading things or, 'I can't believe we did this' or 'I can't believe that happened.' Now, it's 'Yeah, it happened. How do we overcome it?' It's just a lot more uplifting.

"It's just a positive atmosphere again, just as it was at the end of last season. We practice hard and we put in a ton of time in meetings. Ultimately, winning is not only fun, it fixes a lot of things."

The Blue Bombers meet a revamped Calgary squad Thursday night featuring veteran Vernon Adams, Jr. at quarterback and a revamped and stingy defence in the inaugural Stampede Bowl. This is the first time the Stamps will be facing a team from the West, but the fourth of five consecutive games against their division for the Blue Bombers, who have a bye next week before hosting Calgary on Friday, July 18th.

Winnipeg has already won the season series with the B.C. Lions and is up one on the Edmonton Elks after last week's victory. This home and home with the Stamps is then followed by a doubleheader with the Argos before another trip to Calgary on August 9th.

"Right now we're trying to get up on these opportunities and get up on these West teams," said defensive end Willie Jefferson. "But we're not dwelling on last year. New year. New opportunities. New mindset.

"Remember at the beginning of last year those games we lost were close (after a 15-point loss to Montreal the next three defeats were by a total of nine points). It was the little things that were killing us like ball security, finishing drives, getting off the field on defence, communication.

"We wanted to start fast and implement that physicality, that grit and that tough mindset to everybody on this team. We're just trying to ride that wave right now."

That wave began in training camp with a renewed focus. That carried into the preseason where while the results don't count, the attention to detail does. And it carried over into the start of Winnipeg's season.

"We're locked in," said veteran receiver Nic Demski. "That was one of the messages coming into training camp — we wanted to be locked in right from the beginning. The vets took that to heart — we took that as a call out, in a way — and we've been making sure everyone in this building, top-down, is on the same page and doing absolutely everything it takes to win.

"We've got a lot of good leaders here, but it makes it easier to lead when you've got guys who have bought in, want to be here and want to do the right thing."

https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/07/02/game-preview-4-wpg-at-cal/

[TecnoGenius]

Vanterpool is the guy. I didn't expect a move back but they clearly think he's better.

I think this move proves the "desired" line-up is 3IMP, and has been since TC/PS.  Why?  Because Wallace played more than adequately, so that if there was any question about him sucking, it has already been answered.

I think Vanterpool is better on run block, and I expect our run yardage to be much higher than vs EDM.

I still think Lofton/Randolph are the preferred 2nd/3rd IMPs, but the longer Randolph starts at RG, the more likely we stick with what's working.  Lofton on IR does make a convenient emergency backup plan...

It will be important in next FA/DP to make sure we have 1-2 new NAT OL that can take over the jumbo job.  Clearly they don't think Vibert is there yet.  Ideally whether we roll with 3IMP or 3NAT starters, we should always have enough on the roster to field 2 NAT jumbos.  Right now we don't!

[TecnoGenius]

Didn't see it mentioned on here but the Bombers released Josh Hagerty yesterday, that might spell the end of plan to play any Natl's in the secondary this season, looks like they're sticking with Parker at Safety.

Hallett will still get reps at FS and dual-saftey schemes.  Since it's near impossible to find the "next Ford", I don't see any of this as a surprise.  We can achieve the ratio in more traditional ways, anyhow.

Plus, the 5 IMP DBs are looking pretty darn good so far this season.  Bonds / Bridges will always be who they pick on, but both are proving it's not a gimmee, and both can burn you.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I think this move proves the "desired" line-up is 3IMP, and has been since TC/PS.  Why?  Because Wallace played more than adequately, so that if there was any question about him sucking, it has already been answered.

I think Vanterpool is better on run block, and I expect our run yardage to be much higher than vs EDM.

I still think Lofton/Randolph are the preferred 2nd/3rd IMPs, but the longer Randolph starts at RG, the more likely we stick with what's working.  Lofton on IR does make a convenient emergency backup plan...

It will be important in next FA/DP to make sure we have 1-2 new NAT OL that can take over the jumbo job.  Clearly they don't think Vibert is there yet.  Ideally whether we roll with 3IMP or 3NAT starters, we should always have enough on the roster to field 2 NAT jumbos.  Right now we don't!

Don't care who they decide to play, but if they don't lock Wallace up for an additional 2-3 years before the end of the season I will be pissed.  I predict he's is the only O-lineman currently employed that will be still playing in 5 years time, he is the future Walby.

[Pigskin]

Don't care who they decide to play, but if they don't lock Wallace up for an additional 2-3 years before the end of the season I will be pissed.  I predict he's is the only O-lineman currently employed that will be still playing in 5 years time, he is the future Walby.

I agree the Bomber need to lock him up to a long term deal. However, the can worry about that in the off season, or even during the 2026 season.

[Blueforlife]

Walby's don't grow on trees very often, if we can develop one, we can start using the D word again

[TecnoGenius]

Don't care who they decide to play, but if they don't lock Wallace up for an additional 2-3 years before the end of the season I will be pissed.

I have zero doubt they retain Wallace.  No team will offer him Desjar money because he hasn't shown he's Desjar.  He will get the normal 3rd-year bounce in $ and sign for another 2 years, just like almost every other hoggie who didn't start in year 1.

Neufeld won't last forever, and Wallace could easily be our planned replacement.  Or he just stays at LG, whatever.  I have no idea about him ratio-busting a OT spot for us, but that would just be gravy.

For OL in general we need to go into retention and acquisition mode.  The only ones we can afford to let walk are IMPs.

[BomberFan73]

Ya, I think the faith in Wallace was the reason they didn't have to draft a OL high this year.
Wallace replaces Neuf, Randolph & Vanterpool replace Bryant & Lofton.
Those 3 will be well seasoned by preseason next year.

The big question is at C. Can Eli fill in a fulltime roll there replacing Koko? I think that is where we'll need to add someone.

[Blue In BC]

Looking for another win and no injuries this week. Brady could light up the Stamps without their starting MLB. Besides, he's probably upset over missing the last 2 games. He's ready to go!!

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I have zero doubt they retain Wallace.  No team will offer him Desjar money because he hasn't shown he's Desjar.  He will get the normal 3rd-year bounce in $ and sign for another 2 years, just like almost every other hoggie who didn't start in year 1.

Neufeld won't last forever, and Wallace could easily be our planned replacement.  Or he just stays at LG, whatever.  I have no idea about him ratio-busting a OT spot for us, but that would just be gravy.

For OL in general we need to go into retention and acquisition mode.  The only ones we can afford to let walk are IMPs.

I don't view his re-signing nearly as casually, they need to pay him to stay and not try to save a few bucks by squeezing him on a 3rd year rookie deal.  Don't even let him consider going to FA, the results are not good.

Chungh, Goosen, Desjarlais, Couture, Dobson.

They all left for different reasons but none of them were pushed out the door.

[theaardvark]

Wallace can be a real gooder, there is no doubt.  But he hasn't solidified a starting role, and people want to make him a "Bomber for life".

Our players want to stay here, we build that kind of environment. And we do not ever cheap out on any of them.  They get paid fairly and get treated well.

Players that choose to leave get overpaid, and many return closer to their homes / families as well.  I can't remember losing a player to a lower offer.     

Chungh, Goosen, Desjarlais, Couture, Dobson. and I'll add Hardrick were all cases of players getting paid much more.  And we've been able to replace all of them while going to 5 straight GC appearances.

So, I'm not too worried about our pipeline.  We may still see players we drafted that haven't come north yet. 

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Wallace can be a real gooder, there is no doubt.  But he hasn't solidified a starting role, and people want to make him a "Bomber for life".

Our players want to stay here, we build that kind of environment. And we do not ever cheap out on any of them.  They get paid fairly and get treated well.

Players that choose to leave get overpaid, and many return closer to their homes / families as well.  I can't remember losing a player to a lower offer.     

Chungh, Goosen, Desjarlais, Couture, Dobson. and I'll add Hardrick were all cases of players getting paid much more.  And we've been able to replace all of them while going to 5 straight GC appearances.

So, I'm not too worried about our pipeline. We may still see players we drafted that haven't come north yet. 

Hardrick does not belong on that list, those O-linemen were in their prime when they left 2-4 years into their careers, Yoshi was past his prime and also isn't a Natl. so not as difficult to replace.

The Natl. pipeline behind Wallace currently consists of one player of unknown quality, who has yet to see any game time.

[Pigskin]

I like the look of Vibert. He has good size and moves well. He works hard at practice. Kid, just needs some game time.

[bwiser]

Hopefully the Bombers are prepared for the transition on the offensive line. Bryant and Neufeld both are likely to  retire after this season. Those are big holes to fill and I am sure the Bombers will use a few draft picks for O lineman

[Pigskin]

Sure glad we are not playing in Winnipeg tonight. Heat warning, and not the best air quality.