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

[Blue In BC]

Ya, I don't understand how we didn't crack the CGY OL.  Like at all.  Their OL on paper wasn't great, and aren't they down a couple of guys to IR?  I don't get it.

As for worst loss, nah, BC killing us like 40 to 0 last season was worse.  Then we rallied back and ate their lunch the rest of the season.

We knew we needed to improve our DL significantly this year. It's improved but still not great.

[Big Daddy]

I'm just wondering how the Calgary locker room is with Biggie in there and VAJ.

I'm sure I am not the only one to remember VAJ ripping off Biggie's helmet, and then wildly swinging it at him, trying to whack him in the head with his own helmet.

No ejection, but at least he got a one game suspension.

Still don't like VAJ because of that back in 2019.

[Blue In BC]

That's what having the entire play book plunked down on your desk by a 10Y vet of WPG can do for ya!  Mark my words, Biggie will never play a snap for CGY.

You're wearing your tin hat again.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Just looking at the week's roster changes to see what might have changed vs last week.

What changed was:

Zach threw two pick 6s
Calgary is better than Edmonton.
We were playing a well rested, very prepared opponent on the road.

Vanterpool playing guard for Wallace is not the excuse you're looking for.

[bunker]

Agreed it looks like Calgary is much more likely to be the best in the West than the Bombers.

I would reserve judgement until we see them again in two weeks.

[TecnoGenius]

I would suggest airlifting in a corner because the unit gave up 23 points on the road in Calgary is an overreaction.

Then you're not seeing the big picture.  Bonds has been picked on all of '24, the GC, and every game this year.  Sometimes he redeems himself.  Sometimes not.  But if you're going to try to "crack the WPG D nut", you'll be studying how to beat him and Bridges.  And that's just what CGY did.

Bridges is even more of a liability because he's had way less starts in '24.

I think we were kind of hoping/planning for Ford to stay, and Bridges was sort of a "let's hope this works out" fallback.

Not saying they can't do better, but as it stands right now, most of the air yardage is going through those 2.  And that's unusual for the CFL because usually an O will take the inside slots and HBs a ton more than the wide shots!!

How many passes went Nichols' way?  Ya, none.  Holm?  2?  He mostly shut that down.  So they pick on the n00bs and weaker guys.

This is rocket science?  Tell me where I'm wrong.  And tell me why every shot is to the WR/CB and not the slot/HB.

[TecnoGenius]

I'm just wondering how the Calgary locker room is with Biggie in there and VAJ.

I'm sure I am not the only one to remember VAJ ripping off Biggie's helmet

Ya, awkward.  Well Biggie has his 30 pieces of silver, and CGY got a win with his help.  So CGY got what they wanted.

[Big Daddy]

This "stampede bowl champion" ceremony - just seems trying too hard.

[TecnoGenius]

You're wearing your tin hat again.

CGY hasn't beaten us in how long?  Did CGY's O look like they knew everything and its dog about our D?  Maybe tinfoil, maybe not.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Then you're not seeing the big picture.  Bonds has been picked on all of '24, the GC, and every game this year.  Sometimes he redeems himself.  Sometimes not.  But if you're going to try to "crack the WPG D nut", you'll be studying how to beat him and Bridges.  And that's just what CGY did.

Bridges is even more of a liability because he's had way less starts in '24.

I think we were kind of hoping/planning for Ford to stay, and Bridges was sort of a "let's hope this works out" fallback.

Not saying they can't do better, but as it stands right now, most of the air yardage is going through those 2.  And that's unusual for the CFL because usually an O will take the inside slots and HBs a ton more than the wide shots!!

How many passes went Nichols' way?  Ya, none.  Holm?  2?  He mostly shut that down.  So they pick on the n00bs and weaker guys.

This is rocket science?  Tell me where I'm wrong.  And tell me why every shot is to the WR/CB and not the slot/HB.

You can replace the corner all day and teams are still going to throw it there because Nichols and Holms are absolutely not what any OC with half a brain is going to pick on.

Your big plan to replace a corner with someone who isn't currently on a CFL roster isn't likely to get you better results no matter how many times you watch the game in slow mo in your basement.

We're 3-1 not 3-11.

[Big Daddy]

Ya, awkward.  Well Biggie has his 30 pieces of silver, and CGY got a win with his help.  So CGY got what they wanted.

Nice reference!

[TecnoGenius]

This "stampede bowl champion" ceremony - just seems trying too hard.

You want tinfoil... that ceremony looked preordained!  Like it was planned for CGY to win.  With the commish standing there handing it over like it's the GC, and them hanging out an MOP award?  What on earth was that?  The most bizarre thing I've ever seen.  (Banjo Bowl never does any of that.)

Looks like a massive Stamps promotion that couldn't have ended any other way.  This is their get-fans-in-the-seats hype moment.

I had thought about that before doing my pickems... sometimes I wonder...

[bunker]

Then you're not seeing the big picture.  Bonds has been picked on all of '24, the GC, and every game this year.  Sometimes he redeems himself.  Sometimes not.  But if you're going to try to "crack the WPG D nut", you'll be studying how to beat him and Bridges.  And that's just what CGY did.

Bridges is even more of a liability because he's had way less starts in '24.

I think we were kind of hoping/planning for Ford to stay, and Bridges was sort of a "let's hope this works out" fallback.

Not saying they can't do better, but as it stands right now, most of the air yardage is going through those 2.  And that's unusual for the CFL because usually an O will take the inside slots and HBs a ton more than the wide shots!!

How many passes went Nichols' way?  Ya, none.  Holm?  2?  He mostly shut that down.  So they pick on the n00bs and weaker guys.

This is rocket science?  Tell me where I'm wrong.  And tell me why every shot is to the WR/CB and not the slot/HB.

Our corners are the weakness in our secondary, but I think Bonds is actually decent. Part of the problem is that our D-line has to get more pressure so that VA doesn't have time to get to his second, and third reads. Thats making our corners look worse. And no matter good your defence is, its hard to win a game in the CFL when your offence scores 16, and give up 14, going a net plus 2. It think in the end Zach was a bigger factor in our loss than Bridges. That holding penalty on Randolph was a killer also. Add in Vaval trying to run a punt out from the endzone, and it was just too many mistakes and poor play to overcome. I think (?hope) it will be very different in 2 weeks time.

[Big Daddy]

You can replace the corner all day and teams are still going to throw it there because Nichols and Holms are absolutely not what any OC with half a brain is going to pick on.

Your big plan to replace a corner with someone who isn't currently on a CFL roster isn't likely to get you better results no matter how many times you watch the game in slow mo in your basement.

We're 3-1 not 3-11.

I agree with bolded. 

A bit insulting for the rest to techno - don't need to be nasty.

[TecnoGenius]

Your big plan to replace a corner with someone who isn't currently on a CFL roster isn't likely to get you better results no matter how many times you watch the game in slow mo in your basement.

We're 3-1 not 3-11.

Well, then we better hope "The 2 B's" improve all season.  It would almost be easier to take if one/both were rookies instead of guys with multiple starts under their belt... more understandable and more room for hope.

If they stay at this level we'll be walked all over every game.  On the plus side, WFC often has DBs that look meh to start and turn into all-stars by season-end.  The problem is, it only takes 1 to continue suckage to ruin an entire D.

As for Houston, pretty sure he's on the couch because of high salary ask, not disability.  And since he's basically a Bomber at heart, it would hardly be an "airlift"... he'd just be coming back home where he belongs.