Would you play Houston this week?

[Tecno]

So D. Lawson could be released outright or sent back to PR after this week if he loses the battle to start when Houston returns?

No way we cut DB Lawson, unless maybe if Parker is 100% tomorrow.  Even then, we're not having luck with DB injuries and problems this season, we need to keep some guys in the PR hopper.  We'll probably need them.

Plus, do we think Lawson is better than Vaval (as DB only)?  Not sure what the answer to that is.  Though Vaval may always win the tie breaker by being able to return.

[Tecno]

So much of our problems in the secondary have been lack of communication. I don't think the ideal is to send another guy out there who doesn't know the calls.

But the idea is Houston does "know the calls".  Only 1 season removed from WFC, and Younger didn't reinvent the whole thing.  It's basically a Hall D scheme with Younger tweaks.

[Big Daddy]

But the idea is Houston does "know the calls".  Only 1 season removed from WFC, and Younger didn't reinvent the whole thing.  It's basically a Hall D scheme with Younger tweaks.

Agreed - if anyone can jump back in it would be Houston. 

[Jesse]

But the idea is Houston does "know the calls".  Only 1 season removed from WFC, and Younger didn't reinvent the whole thing.  It's basically a Hall D scheme with Younger tweaks.

Sure, if I went back to a job I had two years ago, I could relearn the acronyms pretty quickly. But if someone yelled one at me from across a football field and I had to remember and respond in >5 seconds, I think I might make a few mistakes.

[Blue In BC]

No way we cut DB Lawson, unless maybe if Parker is 100% tomorrow.  Even then, we're not having luck with DB injuries and problems this season, we need to keep some guys in the PR hopper.  We'll probably need them.

Plus, do we think Lawson is better than Vaval (as DB only)?  Not sure what the answer to that is.  Though Vaval may always win the tie breaker by being able to return.

I think Lawson is a better CB than Vaval but that's what is being tested tomorrow. Am I right on that assessment? IDK. We won't be able to keep everyone on the AR when Houston returns. So the options range from 1 game IR ( which I doubt ), PR or released. This may need to be decided by next week if that is when Houston is added to AR.

We don't have a clear idea of how long Parker will be out but if he's going to be back in a week or 2 then we we have an issue.

There are only so many spots on the PR and I don't know he will have earned a seat on 1 game IR.

[Blue In BC]

Sure, if I went back to a job I had two years ago, I could relearn the acronyms pretty quickly. But if someone yelled one at me from across a football field and I had to remember and respond in >5 seconds, I think I might make a few mistakes.

Houston, we're in man coverage and your guy is ( fill in the blank ). Houston we're in zone, you've got the deep stuff, or you've got the short stuff. Houston you're on a CB blitz.

The guy has played football at a high level and he's played with Nichols, Holm and Kramdi. I don't see a significant issue with learning curve.

Like I said, Lawson played after a week back and he wouldn't have seen the entire DC playbook in TC.

Rookie DB's are inserted into games across the CFL in very short time frames when injuries occur.

[Jesse]

Houston, we're in man coverage and your guy is ( fill in the blank ). Houston we're in zone, you've got the deep stuff, or you've got the short stuff. Houston you're on a CB blitz.

The guy has played football at a high level and he's played with Nichols, Holm and Kramdi. I don't see a significant issue with learning curve.

Like I said, Lawson played after a week back and he wouldn't have seen the entire DC playbook in TC.

Rookie DB's are inserted into games across the CFL in very short time frames when injuries occur.

Well, geeze. No need for Jordan Younger, just need to flip a coin and say man or zone.

[Tecno]

Houston, we're in man coverage and your guy is ( fill in the blank ). Houston we're in zone, you've got the deep stuff, or you've got the short stuff. Houston you're on a CB blitz.

I'm with ya, except we play mostly match, not man (as per Lapo and the other panel guys).  Match is inherently much more complex and smooth comms are imperative.  Handoffs are the norm.  That is how most teams are exploiting us: mixups on the handoffs.

But bonus: Houston also already played match coverage with us as recently as '23!  So it shouldn't be too hard...

[Tecno]

Sure, if I went back to a job I had two years ago, I could relearn the acronyms pretty quickly. But if someone yelled one at me from across a football field and I had to remember and respond in >5 seconds, I think I might make a few mistakes.

Sure.  But there were lots of DBs on the couch the last 3 weeks since Parker got hurt and Bridges was cut... and we chose Houston.  10% of that is he's "best available player" (in our eyes), and 90% is he knows the book.

Let's say Moxey or similar was on the couch and available... we would have still signed Houston.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I think Lawson is a better CB than Vaval but that's what is being tested tomorrow. Am I right on that assessment? IDK. We won't be able to keep everyone on the AR when Houston returns. So the options range from 1 game IR ( which I doubt ), PR or released. This may need to be decided by next week if that is when Houston is added to AR.

We don't have a clear idea of how long Parker will be out but if he's going to be back in a week or 2 then we we have an issue.

There are only so many spots on the PR and I don't know he will have earned a seat on 1 game IR.

Seems pretty clear both Vaval and Lawson will be replaced as soon as Houston and Parker return to the lineup. They may both have bright futures with the team but it's quite unusual for the Bombers to play  first year rookie DB's and they're only starting because of injuries.  Vaval likely keeps an AR spot as DB and Payton backup till that pans out, while Lawson returns to the PR with Woodbey or Dandy likely being pushed out the door.

[Tecno]

It might be recognized now though that Parker might be an on again off again IR thing.  As such you don't want to outright cut anyone who might step in should he go down again.  We need to make more use of the IR like everyone else.  (MTL just did it to hide their players because of Ento/etc returning.)

I agree that Lawson will have to flash much better than Vaval to have any hope of getting the AR spot, because Vaval is dual threat.  I found them both to be about equal at CB so far...

[Waffler]

We signed Lucky Whitehead off the couch last year on July 8. His first game was Aug 2. Houston won't have to wait a month because we need him but it shows how cautious MOS can be. I think he's right. Houston getting hurt or burnt because he is not ready to play 60 minutes would be a preventable disaster.

Everyone else has 2 weeks of camp and 2 preseason games to get ready. I say again Houston has had just 2 practices since 2024.

[Blue In BC]

It might be recognized now though that Parker might be an on again off again IR thing.  As such you don't want to outright cut anyone who might step in should he go down again.  We need to make more use of the IR like everyone else.  (MTL just did it to hide their players because of Ento/etc returning.)

I agree that Lawson will have to flash much better than Vaval to have any hope of getting the AR spot, because Vaval is dual threat.  I found them both to be about equal at CB so far...

All of that is complicated a bit by the return of Logan. Griffin is our DI as a DB and he's versatile. Rosters are limited in size, ratio including the PR.

Keeping Lawson could be an issue at some point and I expect he could land on our PR. Once Houston and Parker are available.

If Houston plays next week we need to adjust the AR. Let's see how the CB's do tonight and further discuss next week.

I like Lawson so I'm not trying to get rid of him. The question is whether we're willing to put him on 1 game IR once Parker is healthy. In that sense I expect he gets moved to PR.

OTOH, I have no idea when Parker will be ready if at all. Going on 1 game IR instead of 6 game IR was a bit of a surprise. If he only sprained his knee he could return soon. I thought the same about Logan and he missed 9 games. So, we'll see.

[Blue In BC]

Well, geeze. No need for Jordan Younger, just need to flip a coin and say man or zone.

We may as well have flipped a coin the way we had so many broken coverages in the secondary.  Bonds was a 2nd year starter and Bridges was with the team all of 2024 and had been on the AR part of the time.

Obviously it's not that easy but if you read what I said, you should understand. Houston has played with Holm and Nichols at a high level. Younger didn't re-write the entire defensive playbook. Houston has also played against many receivers he will face and understands route trees and moves to expect from opponents.

How many reps do you think Vaval got with the 1st teams in practice or Lawson for that matter?  Lawson started 1 week after being signed.

[Waffler]

We may as well have flipped a coin the way we had so many broken coverages in the secondary.  Bonds was a 2nd year starter and Bridges was with the team all of 2024 and had been on the AR part of the time.

Obviously it's not that easy but if you read what I said, you should understand. Houston has played with Holm and Nichols at a high level. Younger didn't re-write the entire defensive playbook. Houston has also played against many receivers he will face and understands route trees and moves to expect from opponents.

How many reps do you think Vaval got with the 1st teams in practice or Lawson for that matter?  Lawson started 1 week after being signed.

Vaval and Lawson were here for the entirety of camp and pre-season. Lawson was playing indoor football during his time away from the Bombers. They both know the playbook and are in game shape. I think the better comparison is Lucky Whitehead. As I pointed out he didn't play for a month after signing.