Would you play Houston this week?

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

remember when we thought it was an option to play him immediately?? multiple games later - still not in the lineup

silly fans..

Who's "him"?  You talking about Dexter Lawson?  He's only a couple of games in and has looked better than Bridges, it even took Ty Ford 3-4 games to get the hang of it, playing CB is a scary job.

[Jesse]

Who's "him"?  You talking about Dexter Lawson?  He's only a couple of games in and has looked better than Bridges, it even took Ty Ford 3-4 games to get the hang of it, playing CB is a scary job.

We're talking about Houston and this is the second game he's missed.

Zipp really pushing the word "multiple".

[Pigskin]

Houston still mite not be in game shape??

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Houston still mite not be in game shape??

Maybe, Houston hasn't played in Younger's secondary before and he's a jumpy one, could be he hasn't picked it up quick enough and he's making poor reads in scrimmage.  Tough enough game for the Bombers to win, they can do without blown coverage leading to quick Rider TD's.

[The Zipp]

We're talking about Houston and this is the second game he's missed.

Zipp really pushing the word "multiple".

2 is multiple..



just a bit ironic that some of us thought the dude could play after being here days and he still isn't in the lineup.

he may have been very slow after his prolonged hiatus.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

2 is multiple..



just a bit ironic that some of us thought the dude could play after being here days and he still isn't in the lineup.

he may have been very slow after his prolonged hiatus.

Don't know why the media can't describe what they observe at practice, if a player is struggling it would be good to know why.

[Waffler]

Don't know why the media can't describe what they observe at practice, if a player is struggling it would be good to know why.

Derek Taylor did post that he took turns in both Lawson's and Vaval's spots.

https://x.com/DTonOB/status/1960754260645478520
https://x.com/DTonOB/status/1960754564245934175

I think MOS thought long and hard about playing him. My guess is Houston plays in the Banjo Bowl.

[markf]

Maybe, Houston hasn't played in Younger's secondary before and he's a jumpy one, could be he hasn't picked it up quick enough and he's making poor reads in scrimmage.  Tough enough game for the Bombers to win, they can do without blown coverage leading to quick Rider TD's.

He did play under Younger

" Younger was named the defensive coordinator on January 8, 2024 after spending the previous five years as the club's defensive backs coach"

"Houston spent 2021-23 with the Blue Bombers, appearing in 30 games – including 26 starts "

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

He did play under Younger

" Younger was named the defensive coordinator on January 8, 2024 after spending the previous five years as the club's defensive backs coach"

"Houston spent 2021-23 with the Blue Bombers, appearing in 30 games – including 26 starts "

That was Richie Hall's secondary, Younger was his assistant but the Defence as a whole has become more complex in the last 2 years.  It was pretty rare to have busts in coverage under Hall, only seemed to happen when they had to adjust personnel for injury.

[Blueforlife]

That was Richie Hall's secondary, Younger was his assistant but the Defence as a whole has become more complex in the last 2 years.  It was pretty rare to have busts in coverage under Hall, only seemed to happen when they had to adjust personnel for injury.

Agree mostly but Hall did have him issues at times and did adjust his system to adapt to explosive plays.  Your last point is a good one.

[TecnoGenius]

That was Richie Hall's secondary, Younger was his assistant but the Defence as a whole has become more complex in the last 2 years.

I dunno... In some ways Younger is much more KISS.  His DL schemes and stunts are usually plain vanilla, compared to Hall's.  Hall was the "smoke & mirrors" kind of like Thorpe is now: show X and bring whatever the opposite of X is.

He also drops LBers into the DB backfield way less often.

The only way Younger is more complex, IMHO, is slightly more complex DB schemes.  Especially with how he toys with the personnel in fine grained detailed based on down & distance.

What parts do you see as more complex?

[TecnoGenius]

Maybe, Houston hasn't played in Younger's secondary before and he's a jumpy one, could be he hasn't picked it up quick enough and he's making poor reads in scrimmage

From memory, Houston was pretty balanced.  He wasn't a showboater always biting for the INT fake-out.  He didn't get burned too often after he was here a while.  He did his job very well and was pretty wicked on one-on-ones.

Some DBs are just about that INT stat and explosions behind them be darned.

Houston almost won the '23 GC for us, if his fingers had just been about 4" longer... Boy he was so sad after that TD.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I dunno... In some ways Younger is much more KISS.  His DL schemes and stunts are usually plain vanilla, compared to Hall's.  Hall was the "smoke & mirrors" kind of like Thorpe is now: show X and bring whatever the opposite of X is.

He also drops LBers into the DB backfield way less often.

The only way Younger is more complex, IMHO, is slightly more complex DB schemes.  Especially with how he toys with the personnel in fine grained detailed based on down & distance.

What parts do you see as more complex?

The jobs in the secondary have become more complex, not simply man to man or zone, but more combo and switching receivers in flight, which relies on experience and great communication. With the release of Bridges the endless stock of DB's familiar with the system has dried up, thus the painful process of introducing rookies to the system in season has led to some obvious mistakes. 

I have a feeling Lawson will play well today, he knows he's on the bubble and is going to be hyper-vigilant about not letting anyone sneak behind him.  If he does well he may live to fight another day, if not it could be the last time we see him on the field.

 

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

From memory, Houston was pretty balanced.  He wasn't a showboater always biting for the INT fake-out.  He didn't get burned too often after he was here a while.  He did his job very well and was pretty wicked on one-on-ones.

Some DBs are just about that INT stat and explosions behind them be darned.

Houston almost won the '23 GC for us, if his fingers had just been about 4" longer... Boy he was so sad after that TD.

In his first stop Houston was often criticized for going for the interception too often, I can remember some huge passes given up because he tried to jump the ball and missed instead of going for the easy tackle.  If he plays a bit more conservatively he should do ok.

[theaardvark]

The moment Houston is physically ready to play, he's on the AR.

They do not pick him up if there is a question about his character or fitting in.  Hall, Younger, MOS and Walters were all involved in the decision, I have no doubt.

We know he has the skill set to play, it is only a matter of whether his mind and body are ready.

Might take longer than a handful practices to figure that out.

If he's not on the AR next week, it does not bode well for him.