Dillon Mitchell

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Mitchell has talent...having said that he was a big mistake in fA considering the other talent that was available (Gino Lewis for one) ...Especially bad was the fact we let a player like Kenny Lawler fly the coop...I hope we have better thought going into fa in 26'

How would paying Kenny Lawler $300k change the results yesterday?  Zach never had the graceful throwing ability of BLM, Zach looks like a golfer with a truncated swing trying to overpower the ball.

"For the 2025 season, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats paid Kenny Lawler $277,200 in hard money, with a maximum value of $303,000 if he hits all incentives. The hard money includes a $125,000 signing bonus, $110,000 in base salary, and other payments like marketing and housing money."

[dd]

How would paying Kenny Lawler $300k change the results yesterday?  Zach never had the graceful throwing ability of BLM, Zach looks like a golfer with a truncated swing trying to overpower the ball.

"For the 2025 season, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats paid Kenny Lawler $277,200 in hard money, with a maximum value of $303,000 if he hits all incentives. The hard money includes a $125,000 signing bonus, $110,000 in base salary, and other payments like marketing and housing money."

Zach completed one long bomb to Wilson for a TD, imagine if we had another deep threat receiver, maybe we'd score more points???

[Big Daddy]

Zach completed one long bomb to Wilson for a TD, imagine if we had another deep threat receiver, maybe we'd score more points???

You're not wrong - there's a lot of heat on Zach, which I understand given how this season played out.  I really wonder how it would have been though, with receivers (Schoen playing the full season, AND Lawler here), and an O-line that could protect him better.

My fantasy is that Zach re-structures for next year allowing for some movement on the O-line to improve, as well as retaining O. Wilson, Demski back, having Schoen back at full speed and playing a full season, and (may as well swing for the fence here - it's my fantasy) get Lawler back, or another receiver that he can depend on.  If not Lawler, maybe Philpot out of Montreal - I believe he's on an expiring contract?  And a national that means we can go cheaper somewhere else??

Hey - a guy can dream. My point is - if Collaros had time like a few years ago with a dominant O-line and some receivers - he could turn back the clock a few (5-6?) years.  But of course, we still need a succession plan.  Maybe one year of ZC lighting it up for old times sake and bringing it home for his swan song would be the one more year to see Dru Brown hit free agency and bring him home where he developed.  A QB developed here would be cool, but I would settle for another up-and-comer if a better option is there. 

Maybe I should be writing Harlequin romance novels, or Christmas movies filmed in Manitoba.  It may be a total pipe dream, but I like how it plays out so I'm going with it for today.

[theaardvark]

I think the dream of Zach, regardless Oline or Rec, hitting deep balls consistently is definitely romance novel territory.  He has been picked off so much this year because he just can't get the ball where it needs to go, when it needs to be there.  It is sad to see and say, but Zach has been on the downside for a while, and it's time.

If we want to go though a rebuild, and keep him around to tutor the new players while the team goes 3-15, sure.  But if we want to be competitive next year, that hard decision needs to be made.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I think the dream of Zach, regardless Oline or Rec, hitting deep balls consistently is definitely romance novel territory.  He has been picked off so much this year because he just can't get the ball where it needs to go, when it needs to be there.  It is sad to see and say, but Zach has been on the downside for a while, and it's time.

If we want to go though a rebuild, and keep him around to tutor the new players while the team goes 3-15, sure.  But if we want to be competitive next year, that hard decision needs to be made.

I get the same impression, Zach wants to turn back the clock and win with his buddies one more time but doesn't seem to recognize the deterioration in his own abilities or theirs.  He barely rolled out at all last game when throwing on the run has been his bread and butter for most of his career.  He's lost the proverbial step and reacts too slowly but because he's attained legendary status they all go along and nobody addresses the issue at hand.  Hogan probably does everything he can to accomodate his requests and still can't get anything right, he might actually be relieved to be replaced so he can go back to being an anonymous position coach.

[dd]

Yes, Collaros is on the decline, but who's out there that's better right now?? Nobody. I'd bring in Crum or Arbuckle as our #2 and see if we can make the transition a year down the line with more development of our #2.

Right now, its Zach's clubhouse and the team would revolt if we cut him when he wants to come back, and MOS has said he wants Collaros back, so that's that. I think they have to listen to what he'd like to run as he knows more than our OC.

So we aren't replacing Zach, but we should be getting him a bonafide #2 understudy

[bunker]

Feels like watching a train wreck in slow motion as this team deteriorates and persists in doing the same things over and over. Probably won't change til we finish 5th, the sellouts stop, and we clean house.

[dd]

We need to get a bonafide #1 WR we can build our offense around, and add to that Demski, Sterns, Wilson and Brady, we have some very decent weapons. We have to stop turning the ball over and make that a priority right from TC next year.   

Need a Tackle, guard and centre for our O line, and a stud DE and DT and we're set next year.

[Waffler]

Right now, its Zach's clubhouse

And no one sees this as a problem?

[Jesse]

And no one sees this as a problem?

An unending stream of Monday morning QBs sees this as a problem. But until we find a better alternative, Zach is still our best chance.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

We need to get a bonafide #1 WR we can build our offense around, and add to that Demski, Sterns, Wilson and Brady, we have some very decent weapons. We have to stop turning the ball over and make that a priority right from TC next year.   

Need a Tackle, guard and centre for our O line, and a stud DE and DT and we're set next year.

Don't see what difference a new receiver would make with the #6 QB, Zach can't get the ball to them in the right time or space, how many times did he under throw receivers who were in the clear?  A QB that overthrows would be easier to work with. 

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Feels like watching a train wreck in slow motion as this team deteriorates and persists in doing the same things over and over. Probably won't change til we finish 5th, the sellouts stop, and we clean house.

Need to hire an OC that can be the boss and force Zach to change his game from over reliance on the deep ball, otherwise, same old issues will arise. Zach only seems to remember the games that go well, tries to forget all the mediocre-crappy performances he laid out.

[blue_gold_84]

Forcing someone to do something is foolish. If anything, this team needs to hire an OC who can create a system that allows the talent in its entirety to succeed based on factors such skill set, age, etc.

The system in place this season clearly failed. It's like Hogan basically assumed an aging QB behind an aging O-line would just sit comfortably in the pocket and chuck heaters down the field to some inexperienced receivers.

I don't think blaming one player for an entire unit's collective failures is reasonable, much less insinuating that he "forgot" games in which he played poorly.

[theaardvark]

For the team to set a path going forward, we need a new OC and a new QB.  At best, we get one more year out of ZC8... and retaining Hogan in light of all that transpired this year, is at best wishful thinking.

Rebuild is the only way forward, if Walters and MOS want the new challenge, they should dive in full force and embrace the suck for the next year or two.

Or, they (Walters, MOS, Hogan and ZC8) can nurse a paycheck for another year and then leave the scraps for someone else to clean up.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Forcing someone to do something is foolish. If anything, this team needs to hire an OC who can create a system that allows the talent in its entirety to succeed based on factors such skill set, age, etc.

The system in place this season clearly failed. It's like Hogan basically assumed an aging QB behind an aging O-line would just sit comfortably in the pocket and chuck heaters down the field to some inexperienced receivers.

I don't think blaming one player for an entire unit's collective failures is reasonable, much less insinuating that he "forgot" games in which he played poorly.

Milanovich saved BLM's career by making him adapt.