Blue Bombers agree in principle with Jarell Broxton

[Blue In BC]

The writing is on the wall.

Bryant is the second best LT we have on the roster and usually you don't roster back up American LTs. Could he move to RT at his age? I guess, but is that the best move in the short and medium term for him and the team? Probably not, although he's earned the right in camp to try. It is long odds and should be.

We want to climb the mountain again we need to make tough decisions.

The right answer is pretty obvious and it's taking Stanley off the roster if we start the season fully healthy. I've seen enough Rudy moments at DT last year. I don't need to see them at LT this year. We already know how it turns out.

Yeah, I don't know it's the best option in either short or long term to move Bryant to RT. It might come to the details of his contract. I wouldn't exclude the fact he could get released / decide to retire.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Yeah, I don't know it's the best option in either short or long term to move Bryant to RT. It might come to the details of his contract. I wouldn't exclude the fact he could get released / decide to retire.

I don't see them cutting Stanley Bryant, he may have accepted concessions in re-negotiating to extend his career, but if they re-signed him, they plan to make use of him in some capacity.  His situation is different from Bighill who never accepted their diagnosis that his physical health combined with his age spelled the end of his career.  Both likely headed to the ROH.

[theaardvark]

.

RT isn't any easier to play. It's the same position. But now it's backwards. Try doing any athletic activity with your none dominant hand/side.

So, going from RT to LT isn't harder?  Hardrick seemed to do that fine...

LT to RT is easy compared to RT to LT...  there is a reason LT are the highest paid Olinemen. 

Give "The Blindside" a watch

[Sir Blue and Gold]

So, going from RT to LT isn't harder?  Hardrick seemed to do that fine...

LT to RT is easy compared to RT to LT...  there is a reason LT are the highest paid Olinemen. 

Give "The Blindside" a watch

Lol one side isn't technically or physically harder. It's just that right handed quarterbacks can't see well to that side so the stakes are higher.  That means some teams attack that side more but not always and that's nit picky since the tackle can only do one thing anyway.

It's otherwise the same job in a mirror.

[blue_or_die]

This was super unexpected (by me at least) and is a very pleasant surprise.

Regarding where he and Stan will be placed, all I care is that both are playing tackle, left or right. I don't really care about the rest of the details.

If Zach has a wall protecting him on both ends, he will have time to do damage.

[theaardvark]

Lol one side isn't technically or physically harder. It's just that right handed quarterbacks can't see well to that side so the stakes are higher.  That means some teams attack that side more but not always and that's nit picky since the tackle can only do one thing anyway.

It's otherwise the same job in a mirror.

So, you put your best pass rusher against the LT, right?  It is literally physically and technically harder to protect the blindside then, right?

And because the "stakes are higher", its a more difficult job, because when you whiff, a QB gets smoked. Not saying you can take the day off at RT and hope the QB can see it coming, but people remember when a LT whiffs a lot more than a RT.

The kick steps a RT or LT makes are different than what a G or C makes, but other than which foot starts, they are basically the same. 

Which is why you put your best OT at LT, and 2nd best at RT.

If Bryant has ingrained his technique to the point where he can't flip sides, that's a shame.  But I've never heard of that being an issue with an OT before.  Heck, our backup Americans have played G, RT, LT, sometimes in the same game.  I'm sure future HOF Big Stan can handle flipping sides.

Especially when we just signed the most expensive Olineman in the league to guard Collaros Blindside..

[Jesse]

So, you put your best pass rusher against the LT, right? 

Nope.

[Tecno]

The right answer is pretty obvious and it's taking Stanley off the roster if we start the season fully healthy.

Wha?  We just re-signed Big Stan and probably with a big signing bonus.  And he's still a top-3 CFL LT.  If you drop him not only do you lose out on having a valuable player starting, but then one of your competitors will snatch him up and start him against you.

Besides, Stan is one of the "package deal" guys.  You'll have Brady in full revolt if you cut Stan in FA26.

[Tecno]

1 Broxton-Wallace-Eli-Neufeld-Randolph
Vibert

2 Broxton-Wallace-American in camp-Neufeld-Bryant
Vibert

3 Broxton-Wallace-Eli-Vanterpool-Randolph
Neufeld

Stan & Neuf are locks.  Wallace is the big hope (still).  Broxton will be at OT, guaranteed.

My guess is:

Stan Wallace Eli Neuf Broxton

Eli might be replaced by an IMP (my hope) and be back at jumbo.

If Wallace clearly becomes (stays?) the weak link then Rand/Vant might get his spot.

[Tecno]

Yeah, makes more sense to move Bryant to RT.

I think it comes down to who is the better run blocker.  RT in our scheme usually does much more run block, like swinging around to the opposite A-gap to lead Brady, etc.  That's why our run game was never the same when Yoshi left.

Big Stan is established and senior and unless he's clearly faltering I think LT is his spot.  The only way they'd switch them is if everyone agrees it's better that way -- i.e. if Broxton really sucked at RT or was useless at run block.

[Tecno]

Like this signing. Would have been better if he was a Canadian, and a couple of years younger. But, he will help our OL.

Nah, we've always done IMP at OTs.  Why change now?  A Broxton-level NAT OT would be even more expensive -- and harder to retain.

This Broxton move is AWESOME in that we now have the Big Stan retirement path.  Broxton could easily be our next Big Stan for 4-7 years.  Just think how good Big Stan was when he was 32.  No where near being "done".  That's Broxton right now.

Lock him in now, make him comfortable, and hold until retirement.  Problem solved!  Loving' it.

[Tecno]

I'm pretty shocked they went through with this, considering how many import O-linemen they're bringing to TC plus the time they invested in Vanterpool and Randolph.  Seems like a change in philosophy on how they build their lines.

I'm only shocked they nabbed such a high prospect.  Vant & Rand stunk at LT and weren't great at RT.  They are decent guards though.

They clearly were never going to be Big Stan long-term replacements, and not even Yoshi replacements.

We've had many "busts" over the years at the dev IMP OLs.  This is just another instance.  If they beat out the newest recruits, one can be a PR guy.  Otherwise, bye!

The philosophy of Mafia HAS been to snipe the best (or up & coming vet) mercenary at OT.  After all, that's how we nabbed our HOF/ROH Big Stan (and Yoshi).

[Tecno]

@FarhanLaljiTSN
A 2-year deal for Broxton to the #Bombers at 250k per.

Mega ouch...  But wondering where all this SMS is coming from.  So many top-dollar re-signs, and now some top-dollar FAs.  We're taking the drunken sailor approach, and it's about time.  Max MMM and to heck with the SMS!

[LXTSN]

I'm only shocked they nabbed such a high prospect.  Vant & Rand stunk at LT and weren't great at RT.  They are decent guards though.

They clearly were never going to be Big Stan long-term replacements, and not even Yoshi replacements.

We've had many "busts" over the years at the dev IMP OLs.  This is just another instance.  If they beat out the newest recruits, one can be a PR guy.  Otherwise, bye!

The philosophy of Mafia HAS been to snipe the best (or up & coming vet) mercenary at OT.  After all, that's how we nabbed our HOF/ROH Big Stan (and Yoshi).

Were Vanterpool and Randolph that bad at tackle? I though both of them did a pretty solid job!
I'm assuming neither of us have stats to back up these claims but I still have high hopes for both of them!
My dream OL for this season would be this:
Broxton-Vanterpool-Eli-Wallace-Bryant (if he can make the move to RT). Vibert and Paddy to back up.
I know it's not going to happen. Paddy will be in the lineup and it might not make sense to go with only 2 NAT's... but let me dream for a minute!

[theaardvark]

More likely 3 Int oline includes an Int at C...  and Eli remaining 6th man.