Younger's defense

[blue_or_die]

I'm in the camp that thinks Tony Jones should be used as a traditional MLB. I still like Kyrie at WIL also.

[Blue In BC]

I'm in the camp that thinks Tony Jones should be used as a traditional MLB. I still like Kyrie at WIL also.

Yes I'd switch back going forward. Regardless of their skill sets I don't understand the logic of the change. I also would have wanted to switch Wilson to JSK but injury prevented that obviously.

Not that it matters now but I wonder what the plan was if JSK didn't get hurt? Neither would likely accept a PR spot so would there have been a move to the reserve list?  There wouldn't have been an extra spot for a DI without something happening. lol

[Pigskin]

Yes, I also want to see 6'1" 235, Tony Jones back at MLB.

[blue_or_die]

Yes I'd switch back going forward. Regardless of their skill sets I don't understand the logic of the change. I also would have wanted to switch Wilson to JSK but injury prevented that obviously.

Not that it matters now but I wonder what the plan was if JSK didn't get hurt? Neither would likely accept a PR spot so would there have been a move to the reserve list?  There wouldn't have been an extra spot for a DI without something happening. lol

Jordan Younger would take Ceresna off the AR and JSK would go in and play DL. He would line up at the A gap and just when the offense thinks they can man handle little bro, he suddenly drops back into coverage down the middle and double-teams the safety zone. The offense is so thrown off that they use their 15 steamboats to throw a strike down the boundary side for a 25 yard gain and be firmly on our side of the field.

Got 'em right where we want 'em.

[Blue In BC]

Jordan Younger would take Ceresna off the AR and JSK would go in and play DL. He would line up at the A gap and just when the offense thinks they can man handle little bro, he suddenly drops back into coverage down the middle and double-teams the safety zone. The offense is so thrown off that they use their 15 steamboats to throw a strike down the boundary side for a 25 yard gain and be firmly on our side of the field.

Got 'em right where we want 'em.

lol

[blue_gold_84]

I nominate @blue_or_die to be the new DC.

[Tecno]

Not that it matters now but I wonder what the plan was if JSK didn't get hurt? Neither would likely accept a PR spot so would there have been a move to the reserve list?  There wouldn't have been an extra spot for a DI without something happening. lol

I bet the idea was to have JSK on AR in rotation, or to outright win Kyrie's spot with Kyrie in rotation.  Ayers or Woodbey would be the odd man out there.

Not only is JSK quicker/stronger than Kyrie at this stage, but he knows the Hall system.  AND he's intelligent, probably as much so as Kyrie.  Meaning he can help direct things and help stop the explosions.

[Tecno]

You could argue we were getting good bang for the buck from Randolph instead of Broxton. That doesn't define who is the better player overall. It does impact the strategy a team uses on defence and you suggested what the Lions might have been thinking.

Bang for buck is important as long as the player is getting their job done.  Rand/Loft were not getting their job done in run support.  Period.  Broxton is here because we felt we needed to spend big to get this job done.  So far it hasn't materialized, but I can see they are trying.  Broxton clearly is used to just sitting there like Big Stan does, as LT's are wont to do.  It might take a bit to turn Broxton into Yoshi -- a real run-blocking RT.

Oh ya, and Broxton is now our built-in guaranteed LT when Stan gets hurt or retires.  We killed a lot of birds with that stone.  Probably the best FA move since we picked up Biggie.

Ultimately the question is which player was a better choice. If you base quality of player on his salary, then Sankey wins hands down.  The Bombers may have concluded Jones was a better fit based our strategy. The SMS may have been a factor or less so. Hard to argue that either way.

You ask the league's RBs who they fear more, Sankey or Jones.  LOL, Jones doesn't even register.  Sankey is probably a top-2 "please don't hit me" answer.  But Jones is VERY good and he'll still tackle you.  He just won't take your head off like Sankey does.  So back to "does he do his job" -- yes, Jones does it quite well.  And his increased mobility vs Sankey is more important to what we're trying to do.

And he's way cheaper.  What's not to love?

[Tecno]

Do we just get to pick and chose single games as exemplars for the whole season?

When it's a microcosm of all that was wrong in the regular season?  Sure!  And if we didn't get those fortuitous INTs/fumbles, the score would have been even more pathetic.  Our D couldn't stop any run ever, and still can't now.  Our O couldn't move the ball if we tried.  Brady couldn't run for squat in a way that really mattered.

Like was also said: yes, when it's one and done, you can pick & choose that single game.  We didn't even make it close outside of the turnovers.  It was an actual blowout and quite embarrassing.  Everyone saw & knew we were being pwned.  Alexander had his way with us.  Zach struggled for every yard.  Now compare with the MTL/HAM EDF and SSK/BC EDF.  Super close, every team clearly with a competent O and competent D.

2025 WPG was 1 game over 50/50.  That's pure butt, and the ESF directly reflects that buttiness.

[dd]

from what I've seen in the 2 games they've played, the BB will be a game above 500 team again in 2026. We're going to have our hands absolutely full with Rourke, Harris, Kelly and Alexander

[Tecno]

from what I've seen in the 2 games they've played, the BB will be a game above 500 team again in 2026. We're going to have our hands absolutely full with Rourke, Harris, Kelly and Alexander

Agreed.  Or worse.  We aren't going to get the gimmees we got from BC last season.  And TOR isn't a free bingo spot anymore.  Even EDM we probably only go .500 against.

That's why I think we need to stand back and critically evaluate what we've got and what we are doing -- NOW.  The main goals/lessons from 2025 are we need to stop the run, get pressure, make better holes for Brady, protect Zach, and not suck so much at the short pass game.

From my vantage point we've only done 2: protect Zach and better short pass.  Jury is still out on whether we'll get pressure: 1 great game vs a good OL, 1 crap game vs a questionable OL.  The others we haven't improved at all.

The problem with 2026 is you can't take 6 weeks to figure this stuff out.  You need to do it NOW.  The good teams are going to run away with it NOW and the season will be out of reach by the day after the banjo bowl.

[Blue In BC]

I bet the idea was to have JSK on AR in rotation, or to outright win Kyrie's spot with Kyrie in rotation.  Ayers or Woodbey would be the odd man out there.

Not only is JSK quicker/stronger than Kyrie at this stage, but he knows the Hall system.  AND he's intelligent, probably as much so as Kyrie.  Meaning he can help direct things and help stop the explosions.

I thought about that but Ayers seems untouchable with O'Shea. Woodbey is a different player and would be difficult to bump.

Anyway, we'll never find out so it's just a rhetorical thought.

[Blue In BC]

Bang for buck is important as long as the player is getting their job done.  Rand/Loft were not getting their job done in run support.  Period.  Broxton is here because we felt we needed to spend big to get this job done.  So far it hasn't materialized, but I can see they are trying.  Broxton clearly is used to just sitting there like Big Stan does, as LT's are wont to do.  It might take a bit to turn Broxton into Yoshi -- a real run-blocking RT.

Oh ya, and Broxton is now our built-in guaranteed LT when Stan gets hurt or retires.  We killed a lot of birds with that stone.  Probably the best FA move since we picked up Biggie.

You ask the league's RBs who they fear more, Sankey or Jones.  LOL, Jones doesn't even register.  Sankey is probably a top-2 "please don't hit me" answer.  But Jones is VERY good and he'll still tackle you.  He just won't take your head off like Sankey does.  So back to "does he do his job" -- yes, Jones does it quite well.  And his increased mobility vs Sankey is more important to what we're trying to do.

And he's way cheaper.  What's not to love?

Not every player on any roster is going to be top tier. Some will be blue collar players that every team has to have.

I think it's debatable whether Jones is getting the job done or whether he falls into good bang for the buck. Ask your self why did he get moved to WIL? MLB is a more significant position on defence. Call it a sliding scale.  Typically the MLB is in control of the front 7 ( Bighill ).

Similar to the importance of the LT on offence, I don't think getting good bang for the buck is what I want at either position. When Bighill was a Bomber ( under Hall ) he was close to the top of salaries at MLB.

We know that for every player added at top dollar then another player has to fill a position for less money. On a scale of 1 - 10 where would we rank Jones or Wilson?

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Not every player on any roster is going to be top tier. Some will be blue collar players that every team has to have.

I think it's debatable whether Jones is getting the job done or whether he falls into good bang for the buck. Ask your self why did he get moved to WIL? MLB is a more significant position on defence. Call it a sliding scale.  Typically the MLB is in control of the front 7 ( Bighill ).

Similar to the importance of the LT on offence, I don't think getting good bang for the buck is what I want at either position. When Bighill was a Bomber ( under Hall ) he was close to the top of salaries at MLB.

We know that for every player added at top dollar then another player has to fill a position for less money. On a scale of 1 - 10 where would we rank Jones or Wilson?

Tony Jones is both, bargain MLB playing at a high level that has remained healthy, perfect scenario that allows them to spend bigger money elsewhere.  Don't waste time pointing fingers at players that are near all-stars as problems, Younger chose to play him at WIL, maybe Kyrie is the better communicator of the two or could be some other factor we are not aware of yet.

[Blue In BC]

Tony Jones is both, bargain MLB playing at a high level that has remained healthy, perfect scenario that allows them to spend bigger money elsewhere.  Don't waste time pointing fingers at players that are near all-stars as problems, Younger chose to play him at WIL, maybe Kyrie is the better communicator of the two or could be some other factor we are not aware of yet.

We'll see. I mentioned there was a a lot of conversation about Jones last year. IMO he's a good LB but not a great LB. That can work but it depends on the rest of the defence around him

At the moment we have a bunch of rookies that are TBD and several others that have been moved into new roles.