Official Game Day Thread - Edmonton @Winnipeg, June 25, 2026

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Maybe 2nd & 3rd Q.  But not to start the game, when we stopped them on their first drive, and were up most of the Q.  No excuse for low noise then.  And we got within 8 a couple of times late in the game, and the crowd got REALLY loud -- much louder than the rest of the night.  As I said in GDT, once the nambypamby fans left the real fans let 'er rip. 

I don't know why all that pointing and shouting of "you go here", "you take that SB", would be any easier in the noise.  I think the noise did cause problems because a) you can see it on TV (or in stadium), and b) this is the first time many of those guys had to experience that.  Sure, Moxey had heard it before, but never had to operate in it.  And Williams is raw green.

Aside: I find it interesting the DL and LB/DB don't communicate AT ALL on these passing downs.  The LB/DBs do comm between each other like crazy.  But I would have thought front 4 would have to comms with other-8 to some degree?  Maybe it's all determined way in advance by the playcall.  Weird.

Coordinator send in the call. It's relayed. From there: defensive line doesn't need the whole coverage call. They need alignment and their own thing, gaps, stunts, pass-rush contain, etc. Linebackers usually set the front strength and identify the MLB on any given play, Younger changes it a bunch, and alerts for blitzes and who's in behind it.. The secondary (including the SAM in the CFL, usually) are constantly talking and there's a numbering off of receivers usually or some way of identifying them. Usually your safety helps the secondary a ton (where coaches say Kramdi is helpful) because they see the formations most clearly usually and can tell everyone where the help is or isn't based on the play call.

That's all relatively easy at the pro level.

The hard part is adjusting to motion and the exact formation in real time based on the play call. The whole unit needs to do that at once. It's basically 12 guys needing to all read the same way to information changing in front of them using the play call they're in as the operating system logic for that play. When you see guys yelling or directing, it's almost never that they don't know the context/play it's that they are clarifying or confused on what to do based on the look or what happened.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

We need to see something from some of the newbies on the DL. At least some of the stops on Rankin have to be made by them. If he's getting past the LOS to the LB's or beyond, it will be a long game.

Correct Kongbo didn't fizzle out in Wpg. he left 2 separate times to pursue NFL offers, after the 2019 season and again after 2021. When he returned to the league in 2023 he signed with the Lions.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I want to see more out of Gatkouth this game.  Kongbo, who had 2 years of doing nothing of note, is starting to produce so far in 2026.  And Kongbo was a lower DP, right -- so Gatkouth should be far better.  He hasn't done anything yet.

Reese made a big play last game.  Fletcher didn't do much.  Didn't even notice Jenkins.  It can't just be all Willie & Ceresna.  If anything, Ceresna drawing a double team most snaps should allow the junior guys to get home.

Watch out for that patented Cody wheel out escape... plan for the wheel and tackle him where he's going to be, not where he is.  Blow him up!

I want to see more out of Gatkouth this game.  Kongbo, who had 2 years of doing nothing of note, is starting to produce so far in 2026.  And Kongbo was a lower DP, right -- so Gatkouth should be far better.  He hasn't done anything yet.

Reese made a big play last game.  Fletcher didn't do much.  Didn't even notice Jenkins.  It can't just be all Willie & Ceresna.  If anything, Ceresna drawing a double team most snaps should allow the junior guys to get home.

Nobody in Sask. complaining about Vaughters or Devin Adams performance, they seem to be getting it done with mostly a 4 man front.  So is it the personell or is it the scheme that's not functioning well in Wpg?

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Nobody in Sask. complaining about Vaughters or Devin Adams performance, they seem to be getting it done with mostly a 4 man front.  So is it the personell or is it the scheme that's not functioning well in Wpg?

Vaughters is actually effective if you let him pass rush. Who knew?

[Blue In BC]

I predict that Fajardo is held to about 200 yards passing. Their run game held to about 100 yards combined.

Bombers win 27 - 14 today.

Oliveria rushes for 110 yards.

You heard it here 1st.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Nobody in Sask. complaining about Vaughters or Devin Adams performance, they seem to be getting it done with mostly a 4 man front.  So is it the personell or is it the scheme that's not functioning well in Wpg?

It's the scheme. We literally do not value sacks to the point of it being almost discouraged. Better to be in exactly the right spot so Younger can call some kind of wild, layered coverage in behind than getting up field and laying the hurt. We are a unit that doesn't attack by choice, not a unit that can't. It's exactly why they can tell you with a straight face that Thomas was exceptional last year and Willie J is a perfect fit for the defense. They are technically playing exactly how JY wants them to.

For those that like JY, this is what you're signing up for.

[tlf]

I predict that Fajardo is held to about 200 yards passing. Their run game held to about 100 yards combined.

Bombers win 27 - 14 today.

Oliveria rushes for 110 yards.

You heard it here 1st.

I predict they get to our D, but we win, because our D sucks.

Rankin rushes for more than Brady, but we win a squeaker 36-33.  Sergio being the hero..again.

Our Defense may suck but our offense is better all around, so we should win this one, crowd noise with the assist.

I have a condo board meeting to attend to, who schedules these things? Bah. I'll be watching in the background.

Enjoy the game everyone! Go Blue!

[gobombersgo]

Nobody in Sask. complaining about Vaughters or Devin Adams performance, they seem to be getting it done with mostly a 4 man front.  So is it the personell or is it the scheme that's not functioning well in Wpg?

Adams got demoted to the practice roster.

[Blueforlife]

It's the scheme. We literally do not value sacks to the point of it being almost discouraged. Better to be in exactly the right spot so Younger can call some kind of wild, layered coverage in behind than getting up field and laying the hurt. We are a unit that doesn't attack by choice, not a unit that can't. It's exactly why they can tell you with a straight face that Thomas was exceptional last year and Willie J is a perfect fit for the defense. They are technically playing exactly how JY wants them to.

For those that like JY, this is what you're signing up for.

The narrative that we don't value sacks or that they would be discouraged is as an absurd take as I have seen.  No defense ever would have that as a game plan, full stop.

We brought in Ceresna for this exact reason and paid a pretty penny.  We got home often game 1 (4 times).

Fact is that we attack at times, we blitz when appropriate.

Another opinion that is lacking factual backing imo.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

The narrative that we don't value sacks or that they would be discouraged is as an absurd take as I have seen.  No defense ever would have that as a game plan, full stop.

We brought in Ceresna for this exact reason and paid a pretty penny.  We got home often game 1 (4 times).

Fact is that we attack at times, we blitz when appropriate.

Another opinion that is lacking factual backing imo.

Respectfully, this is one of those times where you just don't know what you don't know and you're not aware that don't know it. I'm talking about the defensive line play, roles and responsibilities. Not pressure from elsewhere. It's in the context of Vaughters but not only that.

[Blueforlife]

Respectfully, this is one of those times where you just don't know what you don't know and you're not aware that don't know it. I'm talking about the defensive line play, roles and responsibilities. Not pressure from elsewhere. It's in the context of Vaughters but not only that.

Respectfully the narrative that we don't value sacks or that they would be discouraged is as an absurd take as I have seen.  No defense ever would have that as a game plan, full stop.  Now, before, anywhere.

Your reply is a wee bit of a tounge twister there.  I know what I know lol.

We will go after Cody today, that bugger will twist and shout his way to freedom at times.  Rankin will make things very difficult for our DL and LBs.

Likely get a sack or two.  I would focus on run D and giving Cody as complex looks as possible to limit the short and mid routes.  Not to worried about the deep ball today.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Respectfully the narrative that we don't value sacks or that they would be discouraged is as an absurd take as I have seen.  No defense ever would have that as a game plan, full stop.  Now, before, anywhere.

Your reply is a wee bit of a tounge twister there.

I said it's almost discouraged, but sacks are de-prioritized to pretty significantly. JY values controlled, gap responsible defensive line play and asks a ton more than what would be typical in run defense across all downs and situations. That really is how it is. You can choose to believe if the sun comes up in the morning or not. Have someone else explain it if you like.