Winnipeg @ Hamilton

[Blue In BC]

We needed to play more Smith because of the OL change. I like him  much better than Kyrie anyway.

I agree we should see more of Smith but don't think it has anything to do with the change on the OL. He'd give us another Canadian option if and when we want.  Perhaps he'll be playing a more significant role as the season progresses.

The bigger question is trying to understand who is being rotated in and who is being rotated out on a consistent basis.  Is he going in at WIL with Jones going back to MLB in those situations? Comments suggest K. Wilson was off the field more often in this game. Ayers was on the field less often as well.

Or did Smith go in at MLB with K.Wilson going off. The depth chart is next to meaningless but shows Smith at WIL.

I'm still wondering what Shay is not seeing the field and asked whether this was another bad draft choice?

[Jesse]

I'm still wondering what Shay is not seeing the field and asked whether this was another bad draft choice?

Seems pretty simple. Smith has beat him out and there's no role on defense for him right now. Yes, that makes it a bad draft choice.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

I think we mostly saw more Smith because he's been playing pretty well. It's for sure not because we switched the OL ratio. We went with:

2 Canadian Starters on Defense
5 Canadian Starters on Offense

And although it's not specified we probably went with Willie as a naturalized player to get to 8 because he can then flip all day long with Gatkouth and Kornelson along the defensive line. I suppose you could flip him for Fletcher and then swap Griffin for Smith which is nice flexibility but probably not the primary reason for doing so (rather Smith is just a better pass option and Wilson they probably like as a run guy).

[Pete]

On defense can we go with Kramdl, Smith, and Lawton with Wilson as nationalized american

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Like SirBnG hints at, no reason he can't become STer who rotates in at SAM or for special sets.  It could even be like half the snaps.

But... the problem then remains: who is the QB of the D when he's not on field.  That's why he kind of retains his every down usage -- just like Biggie & BA37 were mostly every down.  It's a conundrum for sure.

But he may still get the benefit of much more live FS dev time.  Is 4 games enough to really see what he can do?  In most situations one would say "no".  The only way you yank his leash this early is if you see impediments that cannot be changed (like speed).  But if that's the case, shouldn't Mafia have foreseen it?  Again, Mafia isn't stupid.  Doesn't make sense.

Also, FS can be a weaker player and the D still function.  Historically that's where you parked your worst NAT (along with 5th REC).  Let's ask ourselves, is Kramdi worse than Hecht?  (my answer: no)

A lot will be answered when Allen gets off 6GIR.  If I'm betting, I think Kramdi is our FS for most of the season and we re-evaulate the FS, ratio, and "QB of the D" issue in the off-season.

We may have to pick another punching bag for the next couple of months.  How about one of the DL, or the 5th REC?

I maintain that Kramdi is not playing Safety in the usual sense, he's still lining up all over the field and is being used in different roles, supplemented by Kelly. If he wants to establish himself in a starting position he needs to prove himself playing the traditional Safety role or accept that he will eventually become a rotational 4th LB when they go 3 man D-line, which I noticed them doing more this last game. 

[Tecno]

If he wants to establish himself in a starting position he needs to prove himself playing the traditional Safety role or accept that he will eventually become a rotational 4th LB when they go 3 man D-line, which I noticed them doing more this last game.

Ya, this game had the most 3 man DL / bring-3 looks of any game this season.  We had been going very traditional 4 show/bring in most of the other games.

I wonder why we went so much 3?  Well, at least it kinda worked this time.  I think 3 is fine when you use it maybe every 4-5 passing downs.  You can't overuse it like we did last season.

[Tecno]

And although it's not specified we probably went with Willie as a naturalized player to get to 8 because he can then flip all day long with Gatkouth and Kornelson along the defensive line.

Interesting.  I had never thought of the 8th as needing NAT spellers... The rule is written such that a DI can come in for any IMP player.  Would a NA not still be an "IMP player"?  As such, I think anyone can sub in for the NA, making its choice completely irrelevant.

Now, if NA requires a NAT to sub in, then 100% I would make my NA a guy who is every-down.  So Big Stan (or White).  Boom, no more NAT sub in issues unless he gets injured.  Why make a headache for yourself making it Willie?

The whole NA thing is so stupid, and such a dumb bone they threw at CFLPA.  It's a complete no-op.  It changes nothing, does nothing, helps no one, won't get any more ageing vets retained, etc.

[Tecno]

Holm should be the safety in an ideal world and Kramdi is a rotational LB.

He's super smart, but they say he's quiet / introverted.  You kind of have to be a loud leader, or at least outgoing, to have that role (one would think).

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Ya, this game had the most 3 man DL / bring-3 looks of any game this season.  We had been going very traditional 4 show/bring in most of the other games.

I wonder why we went so much 3?  Well, at least it kinda worked this time.  I think 3 is fine when you use it maybe every 4-5 passing downs.  You can't overuse it like we did last season.

Could be they went 3 D-line when Ford took over, spread 4 LB's across the field to try and corral him.

[Pete]

Could be they went 3 D-line when Ford took over, spread 4 LB's across the field to try and corral him.

Combination of no. Bo, and not respecting Roundtree. Hamilton really didnt use the run game all game long

[Tecno]

Combination of no. Bo, and not respecting Roundtree. Hamilton really didnt use the run game all game long

Which is extremely odd given how they started, and played most of, their first game against us.  Rountree galore.

Right from the start I got the impression HAM was discombobulated and was throwing the game.  Very strange feeling.  Maybe they had a premonition BLM was going to get killed.  Or maybe they had Lemon put some money on WPG to win... the WPG win odds were 2.50

[BomberFan73]

He's super smart, but they say he's quiet / introverted.  You kind of have to be a loud leader, or at least outgoing, to have that role (one would think).

Both Holm & Nichols have helped direct rookies pre-snap over the past few years. They are as much of "The QB" of the secondary as Kramdi is.
Pretty easy for any safety when you have 2 vets like that beside you.

[BomberFan73]

Could be they went 3 D-line when Ford took over, spread 4 LB's across the field to try and corral him.

It was 3 DL early & often. That was the plan from the get go.

[BomberFan73]

And sorry for getting off topic here, but to add to the Kramdi talk - has Griffin really been an improvement over Kramdo at SAM? I really haven't heard/seen him during games that much. When Kramdi was at SAM he was regularly on the ball.

I think the whole secondary has had weak open field tackles for over a year, not just Kramdi. Kills me when a guy should be wrapped up for a small gain and they just push the arm of our guy away and run for big YACs.

I really thought Allen was to be the answer at S and keeping Kramdi at SAM would have been our best lineup. Sucks that Allen got hurt, but maybe that gives Kramdi more time to really settle into that role.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

And sorry for getting off topic here, but to add to the Kramdi talk - has Griffin really been an improvement over Kramdo at SAM? I really haven't heard/seen him during games that much. When Kramdi was at SAM he was regularly on the ball.

I think the whole secondary has had weak open field tackles for over a year, not just Kramdi. Kills me when a guy should be wrapped up for a small gain and they just push the arm of our guy away and run for big YACs.

I really thought Allen was to be the answer at S and keeping Kramdi at SAM would have been our best lineup. Sucks that Allen got hurt, but maybe that gives Kramdi more time to really settle into that role.

Griffin is excellent, stronger against the run and good pursuit all the way to the sideline. rarely see him in pass coverage though.