Calgary @ Winnipeg pre-game thread

[Pete]

Smeckle must be getting close as well. Im not worried about our defense its been improving week to week, its Calgary's dline that's probably the most talented in the league. Orimolade and Hicks will put a lot of pressure on Bryant, and Wallace is clearly outmatched by Hutchings.

[Tecno]

Mills just had his best game this season.  I don't really care the stats, though they probably back it up: it was the first game he looked more like the steamroller Mills we know.  He was basically unstoppable and making all the tough YAFCs, and lots of 7+ runs.

Sucks that he decides to start finding mojo right before we play them.  But I think we'll do ok making sure he doesn't go full-Rankin on us.  I would be worried about injuries, though, as he's a lot of weight plowing downhill.  Best to sic Griffin & Jones on him, rather than Kyrie & Kramdi (or Kelly!).

[BomberFan73]

What is this talk?  If we're to win this game, it'll likely be on Brady's back. 1 big game and he's right back in contention with Rankin & Mills.
The game plan needs to be better, Brown needs to be better, and we need to get that ground & pound going.

[markf]

Sacks to July 20 according to statscrew

1.      Bombers and ticats: 12

2.      Stamps elks Sask:  11

3.      Als:                10


4.      Argos                9


5.    Lions.                6.

[BomberFan73]

Sacks to July 20 according to statscrew

1.      Bombers and ticats: 12

2.      Stamps elks Sask:  11

3.      Als:                10


4.      Argos                9


5.    Lions.                6.

It's nice to see we're finally getting some sacks this year, but we're also last place in int's

[Jesse]

What is this talk?  If we're to win this game, it'll likely be on Brady's back. 1 big game and he's right back in contention with Rankin & Mills.
The game plan needs to be better, Brown needs to be better, and we need to get that ground & pound going.

I know you're just talking about rushing yards, but Rankin is leading the league in yards from scrimmage by a fairly significant margin, getting 144 yards/game.

Mills isn't within 200 yards of him and Brady isn't within 300. In only 6 games.

[Blueforlife]

Sacks to July 20 according to statscrew

1.      Bombers and ticats: 12

2.      Stamps elks Sask:  11

3.      Als:                10


4.      Argos                9


5.    Lions.                6.

crickets from the peanut gallery with the notion we don't value or prioritize sacks LOL

What is this talk?  If we're to win this game, it'll likely be on Brady's back. 1 big game and he's right back in contention with Rankin & Mills.
The game plan needs to be better, Brown needs to be better, and we need to get that ground & pound going.

The decline of BO by some is WAY overstated.  Agree all.  That said, I don't think anyone can touch Rankin this year unless he gets hurt.

This teams success is based on four factors (in order):
1. OL
2. RB
3. QB
4. DL

only worried slightly abut #1 but I think they will come around, the gel time I predicted was required but mostly due to change on the AR for injuries and required leave

[bunker]

crickets from the peanut gallery with the notion we don't value or prioritize sacks LOL
The demise of BO by some is WAY overstated.  Agree all.  That said, I don't think anyone can touch Rankin this year unless he gets hurt.

Criticism was clearly justified last year.

This year, the defense has changed. I think its partly better players on the D-line (Ceresna is a huge updrade over Jake Thomas, Fletcher and Reese look good), and partly an apparent change in defensive philosophy where we are going harder after QB pressure. If you watch Willie this year, he is being more agressive about trying to get to the QB.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Derek Taylor🏈
@DTonOB
Looks like three Bombers are ready to come off the 6-game injured list.

DT Tanner Schmekel, REC Kevens Clercius, LB Lane Novak and DB Ethan Ball have all been on for 6 games  already.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Criticism was clearly justified last year.

This year, the defense has changed. I think its partly better players on the D-line (Ceresna is a huge updrade over Jake Thomas, Fletcher and Reese look good), and partly an apparent change in defensive philosophy where we are going harder after QB pressure. If you watch Willie this year, he is being more agressive about trying to get to the QB.

We're also playing a lot more 4-3(than last year) and the last couple games we've also been a little more willing to allow our defensive lineman to go make plays instead of the the collapse and contain strategy Younger has emphasized to this point and for sure through last year. Cersena helps but Willie (and others) seem to be allowed to go attack on more plays which is the most helpful.

The interceptions will come if we can continue to get pressure and Younger doesn't try so hard to big brain his way to 36 layers of zone coverage all the time. As a defensive back is also takes time to adjust and trust that you don't need to cover 46 moves every play and that the ball is going to come out on time in more cases. The guys that have played in this system last year are used to outrageously long cover clocks and you can't really just flip a switch on that.

[theaardvark]

Interesting that Mazz gets released.  Wonder if he got some interest elsewhere (Hamilton) after getting his start here for Neuf.

[kkc60]

Interesting that Mazz gets released.  Wonder if he got some interest elsewhere (Hamilton) after getting his start here for Neuf.

think they just needed a spot and Vanterpool can play guard as well

[Jesse]

crickets from the peanut gallery with the notion we don't value or prioritize sacks LOL

It's literally the team realizing the same thing we did and making massive changes to fix the problem.

[markf]

It's literally the team realizing the same thing we did and making massive changes to fix the problem.

Yes people were annoyed about it last season, but

I've seen  the same criticism this season. Quite often.


Along with other stuff, criticisms of Kramdi, and Jones for example.

It's not a flashy defence  and sometimes there are bumps and mistakes,guys have a bad game,  but it's good, and it has been for years.

I don't have any problem with criticizing the team....its fun, interesting, and often accurate, but it should be based on reality.

And you're usually the first guy to stick up for the team.

[Blueforlife]

It's literally the team realizing the same thing we did and making massive changes to fix the problem.

Nah the notion was proposed this year that we didn't value or prioritize sacks which wasn't true

This year we have the same schemes for the most part

We upgraded our DL

Jake >> Vaughter which makes Willie better thus more sacks

Yes people were annoyed about it last season, but

I've seen  the same criticism this season. Quite often.


Along with other stuff, criticisms of Kramdi, and Jones for example.

It's not a flashy defence  and sometimes there are bumps and mistakes,guys have a bad game,  but it's good, and it has been for years.

I don't have any problem with criticizing the team....its fun, interesting, and often accurate, but it should be based on reality.

And you're usually the first guy to stick up for the team.

Love this post, agree most

Anyone that was critcal of Jones and Kramdi were too harsh imo, key cogs, on a big upswing

Criticism was clearly justified last year.

This year, the defense has changed. I think its partly better players on the D-line (Ceresna is a huge updrade over Jake Thomas, Fletcher and Reese look good), and partly an apparent change in defensive philosophy where we are going harder after QB pressure. If you watch Willie this year, he is being more agressive about trying to get to the QB.

Last year yes
This year no
Room went a little quiet after some early rumblings about how we approach providing pressure

Make some good points

Would be fun to compare our QB pressures, blitz numbers, knock downs and sacks to fully compare the two seasons, sacks are only part of the equation

Willie isn't getting double team as much because our collective DL > last year

Willie had a good year last year but looks great this year, like he is shooting out of a cannon

The talk of his decline is really overstated imo
His sack number are down but his pressures were near the top last time I seen the numbers, which I would love an update on as tsn ran this about a year ago, Willie was #3 league wide