Personnel changes for next game

[Jesse]

Condell is continuing the trend of not involving Clercius or MCI in the offence's plans as well as ignoring Cobb and now Nield, tracing back to Ottawa did he ever make good use of his Natl. players?  I see from last years Ottawa roster he employed Luther Hakunavanhu and Daniel Adeboboye who were underused and let go at the end of last season.

It was Clercius' first game and he's a back-up. MCI is a FB/ How many reps do you think they'd get? Cobb is the last possible read and Neild seems to be QB dependant. Zach looked his way a lot, but Dru is not.

[Blue In BC]

Don't tell me what/how to post and while I have defended Wilson in the past, I suggested he stays on the AR but give Smith more reps. No need to be like that.  Fake news I don't decline all comments about Wilson but nice try! Lol


2026
WPG   8   22   2   0

His numbers are consistent with his career, near the end, yes.  Good enough to remain on the AR, yes.

Make a lot of good points, didn't notice Smiths mistake but our group at the game thought he looked good.  Did notice Wilson with a big tackle/stuff!

Wilson had a good year last year.  He wasn't a liability imo.  The facts suggest you are wrong, 2nd best tackle total best sack total (matched 2019).  Dems the facts jack.  Played all the game.  D was good last year.
2025
WPG   18   49   2   3

Moxie >>>> Vaval, Vaval on D would be an experiment/future development opportunity.  Would hurt more than help now.  Might pay off for future.

As mentioned before putting Peterson on isn't worth who comes off.  Other ways to give people touches in thr backfield as mentioned previously.  Brady is our guy and needs more touches not less. Now we did swing that too far on Thurs, over compensated.

Do we expect any of Bryant, Nichols or K. Wilson back in 2027? No
Hard to argue with any of this

You can call it fake news but you need a reality check with older veterans that are under performing. If Calgary beats Hamilton today as expected, the Bombers will be essentially in 4th place. We'll have lost to Edmonton, Calgary and BC.

We also finished in 4th in 2025 winning 10 games. So that's 14 wins in 26 games in that time frame. We didn't JUST to lose the Lions, we were destroyed.

It's been a downward team trend which is obvious. Minor tweaks are not enough.

As far as K. Wilson he was a WIL moved to MLB this season.  What he did in the past is irrelevant at the moment.

Something has to give and it's not just reps for this player or that player. Somebody needs to be replace if we want to finish better than a crossover.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

You can call it fake news but you need a reality check with older veterans that are under performing. If Calgary beats Hamilton today as expected, the Bombers will be essentially in 4th place. We'll have lost to Edmonton, Calgary and BC.

As soon as some new players (and hopefully a new defensive coordinator)gets shuffled into position they'll be latest and greatest best ever also and the told-ya-so's can re-commence. The cycle CNA then continue of pretending to know what he's talking about while simultaneously saying the same thing over and over and over.

[Blueforlife]

You can call it fake news but you need a reality check with older veterans that are under performing. If Calgary beats Hamilton today as expected, the Bombers will be essentially in 4th place. We'll have lost to Edmonton, Calgary and BC.

We also finished in 4th in 2025 winning 10 games. So that's 14 wins in 26 games in that time frame. We didn't JUST to lose the Lions, we were destroyed.

It's been a downward team trend which is obvious. Minor tweaks are not enough.

As far as K. Wilson he was a WIL moved to MLB this season.  What he did in the past is irrelevant at the moment.

Something has to give and it's not just reps for this player or that player. Somebody needs to be replace if we want to finish better than a crossover.

Fake news wasn't in reference to Wilson's play or your analysis it was in reference to how you said I decline all comments about Wilson.

The debate on his performance is a good one and we should continue it.  You make a good point about how he changed positions. That said his stats paint a different picture than what you have said about him.

Its a tough spot for this club.  A bunch a vets near the end and we are on the cusp of a rebuild.

Yes we are a cross over team at best.  Yes we need help on the field and in coaching.

To those that suggest we spell or replace Brady

He leads the league in yards per carry which meets his career high

[Blue In BC]

Fake news wasn't in reference to Wilson's play or your analysis it was in reference to how you said I decline all comments about Wilson.

The debate on his performance is a good one and we should continue it.  You make a good point about how he changed positions. That said his stats paint a different picture than what you have said about him.

Its a tough spot for this club.  A bunch a vets near the end and we are on the cusp of a rebuild.

Yes we are a cross over team at best.  Yes we need help on the field and in coaching.

To those that suggest we spell or replace Brady

He leads the league in yards per carry which meets his career high

Declining comments about Wilson: You want to hold onto players because of their past performance when they are clearly in decline.

I disagree his stats show something different. I even had pointed out earlier an comparison to Sankey in the last game. I'd also point out the stat of giving up 377 yards rushing in the last game. We also gave up 104 yards to Rankin earlier and 124 yards to Rountree.

Today's game: M. Lee at MLB has 3 DT's and 2 sacks as an example. Last week he had 2 DT's against us. McMannis has 2 DT's by half time today.  Last week he had 4 in the game.

MLB's need to make plays that impact the game often. ( Bighill ). He played sideline to sideline.

Regarding Brady in the last game. I've deleted the PVR. However, we were inside the 10 twice early and IIRC he got essentially stuffed and we settled for FG's. Yes it was predictable and our OL can't run block but those are plays he has to be more successful.

I've mentioned the comment about doing the same thing and expecting a different result. The fault is not only with him but the result is predictable.

BTW: The counter point about using Vaval at CB if he's better than Moxey. McAllister and Pimpleton both are used on offence in a significant way but are the primary returner as well. There have been defensive players that have done the same. Although we don't see a CB rotating in and out while you do see an offensive player not play every down.

So it's a bit different and whether Vaval is an upgrade at CB and whether Womak has something to offer as a returner IDK. He may be the next Vaval for all we know or the 1st cut next week.

[Blueforlife]

Declining comments about Wilson: You want to hold onto players because of their past performance when they are clearly in decline.

I disagree his stats show something different. I even had pointed out earlier an comparison to Sankey in the last game. I'd also point out the stat of giving up 377 yards rushing in the last game. We also gave up 104 yards to Rankin earlier and 124 yards to Rountree.

Today's game: M. Lee at MLB has 3 DT's and 2 sacks as an example. Last week he had 2 DT's against us. McMannis has 2 DT's by half time today.  Last week he had 4 in the game.

MLB's need to make plays that impact the game often. ( Bighill ). He played sideline to sideline.

Regarding Brady in the last game. I've deleted the PVR. However, we were inside the 10 twice early and IIRC he got essentially stuffed and we settled for FG's. Yes it was predictable and our OL can't run block but those are plays he has to be more successful.

I've mentioned the comment about doing the same thing and expecting a different result. The fault is not only with him but the result is predictable.

BTW: The counter point about using Vaval at CB if he's better than Moxey. McAllister and Pimpleton both are used on offence in a significant way but are the primary returner as well. There have been defensive players that have done the same. Although we don't see a CB rotating in and out while you do see an offensive player not play every down.

So it's a bit different and whether Vaval is an upgrade at CB and whether Womak has something to offer as a returner IDK. He may be the next Vaval for all we know or the 1st cut next week.

I only said to keep Wilson in AR and spell him with Smith.   Don't try to make the discussion into something different.  I defend the players I like, each situation is unique.  Speaking about my approach in general terms brings nothing to the discussion.  You don't get better by deletion unless next man up is better.  I have always loved Wilson and a few years ago some on the forum dumped on him (injuries).  Bounced back last year and you are trying sell that he was a liability when the stats (facts) tell a different story.  I like to back up my opinions with facts.  Others liked Wilson's game last year.  An attempt to revise history there to fit your current narrative imo.

You have moved on from good vets too early (Harris) before.  Sometimes the greats are like fine wine.  Yes sometimes they spoil.  Wilson  is like box wine at this point, good enough but ok to try something new some weekends lol.

You called Wilson a liability or something similar last year which his stats 100% prove otherwise.

Vaval <<< Moxie at corner

This year lets see how the seasons ends before we judge Wilsons season.  About average I would guess.

Vaval is so special you keep him healthy for teams imo. Any suggestion for him to be spelled makes zero sense imo.

I enjoyed your take, make some good points.

Sankey and Biggie are generational talents.  Not a fair comparison imo.

[Blue In BC]

I only said to keep Wilson in AR and spell him with Smith.   Don't try to make the discussion into something different.  I defend the players I like, each situation is unique.  Speaking about my approach in general terms brings nothing to the discussion.  You don't get better by deletion unless next man up is better.  I have always loved Wilson and a few years ago some on the forum dumped on him (injuries).  Bounced back last year and you are trying sell that he was a liability when the stats (facts) tell a different story.  I like to back up my opinions with facts.  Others liked Wilson's game last year.  An attempt to revise history there to fit your current narrative imo.

You have moved on from good vets too early (Harris) before.  Sometimes the greats are like fine wine.  Yes sometimes they spoil.  Wilson  is like box wine at this point, good enough but ok to try something new some weekends lol.

You called Wilson a liability or something similar last year which his stats 100% prove otherwise.

Vaval <<< Moxie at corner

This year lets see how the seasons ends before we judge Wilsons season.  About average I would guess.

Vaval is so special you keep him healthy for teams imo. Any suggestion for him to be spelled makes zero sense imo.

I enjoyed your take, make some good points.

Sankey and Biggie are generational talents.  Not a fair comparison imo.

Many of us thought bringing back K. Wilson was a mistake and noticed his downward spiral more than in just this season.Read the off season comments if you can find them or even TC questioning what the heck. He has not had anything approaching a good season.  Keeping him on the AR with less reps does nothing for succession planning or roster management. At best it's a maybe decision skewed by already using a DI spot on Ayers.

You want to wait once again to see how the season works out? From 2022 to date we've won less games every season. We're trending badly at the moment with no apparent answers. Tied with the Stamps for 3rd / 4th and they are a better team at the moment.

Many weren't interested in Sankey when he was available. Go figure.

I see McMannis now has 5 DT's. In the 2nd half I noticed in the 3rd Q, he stopped an RB from getting a 1st down. He had a TFL, a near int and a couple of other important plays.

I'm not sure if I wanted to move on from Harris early but if we didn't then we wouldn't have developed Oliveria. SMS is always a consideration when making these decisions. Succession plan, injury history, age etc etc.

Yards per carry is a very good  stat. I'd like the stat on how many shorter 2nd down plays he doesn't make the play necessary. I mentioned the 2 times we settled for FG's when the necessary run didn't succeed. It is something we see often late in games when teams know he'll be running out the clock and are forced to end up punting. Getting 3 yards when you need 2 and the opponent knows you'll get the ball type of situation.

Yes Vaval is special. So is McAllister and he scored 3 TD's on us last week.. The Bombers used Grant on offence in the past. Last year we would have used Logan on offence if Vaval didn't beat him out as the returner. 

An argument could be made that he isn't better than Moxey as a CB but the argument that he shouldn't see double duty is not. History is full of players that have had that kind of dual role including in Winnipeg.

Moxey is taking a lot of heat but IMO it's more soft coverage by JY that are the issue.

Next game is against the Redblacks. It might be time to " test " some changes. That's a risk but so would losing to them be bad bad news.

It's not the 1st time the " board " has questioned roster choices and lack of use of the entire roster.

Having said that about on offence, I'm wondering if the constant rotation on defence is really working out for the best. The defence is making a lot of mistakes and that might be part of it.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

It was Clercius' first game and he's a back-up. MCI is a FB/ How many reps do you think they'd get? Cobb is the last possible read and Neild seems to be QB dependant. Zach looked his way a lot, but Dru is not.

Who is Clercius a backup to, Cobb?

[Jesse]

Who is Clercius a backup to, Cobb?

Just any Canadian receiver. Technically listed behind Neild, I think.

[Blueforlife]

Many of us thought bringing back K. Wilson was a mistake and noticed his downward spiral more than in just this season.Read the off season comments if you can find them or even TC questioning what the heck. He has not had anything approaching a good season.  Keeping him on the AR with less reps does nothing for succession planning or roster management. At best it's a maybe decision skewed by already using a DI spot on Ayers.

You want to wait once again to see how the season works out? From 2022 to date we've won less games every season. We're trending badly at the moment with no apparent answers. Tied with the Stamps for 3rd / 4th and they are a better team at the moment.

Many weren't interested in Sankey when he was available. Go figure.

I see McMannis now has 5 DT's. In the 2nd half I noticed in the 3rd Q, he stopped an RB from getting a 1st down. He had a TFL, a near int and a couple of other important plays.

I'm not sure if I wanted to move on from Harris early but if we didn't then we wouldn't have developed Oliveria. SMS is always a consideration when making these decisions. Succession plan, injury history, age etc etc.

Yards per carry is a very good  stat. I'd like the stat on how many shorter 2nd down plays he doesn't make the play necessary. I mentioned the 2 times we settled for FG's when the necessary run didn't succeed. It is something we see often late in games when teams know he'll be running out the clock and are forced to end up punting. Getting 3 yards when you need 2 and the opponent knows you'll get the ball type of situation.

Yes Vaval is special. So is McAllister and he scored 3 TD's on us last week.. The Bombers used Grant on offence in the past. Last year we would have used Logan on offence if Vaval didn't beat him out as the returner. 

An argument could be made that he isn't better than Moxey as a CB but the argument that he shouldn't see double duty is not. History is full of players that have had that kind of dual role including in Winnipeg.

Moxey is taking a lot of heat but IMO it's more soft coverage by JY that are the issue.

Next game is against the Redblacks. It might be time to " test " some changes. That's a risk but so would losing to them be bad bad news.

It's not the 1st time the " board " has questioned roster choices and lack of use of the entire roster.

Having said that about on offence, I'm wondering if the constant rotation on defence is really working out for the best. The defence is making a lot of mistakes and that might be part of it.

Some very good points and a well written summary.  The last point I might start to waiver on.  For years when D was dominant the rotation was king.  One of the teams that played earlier mentioned the complexity of their systems and how it was a balance between confusing players and not being to one dimensional.  A fine line the Bombers must walk.  Reminds me of late Dave Ritchie how he made all his stars play teams.  An interesting way to deploy the roster but perhaps not how I would approach it.  In the end rotation brings development opportunity.  Vets also can be more consistent.

This club has lots of soul searching.  For someone that has been so positive for so long, the tides have turned but perhaps we can surf this final surge to the playoffs and Zach can sing us a swan song for the ages. 

What's your summary on Ayers impact.  With the D playing so poorly he disappeared a bit or am I wrong? Is he a beast on teams.

These deeper dives on club are really enjoyable man.  While we sometimes battle, the very essence of this forum is on full display. 

You just didn't believe fully in late stage injury plaqued Harris like I did.  I was slightly exaggerating.  Unless my memory fails me, then forgive my ignorance

Sankey just too $.  Moxie isn't part of the solution but also not our biggest problem.

A healthy Kramdi will balance out the D a bit imo.  That's a few games away likely and might be too late.

[Tecno]

Was Brown's playbook actually only 20%?  I could see that being the case game 1 back, but they have had to install much more since then, especially since he ran Condell's O in Ottawa.

Yes, Dru's book was totally smaller in the BC game vs the CGY game.  I don't know the exact percentage, but I called the CGY game maybe a 35% book (because he's so new here), and the BC game 20%.  It's roughly correct.

They went and ripped up every single deep option for Dru for BC.  If there was any go routes, they were for clearing only.  By some time in the 2nd Q BC had figured this out.  Watch how their DBs adjust.  Absolutely no one respected anything over, and cheated up to everything under.

Was the "nothing over the top" a scheme issue, or a Dru issue.  Guy threw 4 picks last game, and had a Pick completion % of only 45% (meaning he had 5 picks dropped).  Was his hesitance to throw "over the top" related to scheme or fear?

Dru's a slinger.  Just like Zach.  He takes what looks good and loves that medium pass.  Plus Dru is the "zero emotion" iceberg that doesn't get rattled.  So 100% Dru was told and forced to take a limited book with no shot options.  He was also told he had to get the ball out super quick because the OL was going to be turnstiles.  Can't take shots with a garbage OL.

To be fair, it wasn't necessarily a bad game plan by Mafia... In theory a zero-turnover O should have won that game because it was against a garbage no-throw QB.  By the time it was apparent BC was able to win by just running, it was too late to change course and glass Dru was gonzo anyhow.

If they actually schemed away from it, and cut his legs out (his big complaint about getting demoted in Ott was that he had a better deep ball than Maier), that's bad.  Shows a lack of confidence, which then gets him to question himself.

They totally had no confidence Dru wouldn't throw 4 more picks.  Why wouldn't they?

Final word: If the plan was to do run/short/run/short ad nauseum to lull BC into cheating up, then hitting them with the free deep home runs, then by mid/late 2nd Q you would have made those shots.  I was waiting for it all 1st Q.  But we never changed, we never took those shots.  After 1-2Q's of nothing but dink & dunk there would have been a ton of seams and posts and gos that would have been open.  That is the proof that Dru was handicapped.  We even had a lot of the 3rd Q for Dru to take advantage of a cheating-close D, and we didn't.  (Neither did Elgs, but he went to the Brohm School of Throwing To the Turf, so...)

[Tecno]

I believe from a top management perspective (Miller and Walters) we are good, however from there on down not sure if changes are needed. Will not happen this year but if Miller wants sold out stadiums in 2027 he will probably need to make some changes within the coaching and scouting ranks.

For 2026 I believe all we will be able to do is make minor cosmetic changes etc. Just my opinion from the outside looking in.

Good post.  I agree with almost everything you said.

But there's a problem.  We may already be in a downward spiral.  Like CGY circa 2019.

So many top retentions and new FA acquisitions said they chose WPG because they want to win.  That's pretty normal, especially if you want guys to sign here for a bit less than they are worth.  If we are no longer winning -- worse, we suck total butt and lose everything -- then there will be an exodus of players.  And to retain the loyal guys you'll still have to offer more $, like 20-25% more per guy.  And you'll attract zero people in FA unless you massively overpay.

If Mafia have created a throwaway year (not purposely), then anyone who's contract is up next FA will probably be gone or very costly.  But if we try very hard to improve, and maybe get an airlift or two, and we manage to be a .500 team and one-and-done, we're hampering our ability to use this year as a tryout/dev/improve year, trying to setup up '27 to be better.  You are darned if you do, darned if you don't.

If we can't even beat OTT, whether with Zach or Dru, and give that sad sack of misfits their first win (kind of like we did to BC, as I maintain their other 1 win was fake), then 100% this should be a throwaway season.

[Tecno]

If this is a throwaway season, I am immediately benching/cutting/trading:
Nield
Cobb
Stan
Nichols
Moxey
maybe Kyrie

I'm instead starting Singer, Corcoran, Vant, <insert HB here, maybe via trade/couch>, Vaval/the-backup/or-Bonds.  Yes, Corcoran isn't great, but the idea is to shake things up and give the younger guys with maybe some upside more reps.  If they suck, start one of your IMPs or find a dropped DP REC from the last 1-2 seasons -- there's lots.

And Smith and Shay are starters immediately.

As for QB, you make Zach & Dru take pay cuts or they're traded away/cut.  You make Dru sign a 2-3 year deal at a massive discount.  Zach decides what his future is and you lock him into it (probably done after '26).  Then you tell the QBs they stay in and play.  If you get sacked and you are owies, you stay in.  If you don't stay in you're benched/traded/cut.

And I seriously consider starting Elgs.  I don't care how much he sucks.  Tell him it's ok to suck -- we WANT him to suck.  Just get reps and learn on the fly, tell him we have total faith it will make him a legit 2027 starter.  Tell all the fans in every presser and radio show that Elgs is allowed to suck and this is the plan and don't boo him.  Tell them he's the future Rourke and this pain must be tolerated.

If this sounds like a C.Jones "rebuild year", then I guess it is, and I'm finally starting to see why he did it all the time.  Sometimes the play and players are just SO BAD that "there has to be consequences".

[Tecno]

Could slipping in Peterson as a variable be effective? Unless we do it we'll never know. The counter point is that if players like Womack, Peterson and Texada are only warm bodies for emergency that is an issue.

You know better than anyone that to AR Peterson we lose a guy who is probably better at ST.  After that ST performance vs CGY, I'm not sure I want to see a "worse" cover team.

Not everyone is JA27 who is also good at ST.

You'd have to bench Novak, or Ball, or similar.  If Peterson was clearly better at ST, then he'd already be on the AR -- even with a healthy Brady.

Plus, not sure Brady would take kindly to Peterson sets coming in in the red zone just to give us some speed and edge threat... You want to be the one telling Brady he has no speed and can't reach the edge?

Thus, while the idea has merit, and might even get us more TDs, it won't happen here because of politics and culture.  It's simply not our way.

[Tecno]

Condell is continuing the trend of not involving Clercius or MCI in the offence's plans as well as ignoring Cobb and now Nield, tracing back to Ottawa did he ever make good use of his Natl. players?

But Condell is using a shedload of Daniels, who is already a superior blocker and has better hands than Ike.  Clercius is getting some field time -- much more than Corcoran did as the "backup".

WPG has always been a team that ignores the droppers and whiffers.  Whether Zach or Dru, if you suck at 1-2 targets, you ain't getting more targets.  And that often carries over to the next game.  Hard to say how much of that is QB choice vs OC -- but it's a real effect.

As for Condell & NAT RECs in general -- great question!  I'm trying hard to remember what NATs Condell had in HAM in '19 and '21... Anyone remember?  Surely it was only 1-2 NAT RECs.

If Condell in general doesn't like/trust NATs then Houston we have a problem, because we are starting 3+1 on our O (REC/RB)!