Who is untouchable with the rebuild?

[Tecno]

Okay, hear me out: If Collaros, Bryant, and Neufeld are done, then the Bombers take all those savings and offer an extra $100,000 to four of the top available OL's in the league (one extra in case they get injured). Stick with Brown, Elgersma, and Perkins at QB because the theory of change is that a very good OLine can elevate a mediocre QB, and super-elevate a very good RB, and create time for receivers to get open.

Agreed.  Especially since we may not have any choice but to stick with Dru (or Zach -- but same problem).  Unless we get a mobile QB, we need to get back to the days of having the best OL.  Then take a page out of SSK's 2025 playbook and understand we can skimp at REC -- both $ and ratio.  I think SSK's woes this season are partly caused by a worsening of their OL.  That short-only no-mobility scheme only works with the best OL.

[RebusRankin]

The issue with saying build the oline through free agency is that very rarely do the top guys make it there.

[Waffler]

The issue with saying build the oline through free agency is that very rarely do the top guys make it there.

True. then you have money and end up using it on the next best available. Usually an over pay.

[Blueforlife]

I would suggest any team would very seldom look at any players as "untouchable".  I don't doubt for one second they would pull the trigger on just about any trade they believe would be advantageous to the team whether the Bomber player was an all star or not.

Fans have the advantage of locking on to certain players and believe that they should be 'un-tradeable' but that is a luxury coaches and managers don't have if they are doing their job.

Brady ain't getting traded and is untouchable, other than that you have made some good points

Well, everyone south of WM does have the luxury of knowing Brady is untouchable, because WM has said so.  No truck is too big for WM to back up to retain Brady.

Every other player, not so much.

We also shouldn't ignore the politics and optics of Brady becoming a household Canadian name for his dog show.  All my buds have wives that don't know about the CFL who are all watching Brady's show.  The attention & draw this gives the WFC can't be understated.  At least some of these people are being converted into butts-in-seats, TV eyeballs, and merch sales.  And I find myself somewhat in agreement with WM.  God help us the next time Brady comes up for re-signing.  He can literally ask for $500k a year and we'll give it to him.

couldn't have said it better myself, love this post!
 these is so much going on with Brady that he will be here till the end, his mix of being local, awesome, versatile, cdn, a great guy, great for community, sells ticket, etc. keeps him here for life.  People that complain about his salary are missing the point and just need someone to complain about.  Yes is gets paid a lot.  Yes he has always earned it.  When the Bombers suck the finger pointing is heavy around here and sometimes at the wrong person.

You are bang on about the OL, it all starts there and some interesting points about how Sask did it last year and reasons for their recent slide.  The game is won in the trenches and that's the hardest position group to stay elite at.

[Blue In BC]

Well, everyone south of WM does have the luxury of knowing Brady is untouchable, because WM has said so.  No truck is too big for WM to back up to retain Brady.

Every other player, not so much.

We also shouldn't ignore the politics and optics of Brady becoming a household Canadian name for his dog show.  All my buds have wives that don't know about the CFL who are all watching Brady's show.  The attention & draw this gives the WFC can't be understated.  At least some of these people are being converted into butts-in-seats, TV eyeballs, and merch sales.  And I find myself somewhat in agreement with WM.  God help us the next time Brady comes up for re-signing.  He can literally ask for $500k a year and we'll give it to him.

No we wouldn't. That's absurd.

[Cool Spot]

The issue with saying build the oline through free agency is that very rarely do the top guys make it there.

They might stick around if Bomber management made it clear, heading into the offseason, that they had a lot money to spend on the Offensive Line.

[Tecno]

No we wouldn't. That's absurd.

We already did! WM already did! The only difference is it was last year and only 300k. If Brady is still healthy then I guarantee his next contract will be shocking to everyone. Heck, it may even be more than 500k. Don't forget the new dazn millions. We will see qbs getting 1M by then.

[Waffler]

We already did! WM already did! The only difference is it was last year and only 300k. If Brady is still healthy then I guarantee his next contract will be shocking to everyone. Heck, it may even be more than 500k. Don't forget the new dazn millions. We will see qbs getting 1M by then.

So we can offer Kelly a million, most deferred to 2027 and beyond? Presuming the cap goes up.

[Tecno]

So we can offer Kelly a million, most deferred to 2027 and beyond? Presuming the cap goes up.

The teams that either knew about or guessed the last couple of years' cap increases and overpaid won out. Like ham. Absent their qb injury of course.

It no longer pays to wait for concrete caps. If there's a whiff of increase, spend it immediately. So yes, I would be making obscene offers for the pieces we need. Because the smart other teams will be.

But we all know kw won't... Except in the case of Brady. Still, we can dream...

[dd]

We arent offering Kelly anything for a number of reasons. one- he doesn't meet the character criteria MOS insists his players have. two- we have no history with him so we don't have a coach with the inside line on him like Ottawa has three - why would he choose our run oriented offense, that takes passing reps away from him and four - we committed 2 high draft picks to get Brown, we'll ride with Brown, and five- Collaros may not retire!!

[Waffler]

Kelly has been clean two years. I used to hate him also but I really like winning and really Rourke, Alexander and Kelly are going to be the ones winning cups for the next few years. With Kelly being available you have to find a way. Houston was forgiven in a matter of months so there is precedent.

[Tecno]

One thing I've noticed for a while now, is that we always seem undersized compared to the top teams.  You see their D operate and it's these hulking beasts that have no problem pushing OL to close run holes or collapse the pocket, or LBs that can stuff our run dead on first hit.  Then our D can't push anyone around, can't close run holes, and LBers aren't beefy enough to stop runners dead.

Similar thing on O, including the OL.

It's like the other teams took our players at like-for-like positions and added 25 lbs to every last one.  And it seems to be causing us a huge disadvantage.

Watch the MTL game and note MTL's run game.  Everyone is that much beefier and so Scott, who isn't very good, gets 10 on each carry.  Then watch Brady who has to move heaven and earth to get 7 and most often gets 1-3.  It's because everyone involved on our side is a bit weaker, and everyone on the MTL side is a bit stronger.

Extremely aggravating.

In theory you don't need to be the beefiest, as speed & brains can kill too, but on average it seems to be important -- especially when we aren't super fast or smart either!!

Maybe Chris Jones was right on all the teams he built here: just hire the biggest, tallest, beefiest, thuggiest guys you can and beat the tar out of the other team -- to heck with any other attribute.

My point?  I think, as we replace the aging-out players, we need to purposely seek out bigger guys, even at the expense of MOS-desired attributes.  I guess we made a small start with this with Daniels.  But we need to go further, especially on D, and especially as you get closer to the LoS.