Blue In BC

I think Parker and Bridges are just being given opportunity to determine their versatility in other positions.  I'm not saying either are at specific risk but we have 10 rookie DB's fighting to make the roster. COMPETITION at both of those positions is somewhat open.
It's only day 1 so in the grand scheme of things doesn't mean much yet. It's whether specific players get extended looks at specific spots for several days.
I'm not quite sure what to think about Lawson and Schoen moved to " injured veteran " list.  Does this mean they may not be available to start the season? That changes several things.
 

Yes that was a great hit and probably a momentum statement.

Yes that was a great hit and probably a momentum statement.

My expectation is that we have 3 imp LB's. Jones, Jones and one of Wilson or Ayers. My only question is who starts at WIL and who ends up as a DI. I don't think we see a Canadian LB starting anytime soon. Progressing with more reps as the season progresses and possibly in 2026. In 2025, It's clear in my assessment that we have 3 import LB's on the AR. I'd be happy if one of the rookie Canadians proves me wrong but we're paying those imports $115K-$130K each ( except Ayers ). While that isn't the only measurement of who makes the roster it certainly seems like the teams expectation of what we'll see.

I understand the concept but have no doubt that Logan will be a DI. It's essentially what we did when we had Grant in 2023 and then Whitehead as as the returner spot. An import receiver came out.

It's always a question of how we deploy our ratio. The global player comes at a cost of an extra Canadian so that's going to be a tough choice. We added some Canadian DE's so it may become an either or choice. We have Gowanlock and Laing looking to win a spot.  All of this folds into whether we move towards a 3 import OL. That eliminates an import or even the global elsewhere on the roster in order to retain a Canadian back up.

I think I saw one earlier so I'll see if I can find it. In the past I haven't seen too many global players signed that weren't drafted. It's a very small instances where that happened. We've seen players drafted and not even show up. There are only 2 rounds for 18 players in total so losing a couple of no shows is not a good sign for any team.
You'd think there would be a few more that didn't get drafted still be signed for TC. I'm not sure what to make of that really. The competition is almost none for what might be 2 AR and 2 PR spots. At the moment we have 3 global on our roster and will draft 2 more.  Potentially all of them might be kept or 2 might be released.
 
As I suggested I might think about looking for choices that might be candidates in 2026. That said the situation is different that Canadians going back to last year of college. I don't know whether we retain rights of each year's draft choices if released. We also will draft 2 more in 2026 so are the ones form this year potentially better than in 2026? Don't know, but both our kickers will be potential free agents. Both may be back, one or both might be gone. Having a development plan on or off the PR would be beneficial.  A global kicker is like a free DI and in the case of the Als, they appear set to use 2 spots for 2 global specialists.
 
EDIT: There is a global player combine to be held on April 29 th. That might give us some idea of what kind of players might be available. I found the one from 2024 and there were only 12 players listed. Of that only 3 or 4 were actually drafted including the 2 we drafted. Small pool looked at and negligible post draft interest from that group.

Can't disagree with that. OTOH, it would have been so easy to just retain him after the season to bring him back for TC 2025. Note that I modified my 1st response about our global choice at DE being added for a bit.

I'd expect we have the kicker, a returner, a DL and a DB as DI's. Since we start 8 Canadians we have roster within the ratio to have one import that is on the AR but not a DI.  As you've suggested it's blurred at the moment. Do choose to start 4 imports on the DL with the Canadians as the rotation players and still have an import DL as a DI?
Cole could be the DI or extra as a substitute DB but I don't think that would be the direct choice if we add him. IMO he'd be used in a more traditional role as a LB rather than a coverage player per se.
All of this is somewhat in the expectation of losing Ford and giving us 1 more ratio option than we'll have needing to start another import at CB.
It also presumes we do not lose Ayers and choose not to re-sign Bighill.
I'm waiting to see what happens with both of those questions.
There should be more players re-signing this week but which happen 1st is a TBD.
 

Now we have Kramdi at SAM, otherwise there would be 3 starting import LB's and probably a DI. Things have changed with starting more than 7 Canadians overall in the past couple of seasons. I think we expect to lose Ford one way or another. What happens on the OL if we lose Dobson could change our ratio.
I'm not against 4 import LB's on the AR so it's a wait and see who we do or don't re-sign including another import LB in free agency.  There are always some good ones potentially available like the one the Argos released. Where any of them fit in regarding SMS is the other question.

I think the replacement for Benson is Leroux and he's been re-signed. So I'm expecting that transition.  Augustine still adds value but I think I'd prefer a younger player on an ELC to fit his role which is primarily an ST player. I don't believe he would be the primary RB is Oliveria is injured longer than an in game situation. To that end, I expect an import RB on the PR or possibly one that is on the AR as a RB/WR/ Returner and has yet to be identified / found.
Noah Hallett played relatively injury free in 2024 IIRC but I think his time is done.
 
We'll need to find roster spots for a few 2025 draft picks and / or possibly some form 2024 that have finished school.
 

I think the replacement for Benson is Leroux and he's been re-signed. So I'm expecting that transition.  Augustine still adds value but I think I'd prefer a younger player on an ELC to fit his role which is primarily an ST player. I don't believe he would be the primary RB is Oliveria is injured longer than an in game situation. To that end, I expect an import RB on the PR or possibly one that is on the AR as a RB/WR/ Returner and has yet to be identified / found.
Noah Hallett played relatively injury free in 2024 IIRC but I think his time is done.
 
We'll need to find roster spots for a few 2025 draft picks and / or possibly some form 2024 that have finished school.
 

Yeah, I thought Bighill might be pushed off the roster. While I think he can still add value, roster size, SMS and younger LB's will make it difficult to find a spot. However, if we lose Ayers and / or choose to not re-sign Cole, that changes the math somewhat.
 
Alexander also falls into this category of thought. Although IMO we do re-sign him but begin the transition to a new starter at safety during the season. Who that player is will be a TBD.
 

Yes I'm in Vancouver but am not partaking in the festivities dowtown. Retired pension income. So will watch and cheer game on TV and communicate with my Lions friends on facebook. I think the reality of big screen HD at home is not a bad option at this point.

Yes I'm in Vancouver but am not partaking in the festivities dowtown. Retired pension income. So will watch and cheer game on TV and communicate with my Lions friends on facebook. I think the reality of big screen HD at home is not a bad option at this point.

Just another reason to get rid of the global designation and convert them to import DI spots. Sheehan would be retained as a DI and Cole could have been added instead of Weitz. I don't quite know what Weitz will bring instead of Karamoko but he's a giant question mark as well.

Yes I'm in Vancouver but am not partaking in the festivities dowtown. Retired pension income. So will watch and cheer game on TV and communicate with my Lions friends on facebook. I think the reality of big screen HD at home is not a bad option at this point.

Just another reason to get rid of the global designation and convert them to import DI spots. Sheehan would be retained as a DI and Cole could have been added instead of Weitz. I don't quite know what Weitz will bring instead of Karamoko but he's a giant question mark as well.

Yes I'm in Vancouver but am not partaking in the festivities dowtown. Retired pension income. So will watch and cheer game on TV and communicate with my Lions friends on facebook. I think the reality of big screen HD at home is not a bad option at this point.

Yes I'm in Vancouver but am not partaking in the festivities dowtown. Retired pension income. So will watch and cheer game on TV and communicate with my Lions friends on facebook. I think the reality of big screen HD at home is not a bad option at this point.

Just another reason to get rid of the global designation and convert them to import DI spots. Sheehan would be retained as a DI and Cole could have been added instead of Weitz. I don't quite know what Weitz will bring instead of Karamoko but he's a giant question mark as well.

Not disputing that but instead we add Weitz as a 2nd global in lieu of a Canadian. Must mean Woli jut can't play even as a back up. I also don't think we can make the injury argument from 2023 when we had no alternatives but to play players not 100%. 4 of our receivers and Bighill shouldn't have played in 2023.

Maybe MCI was nicked a bit. OTOH, they beefed up the DL depth somewhat. He hasn't played and Weitz only was on the Ar for a couple of games.
Because you can add a 2nd global in place of a Canadian. You can't add Cole without removing an import somewhere. I'd prefer Cole on the AR but who would we take off the roster?

Why? If he's healthy we could use some depth at receiver. Demski and Whitehead are not 100% so there could be a need especially if our offence controls the TOP. We'll need to rotate receivers somewhat.

We already have 2 globals on the roster. In order to add Karamoko we'd have to delete an import or Weitz. Not sure exactly what Weitz brings but I would have preferred Karamoko as well.