Doublezero

Will they play? Smoke warning: https://weather.gc.ca/airquality/pages/skaq-001_e.html

I agree, kick/punt cover and returns are not a curse for us. But for one side of the equation - most TDs scored - I'd venture to say this is because we had Janarion Grant in Blue & Gold from 2019 to 2023. And if you look at total yards gained on kick and punt returns since we let Grant get away, Bombers are just about the worst in the league. This, despite the fact we force opponents to kick to us more often than virtually every other team - credit our defence for forcing those 3rd down punts. Really, that is an opportunity squandered: more punts coming to us, but among fewest yards gained. Bomber fans see this intuitively - we are getting lots of chances to return the ball but often losing the overall field position battle.

I'm interested to see how we line up and run edge plays and misdirection counters on a 65-wide field this year with a new OC who is steeped in the CFL ground game. Thinking we are going to see some new wrinkles on the ground and not just in Q4. I am trying to imagine how you defend against Oliveira, Streveler, Chris-Ike, and Peyton Logan (once healthy) in the backfield all at once.

Wonder if it's a 2-way player/coach deal? No sign of Jarious Jackson this season - so, you never know, might be an opening for QB coach next year.

Three of us heading to Langford for today's tilt between Lions & Stamps and to say hi to Buck. Wearing our Bombers gear, naturally https://www.timescolonist.com/sports/lions-ready-to-roar-in-cfl-preseason-game-at-starlight-stadium-10677687

Sums up my original point exactly. He's getting $600k elite hard money (including $100k bonus Jan 15) but the club is no longer getting elite play from him. Bombers are hamstrung - paying more for a diminishing asset. I don't blame Collaros for taking the dough - it could be his last year so, y'know, take the money. But Walters should've seen this coming and done more to mitigate shambolic O line pass pro. With the OC changes, I could see ZC actually playing less this season and more emphasis on run and run-option. Backfield with Oliveira, Streveler, Peyton Logan and Demski with some creativity and misdirection gonna be interesting.

When you look at ZC stats from last season he's very comparable to Dru Brown and Jake Maier (not very good) but Zach makes $600k/per. Even Rourke had his fat deal in BC renegotiated to be more team friendly but you don't hear that happening in 'Peg. Walters is hamstrung by his overpay at QB. You can't overpay for mediocre QB play. I say this is one of the MBB forumites who wanted to keep Brown over Collaros as it was evident to some -even in '23- that ZC was in decline.

Oops ... first posted this in the non-bombers thread but my question still stands: Who's in the QB room? So far we have ZC, Terry Wilson Jr., Jake Dolegala under contract. The club re-signed QB Darren Grainger in October only to see him suddenly "retire" in January. What's the deal with Strevy - will he be back? Who's left in the pool of FA QBs that we should grab - or do we need another young developmental guy along the lines of Grainger?

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I like that new OC Jason Hogan is Canadian. Means he knows how to use a field of play that is 65 yards wide. Jarious Jackson is hopefully going to help young Terry Wilson. And JJ might even help Collaros who - let's face it - has struggled, esp last year with the worst TD to INT percentage and worst QB rating in the league. Final year of ZC's 3 year deal - don't suppose there's much incentive for him to re-negotiate for the good of the club.

Surely, at some point, we will sign some serious competition for Sheahan at punter. I know there's more to it than simple distance and hang time but it seemed like we always struggled to gain field position last year and our punter had the worst average punting distance in the CFL, by a considerable margin. The best punter - Jake Julien, had a an average of almost 10 yards better per punt than our guy.

I still want to know why ZC was still in the Grey Cup game after suffering a game-changing injury to the finger on his throwing hand with 2:35 left in Q3 and Bombers down by just 7. Any experienced OC would've instantly gone with the backup QB and focused on feeding Brady - unless Bombers OC was overruled.

He is the best. Disappointed but not surprised he re-signed with Argos. I remember Janarion single-handedly won a couple of close games for Winnipeg while he was here. A sacrilege that the Bombers let a game-changer like him get away.

Fatboi prob could've returned this for a century - holes you could drive a truck through: https://www.espn.in/video/clip?id=27992094

Anyone else wonder why it's taking so long to hire a new OC? Maybe we will hear something this week. Rumours?