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?

Just noticed: Jake Dolegala Height: 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) Weight: 242 lb (110 kg) Willie Jefferson Height 6 ft 7 in (2.01 cm) Weight : 245 lb (111 kg) Bookends!

If you watched Kyle Walters press conference today you can see Bombers expect Ford to get big offers from other clubs and likelihood of keeping him here seems very uncertain. Would love to see both the Ford brothers in Winnipeg in 2025 but chances are a scenario like that will materialize in a place like Hamilton.

100%. But as you say - different sized horns. Collaros wasn't playing well in the big game, even prior to his injured hand. The cracks in his game started to show back in 2023. Fairly large horns there. MOS shouldn't have put his injured QB back in the game when he's been told the player can't grip the ball. More large horns. Brady the league's MOC and MOP not fed the ball. Horns for both MOS and for play-caller Buck on that one - and also (again) for Collaros who decided to throw on RPOs, despite knowing his hand was a liability. I would also place a little thorny crown on Kyle Walters for signing Collaros to a 3-year deal that hamstrung the club on the salary cap which has led to other consequences.

100%. Given Collaros's struggles in the 2023 season - even then many could see his deer in the headlights look even under slightest pressure, his lack of resolve to stay in the pocket for an extra beat, his off-target throws. This past season should've have been the time to get your back-up QB some meaningful live fire. Walters should be able to see how Streveler was not used optimally. Let's see if the OC and HC are held to account.

USA player recruitment and Canuck drafting has been and continues to be the great strength of this organization, esp on the D side of the ball, but positive overall. HC & OC have become liabilities to the point where they cancel out the above.

But he gave a straight answer. Said he didn't even think twice about it. Makes you wonder though. Player: "Coach, I broke my leg." MOS: "Do you think you can still play on the other one?" Player: "Maybe." MOS: "Great! In you go ..."

I wasn't sure before but this clinches it. MOS does not understand the role of HC. He's happy, for the most part, to have the inmates run the asylum. But the coach needs to show leadership and make decisions. Even his QB reflected on the situation - would he help or hinder the team by returning to the game unable to throw? He asks the coach - almost hoping that he could be relieved of the responsiblity. Instead of stepping up and making the decision to sit the injured player - he kicks it back to Zach who reluctantly goes back in ... And then, not even reflecting on it .. wow.

That is what MOS said at the 1 min 10 seconds mark https://www.bluebombers.com/2024/11/22/coach-oshea-november-22-2/

MOS asked if, in hindsight, he would again keep Collaros in the GC game despite the fact he was told that his QB could not throw. Q: "Would you still send him out there?" A: "Yeah. Absolutely. When you asked me that, it's not even something I really thought about." Wow. Little self-reflective ability. Does MOS really understand his role as HC? This is the point where stupidity appears to have overtaken stubbornness. The man requires active supervision.

Grant is the best kick returner in the CFL, bar none, and current Special Teams MOP. You have to remember how he injured his ankle in 2023. It was on a stupid play call by Buck Pierce where Grant was inserted into the offence to run a dive play up the gut into close-chaotic heavy traffic. You don't do that with your key return man. Chances of getting him nicked are high. Look at the way Grant was used by Dinwiddie in Argos offence - sparingly, but more often and creatively than Buck did - and certainly never on a play designed more for a Brady Oliveira body-type than Janarion.