Doublezero

Hope he's a factor.

What's the status of Nichols throwing shoulder, anyone? Is he throwing with velocity yet? To me, he's always had a bit of a noodle arm and now the shoulder is an unknown post-surgery QB shoulder. I thought I read somewhere he may not be ready for TC. Man, if we lose Strev to the NFL there are going to be lots of question marks around the QB prospects here in 2020. Might have to dust off Buck.

Chris Streveler named South Dakota's Sports Celebrity of the Year: https://rapidcityjournal.com/sports/chris-streveler-nash-hutmacher-among-the-state-s-top-ahtletes/article_3e85e6ed-56e7-5c5c-b190-10ade1e1524d.html

Very happy to see Johnny Augustine extended. Didn't think it would happen. Hopefully he gets to carry the rock plenty in 2020.

So, Collaros to Winnipeg and Nichols to Ottawa then? I'd be OK with that as long as we can get Streveler signed long-term here too. I'd also be OK with MBT and Strev TBH.

Dunk says Streveler could get NFL looks https://3downnation.com/2019/12/04/bombers-qb-chris-streveler-viewed-by-nfl-teams-as-having-taysom-hill-ability/

That's an interesting take but Willy was way over-rated as a QB and the early wins the team got with him at the helm were largely due to stellar ST and D. So it wasn't that Lapo ruined Willy - he just wasn't that good to begin with. Pure pocket passer with a crappy O-line is a recipe for failure. With Nichols, I think Lapo designed the offence around Nichols capabilities, which are average and journeyman at best. That's why the focus for us turned to the running attack. When Collaros came in we finally had a QB with some escapability and so you saw a more balanced attack and good distribution to all receivers getting more balls thrown their way. Comes down to Lapo tweaking things to match the talent level at the key QB postiion.

No one knows if Nichols is healthy enough to play football or if his shoulder injury will allow him to play at the necessary level. That uncertainty means no team will likely offer him the starting QB money he earned this year. Also, the only way Strev will re-sign here is with a big pay bump. So I guess if they split the QB pay envelope at $250-$300k each it is possible, as you say, that we will see Nichols-Streveler in 2020. Really hoping we get to see what McGuire has too. Big question mark if we go with Buck Pierce as OC though.

I could see Matt Nichols as Redblacks QB if he can still throw a football after that shoulder injury.

I'd be all over that https://imgur.com/a/kUpuBGX

Collaros coming for the final 4 games at QB, the most crucial position in football, gave us a real one-two punch. We were able to score points and chew up clock time - fewer 2-outs. Concurrent changes in the secondary: Mercy Maston, Nick Jones, Brandon Alexander at Safety, also huge. We were able to protect a lead and force turnovers. Neither of those elements were consistent until Week 18. So it was almost like the complete team only arrived by Week 18 and it continued to get better with each contest and finally peaked in the Grey Cup. Champions!

Can't a guy just bask in the glow of this fantastic Grey Cup win - and the amazing season that preceded it - without thinking about next season already? Although, it wasn't until we solidified the all-important QB position with Collaros that the Bombers were able to reach peak performance as a team. So I'd take Collaros back next year - gladly. And I really want Streveller here too. He is Dunigan2.

This team peaked at the right time, just got better over the last 4 games. I'll admit I lost faith after nasty meltdowns vs Argos and Montreal but it feels so great that this long Grey Cup drought is finally over. Joyful tonight for this special team that was able to bring it home for themselves, for our city and province, and for the W.

Streveler is a free agent at the end of this season so the window to realistically trade him is closed. Personally I hope we can convince him to re-sign here and that he gets some decent coaching under a new OC and QB coach so he can rise to his potential as a CFL starter here. Exciting, dynamic player with lots of physical attributes and great upside on this wide field.

Gotta be a bit uncomfortable in Regina right now, walking around with all those horseshoes stuffed up there. Liking our chances there next week.

If the real Blue Bombers football team shows up - the will roll over Calgary. Wish we tried more of the 2-point converts however and hope that is not the difference today.

Grey Cup bound!

He would not want to play anything other than QB. That's why he left Minn and went to S Dak - to play QB. With better coaching Streveler could be an outstanding CFL QB. Hoping we can sign him up for a term as a Blue Bomber QB.

Nope. You're looking at it with Rider Pride eyes. Ham is the best team in the league hands down. But I agree Calgary will win the WSF. Bombers will have to get everything together - including coaching - to get past both Stamps and Riders and while it could happen it likely won't. (it must be getting uncomfortable waddling around Regina with all those horseshoes in unmentionable places).

With Oshea as head coach.

Not clear which QB you're talking about above but if it is Nichols, 100% agree. Also, decisiveness, reading and release can be coached up. And schemed. Why does Lapo have Streveler launching from a 3-step drop? Let the kid sprint out and throw from different launch points, or run from there. Would love to see Streveler working with a decent QB coach. Hope that happens here next year and not elsewhere.

Yes, Oshea's formula here is easily questioned. The ball is placed on the 3. We have good success with the short pass. Even if you don't trust the pass we have the #1 and #6 rushers in the CFL. A little misdirection one way, a hand-off or disguise in another, should be 2 points for Harris Strev Lucky or Demski more often than not. (As long as they don't go with Demski up the gut - that only ever gets 2 yards except in the last game when he ripped it for 16 off tackle.)

I agree. But that's not what happened. I've seen Nichols slide in open field where it looked like he could have made the first down without damaging himself. For sure, you could accuse Streveler of being reckless, getting injured, and potentially costing his team by diminishing his own effectiveness (ie that might have happened a bit yesterday). Conversely, you could accuse Nichols of being too cautious in self-preservation mode. He saves himself but selfishly costs the team an opportunity to finish a play or get the first down. One is being unselfish in the extreme and the other is being selfish in the extreme. You decide who you'd rather have as a leader.

I puked watching Nichols slide in open field prior to getting to the first down marker. You'd never see Streveler do that.

Before the game Dave Dickenson, an excellent former CFL QB and MVP, said he did not believe Streveler's bruising running style is sustainable and that the Stamps planned to hit him hard - and they did. Everyone could see the effect that the pounding took on Strev - except, apparently, OShea and Lapo. If there is one thing that is consistent about the Lapo/Oshea regime in Winnipeg it is that they break quarterbacks. Winnipeg is where quarterbacks come to die. This has been a perennial problem here - mismanagement of the QB position. Edit: I want to add Pierce to this mismanagement problem. I shuddered when he was made QB coach. He started 67 games in the CFL at QB and threw 76 TDs and 63 ints - yet he could be OC next year.