Doublezero

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 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 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.

It’d take a lot for me to say he’s earned more than 400k even at this point. 

Im worried about strevy from what I’ve seen. But pre season performance is worth 10x more than camp. So hopefully he has a good pre season. Similarly, zachs camp could evaporate with live rounds and hits. 
 I’ve got that familiar sinking feeling when it comes to roster management out of this camp. The big saving grace this year is going to be the young athletic depth we’ve amassed. 
 
We should’ve moved off Zach with brown. At this point I think we will run with zach till he physically can’t lace em up any more or quits. 

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

Yup. Not re-signing Grant was a rare blunder on Walters' part.

I want a guy returning who is a threat to rip off a big return or long TD every play. We didn't have that last year and If Logan is out, not sure we have that again.

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

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

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

Game is on CFL+, have a VPN ready just in case.

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.

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.

yup....he's a key leader here...and hopefully his comments are foreshadowing that it will be different now....finally....Let him grow and next yr a 1/2 combo of him and Wilson athe top of the QB room would be a good set-up...and affordable...I could care less who is number 3 at that point....take a flier on some insane athlete for that role
well...your basing your opinion on the lunacy we used in regards to him....let him be a QB....and yeah...Crum got to play QB too....not fullback

Streveler re-signs

What bothers me about Zach more than anything is I think he should be taking a paycut to put better players around him.  He's not as good as he used to be and needs a stacked team around him to be effective IMO. Other starters around the league took paycuts.  Based on the regression in his stats he should have done this too.

he throws a lot of craptacular passes....guys like Bailey when here...Lawler and Schoen bailed him out...Schoen took a beating doing it too...He was never a touch guy on swings or outlet tosses....but his intermediate and deep balls were money...how many times the last yr...yr and a half have we seen him hit guys in stride....or lead thenm to space?...Not very often.....

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.

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.

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.