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Reality of modern cfl offences is that you run out of pistol the majority of snaps. They use it with backs in various alignments, but hand offs from under centre and snaps to full shot gun in the regular operation of an offence is pretty rare. The pistol snap is much easier, and really should never be mechanically problematic. The Centre sets the line, is responsible for adjusting the line due to defensive alignment, there’s a lot of nuance to it the same way a mlb/S will set and order the D. In pass pro with out a man head up the C is responsible to pick up A gap blitzes, stunts, twists, and help on rushers who cross face the guard into his gap. Hes also the one who will help the G beside him pick up a dominant rusher for doubles, think how you’d block ceresna or sayles unless the line up in the far gap and don’t go inside after the snap. In the base tite zone scheme we run, it’ll most often be the C or play side guard who goes to the next level. The C basically is always going to double the T over the G when a nose isn’t in play on inside zone run schemes. They double to secure the point of attack, then the guy with leverage goes to the second level taking a lber out of the play and creating a large gap. If the gap gets filled that should then create a new gap for the back which is why vision and the timing pressing the line is always important for our backs. When a nose is in play, on runs it’ll generally be the G doubling with him and skipping to the second level. If its heavy set you would have a second linemen going to the second level, or if you read the end. None of which impacts the Cs role other then making sure every one is on the same page pre snap. In pass pro with an inside rusher, the Centres first job is to wall him off. If the dl breaks the anchor of the ol turning him or pushing him back, you end up un able to switch rushers. If a guy crosses your face and the guard on that side is straight rushing you go shoulder to shoulder and body block the crosser and help on the other T. make that guy have to go all the way around rather than pop off the guard who is engaged with the T. Call outs as adjustments are often silent once the huddle is broke. It’s a lot of the same signal ideas you see in silent cadence. Pointing, even using your arm to adjust a gap alignment. The communication is critical, it’s very nuanced and demands a great deal of trust and understanding of the play book, players both team mates and opposition, alignment etc. The greatest thing I can say about neufeld is he’s been one of the best trainers of centres the field has seen. He took soo many green rookies and molded them into elite Cs. With desjarlais, and peak Neufeld, beside bryant and hardrick, we didn’t need a lot out to our C. And Dls got soo beaten by those guys they didn’t look to exploit C, because we could cover early kola. And our previous Cs were very good at what they did. We got to a point where kola became exposed, and that by using that you can get the Gs out of leverage positions. Now teams run through him. It’s all give and take. If you are under sized but lean and athletic, especially if you have long arms and know how to maximize leverage relative to your height and the opposition it really doesn’t matter if you’re short or tall or 280 or 360. A couple caveats apply, 1) you must be able to lock up and dead lock a line men for 3 ish seconds. 2) you need to be better in using bend. 3) you need quick enough feet and mentally to get into a better position sooner. Size is less important at C and T than G. C you don’t usually play a dt heads up most of the time in the cfl. At T you battle ends in the 250 range. G, you will be facing guys 275-300+ and often really powerful althetic imps or huge canadian bulls. Height can be a negative for the C. With shorter qbs you don’t want some monster eating up passing lanes. taller than 6’3 ish you gotta be smart understand the qb, offence and stay low. In general linemen are more athletic and trimmer than before. 6’ and 275 is fine, if you’re athletic, smart, and cerebral. Going up to 300 is ideal, unless you have some strange build/frame combo.

The answers are obvious... but it's not like we only need to replace JT and things will be instantly better. I'd imagine we have like 10 starters that we need to move on from and like 75% of our "depth players" need to be replaced. This team needs a lot of new faces and new energy. Our depth has been really poor the last 2 seasons.

Not sure if this was mentioned but a few of the guys who ended the year on the PR are being brought back next season. De'Shaan Dixon, Michael (Bucky) Williams, Hunter Poncius & Ben Dooley all signed future active contracts.

yup...with the kolo....if we wanna retain Schmeck...thats the guy they should develop into a center....he prob believe it or not on the whole team...both sides of the ball is quickest off the snap...has a lethal knife push to collapse a line too.... I can't see any reasoning or rality where he is brought back...none....considering what a lot of the read between the lines statements from players....and the outside the ears of the media chatter is a lil more...profane shall I say....If he is brought back Osh better be grilled...questioned and called out on it And Osh's excuse as mentioned...which it is...a real bad one that he "cant draw up play"...like cmon...then you shouldnt be a coach at pro level....there is pretty much a template to run an offence off...its how you add to it...how you use it and the creativity within it...there is only so much....and so many concepts you can use...If a 12 yr running HC has no ability to do coachable things...getta outta here now I said before that I didnt think Osh was a good coach in regards to the teachable stuff and creating things....creating concepts and ability to adjust...let alone see where adjusting is required....Guess he just confirmed it

ZC's presser pretty much said this albeit wrapped in diplomacy.

I mean 3-4 targets down field in the cfl can be very hard to create opportunities with unless you have a very high level specific set of passing concepts and players. Of which we have neither. Yep, no one else goes guard to tackle on a regular basis. kola can’t create drive, so we have to chase a guard or further out. It’s a law excuse tbh. For one of the best defensive players and minds of his era, he should easily be able to help reverse engineer success from what defence do to limit our O, and create successful plays that put defenders in conflict and our skill players in space. Its not even a matter of needing to design new plays, virtually every play type imaginable is already drawn out and available on professional football XnO platforms like pro quick draw go route and tons more. Tons of teams have this stuff in visio and will send basic stuff to people in other leagues, conferences, levels etc. I don’t think you can bring that guy back in any role. Hes totally burnt here

Yup. I would expect that he was on a one year deal to match what was left of OSHs. Hopefully that makes it more likely we just say thanks but he's not welcome back.

No Oilers suck all the time.

Guys who have a history of being top offensive producers get more rope, especially when the Oilers sucking in October is pretty much clockwork at this point.

There is no universe in which Hogan should be brought back as offensive coordinator. He was an unmitigated failure and the offense outside of 1 game was abysmal.

well at least he is taking some accountability...tho if he had half a brain he would also see the issues, and be able to make some suggestions to fix....and with that comes who he rostered.....he severely handcuffed our offensive chances in the ESF with who he put out there...and unwillingness to flip his ratio...heck he didnt even really need to flip it....just add an import reciever

yeah an undersized center thats athletic...can thrive in the proper scheme undersized center who is fundamentally sound and technically great....can succeed....again when you use them accordingly...If you have an overall smaller line...but athletic and technical, there are lotsa systems and blocking schemes you can use to actually be really sucessful...especially when you have RB that can carry the mail...which we do.... Undersized center, if powerfull and strong, can thrive as well Kolo lacks all of that....and an OC that couldn't likely draw up a system and a game plan to beat a California Prep school Interstingly enough Tui is not undersized.....very athletic....had top notch college coaching and his technical skills are as good as you see up here, and by all accounts is strong as Eff.....hmmmm....Imagine.....But cant translate/develop that by not playing the position

well hopefully if he shows up here...with the status quo he cool with sitting behind guys like Kramdi...Lawson....we prob bring back a cut or 2 cause we liked them, but cut them regardless....and watch inadequate Osh boi's suck up the joint

From my understanding of O-line play, being undersized is not a deal-breaker but can be compensated by intelligence and technique. Not sure if either of those adjectives apply to Kolankowski.

Nope disagree whether you're an elite athlete or past your prime cuz the same result consequence free is the point.

I'm leaning towards Kolankowski. So, what are the responsibilities of the centre? He's got to snap the ball either shotgun or short to the QB. Kolankowski seems OK with this but I've noted several mis-fires both long and short over the season. He's also got to call out or adjust blocking assignments for the called play based on what he sees of the defense. I don't know how he did this, yelling above the crowd noise? He certainly didn't do it by hand signals. And, given the way our QBs were under duress during most plays, he might not have done a good job of this. As for blocking, he looked terrible to my eyes. As someone else posted earlier, he was always looking for someone to block. And, I think that he is undersized.

Is that referring to Evan Bouchard? Because if so it's a ridiculous comparison considering the absolutely dominating offense post seasons the guy has put together last 2 seasons and big point totals in the previous regular seasons. Guy like that having a poor start to an nhl season is a lot different than over the hill players or players who were never good enough getting continual rope.

Has Walters gone MIA? I'm waiting for his presser. If he comes across as towing the line, maintaining the status quo for next year, we're sunk. If we bring back the same core I honestly think we'll be last in the CFL. I'm not expecting full transparency if Walters is planning big changes, but I'm hoping for some hints as a glimmer of hope.

The thinking and attitudes that produced three years of very predictable decline are not going to go away. If nothing changes, then nothing will change.

I imagine he’ll get some looks down there, for sure. We’ll see…. He’d be a good fit up here.

That's why we need the GM and/or BOD to step forward and wield an axe. Mille has shown himself to be pretty astute but he has to show that O'Shea's and Hogan's performances are worthy of dismissal.

Not offensively he doesn't and he admitted as much during his presser. Said he can't draw up plays for the offense but he should have done more to support them with a rookie OC.

Yep, was defensive rookie of the month at one point too I believe. Good add to the neg list but we'll see if he ever ends up here.

He was just released from the Steelers practice squad. Was a starter for them last year and I think he had 4 picks.

IF we're going to remain status quo in 26' ,then I would expect the team to finish in the basement ...Other clubs in the west will change and finish ahead of us, while we float into obscurity...How the hell Miller is going to sell a repeat of the incompetent bull$hit to the paying public next year, would be more than miraculous...There needs to be some serious change on this club....player wise and coaching...Doing otherwise will be accepting failure...with the inevitable result