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I really like Brady but him at $250,000 to $275,000 versus paying Mills, Butler or Bell $150,000 to $160,000, I think I'd go for the later option.

Willie is kind of a classic issue at the rush end position. His ceiling is so disruptive, but his every down play is terrible. The best he's ever been is a rotational guy which isn't a slight, it's just a fact of the skills and down to down compete level he has. If you can have him play 6/10 snaps on D, you'd be happy. And that's even in his prime. I don't really see a reason to bring him back at anywhere near his current salary. If he'd sign for like $115,000 and a ton of bonuses I'd consider it.

Thing is...we only need 7 true starter caliber Candadians....so if you do 3 on the oline...2 receivers...and 2 at anytime on defence you can easily navigate the sms..this trying to make 9...10 guys a thing with sub par talent in a good 3 of them for most part is just dumb...not to mention costly There are a lot of quality Canadians that are gonna be free...and some that wont necessarily break the bank either, but we need to have open mind and be willing to change who we play and where as our Canadians

And a live shot of MOS right after the signing:

I just want to throw piles of money at both Lines and build out from that. Own the LoS and happy things happen. I

I mean, every back we've plugged in has had success. That is the tendency with zone systems as well. If you can identify/coach backs into pressuring the gap while also doing a good job of reading the blocking, you will succeed. Remember the broncos sticking random FA FBs in at tail back and having them average 5+ yards a pop and enough yards a game to get 1200-1500 a year? The point of tangibles is worth looking at. Brady is a fantastic blocker. But he also crafted him self into that role. Harris was too, but Augustine did a massive amount of work to go from terrible to pretty good at pass blocking, and MCI has taken huge leaps and bounds blocking too. Now, it is a far cry from being the lone back pass blocker in games during the regular season. But you only gain that final step by doing it. I am pretty confident that with marty, brady and the rest of the guys in the RB room that will hold over that we can coach guys up to be atleast good enough in pass blocking.

Whatever the role was...it was odd..and noticeable and don't think degraded talent related...as mentioned have discussed this and former DE said it was very odd I think if we bring him back..and im 99.9% certain we are we need to have him play as a straight up pressure/attack de...or rush end hybrid at various spots on line...20..25 high energy snaps and allow the young ends to grow...his experience and knowledge of the oline guys we will face also be invaluable to the youngsters We need a difference maker tho inside..if Hutchings hits the market back the truck up..that guys a beast and versatile...his presence would allow woods or Adams to eat too..but hopefully we scour the interior line with guys brought in like we have with dbs before..fix the line..the rest will fall into place..we already have some legit pieces coming back..and any new blood..fa or scouted that's as good or better is just bonus

Where did you see terms for Hatcher? The drop from Demski to the next Cdn receiver on the roster is miles

I don't worry much about D for Canadians. It's pretty easy to find guys that can fill roles to have 2-3 on the field. But holy **** is our offense depleted in general and especially for Canadians.

I have said this before: If they are going continue starting Brady at RB, then they should be consistently starting 3 Americans on the OL.

Canadians, and who our outlier contracts are. You will always have a few guys earning a premium, but you can only afford so many. Also depends on how many rookie-scale overachievers you have. I see a very good chance that we will go with no premium pay DL other than Lawson. For Canadians, Lawson at dt, 1 lber, 1 db, 2 wrs, minimum 2 on ol. If they hit the free agent market, I would prioritize a guy who is a significant positional upgrade and a ratio win, especially guys like Allen and Woodmansey.

We should have our OC in place before Ott or Tor announces theirs. If we fail that, we are in big trouble. Early January should be the goal. Talk to guys, conduct interviews, take the holidays to think about it, and make the offer right after. Then announce it by the week of the 9th.

A 250k+ contract to a running back, ANY running back, is going to hinder any team unless they put up MOP calibre numbers and clutch performance. We got hosed on his contract last year.

https://3downnation.com/2025/12/02/cfl-award-winner-trey-vaval-to-work-out-for-new-orleans-saints-cleveland-browns-sources/

I do love him in that role. I wish they’d make him a permanent fixture in the booth/panel for each game.

Now that's interesting....

It really is a strange usage. But usually when you have an outlier on the edge like WJ, it's generally some young guy trying to cut his teeth. No matter the level or league. So that guy would be in their prime athletically, and you'd use them in a lot of ways. For a guy like WJ to play this late into his athletic prime is extremely rare. I think his step has diminished, but he can still turn in on. I really think the majority of his dip has come because he has been getting physically battered for a long time. After all, teams can double him and have figured out that if you out-physical him, he will coast. Some guys don't relish the physical punishing side of the game. Even at DL. Even at his best, WJ has been a terrible tackler in the back field. From an offensive standpoint, I'd be happy to see any DE roaming on the edge looking for PKDs. I love DL getting organic PKDs, but their value isn't remotely comparable to a sack imo. Tips still gets caught sometimes, but he is very seldom batting balls up to get picked. A PKD on 2nd down means you're punting unless it's a very short distance to the first. But even sacks on first down that get converted bring tremendous value. When you stack up physical hits on a QB, you drastically change the game. Ages ago, Football Outsiders I believe it was, had an article on QBR after hits/sacks and hurries. As you would expect, QBs that took 5-10 QB hits/sacks/hurries in a game saw drastic dips in production. Hurries don't have as much impact, especially without the hits, but you change the game when you disrupt the QB. PKDs slow the drive but don't have that compounding.

So $315,000 for Hatcher, Rourke is what $600,000 + and Betts makes big $ too. BC is going to run out of money.

I didn't expect Hatcher to make it to free agency. Good reup by BC. It would be nice for us to do something positive like that. For example, get a deal done with Demski.

I feel like if Eli was going to be a starter it would have happened by now.

I think a lot of our 2nd year guys should be ready to step up into more active roles for sure. Agreed. Spend the wad on a tier one NAT OL, preferable a centre (not sure if there any available) and add QUALITY NAT depth. Draft well, develop better. These are going to be some key areas for us this offseason and season in general. Not a great idea to get rid of Kramdi right now. His contract isn't prohibitive and even if we platoon him we can get our money's worth. We gotta get away from our current DL NAT usage and keeping Kramdi is going to be a necessity in that. We can platoon our young NATs at WIL, and platoon Kramdi at SAM and this will allow us the flex we need to not pay BO the outrageous numbers we are hearing. We need to keep as much NAT roster flex as we can because if Neuf is back it's a roll of the dice, and Lawson/Thomas/Schmek hurt us if we gotta go there again. If another young NAT steps up into a viable starter/platoon guy then we revisit it next season. This, of course, predicates on us getting Kramdi back at a reasonable contract again.

Depends what we do with the rest of our roster and who our Canadians are. We need to play them somewhere. If we want better Canadians on the ol or at rec we’ll have to pay through the nose for them. We’re in some trouble right now with our Canadians. Only two of them were good last year and they’re both fas looking for raises. We really need to hope our young lbers can step up and we hit a home run in the draft.

I agree. Highly doubtful, January is prime time for most coaching hires outside of HC. I will be semi concerned if we don't have anyone in place by Jan. 9.

How much is 'establish the run to open the playbook up' worth to the Bombers? Some assume whoever we replace BO will be an easy plug and play but I'm not too sure with what BO offers outside of pure yardage and saving puppies. Tough decisions to be made. KW have fun.

If we don't have an OC by Christmas, I will be concerned.

Not bad for a guy who averages 9-11 games a season. The Riders are going to be hard pressed to bring the core of that team back. When you're a champion you pay the price of not being able to keep every free agent. They have something like 45 free agents so good luck with that. Some very good talent will be available from the Riders in February.

Yup...agree...id add interior dline to that too... I agree also that BO is beneficiary of system to a good extent...especially with lotsa touches...he isnt a guy who is a home run hitter from anywhere on field and could score from anywhere..anytime...but is one of best in a while to slug it out tenderize defences all game...love the guy but if he is looking for more than what he got last deal...I just think it may hinder us

Naylor reporting Hufnagel heading to Argos as well. Front office role

150k salary...rotational/situational leadership role id be fine with He still has juice and value..but has to be in a platoon role type thing...and used to best capitalize his skill We need to prioritize a couple legit inside presence guys who possess multiple technique...and the ends will look substantially better...and we need to abolish and go as far away as we can with the loyalty and favoritism plan of having guys inside who are for lack of better word...useless 95% of their snaps...

too bad they need a defence lol

https://www.sportsnet.ca/cfl/article/wr-keon-hatcher-signs-contract-extension-with-lions/ The B.C. Lions have signed star wide receiver Keon Hatcher Sr. to a contract extension through the 2027 season, the CFL club announced Wednesday. Financial terms were not disclosed, but a person with knowledge of the contract said it exceeded $645,000, with $630,000 guaranteed. Hatcher was slated to become a free agent in February.

Honestly, not a bad list. Thoughts? https://3downnation.com/2025/12/03/10-pending-free-agents-the-winnipeg-blue-bombers-should-bring-back/

not on this team with this HC...nope....have to disagree with that...and not just with Eli situation

I'd be fine with him....I almost think if not for his not being able to be here at TC...it woulda been him....cause choosing Dimbass over him made and maked zero sense...Unless Osh is just as much a dumbass...and at times from what he does...jury is still out on that notion Jackson knows how to best utilize skill-sets of players too I think he'd play close to what he was with 15 to 20 snaps....all out in true DE attack mode...we dont need him as a knockdown guy...pressures...sacks....strip sacks...hurries would be a lot more of a net benefit to the overall defensive performance than knockdowns....who's to say those passes weren't gonna be completed...or even intercepted....but a sack...forced fumble...pressure into a forced throw for a pick.....is a quantitative positive and many a time...drive killer if not game changer

100 percent

if we wanna run anyone....and protect ZC we need to upgrade Center....not necessarily play 3 imports on the line That would make a huge difference....Neuf was like one of top graded run blocking guards in league....Wallace was good on run too....work in progress in pass....but is that a center issue too....Randolph and Stanly too were just fine in run game...especially big Stan who was always up field doing the dirty work If we could land a CANADIAN tackle in free agency, then flip Randolph to left guard and even better as we would still have Elo if resigned which I think happens sooner than later..Vibert and Wallce to fill in the rest of the game day roster

Just once or twice............

hell no hahah....I think the "braintrust" has finally come around But thats my inclination how it goes down with the vet incumbents...maybe not in that exact order per say....but the way it will go for pre- FA signings to consume what we failed to spend in 2025 and saved on 6 game

Scmeck likely wont be ready anyway so hopefully we dont have him pencilled in as a guy we looking to use Kramdi is a good rotation depth guy....and has value, but we can be way better for way less at SAM so if he is a role/depth guy he cant be sucking in 140k+ a yr tho Our second yr guys in Shay and Smith....Woodbey...Allen should all be better than last and more than capable of stepping in and if not starting taking heavy reps....Griffin needs to be re-upped and he wont break the bank so those guys alone...4 on entry level...Griffin very affordable should allow us to be active in fixing our lines I would think Bailey is gonna push for full rotation usage and if one of the 2 ends we saw takes the job and runs with it then there is another entry level deal playing which helps even further...But Osh needs to be willing to go with the youth movement...and Hopefully Walters see's that and takes some of the deadwood right out of Osh's hands and he has no choice They are all 2nd yr guys will have another full camp...and all showed well when playing last yr Neuf has played 17..18..14...18 games in last 4 yrs so is shown he can be durable...I think his vet leadership be key one more yr and he be am ideal 6th of a Rookie/FA signing who isnt pricey or Vibert can take the job as he can cover multiple spots on line

yeah we kinda did...and the last 2 yrs...he's been dealing with injury issues...trend?..anomaly?...hard to say but his big price, and the fact if he goes down there will be a huge drop off in production if we refuse to go import there...I just dunno Sure we can 6 game him and not absorb the cost, but his huge salary, along with ZC's 600k...still on books and affects who else we sign before even the first snap of TC...We gotta go young and trust in the scouting and eject salaries of Gauthier..Kolo..Thomas..Kramdi (as he is the lesser of Nichols and Holm in our bloated secondary salary mess)......Hallett...Wilson...Even T.Jones. We have inhouse guys already on entry level deals for most part to cover all those guys, plus a possible draft gem or 2...and I would think some of the new scouting staff guys brought on last yr will have more beefit this We can go minimal salary in several areas and be able to be very proactive with both lines, and a legit WR....

Crumbl Cookies (and yes that's how it's spelled)

https://3downnation.com/2025/12/02/head-coach-mike-miller-to-also-be-offensive-coordinator-rest-of-toronto-coaching-rest-unclear/ Looks like he will also be the Argos OC and play caller. Lots to take on as a new head coach that wasn't even the OC last year.

I like Lapo as a broadcaster, I still think with experience and coaching he can really help build our game from that space. I don't think the space of a positional support coach is big enough to hold his ego and need for control. 🙂

wow, i thought he shifted away from formally working, guess not, probably missed it. Too bad for him the Argos suck.

Emilus will be 250k+ BO is the beneficiary of an offensive system that is far too run heavy. There I said it. 250k+ for BO. Price over replacement is the formula I like to use and BOs salary makes no sense at that equation whereas Philpott's is closer to an accurate amount but still a slight overpay.

Have to clarify, WJ didn't play a Lber hybrid or jack role. He hasn't had a straight drop back to even shallow LBer depth in many years here. (Remember when he used to do that and really disrupt passing lanes?) He's basically been spying the QB on inside pass lanes. Idk if that has ever in football been a thing out side of the last few years with WJ. He doesn't spy qb for contain, and he doesn't play both passing lanes. Like a man-to-man shot blocker in basketball. Not the weak side guy rotating over to get a block, he gets tall keeps his feet and tries to get in the way of the ball going right at him. If he could do a lot more with any kind of regularity, we would see him jumping pass lanes from the back side of pursuit on roll outs, getting to the outside shoulder of his ol and batting down backfield pass attempts from the pocket, and frankly getting off the initial block significantly more. Even when he turns it on in the games he excels in now, he is beating his blocker with moves and cuts. He isn't blowing by guys around the edge or any thing.

I've got it, Jake Thomas for OC.

Since 21, we've only seen rare glimmers of who he used to be. And the D in 21 was stacked. He's also going to turn 35 next year. Even if you surround him with a stellar line up, prime wj isn't coming back. Wj who excels playing a starters volume of reps isn't coming back either.