Old Bomber Fan

My only comment for this game is do not take Hamilton lightly......should they.....well we will come home with a loss. We only beat Ottawa by a last second field goal....they played tough with Edmonton and I'm sure they are a very frustrated group. Taking them lightly would not be a good issue.

Let me be the first to congratulate the Big Blue on their win in Ottawa. Like so many others it was nip and tuck til the final whistle and I guess that is what MOS is preaching. It would be nice to be able to sew up a victory prior to the last play but hey as many have said a win is a win. What I did like about this game and I believe noted several times is it was the most complete game to date. I especially appreciated seeing the offense do something that they don't do often....throw downfield. While the completion rate wasn't that good ( I don't have a stat just an observation) it nonetheless kept the defense honest and did open up some stuff underneath. I also appreciated seeing the 2 back system. Why waste a valuable asset on the bench when he is much more valuable on the field and I don't think Harris minds in the least. Still not totally sold on the secondary and very unsure of Carmichael at all. Let's see what happens this weekend against the worst team in the league standing wise. Ottawa was the second worst in records so we have beaten all eastern teams we have played, just one more to go. Should we win then we will have beaten every team below us in the standings and lost to everyone who is above us. I'm thinking that will have to change if we want to progress beyond the first switchover playoff game as if it doesn't we won't get any further. I'm still not convinced we will end up better than 11-7 but for the time being they have won more than they have lost and that can't be bad. Good on them.

Was not going to respond to the comments then thought again. Yes there have been terrible coaches over the past what 15 years at least. However non of those continued the rosy picture and arrogance that MOS has displayed even with a losing record. Many of those poor coaches were not given as much rope as he has been given and for what???? That might be a good question. I stuck it out through thick and thin in the hopes that things might turn around but unfortunately things are not getting better even though our "talent" has apparently improved according to MOS and Miller. So what is the bottom line. No I have played, coached and watched enthusiastically most sports and I continue to watch most with the hope the result is a win however I believe I know when to call a spade a spade and unfortunately to those who disagree, I guess you haven't reached that level yet. It is fine to disagree with one's opinion and certainly fine to voice your own but it is another to question the character of the opposite opinioned person. Sorry you disagree but sometimes the truth is hard to swallow. I said at the beginning of the year that they would be lucky to be 11-7, same as last year but many of you said they improved so much without considering the other teams improving as well. I'm not a Sask fan but watch out they are a game back of us. Let's see who is right at the end of the season

Well sorry for going against the flow on this one....I think he hit it on the head. I have never liked MOS's attitude from the get go. He is far too stubborn to be a head coach responsible for making decisions that will help the team win be it either during the game and game decisions or manpower decisions. The points that were made were spot on regarding his unwillingness to sit Willy, sit other starters who were underperforming etc. It was only when he was told to give Nichols a shot after a terrible 1-4 start and then by luck inserted a few rookies due to injury namely Loffler and Fogg that the team started to move. I believe there was also a move to insert Bond on the OL line but I may be wrong with that one. Point is he cannot make a manpower decision effectively and his game decisions are terrible. He is one of the reasons I did not keep my season tickets after many years.....it was obvious what the outcome was going to be and I didn't want to spend 1 1/2 hours driving into the city to watch what I KNEW was going to be another loss and not a close one at that.....then if by luck it was a close one to be lost with a bone head decision by the head coach, only to have to wait over 1/2 hour to leave and face another 1 1/2 hour drive back home. And to top it all off I couldn't leave early because the shuttle bus didn't leave until it was full near the end of the game. I won't mention IGF which is another story of its own. Suffice to say, Mr MOS was a huge reason why I stopped going. Do I follow them on TV, yes I do but I have the privilege to turn it off when I chose. Do I wish them well, certainly do and will always but reality is they will never win a Grey Cup or get to it with MOS as head coach......so the article is bang on....at least in my opinion

I believe several here have the right idea. While our backups should be ready to step up when a starter is injured, and that may be the case in some instances, it still remains that the defence is giving up far too many yards. Frankly I don't care what Montreal, Saskatchewan, Calgary or BC does simply put our defense ranks near the last in most categories. The fact that even Hall admits he doesn't like the yardage given.....but he will take it if we win.... well that say a lot. I agree prevent defenses work if the other team makes mistakes....can't hold onto a short pass or is stopped running on second and long....AKA Blue Bombers.... but they have to make the mistake we don't have to make them make one. It is quite simple actually on defense I believe you have to make the other team make mistakes and if you are giving them yards to make first downs then you are in trouble....AKA Montreal last game. As for back ups well if they are as good as the starters there should be no speed bumps to hurdle, but if the scheme is incorrect it doesn't really matter starter or backup there will be issue.

I think Mr Noeller you are being paid by the Blue and Gold to monitor this site and present as positive a position that you can. Even Ed Tait who is a paid employee tells it more like it is. Of course you have to tell it like it is....if not, you lie right off the bat and where do you go from there? By at least being honest with players and fans alike everyone gets the true picture and then can make a somewhat educated decision going forward. I akin this to the constant before season hype from the Bombers year in and year out....first it was rebuilding so don't expect a lot. Then when that slant didn't work it was all about the quality of players that the scouts have brought it... a huge improvement that will create good competition at training camp....yet we see the same players and most if not all the recruits either on the PR or cut. An improvement? Then we heard we signed all the coaching staff because it created continuity and that is always good....and referencing teams like Calgary and Edmonton. Well Edmonton changed coaches, not by choice but nonetheless did and in the first year made the playoffs while losing many of their starters and much of the coaching staff the year previous. Calgary only seems to find quality players whether it be from the PR or scouting.....year in and year out. We don't do that! We simply rely on the old lines of much improved this year. Then as the year progresses it is an injury issue as if no other team in the league has injuries and finally at the end of the year it comes down to a few plays here and there that caused us to miss the playoffs again.....all the while our coach talks about how great the players are and how hard they work. No one is saying they don't play hard, no one is saying they are not talented. Perhaps what they are saying is these players are not being put in a position to win....not being put in a position to display their skills....not being coached according to their skills versus what the coaches think they should able to do. I realize there is a give and take here but let's be realistic.....this is a team that, at least in my opinion, is underperforming in several areas and these areas are consistent year in and year out. Bad coaching decisions by the head coach, an ineffective offense hell bent on dink and dunk where every team in the league knows it and doesn't even plan for the maybe one or two times we may get lucky downfield, and an ineffective defense that cannot seem to cover receivers period. Yes we do stop the run most games but the pass.....well that is simply another story. Are they coached properly....well whenever I see a DB trying to defend a pass and he is neither looking at the receivers eyes to see when the ball is coming or looking for the ball but simply flaying away at the air, then I see poor coaching or poor individual habits. Can it be taught, certainly but these guys are not rookies coming direct from college....most have played professional football somewhere so is it that they haven't learned, won't learn, or can't learn......or is it the coaches can't teach it. I guess what I am trying to say is while I understand that you want to put a positive spin on everything, this does not mean you are a better bomber fan than those who talk about their shortcomings and who are frankly finished with the BS that keeps coming forth from this organization. We all want them to win and again frankly no one more so than myself. I haven't invested over 63 years watching and listening to this team so I can be fed total nonsense. When Bud Grant was the coach or Cal Murphy, there was no mincing words on the quality of product on the field. They expected to win and were coached that way. It was unacceptable to be substandard and while that did not always translate to winning, it nonetheless led to competitive, aggressive football that was both entertaining and rewarding to the players and fans. What we see today is neither. So because people speak about what they perceive to be issues with this team....they do so as a fan and someone who expects more.

I will refresh everyone's memory about LaPolice; he came here as OC when Worman was fired because Charles Roberts, a second year player rebelled against Worman and it was either him or Worman to leave. The offense was good that year and LaPolice took over that offense and did little to change it. When he tried the subsequent year after his hiring the offense went down the tubes. He did win a Grey Cup with Saskatchewan however. For those of you who suggest we just lost to a top tier team, you are correct. Regardless of score. We had to go into overtime to win our first game against Saskatchewan because of stupid coaching decisions in the 4th quarter; we lost to Calgary plain and simple; we nearly lost to Toronto in the 4th quarter and only Heath's INT prevented that from happening as Toronto was doing exactly what BC did except they didn't quite make it. In BC again up by 2 TDs and look what happened; we were fighting for our lives because we couldn't move the ball and we couldn't stop them from moving the ball. It seems pretty clear to me....we don't play football in the 4th quarter....our coaches are afraid to lose.....not try to win. It is a mentality that will quickly if not already slip into the players minds. I will say I was pleased with the penalty count for us....not sure how many but they were nonfactors for a change which was great. Lots of work to do mostly by the coaches and GM

great chart! It verifies one aspect I referred to and that is our QB can't throw the long ball. With the worst completion percentage in the league and third in attempts, well that speaks for itself. I also notice our receivers are standing waiting for the ball a lot; not sure if by design or otherwise but the other teams we have played, their receivers are in full stride most of the time when the ball arrives. Just saying.

not so sure they are subjective. I think they would be compiled by going over film and counting the number of throws to various receivers and catches etc. They would be subjective in the regard of difficulty per catch yes you are right but when you see Adams make a one handed catch or the others from BC making circus catches then I would guess that would count toward the stat and some of the subjectivity would be eliminated? But yes you are right in the fact the difficulty of the catch would be subjective, the rest not so sure

The stat that is referred to was shown on TSN at half time I believe and showed who made the most unlikely catches as those quarterbacks who benefited from them. I believe they only tell one part of the story, the other being the accuracy and attempts by a QB. It is worthy of note and has been mentioned here that both QBs threw for 28 completions while one nearly doubled the other in yardage. Further our average yards per completion is below 10 yards and is likely near the bottom of the league. While I think there is a place for dink and dunk, to rely on it only throughout a game only suggests to me that the opposition need not worry about the long ball because either our QB can't throw it consistently like Lulay, Ray or Rielly OR our OC doesn't believe in it OR a combination of both which then suggests while Nichols may be somewhat efficient in TD to INT ratio, and that is changing quickly, he is not perhaps the QB that will take us to where we want to go. If our STs were to take LaPolice's attitude toward their phase of the game, we would never see the trick plays we have seen and the improvements that we normally see. Yes it can be argued that we had over 300 yds of offense and over 400 last game but to play for a tie in perhaps 3 of our 4 games is not acceptable if you are supposed to have a winning attitude and football club. Just my opinion.

gee wiz other teams start rookies in their line up and they don't choke in the 4th quarter. We don't have the depth of other teams I agree but its the play calling that sends our offense off the field when we should be trying to keep it on the field. As I said 3 - 5 yard passes ain't going to do it sorry.

How many passes were thrown at Dressler? How many passes were thrown at Denmark....two money receivers and they get what 4 passes their way? Oh I know BC may have keyed on Dressler but he is shifty enough to get open on occasion rather than running that sweep. Our receivers all seem to be standing still waiting for the ball instead of running into it...not sure if it is them or the QB or the play but that has to change. And finally how many times did we throw the ball more than 15 yards? Frankly LaPolice said he learned so much last year and that was the same as it always has been. Hall's defense isn't good enough at least in the secondary and our head coach is a nut case!

Goat of the game shared by MOS for his stupid call on 3rd down and LaPolice for idiotic play calling in the 4th quarter. When will he ever learn that the dink and dunk does not work especially when the other team in trying to hold you. We also cannot play defense in our secondary at all! They won't throw to Randle's side but Carmichael even though he had a pick is terrible in fact that whole side is. We can't cover one on one and our zone isn't much better.

Cant kill the clock or get a first down with 3-5 yd passes. Way to go lapolice

Cant kill the clock or get a first down with 3-5 yd passes. Way to go lapolice

Cant kill the clock or get a first down with 3-5 yd passes. Way to go lapolice

Cant kill the clock or get a first down with 3-5 yd passes. Way to go lapolice

Cant kill the clock or get a first down with 3-5 yd passes. Way to go lapolice

Cant kill the clock or get a first down with 3-5 yd passes. Way to go lapolice

Cant kill the clock or get a first down with 3-5 yd passes. Way to go lapolice

Cant kill the clock or get a first down with 3-5 yd passes. Way to go lapolice

Sorry guys but I am a Denmark fan. He seldom gets the ball thrown to him and when he does he is gold...seldom drops it if it is catchable. Not sure why they don't use him more. I get the fact they go to Dressler a lot which is fine but Denmark is money when given the chance, Yes he is small similar to Dressler but he gets open as much but isn't considered. Not sure why. The other two referred to are only average if that in the big picture. We need someone like Green or Bowman (I know we had him before) or Arsenault but I guess they are hard to come by.

Here is some food for thought. Who will outcoach who MOS or Trestman. Let me make a prediction that I hope doesn't come true. While it is a given Trestman will outcoach MOS, I believe we have more talent. With that said watch Ray throw a couple of short passes aka LaPolice style but just long enough to bring in the DBs then dump it over their heads to a streaking receiver NOT aka La Police. I fear for this game but think we may squeak out a win if we keep the defense off the field for a reasonable amount of time. If we cannot move the ball we will lose then again I guess that is a forgone conclusion isn't it. Sorry

Not sure why everyone is so disappointed. We lost to a superior team, we won last week over an inferior team that frankly the scores form both games indicate what type of team we have. Agree Carmichael can't play in this league Hurl was exposed for what he is and why he lost his job last year and our coaching staff again gets out coached. When folks stop listening to the garbage MOS delivers weekbinnand week out and take off their rose coloured glasses then you will see the true blue bombers; some quality players being coached by inept coaches. I figure we hopefully will still get 11 wins but that's the limit.

Not sure if I posted this previously but if I did disregard as I'm sure some of you will anyway. That was an entertaining game if you consider the lead swings, and miscues abound. What really irritated me was MOS decision making and particular taking a knew with 1 second remaining in the game! Why not throw it deep, three things could happen and two of them are in our favour; a completion, a pass interference call which provides us with another down and with Medlock around guess who wins in regulation; and then of course an interception. The chance of that being returned for a touchdown is slim to nil considering it would be a jump ball at best. It certainly appeared that MOS was playing for the tie and taking his chances in overtime. That in itself seemed weird as the defense had just given up a 14 point lead with 9:43 to play and the offense did nothing so not sure the chances were good based on that fact. However as inept as Sask was in overtime we were their equal save for guess who Mr. Medlock, who perhaps could have won the game in regulation (see above) The players played hard; mr Carmichael got burned on at least 3 TDs better start looking over his shoulder. The defense, well I'm not a fan yet but maybe they need a game or two to get going. There was some pressure but Glenn escaped too many times for my liking and he is what 38 yrs old and how mobile?? Apparently enough to avoid our rush! The secondary closed on the ball well but in total they gave up what over 370 yards again and against a team many believe will be last in the west. If that is the case where will we be......second from last????? I certainly hope not. I agree that MOS needs to rethink his strategy regarding punting out of our endzone. Should there be a 20mph wind at his back why not he could likely kick it 60 yards or more but without the field position is not good and to expect the current defense to hold, well I have a bridge for sale in Florida if you like. Bottom line we won they lost. I'm not looking forward to next week with Calgary in town. That is a whole different dimension and if La Police and Hall not to mention MOS don't start getting their thoughts in order it could be a long night.....especially for those who think we will win the west!!!