M.Silverback

And Osh refuses to use the designated import on the roster for reasons I cannot understand.

Depending on the source, RB's are 7th - 9th in terms of the average salary in the NFL by position group. Reasons - overall impact and availability of replacement players. You pay QB's, impact DL's, WR's, all star OL. I get CFL has differences ... Canadians are paid a premium ... we all love Brady ... But still, football is football. It's just bad salary cap management to pay an RB one of the highest salaries on any team.

Jeff Hamilton of the WFP was on Winnipeg Sports Talk today. Sure sounded like from what he's heard the Bombers brass (Miller) wants Osh to stay. Hope he's wrong.

I'm 90% in agreement with everything you said. Disagree that any GM should "trust" any HC about who he wants in free agency, etc. Not his job, not their skill sets. You know well that all coaches have biases, friendships with players, loyalties. And some of that is necessary. Sometimes it gets dysfunctional, like Osh. A pro sports GM is about talent acquistion, retention, cap management, projecting 1 year and 5 years down the road. Not happy, clappy feelings bonding with players like Osh seems to have as his main focus. It's about winning championships. Again, a GM should say thanks for your input HC, now let me do my job and try to build a championship roster and coaching staff, which may or may not include you.

You make a valid point - if JT wasn't signed by Walters, problem solved. I think most here agree Walters has failed in talent acquistion and retention. To me his biggest failure was allowing Osh too much input into this area. In your scenario, given how Osh touts "his guys" to the media it wouldn't surprise me if he lobbied Walters hard to resign JT and other vets who should have been gone. I have heard Walters say in the media that he and Osh have had some heated player debates before, and at times Osh "pounded the table" for certain players. I think he was referencing the CFL draft, but if that's the dynamic, it's not limited to the draft. Simple solution, and the right solution, would be to say no. To do your job as a GM, thank the head coach for their input, and remind them that you are the boss. Generally speaking that's how successful pro teams in all sports work. Collaborative, but a head coach should stick to coaching. I don't think it's happening here. Walters and maybe Miller too have failed in that regard.

Why is the debate between who is the better option between Eli and Kolo? Probably Eli, but the real issue is our Oline needs a serious upgrade. Center, one tackle and one guard at least. Whether it's through free agency, draft, trade or scouting, we're going nowhere with the current state of the Oline.

I like Brady. And I like the Winnipeg connection. But good teams, NFL and CFL, don't tend to overpay RB's any longer. Supply and demand. Decent RB's are plentiful. There were 5 other 1000 yard rushers in the CFL last year. I think all, or at least 4, made less $ than Brady. Plus there's Scott in Montreal who ran over our D in the semi final who looks like a 1000 yd rusher. Someone will pay him, I just wouldn't if I were a GM. I'd rely on my scouting department (if I had a decent one, not sure Bombers do now) to find me a new crop of American RB's every year to pick from and pay them accordingly.

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.

Every other team playing this week is dressing 8 d linemen. But hey, when you're last in the CFL regular season in sacks (23), you dress 6, a bunch of special teamer LB's, and hope JT has his once in a lifetime Aaron Donald game.

I coached youth football for years, so I am definitely not an expert, or close, on anything related to football. But, the best teams I coached had the most talented players. Full stop. It was a bonus if those players also were "character, good in the room" guys, but often were not. And often the "character" players were great as back ups or positive energy bench guys. I posted before, a pro team can't be full of only narcissistic a-holes. But it needs elite talent, and if some of them are, that's why you're a pro coach! To manage egos, conflict, talent. This Bombers team is really lacking in elite talent. How many will make the all CFL team, or even West division all star team? The blame is shared between Walters, who has fallen asleep at the wheel, and Osh who seems to think character trumps talent. This is the least fun Bombers team to watch I've seen in 20 years.

I agree that Kelly (Chad) is likely too big of a risk due to the off field stuff. But, I also hope the Bombers move away from "good in the room" and "character" as the top criteria for retaining or obtaining players. That's how we end up with former Marines and endless years of Jake Thomas. Talent first if you want to win. Don't want a room full of headcases, but I'll take a few super talented ones. Especially on a team that really lacks high end talent like the Bombers.

Bet he could have gone better than 3 of 8 for 54 yards as QB of Bayside.

Not surprised. Dude still can't comprehend the designated nationalized American rule, and is reviewing Streveler game film from 2019.

Yup. I'm a critic of Osh's roster decisions, and I think Jake should have retired/been released two seasons ago. But, if anyone thinks that JT is the reason we lost 3 Grey Cups, or that a DT's impact on the game is so great it determines championships (Aaron Donald maybe), you're off base. We lost those games primarily because our star players - marquee star QB primarily - came up short. And, because we made some dumb coaching decisions in game vs only in setting the roster (let's let our star QB, who has been playing poorly, continue in the game when a finger on his throwing hand has almost been amputated). Baffling.

I watched him play a lot in RSEQ. 3rd round was a bit high, but he was also very productive in the RSEQ. Real clutch WR with great hands and could catch in traffic. But, he wasn't a big play game breaker like Kevin Mital was. Still, I'm surprised he wasn't a rotational WR in the CFL. Maybe he could have been on the Redblacks, but he's moved on. Good for him.

I watched a lot of RSEQ football again this past season. Not as many high end prospects coming out of there this year as previously. However, I'd be shocked if Jeremiah Ojo doesn't turn into at least a solid rotational DL in the CFL. Tested really well at the combine, and was really dominant in RSEQ. He reminds me of Josh Archibald, who is now with the Alouettes, but I'd say he's quicker. If Kyle Walters is reading this, pick him, and you're welcome.

It's baffling to me not just because it reeks of being a "one of Osh's guys" type of signing. It also says that Walters and Osh evaluated the talent they currently have, what's out there as FA's, draft, and think Jake is a better option, starter or rotational. Based on talent he was barely a rotational option compared to who we had on the roster last year. This is really disappointing.

For a coach who gives off the old school, hard a$$ vibe to the media, he sure caves when it comes to confronting veterans about playing. ZC should have never went back into the game, whether he wanted to or not. Osh made the decision that a QB who could not grip a ball was a better choice than a healthy, able to scramble, back up QB. A pro also, who was part of the "everyone is a starter" gang. 2023 GC - did the same with Biggie and Schoen. It's baffling and infuriating. He'll survive this, but you have to wonder when it ends for Osh.

Yup. And his quote in the 3downnation article “We put him in a very tough spot,” O’Shea said at the podium. “It was a situation he demanded to be put in.” So, being a head coach means that players get to make playing demands, and you listen? Even when he admittedly can't grip a football and his finger is numb? Then throws two int's? Hey I'm not team Terry Wilson, but in that situation I'd take my chances with a guy who doesn't have a stitched up, bleeding throwing hand, and at least can run!

Agreed! Seems like in the past few years we've been reluctant to dip into the impact FA or trade pool because ... keeping the band together, messing with chemistry, only "bad" teams do that, I don't know. It's BS. If you're smart about it, and cut some high priced veteran talent that isn't giving you value at present, you can strategically add some big pieces. Something like Argos did adding Ceresna. Can you imagine how he would have impacted he would have had on our D line? I'm really disappointed with Walters actually.

I hope not. I’m tired of this version of the team. I can’t get excited about the prospect of Biggie, Jake, Alexander, even ZC back for 2025

Win or lose, there needs to be significant changes on this team next year

I think we’re basically agreeing. I don’t think Eli has shown much either yet. And, I said if he clearly had in practices, meetings, pretty sure the other coaches would be lobbying harder for him. I don’t think Kolo is a great center. Below average. So why not try Eli based in part to his pedigree - Remington trophy consideration - over Kolo?

100% agree that Eli should be starting over Kolo. And no debate that Osh makes many baffling roster decisions. I do wonder though if there's a bit more to him not starting than just Osh. OL coach, OC, even the DC and DL coaches give some input as to who they see as the best options. OL coach and OC give a lot of input on all teams. You have to wonder why they're not seemingly beating the Eli drum as hard as we fans are. Maybe they're seeing something in practices they don't like? Blown assigments, communication, conditioning ... just guesses. I get it, head coach has final say. But you know that in football the assistant coaches and especially coordinators are really vocal about player choices. And one final thing - if Eli was clearly blowing away Kolo in practice, regularly pancaking DL's, he'd be starting. I just think that although he's better than Kolo, the margin isn't massive. At least at present.

I wonder what it’s going to take for a change. Either from Osh, Walters or both. Team is 2-5, worst QB in the CFL statistically by far, and the Argos next week in TO. 2-6 enough to convince them to do something? It’s frustrating because the fanbase knows this team as currently constructed is done.