M.Silverback

I like O'Shea. But, it looks like given the way the Bombers are going, we're one and done in the playoffs. So, that takes O'Shea's overall record to around .500 regular season (I get the first two seasons he had a bad team), and 1-4 in playoffs. So, I'm curious, at what point as an organization do you say, that's not good enough? I don't know specifically who I would want as a potential replacement, but, I do know as Wade Miller or the Bombers board, I'd have a hard time selling this to the paying fans. As a ticket paying fan myself, I'm not really satisfied with basically continuing down this path of mediocrity. And even if he's a good coach, and he is, maybe he's not the right coach for us right now. His particular flaws are not serving the Bombers. I think the players and organization might need a new voice and some fresh eyes. Happens in sports all the time. Happened with the Alouettes. Could happen with us with a change.

Agree. But, if he does nothing, and the Bombers continue to tank with Streveler, you know the narrative is going to be "why didn't he trade a late round pick for __________ ?"

But, GM's can hire and fire any or all coaches on a staff. HC only. HC and all assistants. HC and some assistants. Do you think any HC arbitrarily hires or fires any assistants without advising GM's? I disagree, unless you're in that echelon of Pop or Belichick. My initial "goal posts" were that this off season Kyle Walters needs to put on his GM hat and tell HC O'Shea that Hall and Lapo have to go (assuming the Bombers slide continues - disregard all of this if we somehow win the Grey Cup). If O'Shea agrees, they collaboratively look at options. Perhaps Walters gives O'Shea a bit more input into the final decision. If he disagrees, two options - fire O'Shea; or O'Shea stays on board, but Walters overrules his decision a la Rick Spielman with Gary Kubiak.

I don't think there's "double reporting", or a carved in stone org chart. GM's and head coaches work collaboratively to various degrees in all sports. Some coaches, like Popovich and Belichick wield as much or more power than the GM's. Because they've earned that. In most cases, the GM is higher in the "org chart." HC's hire assistants and coordinators, but never in a vacuum. One because of their status in the organization. Two because who they hire may impact player personnel decisions for the GM. Masai Urjiri hired a couple of assistant coaches who were tight with Kawhi Leonard to appease Kawhi. I'm sure he ran it past Nick Nurse, but in the "here's what we're doing sense", but not in a "do you approve?" sense. Plus, let's say a GM has plans to go after a specific free agent. Maybe a top QB. You can bet that GM is going to discuss with the HC who would be a fit in terms of OC for that big investment before they hire one. No sense hiring LaPo if in a fantasy world Patrick Mahomes decides he wants to play in the CFL for the Bombers. Vikings GM Rick Spielman hired Gary Kubiak as an "offensive consultant". Most reports indicate that this wasn't a Mike Zimmer HC decision, this was a GM "I need you to stay out of the offense, and possibly have a HC succession plan" decision by the GM. HC's definitely seek out, talk to and recommend assistants. They may even be given the autonomy to hire some lower level ones outright - maybe the receivers or DB coaches. But, I'd say they definitely discuss coordinators or lead assistants with the GM's and get buy in pretty much every time, unless your're Pop or Belichek. Assistant coaches also often stay on after a HC is fired. The Raptors kept some after Dwane Casey. In fact the GM promoted one.

I wasn't suggesting forcing a HC to work with coordinators picked in isolation by a GM. I get that HC's "make" the decisions on coordinators. But, they also don't do it in isolation, in any pro sport, especially football. NFL or CFL. GM's are ultimately responsible for the hiring and firing of all coaches, so GM's always have a say in the coordinators and definitely the types of coordinators they want for their team, as in their philosophies on offense or defense. GM's are also involved in this due to succession planning. A GM may endorse or suggest a specific coordinator more than others as a potential replacement for the incumbent head coach. So, a GM always has some input, but there is some type of consensus with the HC. I basically was posting that the conversation Walters as GM has to have with his HC is that the coordinators need to be replaced. You're right, if O'Shea doesn't agree with that, the proper response is the head coach, along with the coordinators, should be fired.

I'm with all of these decisions. Assuming we don't go on some unexpected playoff run and win the Grey Cup (could happen, right?), Walters has to put on his GM hat this off season regarding O'Shea. No more linked at the hips, buddy-buddy, we're in this together Canadian mafia thing. He needs to sit Osh down and say I as GM am firing Lapo and Hall, and I as GM are replacing them. You (head coach) have this season to turn things around or you too will be fired. I think Walters has been good enough at his job to at least earn the right to hire one more head coach. He's not flawless, but, for the most part he's acquired, drafted and retained above average players. The coaching staff has not been good enough. Whether it's the coordinators, head coach, combination, they need to be better.

“Those boys will run through a brick wall for O’Sh!!!!!!”

For sure. Wasn’t specifically referencing that pass. Just tired of him being a non factor. Bailey looked good in limited action

I’m done with Lucky Whitehead. He’s not a professional level receiver. Can we play Rasheed Bailey please?

Well said. Whether this is the end of the line with the Bombers or not I wish him a full recovery. Throwing shoulder surgery for a QB his age is a tough one to come back from. I hope he’s able to play again somewhere and keep earning as a pro

Great question. Not sure, but I'd guess no. I'd guess that they see this team as a true contender, and that the Grey Cup is wide open. That is true, but, I'd still be worried the way this team keeps coughing up leads. I'd also say that their opinions could and likely should change if we do nothing in the playoffs.

Completely agree with everything you posted about the offense. And thanks for the great insights. But, I'm not giving Hall a pass on his defense. He basically did the same thing you pointed out the offense did - failed to adjust to what Montreal was doing. So in the fourth quarter he decides that 4 man pressure, which has worked well all season, no longer works, and starts bringing blitzes, which Montreal is carving up. Instead of adjusting, he keeps doing it. And, the DB's in this blitz package are playing some type of cover 2 zone? With Hecht nowhere to be found, or blitzing? And Bighill vacating the 10 yard middle of the field? Hey, they score on you once, fine. But they kept marching up the field and Hall's defense kept doing the same thing. How about the first half D? 4 man pressure, make them use the "best RB in the league"? As bad as Lapo's play calling is, Hall's is almost worse. He has excellent players on defense.

Yup. Intentional ankle twist at the end of a tackle. I posted when it happened. He’s a POS.

Well, I’m going to drink Irish whiskey and forget this entire day

I’m proud of this board so far. No “we should have never cut him posts”. Well done!

Vernon Adams is exciting but really flawed as a QB

Said he was “one of”. Lawrence is number 1. But watch Muamba. Ankle twisting; late hits. POS.

Muamba is one of the dirtiest players in the league. No longer has NFL level talent so he compensates by being a pos

Fun film session next week for Als 23.

OMG!!! The Als defensive coordinator has to be losing his mind. They’re like a high school team

So the Als defense trash talk seems to be working out well so far

I agree. It's not just existential, it's financial. It's business. And I'm thrilled that TSN keeps renewing the broadcast rights, and optimistic about some type of revenue generation from CFL 2.0. But, as you said, how can a nine team league exist indefinitely when the three largest markets are not supporting their teams? And I'm not sure anyone has a good answer to this. It's not as simple as hoping attendance would pick up if those teams were more competitive. It's that CFL football has almost no fan base or appeal in those cities. I'm honestly worried.

That's excellent! Most recent NFL stats I saw was around 80% of the time your team wins if you win the turnover battle.

All great news! You have to be impressed with the Bombers depth. The only question marks to me are do you sit Rasheed Bailey for Whitehead? I vote Bailey. Better receiver. I've kind of cooled on Whitehead. And do you give Peterman more reps. Maybe split with Demski. Adding Jeffcoat to the D-line rotation is huge.