M.Silverback

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.

100% agree. Especially with O’Shea playing him in the Grey Cup. For a guy who is a supportive, players coach letting a guy play who had basically a career ending injury was stupid and cruel actually. And a coach’s job is to win. Playing Biggie and an injured Schoen was not doing your job. Like you said, tarnished his legacy for me because of that, and how he’s allowing that mentality to continue.

Was he there as a GM or fan? Because I’m not seeing much GM’ing these days

Did he have a paper bag on his head?

It’s about time the fans hear from Walters. At least as proof he’s still alive.

Didn't Osh play an extra Canadian most of last season? For some unknown reason? Patriotism? Stubborness? You're right about looking at other contracts first. I still think however that Walters should stick to the basic "rules" of contracts in pro football - never overpay a RB; never overpay an aging vet on the decline out of loyalty. And don't let a coach dictate the roster. Consecutive Grey Cup losses should have proven that. Close scores doesn't matter - Bombers were favoured and lost both. Should have been a wake up call that something needed to change.

No question he's better than Augustine. Not sure he's better than some late NFL cut who we could bring in. I like him, I just would have let some other GM overpay him.

Great point. Honestly that's what worries me most - we can't pin all of this on Osh. A lot of it for sure, in terms of player deployment, roster decisions. But, Walters is the boss. A lot of very questionable decisions. Paying two Cdn RB's so much money as many of pointed out. I know we're obliged to support BO because he's a Winnipeger, but good teams do not overpay RB's anymore. Especially one who is not really a game breaker. He's a reliable, 4-5 yard ball control RB. I don't think opposing DC's are in fear of BO lighting them up. NFL teams rarely overpay RB's. So many high profile ones are released. There's such an abundance of American RB's available I would never pay big bucks for one. I'd constantly be recruiting for new RB's, keep the prices reasonable. The other thing is as much as Osh's loyalty to certain players is an issue, the simple solution would be for Walters to have cut, traded, or not resigned some of these players. He's the boss, he could have told Osh that's the direction we're going. Like Thomas for sure, even Biggie I would have moved on from.

Changing the culture of a team is tough. Kudos to O'Shea (and Walters), for doing that. Four straight Grey Cup appearances. Can't take that away from O'Shea. Next toughest thing is knowing when to move on from some of the veterans in order to maintain that competitive, yet supportive culture. O'Shea is failing at that. One of his mistakes is thinking the "culture" is the veterans. It's not. Thinking that he has to hang on to Thomas, Neufeld, Biggie, even Collaros to some extent, to maintain the culture. It's Blue Bombers football. Like Patriots football, or Celtics basketball. Like you said, Mathews would have cut a vet. Belichick let players go all the time. Loyalty isn't about letting a player tell you when they want to stop playing. Sometimes it's about thanking them, respecting them, honoring their contributions, but telling them it's time to move on.

Good thing Osh dressed 19 LB’s

Is Oakman still available?

The O’Shea post game presser is going to be a new level of infuriating.

Just curious, why are people so excited about Mason Bennett considering he couldn’t stick with the Ti-cats? Local guy, but what else?

I watched every game for one RSEQ team for the last 4 years, and am in no way an actual football scout, but here's my take on some of the RSEQ players: Ben Labrosse and Kevin Mital - they are two of the three best football players I've seen in the RSEQ. The other was Josh Archibald, now on the BC Lions. Labrosse and Mital will definitely make CFL rosters this season. Both should be impact players in the CFL. Nathaniel Dumolin-Duguay - He's at least a backup guard in the CFL now, starter down the road. Laval OL are really well prepared to play at the next level, providing they have the size, athleticism, which he does. Dawson Pierre - Hodge has him going in the 4th round. If a team gets him in the 4th round they've scored. I'd be shocked if he doesn't have a decent CFL career. Special team player at a minimum. Every game I watched he made an impact. Totally disruptive force on D. Draft writers talk about him playing in the box in the CFL. I think he could stick with safety, be a Taylor Loffler type. I'm a big fan of his. Frédérik Antoine - Depending on the team, I think he could make a roster next season. Laval's offense was so good he probably didn't stand out as much as he could have on another team. Fast, smooth, good hands. Had a good combine.

I'm going to sound like I'm a John Hodge burner account on this forum (I'm not), but the CFL draft is by far the toughest to predict in terms of order, who gets picked. So many factors, but the biggest being the best players aren't ever picked high because of NFL interest. So, you're guessing on how GM's will choose the best "available" player, and then factoring in positions that actually matter in the CFL for ratio. This isn't the NFL, NBA, NHL where a casual fan can probably get 50% accuracy on the first round. I like CFL mock drafts (3downnation and cfl.ca) just to get to know potential players. I know RSEQ players pretty well because I watch every game for one school, but clueless as to anyone else. So if your criteria is you only like mock drafts for their accurate selection order predictions , no debate on CFL draft predictions.

Agreed. I love the idea of a FB - old school, neck roll John Riggins type - but in reality, who uses a FB? NFL or CFL? Your best bang for buck in CFL drafting is OL, DL, WR, DB. LB's for some special teams. FB?

Not sure I get the vitriol towards 3downnation and John Hodge. We all love the CFL. TSN and Sportsnet barely cover any off season news. Even in season, while broadcasting games, TSN is pretty light on content other than game summary articles. 3downnation has been around since 2015 and overall does a better job than anywhere else with CFL news. cfl.ca is good, and Ed Tait writes some really interesting content on bluebombers.com. But 3downnation is really my first stop to get any CFL content that I'm interested in - signings, draft profiles, USports stuff, CFL players in the NFL ... I like what they do. And I am in no way affiliated or compensated by the 3downnation corporation 😃

The idea of BOLO (big, US college credentials) was much greater than the reality - 25 receptions in two seasons. I watched Jeremy Murphy a lot in RSEQ as my son plays there, and he is definitely a CFL rotational receiver. I predict he will put up better numbers, run better routes, and make tougher catches than BOLO. Not saying he'll be a star, but Murphy will be better than BOLO.

My post ranking the Bombers DL mid range in the CFL was taking into consideration the entire rotation - 7 players, some teams run 9. No point ranking just the starting 4 because in today's game you need a rotation to be successful. As many of have said, our starting 4 gets gassed. The diddly behind them is the issue. And the sacks stat - touche. It's not always the D-line impacting in terms of overall sack stats though. Scheme, blitzing frequency ... I think we can agree that if we don't get better depth, or better play from our current depth, it does not bode well for the remaining 11 games and playoffs. Overworking and over relying on the Jeff's, with minimal impact from the DT position, isn't a Grey Cup winning recipe. And I still stand by my statement that I'd choose at least 4 other teams' to ours D-line rotation, while still acknowledging that Jeff's are elite.

I'm with you on semi-pleased. Davis has declined, but he's better as a rotational player than our current depth. What's Walters' plan? Considering depth and overall talent level, where does our D-line rank? Five teams who are better? Four at best, possibly six? We need an upgrade in talent and added depth. Doesn't feel like a Grey Cup winning talent level D-line at present. Or entire defense for that matter.

Agree. Trades are so rare in the CFL though. Not sure why Walters wasn’t in on the Kongbo trade. 4th round pick is nothing to give up. Maybe he didn’t want to come here? Or we didn’t want him? Money issue?

Farhan Lalji just tweeted Lemon signed with Montreal. Not sure what Walters plan is, but we need DL help.

Not sure McRae is that guy. I'm talking about a Carey, Mills, Logan type RB on Calgary. They're out there. Bring one in, tandem with Brady, maybe dress one less special teams LB or FB, there's your RB game setting up your passing game for Buck and Zach. Defenses have figured this out. It's on their whiteboards under their "Believe" signs - don't worry about the Bombers running game.

I hear ya. Like I said, I like Brady. I'd just like him more as part of an RB tandem, where the other RB actually was a break away threat that defenses worried about. Helps set up the passing game. Doesn't have to be a 180 lb juke RB. Calgary has three American RB's who are legit threats. NFL teams cut RB's every year that could easily excel in the CFL. Bombers could find one. They may have had one and cut him. And 4Q grind out a lead - Brady is definitely the guy I want. But 1st and 10, first Q, the opposing D is not worried he's breaking one, and are scheming for that. The run is not setting up the pass in other words.