Elgersma will be QB2. Lots of drops on easy catches by recievers.

10 hours ago, 17to85 said:

I'm not as down on the qb play as some. For elgersma he's got such limited pro experience, if he's got a decent head on his shoulders he can learn and improve. Rourke was pretty **** his first season in BC too.

Perkins has some limitations but you can probably come up with a gameplan he was execute.

If the Bombers can't establish a run game won't really matter who is at qb.

Rourke was actually fine his first season. Even starting the first game as rookie he looked good. I kinda think that's why Reilly played the second half, he saw the competition.

40 minutes ago, JuranBoldenRules said:

Stuart was all over the field. The processing is just a step behind but he’s always in the right leverage and he’s always the guy finishing plays at the ball run or pass when he’s on the field.

Contrast to a guy like Kelly who is indecisive, too often in wrong leverage as ball is moving out or up field even at year 3, play is always going by him. He can run fast in a straight line but has no football skills physically or mentally to succeed at this level. When it comes to who gets on the roster…..Stuart will be a great special teamer and the sky is the limit on D. I think he’s probably the best WIL/MAC prospect on the field today. But he was playing half in this one.

I agree with you on Stuart. The size, speed and versatility is too good to give up on.

25 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

That makes sense with Smith and Shay but honestly I think they could take some reps on D and we'd be fine.

As for you have to earn it, we started Kolo for multiple years and each week you could watch the film and see him get blown up multiple times. We played Kornelson reps last year and he was invisible. Damian Jackson got reps and he was limited at best. Ditto Corcoran.

So yeah I get earning reps but don't tell me MOS applies this to everybody.

I agree! Get Smith some reps at SLB. The Bomber's finally have a legit backup for Kramdi there.

This will be a draft where the fourth round picks will be better than the second.

Pace, Stuart, Parks and Odenwinge all had better tape. The second round guys seem to be alot of, I like that guy's athleticism or size.

On 2026-04-21 at 1:13 PM, SpeedFlex27 said:

A lot of big stars left. We lost Matt Dunigan & Elfrid Payton to US expansion teams. Tracy Ham, Damon Allen, Mike Pringle all left Canadian teams. Don Matthews left the Riders to coach the Baltimore team. so there was drain for sure.

None of those stars were Canadian.

On 2026-02-19 at 9:55 PM, ShyGuy said:

It's funny to be the NFL got so upset at the NFLPA for their member body grading the teams, but the NFL doesn't have any issue trotting out independent people grading players performance on a play by play basis (PFF) and having their broadcast partners blast it all over their coverage.

I don't think its reasonable to expect anyone to be able to parlay a career in the CFL to 7 or 8 million dollars... once he is off his ELC he'd be 27... so it would take 10 years @ 700K AAV to get him to 7 million... and that is if one of a million different things that could go wrong to derail a career doesn't go wrong. To project someone who spent 4 years in CIS ball and had one half decent NFL preseason game to end up the highest paid CFL player ever post US-Expansion seems... pie in the sky at best.

The big, accurate, mobile, has a strong arm and can read a 12 man defense. If he were a DIV II coming up here, fans wouldn't be questioning his abilities.

2 hours ago, GCn20 said:

Neg list NTs added is kinda what you do prior to signing them. Pretty damn clear signal of what we are soon to sign if you ask me.

With all due respect, you have zero idea what J.Ceresna would agree to do. He played DE in Edmonton when they used 30 fronts. How is using him at DE in a 30 front at all unwise? It is the best use for him if you ask me. I have no doubt he would play little to no NT in a either a 30 or 40 front.

The person you quoted is agreeing with you. A 3-4 DE tends to lineup as a 4I or even 4 shade.

46 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

Wilson is here now. Let's see if he makes it through camp. Shay and Smith need to earn playing time, not be given it based on passport/draft status. We play a ton of 3-4. There is ample opportunity to get them on the field even with the IMPs we have. In a 3-4 you need guys like JSK that are sound in every situation. I could see JSK playing a lot of MIKE this year.

They've cut their teeth on special teams. How else are they supposed to earn reps? How many reps do they get at practice?

On 2026-02-04 at 2:12 PM, Booch said:

 

Yeah he kinda sucked his way off too

JJ brings experience...and also returned kicks in college and averaged i believe a shade over 24 yards a kick...so is already miles ahead

If Vaval grabs an actual roster spot...or we allow our Canadian LB's to assume a bigger role...he could technically be a quite solid DA for us...backup returner..change of pace back..plus he can catch

 

Could you imagine a future with Shay at WLB and Smith at SLB. Teams would have a hard time running at 3 guys all over 230lbs.

Maybe Winnpeg goes after Darius Bell this upcoming draft?  Played at East Carolina, ranked #12 on the scouting list, 6'5 300lbs, centre.  Hamilton might also be an option, same with Saskatchewan and Ottawa.

10 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Name one good starting tackle at age 40. That is the issue lol. Basically, all Ts are gone long before that. 

He doesn't face any learning curve. We've seen DL play ol. We've seen guys switch sides. When you have the experience Bryant does, when you've set the line for that long and developed half the elite linemen in the league, you don't have to learn. You especially don't have to learn to move inside. Some guys have weird issues with switching left to right, more so than outside to in, but if you can play T, you can play inside mental blocks aside. 

Look up "The Tackle Age Wall". The best tackles in the world hit it and disappear around 32. The kick inside happens before that, primarily to guys who are below elite. Because Elite guys have the money and don't want to dimish legacy by playing to 40 and being a turnstile. It happens every single year in the NFL. If you look, you'll see there is a mass exodus from T to G across the board. It isn't a risky scenario. It's literally the safest one. 

There is no long-term. There is no medium term. Maybe not even a short term. It's day by day. And it's been a long time since the last good day. 

No one said we shouldn't move on from him if he can't produce. You've lost the plot and spiralled. Come back to the actual conversation point. 

 

Didn't Walby and Gorell start at tackle in their 40s?

I don't understand why some teams just won't just draft pure centres.  I know the Lions drafted the UWO centre to hopefully take over one day.  Their is a kid at Maine, but he still has eligibility left.

14 hours ago, wbbfan said:

It’s backwards. He was drafted as and started out his career at G. He was in and out of the line up and bounced between g and c. But he played much better at c and was at C most of year and maybe the best C in the league. The previous year he was at g the whole year. 

 the cats ol prior to last year was pretty bleh and they didn’t run balanced play call. he’s an excellent run blocker and good in pass pro. he’d fit us brilliantly. 

 I don’t think we will be in the market to pay that though. 

He was a good centre this past season, except for the snapping issues.  If he can clean those up, he can be a great centre.

2 hours ago, johnzo said:

another thing I've always wondered, do American DL need coaching up to be ready for Canada?  Like, do the ends have to play differently on the wider field?

They do with being a yard off the ball.  Plus the field side DE has alot more space to cover to contain the QB.  Not to mention DEs drop into zone coverage more frequently in the CFL.

15 hours ago, johnzo said:

Really?  doesn't a centre need a little bit of seasoning to call the blocking?

I wouldn't that, their has been a couple of centres that started their rookie season.  Nicastro, McEwan are two examples.

8 hours ago, Mike said:

I love the Kramdi hate lol 

Dude is a very savvy player, he’s got some ball-in-the-air issues that I have seen him improve on but overall I’m happy to have him

Also, he’s nowhere near the 2nd highest paid DB in the league lol 

I don't get the hate either.  He is a very good SLB, the fact that people call him unathletic is hilarious.

On 2025-12-27 at 10:03 PM, Booch said:

thats what I alluded to....I think Walter's was taking the option awau from Osh...so...Osh couldnt cut the cord so now he i a coach

 

Great depth with Shay....SMith....Makonzio..Kramdi for varied use....to let the 4th pick in the draft in his draft yr walk...U.S school trained cause he was hurt part of the yr here is just dumb when he's a National

Just look at his rookie yr numbers alone...better numbers than kramdi...and thats Kramdi after 5 yrs in league....and peeps here just rave about his awesomeness...so to have another just as awesome Canadian...where's the issue? 🤣

 

Stats are great, but tape is even better.  Coverage ability, can they get off a run block, are they making plays in the backfield.

On 2025-12-26 at 5:37 PM, rebusrankin said:

@Booch, why Mackonzo, guy has not played in a game or been healthy in about 2.5 years? Doesn't seem worth bringing in constantly injured players.

The Bomber's have great depth with Kramdi, Smith and Makonzo at SLB.

5 hours ago, johnzo said:

it's an interesting year for free agent QBs.  Ordinarily there's an obvious matchup of free agent QB and rebuilding team (like Brown in Ottawa, VAJ in Calgary, Fajardo in Montreal, etc).  This year the top free agents are MBT, Crum and Powell, but there's no obvious landing spots for them.  Really curious to see where Powell's head is at given that BLM just resigned for two years and Powell got no snaps last year.

Fajardo is in Edmonton and has already resigned.

28 minutes ago, Noeller said:

I'm more curious about who's available in FA that we should be looking to spend on...

Draft is just as important.

Alford

Veresek

White

Saad

Shanks

Fortin

Findlay

Ambers

All got starts this year.  The Bomber's need to get Smith and Shay on the field.  Plenty of goid guards this upcoming draft.

10 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Our problem isn't drafting good Canadians. The problem is we don't keep them. Either we undervalue them going into free agency or just let them walk. That's an organizational thing that falls on Walters shoulders & it makes no sense. 

Exactly!  Smith and Shay should've gotten reps.

53 minutes ago, Booch said:

several on our roster are...but under Osh....many will never realize it playing here unless he shifts how he does things

I'd be shocked if Woodbey doesn't get looks....he basically debunked some of the negatives NFL teams/scouts placed on him prior to his draft, so he could be following the Ayers path as well....

Smith could step into that role easily as well as WILL....or a role like Griffin held as well...freeing up a DA spot for another end or true NT...Griffin tho needs to be brought back...Shay as well I am sure could be a WILL candidate and good at it, but like to see him groomed at MAC. 

Bang for buck we can be better off without all 3 of those DB's truth be told, and able to focus funds elsewhere...No cfl team shoud have 2....let alone 3 giys in the secondary making 140k+....but getting Nichols back at a reduced price if possible...or the same is prob the best scenario of the 3....he is one the vet pieces you hold on to as he can ball still and is the best all around of the 3....

I think they see Smith as a SAM, he spent the whole season backing up there. Kramdi might head to Montreal in free agency.

1 minute ago, Mark H. said:

We've our line with 3 Americans, it was better.

Wasn't much better.  Very few running lanes for Brady and still gave up way too much pressure.

27 minutes ago, JuranBoldenRules said:

I would start by turning the WIL spot to a Canadian spot.  You have that, you have Kramdi and the rest of the D is flexible.  Open up another 2 American spots, use one on O, one on DL.  Woodbey, Wilson, Ayres...no more than 1 of them should be dressed unless you're going to try to use Woodbey or Ayres as an edge rusher.

I'd pretty quickly consider going to 4 Americans on the OL.  Because we aren't going anywhere with this group.  Way too inconsistent both run and pass.  Not going to unearth a Canadian out of nowhere and the ones we have can't play.  Dressing 2 of that group of Canadians would be all I could stomach.  Would be looking at calling back guys we cut, had a crapload of Americans in camp, or guys from other CFL camps.  See if you can stabilize for rest of season.  

I'd be looking for another receiver/RB/returner option.  Echols could be it.  But should be trying to sign others for a look.  Looking for a spark from someone as a playmaker in the last third.  Guys like Mitchell, Wheatfall, easy to drop them while looking for that spark because they are providing nothing most weeks.

Going with a 4 American isn't always going work.  Look at BC, 4 Yanks and they still get beat by Canadian players.

1 minute ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

No, it's a trend. The HC plays favourites. Better players sit in favour of guys who aren't as good. Again, I'll bring up Thomas. he's useless & does virtually nothing every game. meanwhile, a player who barely got on the field & played behind Thomas in Miles Fox was a force today for the Cats at DT. Yet when he was here he backed up Thomas. This has happened way too much. 

Fox has been OK for the Ti-Cats, not the one technique we expected.