JohnnyAbonny

Also- As much as I’m in the keep Brown camp, I understand the difference between what I want vs what will actually happen. I’ve been thinking about Collaros. It would be really nice to see how much of a difference in play there would be if the center wasn’t regularly in his lap. Watched some season highlights over the last few days. Hate to harp on the same guy, but man did that OL ever look weaker in pass pro with Kolo in there. Could have been a bigger issue than we realize.

Exactly. Every year they come out with these huge “FA” lists the day after the Grey cup like 70% of those guys aren’t going to re-sign by February.

Ok good. If Buck moves on I want a clean break from residual Lapo with a new system, never mind the man himself coming back. I’m sure he’s a hell of a nice guy but the Lapo offence definitely has a ceiling. Every year since 2016 whoever our OC is gets penciled in for the Sask job. I’ll believe it when I see it. If anything, the job in Ottawa seems more appealing but I really don’t see Buck leaving here. If we’re going to lose an assistant hypothetically, it’s Jordan Younger I’d be most unhappy about.

Neither do I, but where is this Lapo back talk coming from?

Hey now, let’s not go bringing the 2019 run into this. Some things are sacred from criticism.

Like JBR was saying, it’s more of a promotion/sponsor-ish thing than owning. It was poor phrasing on my part. I’m more so meaning discounted season ticket packages, merch at different union shops/businesses. There’s a huge amount of staff at a lot of these places. We had something like that going for a while with the Bombers at my place of work. Anecdotally, it got a lot of folks buying tickets who wouldn’t have normally. Also got a few newer Canadians into the game, which never hurts.

Personally this is how I feel going into 2024. I’m not sure we have anything besides our own bird in our hand.

Iirc Calvillo only played half that year, (to support his wife battling cancer? Or some sort of similar family issue) Bombers beat the Als twice in the summer when Calvillo played, but it was Marcus Brady for them in the ESF that year. Good point though, Calvillo took his team to 3 cups in a row at age 36-38. He never had a competitive backup behind him however. If Montreal had found and kept a successor for AC and not expected him to carry the team into his 40’s, who knows if they ever fall off?

Also, if Strev comes back would you rather have 36 year old Zach, or a Brown/Strev combo?

He very well may, and for the Bombers sake I hope he does play like Crum. Like I said, it’s just a feeling I get that Brown will be a gooder. It’s his ability to stand in the pocket and hit deep/intermediate shots, without getting happy feet like Crum or going to the checkdown too fast like McCheese. I know damn well Brown is gone and Collaros stays, it’s the way the club does things, and I get the reasoning. My question: Is the trajectory of Collaros’ play, plus his salary not almost as big of a risk as going with Brown and using the extra cash to bolster the team in other areas?

I’d be shocked if Castillo was a worse punter than Sheehan. The punting situation this past year was mind-boggling. Not only did we have a guy on the PR who showed better in exhibition games, they didn’t even try having Castillo do it. Part in parcel of the roster issues this season.

Good point. If it’s anything like here, UFCW alone could put up a good stake in the team.

It’s a small sample size, and if not for the Edmonton game and Collaros age, I’d agree with you 100% You’re coming from a more logical place. I just can’t shake this feeling that we’re going to see Brown win multiple cups, either here or somewhere else. Thought it since his first start in 2022.

True. I’d still say right now, the privately owned teams have an overall better group than at any other point in recent history. I remember the Gleibermans, Larry Rickman and some of the other clowns involved over the years.

Fair point. I mean, you could look at it either way. I’m seeing the Danny Mac/Dunnigan parallel very closely, thats what’s driving my opinion

1. I do. I see it as either a year or 2 of post-peak Collaros or 5-10 of Dru Brown, who I think will be top tier. 2. A high draft pick, plus maybe another later pick or an impact starter. 3. Probably save at least 200k the first year. I wouldn’t see Brown making more than 300.

I recall exactly that, felt it then too. It’s been repeated, but the TC with absolutely zero competition for any vets rang alarm bells with quite a few of us.

Remember what it was? I missed that I guess.

Different take. I don’t think Bighill said anything that bad. The Bombers tow the line so well that when somebody’s forthcoming about anything to the media it seems like a big deal. The guy was frustrated with everyone (correctly) saying he shouldn’t have been in the game, so he told everyone what happened on the particular play. The whole issue is on MOS.

Honestly, I felt this before the West Final. I didn’t want to say anything, but going into that game it felt exactly like the 2003 WSF.

Augustine isn’t the answer if Brady goes. There’s literally hundreds of backs in the states that are faster, stronger and cheaper. We always start 8 or 9 Canadians anyway but… Starting just 7 is an option. Sliding Gray out to RT if Hardrick retires is an option. Going NI at safety is an option. (Hallet, Jake Kelly, draft/FA) All better than trying to find another Canadian RB. This team is built around an elite RB. Gotta have one or fundamentally change how the offence works.

They’ll be hard pressed to make the playoffs without a few big changes imo.

I think it was all covered. Zach should have either taken off or thrown it away and they kick the fg. Terrible play call at any rate. Running the ball would have made the most sense.

So @Noeller Did you go to the interview?

This would make me want to dial back my criticism of Zach from this particular game for sure. I’m still convinced they need to go with Dru Brown moving forward.