Blue In BC

Griffin is a very good player and IMO we see him in different defensive formations though out a given game. We saw in 2024 that Kelly also saw the field quite a bit. So we have lots of talent from last year and there will be rookies looking to land on the AR. The early depth chart showed Griffin at safety but obviously things are TBD. I don't think we move Nichols or Holm but Kramdi might be given a different role. For the moment I'll stick with expecting Griffin to be the starting safety but a current alternative is less clear. Some rookies have be fighting for that spot which in theory would make Griffin a DI. That's not the worst outcome as long as he's on the roster. I don't know I'd like to see 2 changes in the secondary if someone beats out Parker at CB. I'm also assuming he starts the season at CB. I guess that's what makes TC interesting.

I didn't expect the Bombers to bring Gauthier back in 2025. Age and a slightly higher SMS than an ELC player. That said, we may be drafting another LB type but he may still sit on the PR this season to develop. Roster room and need still suggests to me that we changing where depth is maintained on the roster. Depth at LB is significant already. Where adjustments are made for ST work is a TBD but I think we added some new faces already. The draft choices are always interesting.

I think you covered it in your 1st statement. We're deep at LB with the addition of Jones, Jones, Wilson and Ayers filling the import spots. The Canadian group along with Weitz means Charboneau would only be a ST player at best. IMO Makonzo filled a depth need at SAM now that Griffin moves to safety. In effect we needed Charbonneau's roster spot to add Makonzo. I wouldn't be surprised if Makonzo sees some work on ST's as well as rotation work on defence. We also added Hagerty who takes a roster spot left by Noah Hallett leaving the team. There are only so many roster spots and we've shifted where we needed Canadian depth somewhat from WIL to SAM. The other Canadian LB's like Gauthier and Cadwallander will probably only see ST work this season IMO. One of the import LB's will likely be on the AR as a DI. I'm just not sure if J. Jones starts at WIL over Wilson or he is the DI. Ayers might be hard pressed to make the AR since we have 4 import LB's and only 3 spots. None of this suggests Charbonneau may not turn out to be a good player somewhere but there is no room on the roster. The big question is at WIL and figuring out which of Wilson, J. Jones and Ayers ends up starting and who is the DI. I think the fight is between Wilson and J. Jones but Ayers could be a good one.

I think I saw one earlier so I'll see if I can find it. In the past I haven't seen too many global players signed that weren't drafted. It's a very small instances where that happened. We've seen players drafted and not even show up. There are only 2 rounds for 18 players in total so losing a couple of no shows is not a good sign for any team. You'd think there would be a few more that didn't get drafted still be signed for TC. I'm not sure what to make of that really. The competition is almost none for what might be 2 AR and 2 PR spots. At the moment we have 3 global on our roster and will draft 2 more. Potentially all of them might be kept or 2 might be released. As I suggested I might think about looking for choices that might be candidates in 2026. That said the situation is different that Canadians going back to last year of college. I don't know whether we retain rights of each year's draft choices if released. We also will draft 2 more in 2026 so are the ones form this year potentially better than in 2026? Don't know, but both our kickers will be potential free agents. Both may be back, one or both might be gone. Having a development plan on or off the PR would be beneficial. A global kicker is like a free DI and in the case of the Als, they appear set to use 2 spots for 2 global specialists. EDIT: There is a global player combine to be held on April 29 th. That might give us some idea of what kind of players might be available. I found the one from 2024 and there were only 12 players listed. Of that only 3 or 4 were actually drafted including the 2 we drafted. Small pool looked at and negligible post draft interest from that group.

Can't disagree with that. OTOH, it would have been so easy to just retain him after the season to bring him back for TC 2025. Note that I modified my 1st response about our global choice at DE being added for a bit.

Without knowing what a given assignment was or how well he followed that, or took direction it's a subjective view for posters. The only thing we know is that when we had import options healthy, he was taken off the AR for other choices. I don't remember if he also had injuries issues and happened from a timing point of view. We did add Ogbevoen for a game or 2. So those were our two choices for depth at DE. So our global choice couldn't get more playing time than the Canadian we cut? The team choose to not bring him back in 2025 and now he's in Hamilton. That must be worth noting.

Hubert was MEH. IMO he only saw the AR due to the injuries that Haba, Garbutt and Fox had in 2024. All were on 6 game IR by game 3. Depth on the DL was not good all year. Interesting that all the 2024 DE's are no longer with the team. The PR roster is only 12 players. Of that 2 are created for global players. For the 10 remaining spots, the majority are held by imports. I'd be surprised if we see 4 Canadians on the PR to start the season. That means when you need to add a player to the AR from the PR that fills a Canadian spot, it's a choice between possibly 6 players. As we know a 2nd global player comes at the cost of Canadian choice, not an import. At that point a consideration might be made from a positional point of view among those players. Essentially which player adds the most value on ST's. We disagree on whether the global players are a forced decision due to limited roster sizes due to injury constraints as I've suggested. In 2024, 7 of the 18 global players drafted were either P or K. 7 of 18 also in 2023. 6 of 18 in 2022. So in 3 drafts that's 20 of 54 were kicking positions. In the last 3 years of the Canadian draft we saw only 2 K's drafted in 220 choices. That should tell you something. I see the Als now have both licking positions held by 1 of each. What I don't see anywhere in the CFL is a 2nd global player on an AR that is getting more significant reps on either offence or defence, ahead of any other import or Canadian. What I don't see is one full time primary starter aside from kickers. If an import is injured a team will activate another import from the PR or coming off of IR. That is a different situation for a Canadian player that falls more into who is left on the PR in a smaller pool as I've outlined. I don't see the value of the global program aside from kicking positions. I expect to see a large number ( 6 - 8 ) of 18 drafted again in 2025. Their roster spots are an arbitrary ratio designation by Ambrosie. This conversation will come up post TC to see how our rosters shake out. Sheehan probably makes the AR by default. OTOH, we may draft another P with one of our choices that might beat him out. What I expect is that we may draft potential replacements at both kicking positions for development for 2026. Who ends up on the PR between the 4 total choices of current and 2025 draft choices is a TBD. Even though I'm anti ratio, I would be disappointed if a 2nd global makes the AR in front of a Canadian.

I listed the 2 Canadians on the PR and they had no value on ST's and were not specifically needed as depth at their position. Murphy and Hubert for the 1st 2 games and then Samson added to the PR for the 3rd game. Once again a 2nd global is added at the cost of a Canadian choice. Clearly the Canadian choices were of no value on either defence or ST's That's my point. Karamoko was the least worst choice that could be made under those circumstances. A global player can be added at the expense of an import but that rarely happens. We had a complete compliment of imports on the AR and PR depth behind them. Cole saw the field in multiple spots in the early going. He was listed and used in all 3 LB spots in rotation. That tapered down when we added Griffin to the AR and Ayers seemed to surpass him on the depth charts and playing time. Obviously we know our depth charts are close to meaningless compared to how and where players play. I also know tackles are not the only stat worthwhile, however, he only played 3 games in his 1st 2 seasons and maxed out out 5 in 2024. That''s not impressive in the least and the fact he was released should tell you he was nothing more than a warm body available. I'd hardly rate him as fine. There is a reason why he was replaced after the early going by a Canadian ST player.

I said we used a 2nd global player due to the fact we didn't have a healthy Canadian on the PR. That's not difficult to understand. Just look at the week to week changes on the depth chart. He had 6 ST's in `12 gm Cole was the back up SAM for the 1st 4 or 5 games. McGhee was for 1 game until we added Griffin. Bridges also saw some game time on defence ( 7 DT's ). Nick Hallett saw game time on defence in the secondary too. Karamoko was always listed as about the 3rd choice at WIL. Noah Hallett was an ST player and as such more valuable than a global listed as a back up at WIL. He had 6 ST's in 12 games. Karamoko had 2 ST's in 5 games. We use more people on ST's than we rotate through our WIL barring injury. Karamoko was a waste of space on the roster. He's so good he was released outright. I don't know what you're trying to justify his existence in the few games he played when it's very clear that he was just the last man standing to choose from the PR. 2024 depth chart etc are still available. We had between 3 - 4 Canadians on the IR for the 1st 4 - 5 games. All we had on the PR was Murphy and Hubert. Neither of which was needed as positional depth and neither played ST's. Neither are currently with the team. As I said, at least Karamoko was capable of playing on ST's if necessary. Essentially he was the only choice to activate due to the injuries.

No I'm not. We started the season without Noah Hallett, C. Lawson and B. Feltmate. Oliveria missed a game early as did a few other Canadians. Chris-Ike, Charbonneau and Woli missed an early game or more. Our early roster was musical chairs due to numerous injuries. Geez even Murphy had to be added from our PR. Kelly missed 8 games and didn't play until August. That shows how limited our choices were on our PR. Karamoko only played 5 games in 2024. IIRC the other 2 global players only were dressed for 6 or 7 games in total between them combined. I stand by my comment they were added due to numerous injuries where we couldn't field our normal compliment of Canadians. That made adding a 2nd global as our only option. I agree that we didn't draft or have quality global players but playing a 2nd one was a forced issue as I've covered. I might add that we couldn't find a better quality global in the entire world better than the two we had? Only 18 get drafted each season. A few don't even show up after being drafted. Our current roster has 26 Canadians. We'll draft another 9 in 2025. I'd take the bet that barring a large number of early season injuries, we don't roster 2 globals on the AR to start the season.

3 seasons, 7 games and 3 ST stats total. No DT's recorded. You really want to hang your hat on that and the fact we didn't re-sign him?

Last year the Bombers only used a 2nd global player when the injuries mounted up with our Canadian depth. The teams 1st choice seemed to be to not bump the extra Canadian player off the AR. Neither of the 2 non kickers on our roster recorded a stat. We didn't even retain Karamoko and no other team has signed him. Players don't get premium time unless they earn it. Global players idea started in 2019 so 2024 was year 6th.

I'd disagree that we're seeing more global players actually contribute in other positions. I did a search of all the current players on rosters and found squat besides those doing kicking duties. I've in favour of converting global designations to the normal import spot. Add 2 import spots to the roster instead of global players. That would allow global players on rosters to continue if they win a spot. At the moment the Bombers have 3 global players including Sheehan. We'll draft 2 more this draft. I'm not expecting to see a 2nd global player on our 2025 AR roster. Two will win spots on the PR essentially by default. I

Our global punter does not use a spot as a DI. The roster rules we must have at least 1 global on the roster while a 2nd is optional at the cost of a Canadian choice. To that end, choosing a global as a punter is a good choice. Very few globals succeed in any other position on CFL rosters. It's not unusual for a CFL team to have an import K or P as a DI due to the supply demand issue. Most often if tends to be a K while teams roster a global punter. I think we'd all like to see a Canadian K in particular or a K do all 3 jobs but obviously that's easier said than done.

I'd expect we have the kicker, a returner, a DL and a DB as DI's. Since we start 8 Canadians we have roster within the ratio to have one import that is on the AR but not a DI. As you've suggested it's blurred at the moment. Do choose to start 4 imports on the DL with the Canadians as the rotation players and still have an import DL as a DI? Cole could be the DI or extra as a substitute DB but I don't think that would be the direct choice if we add him. IMO he'd be used in a more traditional role as a LB rather than a coverage player per se. All of this is somewhat in the expectation of losing Ford and giving us 1 more ratio option than we'll have needing to start another import at CB. It also presumes we do not lose Ayers and choose not to re-sign Bighill. I'm waiting to see what happens with both of those questions. There should be more players re-signing this week but which happen 1st is a TBD.

Now we have Kramdi at SAM, otherwise there would be 3 starting import LB's and probably a DI. Things have changed with starting more than 7 Canadians overall in the past couple of seasons. I think we expect to lose Ford one way or another. What happens on the OL if we lose Dobson could change our ratio. I'm not against 4 import LB's on the AR so it's a wait and see who we do or don't re-sign including another import LB in free agency. There are always some good ones potentially available like the one the Argos released. Where any of them fit in regarding SMS is the other question.

Sure but like I said, it's a math problem as well. I'm hoping Ayers is back. I can't remember if we had 4 import LB's on the roster at the same time. Cole we be # 4 IMO for the reasons you mentioned but are we convinced O'Shea are willing to not put Bighill on the roster. To a certain degree I was surprised we re-signed Wilson so that leads me to think we might see Bighill returns.

I think the replacement for Benson is Leroux and he's been re-signed. So I'm expecting that transition. Augustine still adds value but I think I'd prefer a younger player on an ELC to fit his role which is primarily an ST player. I don't believe he would be the primary RB is Oliveria is injured longer than an in game situation. To that end, I expect an import RB on the PR or possibly one that is on the AR as a RB/WR/ Returner and has yet to be identified / found. Noah Hallett played relatively injury free in 2024 IIRC but I think his time is done. We'll need to find roster spots for a few 2025 draft picks and / or possibly some form 2024 that have finished school.

Yeah, I thought Bighill might be pushed off the roster. While I think he can still add value, roster size, SMS and younger LB's will make it difficult to find a spot. However, if we lose Ayers and / or choose to not re-sign Cole, that changes the math somewhat. Alexander also falls into this category of thought. Although IMO we do re-sign him but begin the transition to a new starter at safety during the season. Who that player is will be a TBD.

Yes I'm in Vancouver but am not partaking in the festivities dowtown. Retired pension income. So will watch and cheer game on TV and communicate with my Lions friends on facebook. I think the reality of big screen HD at home is not a bad option at this point.

Not disputing that but instead we add Weitz as a 2nd global in lieu of a Canadian. Must mean Woli jut can't play even as a back up. I also don't think we can make the injury argument from 2023 when we had no alternatives but to play players not 100%. 4 of our receivers and Bighill shouldn't have played in 2023.

Just another reason to get rid of the global designation and convert them to import DI spots. Sheehan would be retained as a DI and Cole could have been added instead of Weitz. I don't quite know what Weitz will bring instead of Karamoko but he's a giant question mark as well.

Maybe MCI was nicked a bit. OTOH, they beefed up the DL depth somewhat. He hasn't played and Weitz only was on the Ar for a couple of games. Because you can add a 2nd global in place of a Canadian. You can't add Cole without removing an import somewhere. I'd prefer Cole on the AR but who would we take off the roster?

Why? If he's healthy we could use some depth at receiver. Demski and Whitehead are not 100% so there could be a need especially if our offence controls the TOP. We'll need to rotate receivers somewhat.

Is Pierce in the last year of his contract? Why would he consider moving to BC as a lateral move unless he's being looked at as a HC.