Blue In BC

We weren't in a position of need to pick up talent in free agency. 4 years later that's changed potentially as players have aged and SMS has gone up in order to retain them. In 2023 we added Lawler, Eli and Castillo which were very good additions. It's a plus minus question. However, Maston, Taylor, Jefferson, Harris, Lawson and a few others were picked up in free agency. Who do we lose voluntarily or otherwise that we need to replace in free agency or feel the immediate need to replace? There will be an enormous amount of talent available across the CFL in February. We'll make some choices.

Wow. I haven't read all the posts but the few I read sounded like lemmings running in unison off the cliff. That's not the same as saying everything mentioned was wrong but can we at least wait and see how free agency plays out? Except that if it's incomplete we'd be faced with 2nd and long. However that's what we faced be running on 1st down when everyone in the country knew we'd do that. As big an issue is not having a quicker route tree and release to avoid an obvious rush on our QB. One maybe 2 1st downs and the game would have been won. Just one 1st down and we'd have used up another minute on the clock even if we only moved the ball 11 yards.

I laughed earlier in the season when O'Shea said they were adjusting their kicking and coverage schemes and were close to figuring it out. That was BS by him then as it is now.

Very small sample size for Brown. Collaros would have probably found a way to beat the Elks as well. Tough start but he usually makes a come back. Time will tell about Brown. I'm on the fence but would like to keep him around.

That's been part of our offence since he arrived. With the receivers we have it makes sense. Receivers like Schoen, Lawler and Demski live off of that. I have no problem with that. However I have some issues about the play selection inside the red zone. The int was a good example of a very long pass from the 10 yard line that was slow developing.? It was also a very good play by the Als DB. So need to give some credit for their coverage.

He's a potential free agent IIRC.

I hope he doesn't do something that stupid. It could cost us the game. Roster size is not that big that you can just keep players on it for a championship game that can't contribute.

That would be the same reason they kept Hurl at MLB in the past.

I haven't seen Jackson make any impact on ST's. I'd have taken off that role long ago.

I wouldn't read too much into which players are seeing less or more reps today. IMO the real prep for the WDF starts next week. Today is just giving vets more time to heal from the long season. It also helps prepare the back ups if and when needed during the game.

I see BC Lion Teuhema won't appeal his 1 game suspension so he won't play this weekend against the Stamps. From a process point of view that's what I would have wanted to happen. From a biased point of view, I'd rather he wasn't available to play against the Bombers in the WDF. However the Lions might not make it past the Stamps.

It's all speculation but they've kept Richmond around for a few years and at the moment he's the heir apparent at LT. That said there is nothing really suggesting Bryant retires. OTOH the Bombers might start to negotiate his contract downwards and he may balk at that idea. Richmond is also a pending free agent and he may choose to leave in free agency for a chance to start and / or earn more money. For that matter IIRC Gray, Dobson and Kolo are also potential free agents so who knows what 2024 brings.

Got to be either McGhee or Alston. Doesn't really matter because both should get on the field at some point. I don't think Lawler or Bailey play the entire game. Parker / Houston will rotate with McGhee I suspect?

I'd take this to suggest a good chance Demski, Hardrick and Alexander don't play. Demski might dress as an emergency player if we have injuries. There aren't many Canadians to add if we put him on the 1 game IR. Although that could be another way to add Gauthier for this game. Likely will see Richmond suit up for Hardrick. I have no doubt they'd all be playing if this was the WDF this week. Just a little more time to heal and gear up for that game.

I'm not disagreeing with that. I just think O'Shea won't take Jackson off the AR. That means we need to remove a Canadian so choices are limited although Briggs is pretty much dead weight. I could live with him being taken off instead. Briggs will be 34 by next TC and I'm expecting he'll be in tough making the roster. Age, SMS and needing AR room for players like Kelly and / or 2024 draft choices. That said, Briggs has 11 ST's and I can't find stats for Kelly ( useless CFL.CA info ). In any case giving Kelly more reps can't be a bad thing whether Gauthier is added this week or not.

Ok let's see who we shuffle onto the AR for this week to give some vets some rest. In many cases I think we'll see lots of the non starting Canadians on the AR get more reps: Dobson, Eli, Boo, Augustine and Hallett for example. Whether they start of just take more reps than the usual starters is a TBD. I'd like to see Houston get on the AR this week. Alexander is nicked so we might be a little thin. Besides he'll be next man up if we experience any new injuries this week. In fact he may regain his starting role this week. IDK. How they'd get him on the AR is a ratio / DI question. I suppose if Alexander is nicked they could just 1 game him this week and just add in Houston to the AR. Hallett to start at safety but Houston could rotate into the secondary. Now the bigger questions. Do we decide to get any of Haba, Garbutt, Fox or Richmond onto the roster. Letting Jeffcoat have more time to get healthier is not a bad idea. Richmond could spell one of our T's but both seem healthy at the moment. This is a perfect chance to get Gauthier back onto the AR replacing Kelly on ST's. Gauthier seems to be healthy again and some live game reps will help in the play offs. That's my take.

As a Nationalized American in a role as a DI at an appropriate salary. Assuming that nutso category still exists next year. Either way moving him to back up role wouldn't be the worst idea.

I want the Stamps to be out of the race when we play them. That allows us to rest a bunch of starters. It also means we aren't in a must win type of situation to finish in 1st place.

I wasn't on the site much yesterday. Info from the team is always misleading. Houston is nicked but that doesn't mean he can't play, although it does seem on a short week he'll go to 1 game IR. O'Shea mentioned Lawrence is available but there are other choices. It doesn't mean one comes on to replace Houston, especially if Grant is activated. At this point I do expect Grant back and Parker to start at CB with Houston off the roster. It's the other possible changes that could or should happen that are in question. Having Ford or Gauthier available would have helped manage the ratio and positional needs. But not this week and perhaps not this year?

Looks like we might see Grant back this week? Houston didn't practice yesterday so he might not play. I wouldn't be comfortable not having an import DB as depth if he's moved to AR. Does that get Lawrence or ADS back on as the back up? There's a transaction shown on CFL.CA with Givhan added to the AR???? What the heck? Is there an injury on the DL and why would he be added after being released from the PR. Another week wondering what the final roster looks like. Might call it the " Jackson watch "!!!

Not sure if that is a valid point of not. Without knowing who might retire, be an SMS casualty or additions in 2024, our roster is not known. Ditto for every other team. Bombers are still a top 3 team. The Argos will have to adjust their roster to accommodate the new salary for Kelly. Any team reaching the final and / or Grey Cup is going to have some players looking for raises.

I think our OL is not playing as well as in 2022 when we had Couture at C. Collaros is being pressured and / or hit too often. I'm not as directly concerned that at times he throws into coverage because our receivers often beat that coverage. We're the highest scoring offence, with the most passing TD's, the league leading rusher etc etc. Have to expect some turnovers due to taking riskier shots at times.

Ok, that makes more sense. Kelly will be useful on ST's possibly. Hansen as well. I wonder if Kelly was nicked last week and caused the addition of Schmekel to replace him in the ratio?

That doesn't make sense if it works out that way. Based on this, it would mean Jeffcoat is not dressing and Hansen is the primary starter instead of the rotation player coming off a year long injury? 3 global player would mean one of them would have to be listed / qualified as a replacement for an import? I'm not sure if I've noticed any team actually doing that!!?? Our DI's last week were Cole, Clement, Parker and Jackson. Is he dressing? That would suggest the earlier post not showing that was in error or early?

Clearly you don't understand the SMS or the cap. The Argos spent whatever they spent or will spend in 2023. Unless Muamba got an advance of any significance, then ZERO $$$'s of his money was spent towards the 2023 SMS. You can't spend money elsewhere you didn't spend in the 1st place on a player that never made the roster ( against the SMS ). The Argos paid Williams to be their MLB and he was a 1st pick in the draft and not working for chump change. Nobody said they'd fall to pieces but every team that gave their QB a very large increase has had to make roster adjustments. Lions did with Reilly, Winnipeg did it with Collaros as 2 examples. Some teams manage it better than others so we'll see how a probable increase for Kelly @ $500K compared to 2023 impacts their roster. It's a very large jump in his SMS hit.