[Holiday Wishes...]

Merry Xmas everyone.

[Alouettes extend Troy Smith...]

Think Smith is a flash in the pan? Thoughts?

I think Smith is the real deal, not a flash in the pan.  He was the best of the new QB's last year IMHO.  I'd take him over any of the available QB's.

[Bombers sign Lirim Hajrullahu]

Looks like a good prospect.

[Marcel Bellefeuille named Bombers OC]

Ask Tim Burke.

Folks keep saying that Tim Burke made the decision not to use Goltz, but I kinda doubt that's true.  Burke had a hands off policy when it came to the offense.  If anyone hates Goltz, and I don't think anyone does, it's the OC, who more than likely made the decision. 

[Official Expansion Draft Day Thread]

I hope we re-sign Kohlert the day that free agency starts.  I couldn't care less if that screws Ottawa or not.  I just care that it helps us.

[Report: Morley and Renaud extended]

If  Morley is the best we can do at guard, then we have failed.  That being said...  last years coaching staff rated Morley higher than any of our 'youngsters' and the O line suffered when he was out.  As long as we didn't give him a big signing bonus, he will at least guarantee that we won't be worse at guard than we were last year.

[Marcel Bellefeuille named Bombers OC]

 

Poor choice if true.

 

Isn't this what you wanted though? Experienced coordinators? I thought they were always preferred over newbies in your eyes.

 

Your black and white thinking makes you wrong yet again Mike.  Let me help you out. 

 

Stubler as DC: Great experience + Top notch defences = great choice

MB as OC, Mediocre experience + Average to below average offences = poor choice

 

I don't like MB's offenses as they are dull and boring.  He tries to 'take what they give you' instead of forcing the defence to react to what we do which makes him a poor OC IMO.  Any OC who relies on 'spot' passes shouldn't be anywhere near a CFL team, let alone mine.

[Marcel Bellefeuille named Bombers OC]

Poor choice if true.

[Official Expansion Draft Day Thread]

Kohlert was our best NI receiver last year.  Watson's injured way to often to be counted on and Etienne only had a couple of decent games early in the season.  We haven't necessarily lost him, though.  As a FA, we could re-sign him.  My best guess is that we knew he wasn't going to sign with us anyway so we left him unprotected. 

[Official Expansion Draft Day Thread]

3 FB's?  No NI receivers? WTF?  Green won't hurt us, but he's a good special teams guy so he'll help Ottawa.  

[Official Expansion Draft Day Thread]

I'm on http://www.tsn.ca/live/player.aspx#v=887581&i=887581 and it's working properly for me.

[BIg rumor concerning DC position]

Stubler doesn't need to build a legacy.  Calgary hasn't offered him the job yet, so the choice may be made for him.  Calgary offers a way better chance of success because they are a contender with a good to great management and coaching system around him.  Winnipeg offers a full rebuild with unknowns at all levels.  I know what choice I'd make.

[Kyle Walters Expansion Draft Presser]

People were just as sure that Mack was on the right track in the first couple of years. Remember IMWT?  Lets see what Walters can do before we pass judgement or assume that he will be the next great CFL GM.

[BIg rumor concerning DC position]

 

Gee Calgary and a solid playoff team or Winnipeg Wannabees tough choice for Stumbler.

 

If that was the case then why did O'shea sign here when he could of went elsewhere?

 

Cuz we offered him the HC job?

[Kyle Walters Expansion Draft Presser]

Some revealing comments on Swiston and his reoccurring injuries.

After listening, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that Swiston wasn't protected.

[Kyle Walters Expansion Draft Presser]

I like his straight forward nature.  (I'm going to paraphrase here)

 

We tell guys that they are in danger every year to loosing out to someone younger and cheaper, so they better work hard to justify their spot and their salary. 

 

No BS there.

I like it too, but isn't that exactly the same thing that Doug Berry got raked over the coals on these forums for a few years back?

[Glen Johnson replaces Higgins as VP of Officiating]

Putting a good Ref in charge of officiating?  That's so radical that it could work.  Good choice IMHO.  I never did understand why Higgins was given that job.

[BIg rumor concerning DC position]

 

Something I found interesting on a Google search:

 

Phillips and a few other defensive mates were livid after the loss Sunday, and while there were no names mentioned it was impossible not to recognize the target of their collective angst was defensive coordinator Rich Stubler.

It’s the players who are asked to perform, but it’s the work of the coordinators to put them in the right positions, and several Lions veterans seemed to be suggesting they weren’t responding to the way the  Roughriders played the fourth quarter.

 

That was after the playoff loss (link).  

Regardless after giving it some thought this is a pretty solid hire for O'Shea.  Stubler has a proven track record (one that has more success than failure) and one that has a lot of experience in this league (valuable considering how young this whole staff is).  While O'Shea is a huge wild card, I would argue he can't possibly be any worse than Burke and so this makes it 2/2 in upgrades at the coaching staff spots right now in my opinion.

The vets on that BC defence really like their scapegoats. Last year it was all Cauchy Muamba's fault. Apparently this year they're picking Stubler to blame their early exit on.

 

After watching Cauchy play last year, it's hard to disagree with them.

[BIg rumor concerning DC position]

Not surprisingly, I like this rumor.

[Coordinator Candidates?]

While I'd like Cortez as the OC, I don't see it happening.  There is no upside for Cortez to leaving the GC champs who already have a great offence. 

 

I'm expecting another ex-player with little or no experience and ties to our leadership team.  

[Wpg FP Reports Cortez and Bellefuille In The Hunt for WBB HC Job]

My first choice is Collaros, but Burris is a valid plan B if he is available and we don't get Collaros.  We could use the next 2 years to bring along a young guy, while having a bonafide starting QB. 

 

Signing Cortez as HC wouldn't mean bringing Burris in was a higher probability IMHO.

[Burke Bought Out, Joins Argos as DC]

Good luck to Burke.  I think he's a very good DC and I'm not surprised that he's got another job so quickly.

[Head coach - Who do you want and why?]

It's not about Dressler or some fictitious stud NI O lineman.  It's about Dressler or Edwards and the choice isn't even close.  

 

It's not about the money.  Sure Dressler would be more than Edwards, but not so much more that it would mean would couldn't upgrade elsewhere.  

 

Dressler is a game changer.  He is one of the top guys at his position and we only have one guy, Muamba, who is one of the top guys in the league at his spot.  Adding Dressler would make us a better team and isn't that what its all about?

[Kyle Walters GM Poll]

I like what Walters had to say too.  I hope he can follow through with it.  I don't expect the fans to give him much leeway, just because he is new to the GM chair.  The fans expect a winning team and that's Walters job to create.  Getting to a .500 season next year would be a huge win for the all rookie management team IMHO.

[Kyle Walters GM Poll]

Experienced people can see the cluster-truck and would want full autonomy before they would be the least bit interesting in our GM job.  Knowing you have to keep Walters on and that he has the ear of the CEO, isn't going to attract the best candidates.  I heard during Grey Cup week that a couple of experienced folks even turned the Bombers requests for interviews down.