the watcher

What was that?  Oh we won.
Guys like you are expecting flawless execution and you won't be happy until you get it. You obviously just want to ***** for the sake of bitching. Have I ever stated these guys don't have a lot to work on?  No. But you were crucifying them while they were still in the lead. 
So all I gotta say to people like you is, go soak your head. 

You look like your thirsty. Here's a can of STFU for you to quench your thirst. 

O'Shea seems to be trying as hard as he knows how, compared to Burke who appeared to concede every game before it started. Burke was the Eeyore of the CFL.

I made the list myself by going through the roster. As for the status of the players, the Wpg Sun has updates on lots of the guys and for the rest I just checked twitter for confirmation of their injuries.

i feel the same about both of them. For what it's worth I've been in Edmonton 7.5 years now. I own 0 pieces of Eskimos gear. Last year as bad as the team was I went to Vancouver, Calgary and Ottawa to watch them play. This year the Vancouver bombers trip will be on again, not sure about others.

From the Bombers FB page:
For every field goal scored by Justin Medlock at home games this season, one of our key community partners will donate $100 for each yard over 45 to Variety, the Children’s Charity of Manitoba. These donations will also be matched by Justin himself! This means that on Medlock's 47 yard field goal last night, $400 was donated to Variety, the Children's Charity of Manitoba.

Really.
It's a good thing to know that we have receivers will do what they are paid to do..catch the ball, if at all possible. Do we really think QBs can make that perfect pass the majority of the time? Too many factors can interfere with that scenario. We want a QB who can deliver the football in a manner that will result in a Bomber completion. I don't care if it's underhand, overhand or slight-of-hand. 
Performance..without pressure, or under pressure, is what I like to see from my QB.

Stupid Flanders!(had to say it) 

Davis. Harris. Smith. Mayo. McDuffie. Hubbard.
Strong first half 

Here's the paraphrased version of the one hour OSH/Irving interview. You may find a few nuggets... if you squint.
 
The Offense
This team’s offense is coming together as fast as any he’s worked with. OSH credits the mini-camp for some of this early progress.

 
Playing time for QBs
Looking to play Willy enough to see what’s what. “If he looks sharp, then we will move down the line…It’s a matter of balance”.
OSH says he listens to all players as to the amount that they feel they need to play during the pre-season (?!?). He discusses his perspective vs. theirs when determining playing time. Keeping players healthy & fresh during training camp is paramount.

 
Injury update: Kyle Knox
Kyle Knox saw the Doctor and will need further tests. “I hope that he will bounce back quickly. He’s a great guy and athlete”.

 
Macho Harris
Macho very quickly has shown what he’s got; “he is a super likeable leader with tons of experience and is very versatile”. We see no problem in playing him where we need him. He’s a good compliment to Mo Leggett…possibly a good bet for Safety.

 
Randle & Bucknor
Randle needs to shake off the rust and “will get back to where he was”.
“Bucknor has had a very nice camp and worked his tail off during the off season”.

 
ACL Injuries & Anderson
Carlos Anderson was brought back. OSH did not divulge who made the first call, player or team, but in discussion with staff, OSH says they needed to work him out because he was so close to making the team last year. “Once he made some cuts in camp I wondered if he was wearing a brace and he wasn’t. He is a dynamic, dynamic player”.

 
Kick Returning
Carlos A, Veltung, and McDuffie are candidates along with Fred Williams (interesting!).
Feoli G. - “looks in great shape and is as sure handed as anyone in camp”. “I’d rather not have Dressler return kicks but I’ll put him in for spot duty”. Dressler has also been holding for Medlock.

 
Pascal Lochard
“He’s missed the last few days, but he makes his cut at a nice late point in pressing the run. He impressed us in interviews and is good on STs”.

 
Addison R
“His efforts are there and he’s improving steadily. I see very steady improvement. We weren’t sure he would be ready for camp. He says that this is the best he’s felt in years.”

 
The Hogs in General;
Chung & Goossen Specifically
“Very talented players and competition have been brought in to push the vets. Any woes that people talk about don’t rest on their shoulders”.
“Better now than they were their first day in camp this year. They’re both a pleasure to watch. Matthias is becoming a true centre that embraces the role.
“Sukh rolled out on a play today and was hauling it down the field… looking for someone to lay into. It was a pleasure to watch on film”..
“The OLine will be a big reason we will win games this year and are not our Achilles Heal”.

 
Import Receiver: Thomas Mayo
“He’s an explosive player that has become the most consistent in camp. It’s up to the games for them all to show what they can do, but they all have their moments”.

 
11 Days between Pre-Season and Regular Season
“I love it. It will allow the guys to come out flying for that first game”.

 
First Pro Game Jitters
“I remember taping my wrists so tight that my hands were purple. I know I must have been nervous until my first whack…It’s a great game”.

So, Ed Tait talks to MOS about playing against Walby:
 
"I was standing around a pile and I just get blasted from behind...I get splashed by Bluto. He then helps me up and says, 'Sorry, a guy pushed me.' I watched film..He just ran up, knocked me down and jumped on me. But... I love the guy. He's fun to be around."

This deserves a quote:

Thanks for the reports everyone . They're much appreciated. 

Thanks for the reports everyone . They're much appreciated. 

Thanks for the reports everyone . They're much appreciated. 

Thanks for the reports everyone . They're much appreciated. 

Thanks for the reports everyone . They're much appreciated. 

Good luck to you guys this year. Hope you have a great year, the fans deserve it. Except against us of course.  Looking forward to another year of CFL football and talking trash. Cheers!

I went to practice today...not very many fans there...and despite not being sunny, the weather was still enjoyable.
One of the first things I noticed was that there was quite a bit more sustained activity than there was last year. My son and I actually felt bored at times watching practice last year...not sure if it is because Lapo is running things or because Belfueille was just that bad.
During practice also noticed that Richie Hall was very involved, in stark contrast to Tim Burke who always stood around with his arms folded.
There were some players who caught my attention for one reason or another.
Impressed so far with Alex Vitt, who ran plenty today and can catch. He is not a speed demon but is fast enough and looks like he can handle the rough going.
Also impressed with Gerrard Sheppard #88, tall and rangy, who seems to glide when he runs, and catches virtually everything thrown at him. Also Kevin Cone looks good, perhaps a tad slower.
Julian Talley is wearing Denmark's old number...and looks like he might be as good as, if not better.
All the running backs look good, and Carlos Anderson #34, looks fully healed. #32 Tim Flanders looks very good as well.
On defence...Trent Corney #43 is very fast and looks very strong. Looks like he will have to learn more technical aspects as he did not beat all the lineman he faced like he may have thought he would.
Taylor Loffler #16 is tall with plenty of speed, might be a very nice surprise.
#90 Emmanual Dieke, is tall, fast, and strong, he beat several of the lineman with ease. (just watch, he will be one of the first cuts because I said this).
both the punters were hitting some good ones today with good hang time.
It was an enjoyable practice to watch, especially with no long break to cut up the practice.
 
 
 
 
 
 

http://www.bluebombers.com/2016/05/05/188500/
 
Kyle Walters is scrolling through page after page of player evaluations, the information quickly flickering on the monitor in the Winnipeg Blue Bomber GM’s office like a picture flip book.
To his right is an enormous white board, featuring the names of some of the players the Bombers are tracking heading into next Tuesday’s Canadian Football League Draft. There are numbers in brackets, representing player evaluations and grades. There are notations scribbled in as updates. And, frankly, the whole mess looks like something only the Enigma machine could decode.
Now, make no mistake, this is hardly something the Bombers GM has hurriedly slapped together in an attempt to cram for the annual talent grab that is the draft. The draft has always been one of Walters’ passions, dating back to his days as an assistant coach with the Bombers. He’s been through it now from all angles, first as a second-round pick (10th overall) of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1996, then as an assistant coach and assistant GM with the Bombers and now as the man steering the ship on draft night.
And, as much work as it is, he absolutely loves every minute of it.
“It’s awesome. It’s very exciting,” said Walters in an interview with bluebombers.com this week. “It’s a lot of work. I mean, the day after the draft next week I’m flying to Montreal for the East-West Bowl, which showcases players for next year’s draft.
“I remember going home for the holidays this winter and my film work started Dec. 20th. And it took a long time to get through it all.”
Getting through it all represents the bulk of the work, covering months and months of research.
During a 45-minute chat this week, Walters broke down how the club prepped for next Tuesday’s draft:
-The work for the draft begins, as Walters explained, at the annual East-West Game that features CIS players heading into their CFL draft year. This year’s game is at Molson Stadium in Montreal and includes three days of practices, a combine for those participating and a CFL free-agent camp. That’s where the evaluation process really begins in earnest.
-In September, the CFL will provide a list of every player who is draft eligible. This year’s number was 594 and CFL teams then begin whittling through those names to see which players are still active on a CIS or NCAA roster. After that process, the list had been cut almost in half, down to 300.
-Walters and Ted Goveia, the club’s Assistant GM & Director of Player Personnel, then work their schedules so that during the fall, they are watching all the CIS players they can, taking in at least one live game of every CIS team. Danny McManus, the Assistant GM & Director of U.S. Scouting, and Drew Morris, the National Scout, will do the same for the Canadians playing in the NCAA.
Along the way, they are conducting as many interviews as possible with college coaches and pro liaisons – NCAA schools have staff strictly to handle inquiries from NFL and CFL teams about their players – as well as athletic therapists, teammates, etc. all in an effort to compile as much information as possible about a prospect.
-After watching at least three games of each prospect live or on film, Walters then puts together a 25-play video clip of all 300 players on their list which shows both the good and the bad, strengths and weaknesses. That begins a grading process (out of five) that the Bombers use which works like this:
That process then pares the list even further and the Bombers develop a Top 50 list from which Walters, Goveia, and Head Coach Mike O’Shea put together written reports
That ranking process takes into account a player’s ability, but also some of the intangibles like character/leadership and injury concerns.
Those grades are adjusted after the annual CFL Evaluation Camp held in Toronto which includes player testing, interviews and drills.
The process hardly stops there. As the list is adjusted, the Bombers’ brain trust begins digging even more for answers. Follow-up interviews with college coaches are conducted and, if there are injury concerns, more questions are asked. Just how diligent are the Bombers in all this? Last week, the club flew in four prospects they are interested in to have their own medical staff conduct examinations.
This year’s draft is especially deep along the offensive line – the Bombers have seven O-linemen ranked with first-round grades of 4.9-5.0 – and has good talent at the receiver and linebacker positions as well.
The Bombers have seven selections in the draft: 9th, 10th, 28th, 37th, 46th, 55th and 64th. Their first-round selection, which would have been second overall, was forfeited when they grabbed linebacker Garrett Waggoner in the supplemental draft. Asked if he felt any differently about forfeiting that pick to add Waggoner, Walters said:
“I’m cautiously optimistic on him coming back and improving. He played all the games last year and showed he was pretty good. Relative to the other first-round players drafted last year, he had a similar impact. We also knew that Graig Newman was likely headed to free agency (he signed with Saskatchewan this winter). I still think Garrett Waggoner’s athleticism is still something to watch.”
Surrendering their first-round pick means that for the first time since 2010, the club will not have a pick in the top 3. But they do pick back-to-back to start the second round, at the 9th and 10th spots. The 9th pick came as part of the trade that sent Chris Greaves to the Edmonton Eskimos last year.
“With two picks in the top 10, we know we’re going to get two guys we like,” said Walters.
As well, the additions of Matthias Goossen and Sukh Chungh through the draft (both are starters on the offensive line now) as well as depth guys like Jesse Briggs, Derek Jones, Brendan Morgan and Chris Normand (plus, a possibly healthy Addison Richards this year), means the Canadian talent cupboard is no longer barren.
Still, the draft is always a search not only for depth players who can compete on special teams, but for potential homegrown stars.
“There’s much less desperation this year for us,” Walters said. “You always want to add to your O-line depth. Every single team every single year is going to say that. But in the last couple of years we were saying, ‘Boy, we need a kid to come in and dress and play at some point.’
“We’re deeper in certain areas, now we’re looking at upgrades who can maybe beat somebody out. That’s kinda nice rather than we have to draft this position because we don’t have a guy there.”

http://www.bluebombers.com/2016/04/29/187924/

Stoudermire was wildly inconsistent last year, no surprise.

Went to camp yesterday morning....wanted to comment on the Fan experience at camp. Walking up to the Bomber store there was a Bomber Ambassador standing outside. "Good morning going to camp?" Yes. "Would you like a roster of the players?" yes please. "Have a great day!"
Into the store girl behind counter "Good Morning"...just before leaving the store another Ambassador..."hope you have a good time" I said never had this happen before...he says "we're here to serve you" Wow...step outside another one "seating is to your left, hope you enjoy"
This was a very good experience by whoever organized this!!!
a few observations...
speed...speed...speed. Virtually all the receivers and both running backs. Lochard not as fast as Harris but not a slouch either. Catches well out of the backfield. Harris looks very good, running and catching out of the backfield.
The receivers? Did I say speed? All looked very good catching passes, but beside my favs, Dressler and Smith, all the rest except for two were catching consistently rather than dropping. The two exceptions were #72 Pinkard and #70 R. Collins, who both dropped a few. Particularly impressive for me was Spencer Davis #88...tons of speed and makes it look easy catching whatever is thrown his way.
Willy was on yesterday morning as was Nichols. But Davis who I understand was good the day before was overthrowing and inaccurate many times.
I didn't really pay attention to the O line. Looks like we will probably have many more quick hitters this year, and screen passes in different ways.
Walked away pretty impressed despite no defense.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Very short summary of today:
I'm developing a serious crush on Davis.  I do not recall EVER looking at one of our backups and saying this guy legitimately could be a starter in the CFL someday.  Davis is that guy.  Accurate passes with snap on them.  Hitting the back shoulder on the back shoulder throws, not just putting it in the catching radius.  Dropping the balls in sweetly on the deep routes.  Minding the details of how he uses his body in play action, and using those practise reps to perfect his read-option pulls.  I never thought I'd have this many good things to say about a QB who isn't even going up against a defence, but he's doing every little detail right.
Okay, deep breaths....
The other QBs were good-ish.  Willy was underthrowing a little today, and several times receivers were slowing to wait for the ball.  Nichols was a bit erratic with his aim.  The other guy just seems alright, kind of average in the sense that he has done nothing bad or good to catch my eye.
#60 (Bond) seems pretty athletic for a buffet buster.  He was lined up at left guard next to Bryant.  Gets downfield quickly to throw a block on the first run play, then follows it up on the next play by pulling around the right side to give a healthy pop in the blocking pad to the U of M kid simulating pressure.  He's mobile.
#82 (Smith) had the only outright drops of the day that I noticed, 2 of them.
#14 (McDuffie) is a really fast dude.
Lapolice seems to be in his glory out there.  The coach is doing some serious coaching, and receivers are not getting away with cheating their routes.
Harris was showing some real burst through the line on his runs.  Lochard might have decent receiving skills, but that burst is something I don't think he can match.
Poor fullbacks off in the corner practising by themselves.  I guess they're the kickers of mini-camp.

Maybe it is the fresh spring air, but I am more excited for this season than I have been for a long time, even counting the year IGF opened. My nature demands that I assume I will be let down, but for now? Let optimism reign!