Mr Dee

Pretty good mixture of mild pleasant surprises, potential starters, potentials with actual potential and see-how-much-more-they-develop-back-to-school projects. They seemed to have covered their board well. Also, it's nice to hear potential newcomers anxious to play for MOS because they have heard good things about him.

Here's the Bombers draft through the eyes of John Hodge. Extra information if you will.. Round 2 Pick 9: DE Trent Corney, Virginia Corney is arguably the best Canadian defensive end prospect since Ricky Foley was drafted fourth overall by the Lions in 2006. Many scouts were surprised Corney went unselected in April’s NFL draft, which speaks to the value of this selection. Corney will immediately make an impact on Winnipeg’s special teams and should serve as a rotational pass rusher. The Virginia product projects as a starting defensive end at the CFL level. Round 2, Pick 10: OL Michael Couture, Simon Fraser A player who many predicted would be selected third overall by his hometown BC Lions, Couture is an athletic centre who projects as an interior CFL offensive lineman. Undersized throughout his collegiate career, Couture was able to bulk up to 292 pounds this past off-season, dramatically raising his draft stock. Couture is friends with fellow Simon Fraser product and starting Blue Bomber centre Matthias Goossen. Round 3, Pick 19: DB Taylor Loffler, University of British Columbia Originally recruited to Boise State, Loffler is a rangy safety who boats a rare combination of size (6’4, 218 pounds) and ball-hawking ability. Loffler should immediately become one of the Bombers’ best cover players on special teams and projects as a starting CFL safety in the not-too-distant future. Round 4, Pick 28: LB Shayne Gauthier, Laval An undersized linebacker at 5’10, 223 pounds, Gauthier runs well – he ran a 4.67 40-yard dash at March’s CFL combine – and should make an immediate impact on the Bombers’ special teams units. Many scouts speak highly of Gauthier’s high motor and toughness – the two traits Mike O’Shea most covets in his players. Round 5, Pick 37: OL Zachary Intzandt, McMaster A converted defensive lineman, Intzandt boasts above-average athleticism for his 6’5, 304 pound frame. Intzandt is a raw talent who will likely need a minimum of two years under Bob Wylie’s tutelage before he is ready to take on a starting role on the offensive line. Round 6, Pick 46: DT Rupert Butcher, Western Butcher dominated in the one-on-one drills at the CFL combine in March. Though he boasts impressive athleticism for his 6’5, 335 pound frame, some scouts would like to see him lose 20 to 30 pounds. Butcher was expected to go as high as 20th overall in this year’s draft, making him a great value pick at 46. He’ll slot in at nose tackle behind newly acquired starter Keith Shologan and incumbent back-up Jake Thomas. Round 7, Pick 55: WR Alex Vitt, Manitoba Vitt doesn’t boast the same raw athleticism as many of this year’s CFL receiving prospects, but his strong hands and crisp route running drew a lot of attention from scouts as the off-season progressed. Born in Winnipeg, Vitt graduated from J. H. Bruns Collegiate before spending time with the Winnipeg Rifles. Vitt is the first Manitoba product drafted by the Bombers since Don Oramasionwu was selected in 2008. Round 8, Pick 63: LB Frank Renaud, Windsor Renaud was named the Lancers’ Defensive Player of the Year in 2014 and participated in the 2015 East-West Bowl. Renaud, 6’1, 215 pounds, projects as a CFL special teamer. http://3downnation.com/2016/05/10/breaking-down-the-bombers-draft-picks/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Draft - 2016 - Memo to Draft staff - No sideline standees this year please..

And here I thought it was a maneuvering move to keep his rights and he can un-retire later. He would have signed a contract, therefore, he would have to agree to retire. Otherwise, couldn't they just suspend him?

Just patiently waiting for the announcement of the Bomber cuts/roster moves. They have to release 3-4 players depending on who you believe. Hamilton released 11 players. Montreal released 10 players BC doesn't have to release anybody - they only had 74 players on their roster. Saskatchewan is handing out retirement papers in lieu of releases And no word from the other CFL teams..

Great tweet from Barnsley...

Whoa, two players in a short while that have turned down the opportunity to live and play for Regina. This goes against he grain that is everything Saskatchewan, doesn't it? In an area where the Riders are weak - Nationals, they have just turned up the dial on the desperado meter. Can't be giving away picks without the due diligence that goes along with it. And we know it can't be playing for Jones that was a factor, now don't we?

Great timing. While we've been on this elevator ride now for quite a while with Bilukidi, will he? or won't he be coming, one last chance in the NFL, etc. maybe now we have to learn how to pronounce, and spell his name. I'm willing. Its about time, it's our turn. Hey Otis, deliver him to our floor soon, will ya?

They should just leave us hosers alone, eh?

Talk about a way to disrupt a league's order of business. Nobody minds a legit opportunity to secure an NFL contract going forward, and bravo to those that do, but some of these teams are shooting arrows into the wind, and hoping to hit a legitimate target. Meanwhile, all the CFL GMs up here in the CFL, have to re-do their whole drafting board with an eye on guesswork in figuring the chances of those players returning. It sucks. And that's the way it is. The NFL lick their lips, wring their hands, put on the bib to cover their big fat guts, and select the cream of the crop. Then they spit out the bones. You'd think they would wait until we develop them a bit before they swipe them. Maybe that's the next phase.. Another reason to distrust the big boys..

Since when does it feel so good to be #2? Since when does a Winnipeg sports team nail that very lucky prize? Well, today to start. "Something tells me we're into something good.."

It's not The Enknown Poster?

The official site, plus the Blue Bomber site are going to have to raise the bar, big time, in order to provide the coverage necessary to meet the standards set by Ed Tait, in my opinion. That site should be the leader in all things Blue Bomberish. Instead, this site, and many posters break stories long before 'official word'. I can see this happening once in a while. But this is the norm. Maybe, we can see a livening up of the official site..because it's become dated.

Too much? Months and months of piddly information and now we get some, and it's too much? I get that you may not like his style, but just weed through the yardage and pull out the good stuff. For example: l liked the fact that this mini camp was the result of months of planning..I didn't know that. A play that was designed by Lapo..and he's excited about it. Looking forward to it. Again, who knew? It has been reported that players love the non-stop teaching by Lapo. Would one of our posters been able to relay that info? Lapo speaks of the tempo that they want and the speed at which they want to do things. Much better than the walk up, whatever will be, will be attitude of previous offences. I want to hear that. I like the phrase - 3 days of installation. They feel they're more prepared than if they hadn't done it this way. They carded 105 plays. That's a lot. LaPolice has implemented a communication software program. He's given his views on Willy, Dressler and Smith. This is exactly the kind of stuff I want to read about...especially because we can't see football yet.

I applaud the Bombers for recognizing that this kind of camp is something they should try. It focuses on bringing the offence together and working solely on routes, techniques and the CFL motion. It's more of a "learning the offence" type of camp. Of course, evaluation is always in the background, but it is important to have the O ready, as a group, when they face a defense. This gives them a step up. Its not the kind of camp, I don't think, that you would run every year, but it's also not the same old, same old that we have been witnessing, with very questionable results. This regime has already done their homework with evaluations and continue to do so, watching film on this minicamp. If they see more promising prospects, they will adjust the roster accordingly. See today's cuts as evidence. Drew Willy was sceptical about this kind of camp, but he has been converted. You can tell he's excited about the different kinds of routes now available for the QBs to throw to, and for the receivers to get open. http://www.bluebombers.com/2016/04/27/mini-camp-day-3-drew-willy/

Ah, there could be a problem here..

Ha, Paul Friesen getting in his pre-season shot at O'Shea... Updated roster.. So, 78 players on roster...hmm

Leon Mackey, Chase Vaughn - names in the wind. Spencer Davis - sounded better than he was I guess. Jhomo Gordon - sorry, no more time for experiments Troy Stoudermire - talent, just too many brain farts, mistakes, whatever you want to call them. Still more cuts to come I would suspect.. 4 maybe?

It's a wrap CFL.CA STAFF - Paul LaPolice has taken his ‘Coach’s Playbook’ from the studio to the practice field. Says Weston Dressler “It’s actually quite different,” said Dressler. “I was thinking it might be more similar and easier to learn, but he’s definitely changed up a lot of the terminology. And Harris...Harris likens it to the one he used to play in with the Lions under then-offensive coordinator Jacques Chapdelaine. “It’s very similar,” said Harris, “and that’s exciting to me because I did really well in that offence. “It’s a west coast-style offence and a lot of the terminology is similar but there are some new things to learn as well, and I think it’s going to evolve as well as he sees the kinds of guys he has.” AND - reader beware, Darren Cameron has a blog...and the contents are positive http://www.bluebombers.com/2016/04/27/mini-camp-recap/ things like "Drew Willy gushed about what he’s seen throughout the camp, including the post-practice offensive meetings (receivers and quarterbacks) Drew ran in the main team meeting room that went well into the late afternoon." Yech. ALSO On Periscope, O'Shea explained how this no-defence minicamp will be good for everyone..and the explanation actually made sense. This time the defence will have to be ready because the O will be more primed. More snaps can be evaluated. He says the minicamp all offence thing can change based on what the team feels it needs at that time. From minicamps straight into interviewing potential draft picks tonight. Also, evaluating the roster as it stands and where it needs to be. In case your curious, O'Shea had sneakers on again today.. https://twitter.com/wpg_bluebombers/status/725362813330288640

What do I expect OShea to say, seriously? I expect him to answer the questions posed to him from the press. Is it our fault that the questions asked are general in nature and simple in their originality?

84 bodies 75 spots. (Including the Adams family - now up to 3 members) May 1st deadline 6 free agent camps in the books - 4 free agent camps still to come. More players to be signed?

Virtual goalposts! That's the answer! Use the tracker-ball-flight technology and eliminate the guesswork. ?

Observations after watching O'Shea's press conference... -He says, in response to who will be 'camp' bodies, that there are no camp bodies here, but I thought CFL roster limits the size of TC rosters by May 1st to 75 bodies. I believe we're over that limit at this time. -It's day 2 of mini camp and today OShea is wearing sneakers as opposed to sandals on Day 1 -The offence-only concept is what they planned for and they believe it will allow the offence to be, at least, as ready as the defence when training camp starts. -They really respect Ryan Smith as a hard worker and as a good receiver..no matter his size. And from Bomber Buzz - 1. It was another efficient morning for the Lapolice Academy. As per usual with Lapolice, the Bombers started with some light work, getting the footwork of the quarterbacks and timing of the receivers’ motion down with their reverse/ghost motion inside zone runs. Although they’re only barely scratching the surface of the offensive playbook, it seems as though Lapolice’s offense will be very, very full of misdirection. 2. Lapolice installed two new route combinations with the receivers during individual position work time, the first of which being the common spacing concept, where the wide-out has a 10-yard out, the slot-back, who must release outside, has a curl, and the inside slot runs a sit....more... 3. Jeff Keeping – yes, that Jeff Keeping – was on the receiving end of two passes in the flats today. The Bombers began installing their short-yardage set, which already has a play-action pass to a lineman built in. Keeping lines up at tight end in the jumbo set, and displayed some natural abilities down-field catching two passes on drag routes. 4. Receiver groupings were the same on day two.....more.... 5. Big Travis Bond (6’6″, 329-lbs), who took the second-team reps at left tackle yesterday, worked with the starters today at left guard. Lawrence Martin, who took took the starting reps at left guard yesterday, was on the second-team, while Manase Foketi replaced Bond at left tackle on group two. Expect Jamarcus Hardrick, currently playing right guard on group-two, to get the starting reps at left guard tomorrow as the Bombers look to get all the candidates some reps with the starters to develop some chemistry ahead of training camp. 6. It’s hard – and rather pointless – to try and evaluate the talent of the players at this mini-camp without pads or a defense, but Andrew Harris is looking very explosive.....more... 7. Another player that could be in for a big season is Rory Kohlert. The CFL’s best offenses in the East Division include their field-side wide receivers in the offense, and seeing as how Paul Lapolice seems to be taking a lot of pages out Marcus Brady’s play-book out in Toronto, an individual season like 2014 could be ahead for the University of Saskatchewan alum. Bomber quarterbacks were reading the wide-side first on multiple route combinations, where the coverage responsibilities of one defender could mean Kohlert is getting a target. 8. There really aren’t any players standing out simply because everyone looks good, for the most part, against air. The real evaluating will be done when main camp opens in June. For the "more" - https://bomberbuzz.com/2016/04/26/blue-review-day-two-of-mini-camp/

As noted elsewhere, Zach Collaros is not among the QBs participating in Hamilton's mini-camp. (Still recuperating). Interestingly, other notable names are: Kickers include: former Ticat Delbert Alvarado, who was with the club briefly in 2013 before moving on to Montreal and Ottawa. Former Sask. punter Ray Early, and former RedBlack Brett Maher. Then you have Geoff Tisdale, former Ticat defensive back. Scott Mitchell, who was drafted second overall by Edmonton in 2011, signed in Toronto as free agent in 2014 and played nine games for the Argos last season, including one start. AND Also at camp, American defensive tackle Zach Anderson who was cut by the Bombers in February after their free agent spending spree. http://3downnation.com/2016/04/26/15874/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

More mini camp news from: Bomber Buzz - https://bomberbuzz.com/2016/04/25/blue-review-day-one-of-mini-camp/ 1. The first thing that stuck out to me was the actions of newly-hired offensive coordinator Paul Lapolice – everyone in the stadium could hear him coaching.....The Bombers were up-tempo all practice, maximizing the short amount of practice time. 2. The Bombers had installed a handful of basic plays – no more than seven -which they ran through today as a unit after some quick individual work. It was all three-step, short route combinations, for the most part, as well as some reverse and ghost-motion misdirection runs, and basic zone runs. The quarterbacks and receivers worked a lot on bubble screens in individual time as well as in team, which Lapolice could be rely on this season, similarly to the Eskimos in 2015. The quarterbacks were getting the ball out their hand early today. 3. Back under center after recovering from a season-ending knee injury, Drew Willy didn’t have his best day throwing the football, at least in the second session.....Willy’s knee is 100% healed up, and it’s exciting to see no. 5 back at the controls. 4. Even though arm strength/accuracy is only one piece of the puzzle, it’s always interesting to compare the quarterback’s arms to each-other. Last training camp, it was Robert Marve who clearly had the strongest arm, followed by Jordan Yantz, Josh Portis, Willy and then Brian Brohm. Who throws the best ball out of this year’s signal-callers? Dominique Davis, Brian Bennett/Drew Willy, Matt Nichols. 5. Former Baylor receiver Ernest Smith, who was signed last week, worked with the “starters” today at the Y-position, formerly occupied by Julian Feoli-Gudino. 6. It’s quite possible that Smith was moved into a role with group one as a result of Jerrell Jernigan being a no-show. According to Ed Tait, Jernigan (5’9″, 189-lbs) did touch down in Winnipeg but had to return home for family reasons. 7. Weston Dressler received the majority of snaps at boundary wide-receiver, as Darvin Adams moved into Clarence Denmark’s vacated slot-back position. Ryan Smith was in Nick Moore’s boundary slot position – looking explosive there, too – and Rory Kohlert was at his regular position at field-side wide receiver. Second-year player Spencer Davis lined up at boundary slot-back on the second-team, with Quincy McDuffie, Ricky Collins and Julian Talley in the slot, and Kris Bastien out wide. On the third team, Larry Pinkard manned the boundary at wideout, while Julian Feoli-Gudino, Jhomo Gordon and Soloman Patton worked the slot, with Justin Veltung out a field-side wide receiver. Take all this with a grain of salt, as it’s only the first day of mini-camp, and there’ll be many changes to the groupings by as early as tomorrow. 8. The club seems serious about starting Patrick Neufeld at right tackle this season. And while I feel as though the club should exhaust all their American rookie at right tackle as well, I am not against the idea of Neufeld playing there. Although he’s about a middle-tier right tackle at his best – and a below-average player at guard – that is a significant upgrade over Jace Daniels and Selvish Capers. Daniels, who is still recovering from off-season ankle surgery, will compete at left guard should Neufeld remain a book-end. Lawrence Martin took the first-team reps at left guard today, while Manse Foketi worked with the two’s.