EP77

First things first, I usually don't put too much into reffing and use as excuse, but last night was pretty bad. I'm more referring to the Ref's glee and happiness in announcing a Bomber penalty that had a big impact, more than all the non calls...but that was bad as well....and he has done that versus us several times...You are taught to keep emotions in check especially as the head ref and not show any kind of bias or what could be construed as such...I know nothing by league will be done or said about it but a fine or getting yanked for a few games should be in order
What started as actual optimism, and maybe a sense that we (coaching) have finally got it was short lived. and pretty much smoke and mirrors until the Edm coaching analyzed our game plan and made the changes to counter it....and we did not...again. Not a one off...it's a theme, and to beat the ol dead horse again but coaching (or the lack of) is our issue and it looks as if many are finally seeing it....Post game interview with Osh agian shows a total lack of...well anything...has no clue...his excuses are getting old and by game 10 should not be an issue anymore....just sad
Last game, we sorta rediscovered our offensive identity...that aligned with earlier wins, and our trademark in the distant ago glory yrs...we came out firing...actually expanded on it...did some real good thigs with the oline to make it even better...then just went totally away from it, or did anything unique off of it and went almost the whole second half before getting a single 1st down.
Now why the heck does the HC...Who has a headset on...a play sheet in front of him...has obviously been watching the game (i hope) not get on his headset and say "what the eff are you doing...get back to what was working" Just utter incompetence.... obliviousness to what's going on (you can see it on the sidelines with his clueless looks) and a lack of guts to get in a coach's face not too mention any player's...too concerned with nice guy vibes and not wanting to hurt any feelings or show doubt's....a very weak coach, and it foster's a whole lotta weak play....he show's no accountability, is asking for none....and a lot of the player's play with little...they know they safe....coaches too...I asked a buddy who was there to tell me the vibes on the Bomber sideline, and what he saw...Told me same ol Bomber sideline...too much casual attitudes...happy faces...nobody really coaching anyone up or getting in anyone's face ...no sense of any urgency or anger...Just the same ol same ol....what a shock
Our receiving group...putrid and won't take us anywhere...how much more do we need to see? Like really...What is making Osh Justify running Cobb and Nield out there?...Same with Daniels...Who for a shitkicker got trucked pretty easily on several blocking responsivities...again...Right on cue they basically did what they been doing all yr...combined gave us 4 catches for 36 yards. Not gonna be very successful when 1/2 your receiving group gives you those numbers....and wasnt just a matter of that the game flow dictated that...go back and look at their combined production over all 10 and see...its what they do...and for funnsies add in Corcoran's 6 games to it, and instead of an extra guy making it a bit better...makes it even worse...But what would you expect for a guy who would prob not make a JUCO roster
Also lost in this is Clercius who "apparently" loafed on a play gets benched and has hardly seen field since for Corcorran of all people,,,He basically catches every ball (85%) career catch rate and actually does his job in the blocking (Nield is the offense version of kelly/holm) who play like pre-pubescent girls...no offence to pre-pubescent girls but you all know what I mean...plus how many brutal drops now??
If he was being "punished" or demoted as a reason to get a bee under his saddle I think its time to flip flop him and Neild..cant be any worse than his 2 catches a game for 30 yards nonsense...at least we know he will make some blocks...
Based on post game interview...and actually you can see it now on the field but ZC is visibly frustrated with this group...basically called out some players without calling them out when pressed on some of the plays in his interview...he see's it...we see it...Coaching see's nothing...Interesting enough in the tail end of the broadcast Taylor and Brown said
that we need to do something with that group...and that there's a couple options available that we could bring in and haven't and no reason for not doing so....and also that we are not even maximizing what we have in house....another tidbit was that yes Osh refuses to use the Nationlized American rule cause he "doesn't like it" and that it is actually not benefitting us with him not using it...like what kind of a HC put's his bias ahead of the team...Smuggsy does...thats who....and it's painfully obvious in a lot of areas and should not ever happen...EVER...but here we are
We aint going anywhere anytime soon with Osh and his ways....not happening....and sadly this first quarter dominance is just gonna justify him to make no changes....cause we watched the film once again and figured it out...yeah right
The only change I see happening is if Nichols cant go....the smart move would be to Start Vaval, as he can keep up with MTL receivers...in Nichols spot bring in Texada I guess as that's all we have hanging around for DB coverage and Stuart for Novack... and drop Hazen for Singer who will serve a dual purpose...Inject some life into the WR group and give ZC another legit option and maybe open up some space and also help on returns...But that makes too much sense
Knowing osh tho...will prob bump Kelly to halfback, Start Hallett at safety and dress Jenkins for Nichols as ...well he's been here for 2 yrs
Discuss...................

First things first....Glad we won and is always what I want/hope for. But that was not a game to give anyone warm fuzzy feelings and hopes of optimism, but here are some of my takes from it
Smith....Let the kid be on the field all the time. He has shown he can be a difference and play maker at SAM and WILL....so let him grow and evolve as he is on fast track to becoming one of the best Canadian Defensive players in the league...period!
We also don't need all of Ayers, Woodbey, Wilson and Jones it's redundant and doesn't really serve a purpose. Jones sure he gets tackles but was exposed over and over in space...losing his angle on tackles and generally doesn't know where to drop back into coverage to disrupt anything. Wilson is not an all-star type anymore, but he serves a purpose and has fewer holes, still will make impact plays and can play multiple LB spots...Jones can't....use that import spot elsewhere
Woodbey is young...athletic...can play several LB spots, as well as a modified Jack...as can Ayers and while Griffen is out a starting unit of Woodbey/Ayers/Smith with Wilson as the swing guy gives us a much better crew...younger...faster..athletic...all versatile and all with upside, and experience already...Griffin back then you go Smith...Ayers/Woodbey....Griffin
Kelly...Hallett...Ball should never...ever be on the field with those 2 safety looks...ever! I guess with Ball looking to be done for the yr we can avoid that now, but that is just ridiculous, not needed for ratio and just makes us a poor defense. Isit the osh wanting to push the Canadiana?...Just ineptness in coaching...Both?...but it's pointless. And while Kramdi wasn't ideal at safety while he is out the Kelly experiment there needs to end....He has shown over 2 seasons now he isn't an answer at that 2 safety look....or at starting safety. We have Stuart who was lights out on teams...actually has HB potential....and size...so there's the guy we should slot in at Safety right now and let him grow there...Likely he becomes a staple there.
We also have the Global Oyelola...get him on the roster...see what he can do...as opposed to rotting on the PR. Relatively young...several yrs in NFL honing his game...he must have some skill to stick for almost 3 yrs...Time for his shot instead of recycling the same end of roster guys in different roles.
If it wasn't proven last night our offense and it's identity flows through BO then all the coaches should be cut loose...Used like Harris circa 2019/2021 and well we saw what can happen...and that's also one of the ways to compensate for a suspect O-line. And start installing progression plays off of it. I also would like to see us implement some packages and extended plays with Perkins...Especilly with some tempo and pre snap motions...we kinda just wastinghis skillset soley as a guy taking the plunge...Would also better set us up in 2027 for TC and having a true battle for #1 with him..Dru and TE...
WR group tho...yikes...worst in league...poorly utilize what we do have and no home run hitter let alone true #1...and that's gotta change fast. If it means bringing in Lewis...or just starting Singer or Womack....or actually go out and find a physical playmaker then do it.
Our group is small...weak...and very one dimensional. If you look at a lot of the incompletions...especially intermediate and long it's because we have no guys who will attack the ball...Demski can a bit and can make some those contested catches with guys all over him, but you shouldn't rely on a receiver built like him for that. Wilson is especially bad and has zero fight at all for the ball...he be ideal #3 as he is shifty and greasy and when gets ball in his hands in space is good at yac and making a 3 yard catch into a 10+ yd one...but he is no #1 by any stretch...Not sure what's up with Nield...can he not get open/separate?...never in right spot but man with him and Cobb out there we basically have 3 guys that are garnering any attention.
Give that spot to Big kev...he is our only physically dominant wr...has great hands...and can do something after the catch...we have seen it...and inside he would be a handful...Is he not getting the reps or that spot because Nield was supposed to be this bigtime FA score?...Wouldnt shock me with Osh...But man we are weak and wont go far in the season let alone playoffs with this crew as it is
Oline not sure what to do there other than like I mentioned create an offense to compensate..lotsa runs...lots slide protections and movement moving the QB's launch point..there's ways to accommodate but treating them and playing them like the lines we had when we won the Cups is not gonna work. And if we gonna run 3 imports on the line...all3 should be top grade beef...all 3 are not and sacrificing a skilled position player on offence for defence for that is just effectively slitting your own throte
Which leads me to my final opinion...based on what we saw in the game again...the leadup...the non urgency to change anything...we wont win or have any Cup aspirations until this team moves away from some coaches

yup...but also some of the guys could have been good..hard to know as we clung onto old vets and marginal coaches favorites...I still stand on my opinion that Osh is a lousy evaluator of talent plain and simple...and the things he looks for and parlays to his scouting staff to find doesn't translate into elite players...maybe elite people and good guys...but you need more than good guys...and definitely need some thugs and just mean nasty guys...we have zero
I not saying bad character guys before some get their panties in a twist...but some badass dudes....and a lot of times those dudes are great leaders and the team follows their way of playing...you can be badass and mean and still play within the rules
I remember Ty Jones and to a lesser extent James WEST in warmups and before the game making a point of interacting and pissing off and dissing their opponents to th point they went right off their game trying to extract retribution and neglecting their assignments... and we feasted...

White scored a TD. He wasn't the problem. Here were the problems... Problem #1: The OL couldn't stop the blitz. Problem #2: Our wideouts are a joke & it's not funny one bit. They better bring in some receivers who can go after contested balls & stretch the field. Our scouting has become a joke. Problem #3: After shutting up TSN & taking away Justin Rankin as a threat in the second half, our defense couldn't make a stop late in the fourth quarter when we absolutely had to & give up a TD. Problem #4 Injuries: Ceresna hurt, no surprise. Onterrria Wilson also hurt. Neufeld hurt. Problem #5: Turnovers. Fumbles in the first half KILLED the team. We would have scored if Oliveira hadn't fumbled. Daniels trying to leap over a tackler forgot about holding onto the football. Problem #6: Coaching This team wasn't ready to play which is no excuse for a veteran team. Just a shitty performance.

And 2 moves to the d line. Thomas out and Ceresna in.
Both lines will be vastly improved. If you subscribe to the notion that teams are only as good as their lines, you're loving this.
Receivers vastly improved with Tim White and Tommy Nield
Running back status quo (great)
QB. Zach is Zach. He will likely thrive with the overall talent built around him. But it might be nice to get a good backup.
Linebackers status quo (should be fine but obviously would be nice to be better)
DBs should be just as good if not better with Moxey
Special teams we are status quo (good)
It should be a great year.

We all agree that Wade knows what he's doing... The best in the league at his job.
Can we just have faith that he knows how best to fix this?

Bigger picture it might of done this organization some benefit long term if Edmonton had indeed snuck by us and eliminated us from post season play. This would have dictated/forced what our off season would need to look like in how we need to make some changes to the genetic makeup of this club at all levels.
Now making the playoffs might be a false positive that fakes us into continued complacency with minimal changes.
But if we win it all this year, I take everything back. 🙂

Its an ongoing problem...and like I mentioned too many guys are wayyyy to comfortable knowing they will not get yanked...let alone sat a game or 2....but thats what's needed here if for anything to see what we have....and or put some fire back in the belly of some these mainstays.....or if the "depth" can actually play and if not then get some that can....It also goes for Osh.....he has no fear of anything/job security himself so just does his thing with not a care in the world. He is slowly ruining a real good team that was gifted to him for 2019-2022 whether people wanna believe it or not with how he's handling things...and how he coaches/what he thinks is important...past success aside he should in now way be safe ....and not held accountable from above...now way in hell
2 games now have been basically over by mid 3rd quarter....did we see back-ups in to actually get reps not in the pointless last 2 mins of a game?....nope
Did he pull loafers/dumb penalty guys/underperformers ?....nope
Did he practice the 2 point convert on late TD's in each game so we had live reps for when it might really matter?....nope
Did he practice the onside kick for the same purpose...live rep practice?....nope
He added an actual rush end for a dline that was again getting no pressure or push and to keep the 2 30+ guys fresh....nope...not gonna say 5 reps was useful rostering
Did he do any savy gambles.....challenges....use of rules afforded to him...nope, tho he did use 1 challenge but coulda pulled it outta his shorts again
Did he have answers to anything going on during the game....and in questions afterwards?...nope
Is he gonna make any significant changes for next game that an injury doesn't dictate?...not likely and based on his post game babble he aint changing anything on how they do busines
Related to the last point...coming off a bye,,....where we just played a team...watched more film on them last week and should have been prepared....healthy.....motivated and coached up...were we??....again nope
That my friend's and colleagues is poor coaching....piss poor really....and the beat goes on...status quo we will roll...and likely to 4th place and outta play-offs
Yes there a lotta season left and we are 3-2....but this has been season's in the making...the erosion...country club attitude...the belief things will work out and not truly coaching up the team...based on looking backward and not forward...failing to land any significant free agent because we don't know when...how...or where to upgrade, and this insistence on not putting the best team we could on the field game in or game out...or at least trying to find the right pieces we may have in-house, so all is not lost....yrt....but a lot needs to happen for the season to turn around....and be succesful at the end .....we shall see how it goes
But hate to say I told you so....but......we almost there....flame on me all you want but it is what it is...and was totally avoidable
 

Stamps qb got busted.... thats the real trick in the cfl. You got a qb you got a chance to be good, you don't have a qb you're toast.

All in all...another disappointment, and there are several reasons for it again...constants if you may call them that and really easily solved...and many won't like hearing this and will blindly disagree, but it's easily fixed if Osh would pull his head partly out his arse. The onus this off-season is on Walters and his team to sign and bring in the talent...and also part ways with some guys...even if the coach disagrees. I cannot see Miller being happy, nor he wanting a major bedshitting at home next yr in the Cup...let alone not even getting to the Cup... 
Thru necessity and not choice we have had to get younger and thats a plus...there are some solid pieces here now to go with keeping the right vets...and thats they key part of it...right vets. And by vet i mean a guy who's been here this yr and before
Lawler and Schoen..Strev...Wilson...Clercius...BO...Demski...Woli ..MCI...Wallace....Bryant...Randolph...Eli......WJ...Nichols...Bonds...Ford...Holm...Griffin...Kramdi...Kelly...Cole...Garbutt....Woods....Adams...Lawson...was on fence with Haba but he stepped up so deserves another shot......Ayers...Hubert..,,Samson...Chris Smith deserves another shot....Person....Qb Wilson....Hubert deserves another camp....I'd love to see Notree back....thats the core we need to focus on retaining....fill in around that...everyone not mentioned who wasn't primarily a ST guy should not be back...and saves up some serious SMS bucks...and makes us younger...hungrier....better
On the fence with ZC and his hefty contract....he will be another yr older and do we want another season of stats only to stumble in play-offs? It seems to be the trend and not a one off....
We have the guys to maintain a core like we seem to like to do...but a younger core....and we need to go that route...and this is totally up to our HC now to do the right thing(s) 
We are set up for continued sustained success....but we need to bring the right players along for it...We need a stud interior dlineman to augment what we have...we need a legit difference maker linebacker...we need a real returner....we need another proven Canadian offensive lineman...we need a real punter....I see 5 dire needs...which isn't a lot in the grand scheme....and the biggest thing we need to do is construct the roster and the PR aa an entity that compliments and covers it....no more carrying wasted spots....or guys all yr that will never bump anyone off...we seem to do that a lot too
And the biggest key...we need to dress and play the best players we have...regardless of birth certificate and or position...and if that means moving pieces around and switching ratio spots...so be it

I guess … except if we get an injury at pretty much any position other than the defensive secondary.
Augustine is not a full time running back (although we’d go American there), Jeremy Murphy is nowhere near as proven as BOLO nor does he bring the same toolset, our DL depth is nowhere near as good as some of these other teams, our OL depth has been thinner than it’s ever been. We’ve got 7-8 starting calibre players and a bunch of kick chasers. That’s about it and that’s not good enough for a team with championship aspirations. The draft will be huge for us. 

It's not wrongful dismissal. They didn't dismiss her, they simply didn't pick up her next contract.
Corroboration of at least the bus part of the complaint should be easy, but we don't even have that yet, but assuming the story is true, and we only have her side of it, it's workplace harassment & likely uttering threats.
People need to stop throwing around terms like 'Sexual Predator'. It weakens the term so much as to be useless. Asking a girl out, even multiple times, and complaining that she was going out with someone else on a bus doesn't rise to the level of Sexual Predator.  
Everyone jumping on the bandwagon to 'protect' her after only hearing her side of the story is exactly why they went to the media in the first place. Kelly & Murphy have already been convicted in the court of public opinion. The Argos can't attack her or the story without coming off as evil. IMO that's why we won't see anything in the press from there side. 

I was lucky to see him play at the WPG Stadium. I was 9 when I saw him and Leo Lewis , Funston and Ernie Pitts play . I could go on but I was teared up when I saw this he was a legend a great Man I have my BB jacket signed by him at the 2012 Grey cup. 4 cups a MANitoban !! The best I have ever seen!

If Bombers lose Jeffcoat and one of either Oliveira or Schoen, should be money in the kitty to go after Mathieu Betts.

Nah, Schmeckel may be bad but he's not the worst all time. The two worst players over the past 60 years I ever saw play were two qbs... John Schneider & Jason Boltus. They were damned awful. 

Time for us to face reality and admit the Bombers are no longer the best team in the league this year, if they ever were. No part of this team can legitimately claim to be the best- not the quarterbacking, not the receivers, not the d-line, not the linebacking nor the d-backs, and certainly not the special teams who are anything but. Brady Oliveira is a bright spot.
I see the same pattern emerging as last year where the Bombers stumbled late in the season, bumbling their way to victories but spiraling downward through the playoffs and finally crashing in the Grey Cup game. It just seems to be happening earlier this year. O'Shea and Co. seem to be just fine with the current level of play and obvious holes in the roster.

Are you under the impression that people working from home don't actually work?

this is really just a silly, nonsensical piece, but from the Bombers section: 
 
WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
NOTABLE
RET Janarion Grant
As explosive and smooth as any return man in the league, Janarion Grant has to stay in Winnipeg or he’ll make them pay with a game-changing play, the same way he boosts the Bombers win probabilities every time he touches the ball.
UNLIKELY
REC Shaq Evans
Shaq Evans needs a change of scenery and the Bombers could be just what the doctor ordered. I’m not sure of his pure fit here, but I could see his production returning to his breakout season in Saskatchewan and he’d certainly spice up Labour Day Weekend.
LOCK:
REC Greg Ellingson
He loves Collaros, and he should. They were meant to play football together.
PERSONAL REQUEST
DL Micah Johnson
This would be chaos, but as my mind wanders through this article creation process I had to laugh at how ridiculous Willie Jefferson and Jackson Jeffcoat would be with Micah Johnson eating up multiple players inside.

1. Parker - only guy who could tackle. 7 in total and most were because he made a great play 
2. Lawrence - made some plays 
3. Brown . Over 300 yards and 3 tds with a make shift oline and your starting RB basically playing 1 quarter 
HH - Bailey.
Honorable mention to Grant.  
HHH to all the Bomber fans in BC tonight. Looked like several hundred If not thousands 

-Friggen TSN. Breaks away immediatly before the players are off the field for a coverage and breakdown of,a basketball game. Finally return to the CFL, get part way through the game report and stop it for breaking news. The post game talk by the basketball coach. What a joke.

Im sad. Lost a ton of good players today.

I didn't get a chance to watch the replay until after I posted what I posted (I watched it live on a phone screen, and at that size and with Suitor/Cuthbert saying it just seemed like basic hand-fighting, I took it as such). Since I have now, I agree.
Also, I think Jones was referring to the roster fines he/the team received when he said he's fined for things other teams aren't. (He's wrong on that, too, of course!)

Did anyone ask why the f did they leave in Brohm

I don't even understand that sillyness anyway.  Cut Marve for ... Partridge?  Moniz?  Sunseri?  All of those are downgrades and only barely serviceable at best.  Our QB situation is fine and doesn't need fixing.
 
Our O-line ??? No thanks to those doosh's at TSN I have no idea what kind of shape that's in, but I expect we're better in that department.
 
I only hope our holes on defense have been because Hall is intentionally going vanilla so he can throw the ripples at Darrian Durant come opening night but if that isn't the case .... Maybe we can call up Randy Melvin and tell him he has a job as DC here.