Dr. Blue

Judging by the interview with Walters after Nichols was signed, I believe they are going with Davis as the number 2. http://www.bluebombers.com/2017/01/18/walters-on-re-signing-nichols/

Oh how I would love to see Hervey trade away Franklin's rights, right before he's to become a free agent, to another team other than the Riders just out of spite for Jones. I can't see Hervey doing any favours for Jones after everything that went down when Jones and the whole coaching staff left. Franklin's rights next year could give the Eskimos at least a 4th round draft pick and a conditional 2nd, but I would think it would be a conditional 1st rather than 2nd.

I think if Milanovich was to get fired, he would probably leave the CFL for the NCAA.

Meh on Lankford. Let's see what he's got in mini camp. If he still sucks, cut him. Don't forget, according to riderfans, everybody who is not a rider sucks.

I heard the Riders were going to have a reality show this year, kind of like the bachelor. 16 QBs will live in a house in Regina, each getting to start a game. At the end Jones will give their next staring QB a rose...

I will have to take your word on that. Reading anything on that site gives me a headache.

I don't think they had a lot more playing time than Davis. So because Davis hasn't had playing time, that means he's not qualified to be number 2? All the guys I listed are starters in the CFL, I never said let's make Davis the starting QB. They were all given an opportunity, mostly due to injuries, and made the most of it. The majority of them did it within the first 2 to 3 years of their CFL career. If you constantly bury a guy on the depth chart, he'll never get the opportunity to get the playing time you require him to be a backup. From John Hodge: http://3downnation.com/2017/01/19/matt-nichols-signs-3-year-extension-bombers-means/ Guys like Franklin and Jennings (2015) were apparently making league minimum as rookie QBs in the league. Try to find a development guy like that, who wants to come here for that money, and spend the difference (~$110,000) to make the rest of your team better. Also, don't forget that Glenn has to agree to come here to be the backup and those terms. Just because you want him, doesn't mean he doesn't see himself as a starter in this league.

With Beau Baldwin being named the OC with the Cal Golden Bears... put whoever their next starting QB is on our Neg List.

No I don't think it's easy. However, I do think that if the organization is doing their job properly, a guy should be ready to be a backup in his third season in the league and on his second contract. The scouting staff has to identify the right player, GM needs to bring that player in, and the coaching staff has to make sure they are ready to go when their number is called. Like I've said, I don't know if Davis is the answer, but how long does a guy have to be around to be considered a viable backup? Looking at the QBs around the league it seems like somewhere around year 2 or 3 they were given an opportunity to play and they ran with it. If you surround a new QB with crap, like the 2013 Bombers, yeah there is little chance for him to succeed. If he's actually put in a spot where he has a chance to succeed, he may surprise you. Spend the extra money it would cost to bring that experienced backup QB, to make your team better and to keep your staring QB clean, he's your best chance to win. If he does go down, the next guy up has a chance to succeed. Travis Lulay – Started games in year 2, became full time starter in year 3. Jonathon Jennings – starter midway through first year. Mike Reilly – Starter Year 3 in the CFL. Bo Levi Mitchell – saw action in year 2, became full time starter in year 3. Darian Durant – 1 year on the PR, 1st year on active roster he was a backup, 2nd year saw playing time, 3rd year he was named the starter. Zach Collaros – Became a successful starter in his second year, due to an injury to Ricky Ray. Kevin Glenn – Became a starter in his fourth season. Trevor Harris – starter, due to injury, after 3 years in the CFL. Henry Burris – started games in his third year, until he suffered season ending injury. He then became a full time starter in his fourth year. Matt Nichols – He started games in his second year, and was thought to be the next starting QB, until season ending leg injury. He then tore his ACL in preseason the following year. He started a number of games in every season. Drew Willy – He was named the starting QB in Winnipeg in his third year in the CFL. Ricky Ray – started games in his first year, due to an injury to Maas, and led the Eskimos to Grey Cup appearance.

Ricky Ray goes down and and Zach Collaros, who only played in one regular season at that point, steps in and was successful. Lulay goes down and Jennings steps up and takes the job. I know those are only two examples, but it's not impossible to have success. The coaching staff and management must see something in Davis, if they believe he can be a #2, or else why bring him back. But because he doesn't have game reps he'll never be any good?

I read an article the other day about the Riders trying to or should go after Lulay. Wally flat out said he's not going anywhere. I believe the Bombers will go with Davis as #2 and a rookie at #3 to develop. I don't know if Davis is the answer, haven't really seen a lot of him, but I have a feeling that the organization trusts that Davis can carry the load at #2, and would prefer to spend the extra cash to improve other areas. How long does a guy have to be the #3 before he can be trusted as the #2? At some point you have to trust that your coaching staff has done their work and got the guy ready to play. The guy can't be a developnent project forever. I think a vet backup is good to have when you have a young QB who is a new starter. Also, when was the last time a backup QB won the Grey Cup? I don't believe Ottawa wins the cup last year with Harris. The league has become so competative that it would be very difficult to win it all with a backup. Your best bet is to win with your number 1 guy, so do your best to keep him clean.

If he's traded, he doesn't really have a choice. I didn't realize that he's 32. With his injury history he's really been able to extend his career by not pursuing other opportunities in other cities where he could have started. He seemed happy to just hold the clipboard and get paid in Calgary.

I would think that Hervey's asking price from Jones for Franklin just went up too.

I've read a few tweets from rider fans that everything is going to be okay, and that next year either Franklin or Reilly will be a rider. My question is... Does Jones make it that far if the team struggles terribly without a number 1 QB this year?

I Whonder if he's any good?

Looks like the Als and Riders have had trade talks about Durant. LOL at Jones who asked for Adams in return. The Als gave up a first rounder for him with 0 experience, but Jones wants them to give him up after a year as a backup and for a QB who will become a FA in just over a month. I actually see this as more of a non tampering way for the Als to hint to Durant that they have interest in him. I really don't see many other suitable options out there for Durant, except for us, but I think we'll sign Nichols. He'll be the starter in Montreal and get paid. http://3downnation.com/2017/01/06/riders-alouettes-engage-darian-durant-trade-talks/

Curious why you would think that it is a super bold move to NL a junior? A junior can declare for the NFL draft if they like. Any player playing college ball should be looked at for possibly adding to the neg list. http://3downnation.com/2016/12/26/cfl-guide-post-christmas-ncaa-bowl-games/ From Justin Dunk's article on players to watch in bowl games. Montreal Kenny Hill TCU QB - Junior KaVontae Turpin TCU Rec- Sophomore Saskatchewan Trace McSorley Penn State QB - Sophmore BC Deondre Francois Florida State QB - Freshman Lamar Jackson Louisville QB - Sophmore

I believe that I read that after Willy was traded and Glenn was brought in that Davis actually took all the second team reps in practice. Glenn was there for an emergency like in 2007. If the same situation that happened in 2007, happened last year, I think it's a no brainer that Glenn is the starter. Just because a player hasn't started doesn't mean he can't play. There has to be a reason why Davis was getting 2nd string reps. I think if Nichols is signed, Davis is number 2, and a new project at number 3. I just don't think you invest the time and money into Davis and then toss it away like that.

Lorenzo Ward, Fresno State's DC last year, made $86,892 last year. Nick Toth, the inside linebackers coach (previously DC), made $150,000 I don't think that is a whole lot different than what he would have made up here. http://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/salaries/football/assistant

It looks like Steinauer was never going to be in play for us, which make me sad. He had signed a contract extension through 2017 with an out if something like this came up. Is there anybody out there that is available that is worth bringing in? I've got a feeling that we will be stuck with Hall's soft defense for another year.... http://3downnation.com/2016/12/14/ticats-orlondo-steinauer-new-defensive-coordinator-fresno-state/

I thought that I read somewhere that Reed was recommended for the GM position by Chapdelaine. I'm glad that's not us!

I think Thorpe may still be under contract in Montreal for one more year. Last year when he tried to bolt to Edmonton, it was said that he had two more years left on his contract with Montreal. That would mean 2016 & 2017, unless the new coach decides they want a different DC and release him. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/noel-thorpe-alouettes-popp-1.3375729

As it was mentioned before, the Bombers were not in a position to draft BPA. They desperately needed OL, which we still need. We specifically needed a C at the time. Goossen was the BOLA, as the draft class was pretty underwhelming for OL. Duvernay-Tardif and Foucault have yet to make it to the CFL, and Player (drafted in the 2nd round) has already bounced around the league, including a cup of coffee with the Bombers. If they don't take Goossen, where does that leave them? The CFL scouting bureau is not the be all end all. Teams have their own scouting department for a reason. I'm still not even sure they are now in a position to draft BPA. We still need an OL in the first round and should also really be looking at a receiver. As for Durant, maybe the Bombers interviewed him and something about him turned them off. The guy did slide down pretty far in the draft, so it wasn't just the Bombers who didn't like something.

I believe Maciocia fired Chapdelaine.

I'm not saying Franklin is the next great QB, but he has shown a lot more than Justin Goltz ever had. A few years ago everybody was saying how Mike Reilly was the next great thing, he is pretty darn good. His sample size was pretty low at only 76 pass attempts. How did everyone know that? Franklin has thrown 157 passes already and completed 65% of those. There could be something there. Of course Drew Willy had similar numbers too, before he was broken...