Booch

Martin came here in playing shape...he was a victim of crap all around him...and directing him...it's too bad he couldn't have been brought back under a better overall system

thats a question I was wondering as well..Bladek can't be expected really this year, and when he might be, he won't be jumping right into action, and he was still pretty hit and miss as it was as a player..more misses than hit's and the time off from injury isn't going to help him progress..Leaves them with and aging and declining Blake and Labatte...who is now injury prone...and no real Canadian depth to back them up...sure they will throw Shepley's name out there as depth, or even a starter but huge question mark there and I doubt he will be a above average lineman in immediate future...They have to middle of the road Import tackles and that is being generous....and after that....a whole load of steaming nothing...how they didn't take a O-lineman in their first 2 picks is baffling, and to address this swiss cheese in the next 1-2 years will require bigger SMS dollars to try and attract a free agent....that offense is going to be worse than last year I bet...Powell is going to be second guessing his decision to sign there by week 4

Actually yeah for his draft year and position was one of the top testers...he's going to be a Jefferson clone with more speed if he pans out

Yeah being able to keep Foketti this long is amazing...must speak volumes to the locker room..culture and staff Player I am anxious to see is Alex Mcalister..the DE outta Florida..if his head is in the right space again he is a dark horse to make the roster..was actually discussion of shock when he was let go in NFL..he's a first round talent..

Haha..

No real need for him really..we will have Kongbo..as well as Roh..and the Jeff's...plus he will be a 120k+ cap hit most likely

possible SMS money freed up for Soli??...be nice to keep him outta the Rider's grimey mitts

Actually the game where we stuffed CGY about 3 or 4 times from inside the 3 yard line he was key in that...and what was funny that the play they scored was the play they subbed him out lol This was an instance tho with Faith that we picked a run stuffing specialist (situational player), which what he had been and trained as and tried to totally convert to something else to suit the Canadian game as a more versatile style of DT...and therein lied the problem as he was struggling with it, and we just couldn't afford the SMS hit to develop it in him...wasn't practical. I watched the guy and he was a beast, and very stout but totally not suited to a Canadian DT spot...round peg in square hole scenario...Now if we played an exclusive 3-4 true nose tackle defense..where he occupied spce, pushed the pocket and kept the attention of the center/guards..he would have thrived more..probably still been here

guys who are forced to quit due to injury, ones with no history of it, or ones who after 3 years decide to do other things after playing 3 full seasons..are not busts...sorry...Ekakite..Etienne..Pencer..Richards...those are busts in the draft process.

yup

Corney was far from a bust...awesome special teamer and productive in his rotational reps...the fact that he hung up the cleats for injury/health concerns doesn't equate bust..you can never forshadow that and he never had injury issues in college..Waggoner as well...played great and could have stepped into the starting safety role as he had a better skill set than Loffler...but how can you tell after 3 years the guy is gonna go peddle online water stuff...you can't In regards to Eli..it doesn't take much for a football O-line man to get back to football shape, unless they seriously went another direction and dropped 70 to 100 pounds, and from what I have heard he is same weight as when he played..plus or minus 5 to 10 pounds..so he has all the time leading up to, and during camp to get in "football shape" whatever that is as in these days, all players stay in football shape other than game wind but you can't get that until you start camp..so he is not behind anyone in that regard..I wouldn't be surprised he starts coming out of camp

Decent stab at depth chart, but I don't see 3 national receivers to start..especially since we don't need to as you have 8...I would for moment switch simonese with Washington.

Actually the rb pick was a good one..especially since we grabbed Eli..which appears to be the plan as we seemed to have insider info he was wanting to play again that most people didnt have. Another olineman wasnt a need and would be overkill..and Irons and Oliviera were a toss up..each had things in their arsenal that are better than each other.. and I think in end Oliviera will be the better all around guys and the fact he is local means we wont see him dissapear in a few years..so a smart pick. Also a higher ranked receiver would also be overkill.. no room for one anyway with our 4 man depth as it is now for what will be 2 spots..and just cause some of the media speculates 3 imports on the oline doesn't mean management sees it that way..I'd be beyond shocked with that scenario considering the nationals we have vying for 2 spots. We are going to go same as last year..national safety and 6 on offence..but will have nice ratio flex on defense if required..you could even see where Kongbo is 100 percent times with a national on the line and 5 import db's...

I think it was more due to being hurt..the rehab. The process..from my experience over my years some guys when hurt say eff it..I'm done..but true ballers once healed..end up like a caged bull..and crave to get back..I think this is the case here..especially with high end players

Yeah I am pretty stoked with the Eli pick..guy is a beast and if he is anywhere near football ready..can see him actually stepping right in at some point this year..he's good We have a pretty damn good supply/depth in national high end oline talent..not to mention 2 of the top 4 import tackles to bookend them with..if I recal correctly too..Eli can play center or tackle

A year or two down the road can totally see those 3 in the interior...and I would bet too that the flyin Hawaiian actually becomes a better center than Goosen

and you forget Neufeld..who is no slouch either and brings nastiness to the line..and has been injury free for over 2 season's now for those who used to go on and on about that

Walters press conference for one...he is related to Mcmanus wife's family..they have talked to him a lot..he has expressed desire to play again...and is excited it's Winnipeg as he has some family ties to here as well...not verbatim but close enough to what he said

yup

i know...fantastically true hahaha

even with the injury..I think Kongbo was best player available in the draft..also I think that Tavita is the best o-lineman available, and now that he wants to get back playing....that was the steal of draft in the 5th round amazingly...a 3 year starter at a Div 1 school says something

pretty good draft this year...possibly could have 4 guys make the roster out of camp...really like the Kongbo pick..guys a beast..loves playing AND the big factor wants to be here and sign..he will be a perfect rotation piece this year with the Jeff's as he gets his feet wet in the CFL game...and Love the Asotui pick..a top 1-3 pick nabbed in round 5...doesn't take o-lineman much to get back to playing form and I am sure he has been still training and has most his size...most 6'4" 300+ pound Samoan's stay big anyway...so if the fire is there, combine him with our 4th pick..Gray..Speller and Couture and our young lineman pipeline is just fine. Like the Olivera pick too...him and Augustine give us good depth now, and I wouldn't mind, or be surprised to see sets with one of them in the Backfield with Harris, or with Harris in a slot position at times...taking wear and tear off of him and also allowing him to be a mismatch as a receiver against defenses'

and is rumoured not a good team guy, and was disliked by a lot of teamates...take it for whats it's worth

HE absolutely is who i would grab with 5 or 4 pick...he won't be there with our 3rd pick and can totally see him being..or eclipsing what Boakeng has done in Edmonton

we go o-line/dline I believe in our first 2 picks, I would like Kongbo over Betts personally and i can see us with 3rd pick going best player available who is a DB type player if any of value are left, if not then its the best Reciever /RB available