TrueBlue4ever

Reminder to all that a new batch of Grey Cup replica rings were shipped in and will be available at the Bomber stores throughout the stadium. $50 or $35 for season seat holders. And I picked up Paul Friesen’s “Against All Odds” book yesterday detailing the Grey Cup run from the acquisition of Collaros at (and almost after) the trade deadline, Streveler’s injury and rehab from what should have been a season ending injury, a flu bug that hit the team Grey Cup week, and the emotions of the players during and after each of the 3 playoff games. A very good inside look at just how much lined up right for the team during that 7 week span, and how much luck, circumstance, grit and will falls into place on any championship run, no matter how good the team is. Lots of inside info I had no idea about, an excellent companion to Tait’s book.

Doug Brown was on OB last last and hinted (well,downright said) that Van Zeyl’s absence was due to the “game day flu” a.k.a. afraid to line up against Willie Jefferson again after the Grey Cup domination so opted out. Brown said he has seen it multiple times in his playing days where an unfavourable match-up led to a sudden “injury” and game absence to the lesser combatant.

Be careful what you wish for.

Curious to see how the FG game pans out. Almost forgot what it is like not to have gimmes all the time, and Medlock won us a lot of games on his leg alone that even a miss or two would have turned into a loss.

Fair points Bubba. Hopefully we have the personnel to open up the pass game. I am not quite as confident as 17to85 in that regard. Hope I am wrong. Losing our best deep threats in Adams and Whitehead has not helped. Maybe Bailey is our new burner?

Was at the Bomber Store yesterday and found out that ALL entries will be at Gate 1 (the gate next to the store) so get there even earlier than you had planned.

I have been going to games for 40 years, and I don’t remember the last time I have been so looking forward to attending a game (see the Kickoff Countdown). The championship banner, the season opener, and a lost year to the pandemic have made this one extra special.

Maybe just maybe LaPo knew what kind of personnel he had and operated the offensive plan around it. Call it neutering if you want, but Harris was the known talent and we centered the offence around him, very successfully as it turns out. Haven’t seen anything in Nelson or Bailey or Walker to show that they are game breakers of any sort yet, and I am certainly more confident in LaPo’s assessment of talent than yours when it comes to maximizing an offence. His passing attack was not very neutered when he had the two people in your username playing for him. We shall see. Honestly I thought Darwin Adams was looking for a bigger year as he seemed to have instant chemistry with Collaros. Now that has been put on hold.

After 620 days…….. GAME DAY!!!!!!!! Defend the Cup

One more day, 3 reasons to cheer.

Your last sentence explains the mentality here perfectly. Except many on the site take that hope for Rider suckitude and turn it into a firm belief that they are really as bad as we hope them to be. Same on any fan site - unrealistic expectations for the home team and unrealistic derision of a hated rival based on emotion in both cases. So as much as we Pooh Pooh the so called media experts, they at least can offer some objectivity in the process. At least more so than a biased fan site.

O’Shea getting there. Walters still a newbie comparatively, and no name recognition from earlier playing days. Respect is there, just not at the same level which is understandable given how long Calgary has been dominant.

More thorough predictions: Bombers will not be as good as the consensus on this site thinks, but will be pretty good. Saskatchewan will be better than the consensus here thinks, and will also be good. Calgary will go as far as Bo Levi takes them, which can be pretty far. With their stability at QB, GM and coach, will go out on a limb and pick them for top spot barely. Now if Bo is not healthy and healed, they could take a big fall. Will pick the Bombers for second as I think the layoff of a year will allow them to be focussed on their defending champ status without it swelling their heads. And even if they slip to 3rd, they may be the best playoff bet because they are built for the playoff grind with the best talent along the lines on both sides of the ball in the CFL, which is how championships are won. BUT, I am more than concerned about Harris’ injury. This team was last in pass offence and I don’t think removing LaPo for Buck and bringing in Collaros flips that script too much. The offensive roster of this team has been shaped around ball control and Harris’ running and short pass receptions for the last 3 seasons, and if he is gone long term (bold prediction, he will be out a while with this or more injuries this year, and the short term transition will be tough) then we will need the defence to carry the team and win a few games, which they are capable of but will not be as consistently dominant at for a whole year as they were in the Grey Cup run - a high bar indeed. Also with Medlock gone we can’t rely on 7 FGs a game to win us a few. But the championship swagger will count for a decent bit. Sask 3rd as I think Fajardo played enough to be closer to the Vernon Adams next big thing potential than flash in the pan. And Powell could win a rushing title behind any line if he is fed enough, he can take over games. If they had lost so many to injury at the first practice, I would likely slot them second. Knee jerk reaction to seeing so many pencil them in for 5th here? Maybe, but betting against the Riders is almost the favourite sport on this site, and those bettors have been way wrong the last two seasons, at least as far as regular season predictions have gone. Gambling on BC to be 4th with Mike Reilly carrying them, a better o-line (could not be worse), and Lucky Whitehead having a breakout year. Edmonton 5th, but likely close to a .500 record. Trevor Harris will have big stats (as per usual) but it will not translate into wins (also as per usual). Overall in the West, the top 3 could rotate into any order and I would not be surprised, and the health of each club will be the biggest factor in that. There is a gap from the top 3 to 4 and 5 and the last 2 will be close as well and could flip spots. In the East Hamilton will play with a chip on their shoulder and will win a lot, but will not be as dominant as their 15-3 record in 2019. But a safe bet for first. Unfinished business - Eastern division style. Toronto’s big spending might pay off, if only because with both Arbuckle and MBT, they will have a serviceable QB no matter what (bold prediction #2 we will see QB attrition like we did in 2019 if not worse, the year off will cause more hurt than healing, especially for the older players). Roll the dice and put them second. Montreal 3rd as Vernon Adams Jr. becomes Trevor Harris 2.0 with big stats that will not translate into team wins. (This could be the biggest gaffe in my picks at year’s end). But the unbalanced schedule may allow 3rd in the East to make the playoffs this year. I really want Ottawa to do well because LaPO and Nichols deserve it for all they have done to help the Bombers get to the top of the mountain again, but Matt does not sound healed from his shoulder problem, and not enough supporting talent there. Another last place finish.

I suspect (only guessing here) that the vouchers were intended for the extra seats you get for the pre-season game, which would be Game 1 in the package normally. Likely deactivated for the revamped schedule, but not removed from the app.

He didn’t so much lose the job as get injured.

Boy, people around here sure are butt hurt sensitive about what TBurg has to say every time. And once again, he has said nothing factually wrong. The Bombers have finished 3rd in 7 of the past 8 seasons. And since the media is operating simplistically (the projected standings for the West are a mirror of the 2019 season) he is accurate in his assessment that this is the rationale they are basing our 3rd place predicted finish on. Now all TBurg has to do is not take the bait and just let his statement stand and we avoid the usual nonsense of flaming posters. But If he gets equally sensitive about the personal jabs and doubles down with what will slide into an exaggerated claim to justify his original reasonable position, he will then discredit himself as he has done before in an effort to defend his ego, and he will overstate leaving himself vulnerable to a more ridiculous and easily refuted point. Which seems to be the all too often pattern on this board. I guess we will see. This site makes for a fun psychological experiment at times. 😂

Great piece by Murat Ates in The Athletic about the upcoming salary negotiations on the Jets. Sets out well why, even when people moan about Maurice playing vets over the rookies, how it isn’t possible all the time in a cap world to just play the best lineup on paper. https://theathletic.com/2745438/2021/08/02/how-are-the-jets-going-to-fit-andrew-copp-neal-pionk-and-logan-stanleys-new-contracts-under-the-salary-cap/

Speed stole my thunder. Down to two days left. There is only one choice for today, and it is non-negotiable.

Correct. Matson and Bighill with the tackle, Taylor submarines the line and destroys the blocking. Just a beautiful play all around. My all time favourite game I have seen live in person.

Not even his best play last year. In the West Final he met William Powell in the hole at the goal line and stopped him cold one on one right at the one inch mark. The next play Matson blows up the line and Fajardo gets stuffed on third down. Without Hansen’s stick, the Riders tie it up late. Very unheralded but critical play. Go to 1:46:00 to see the play.

Today’s countdown features “The Hammer” x 2

Very true. They save their losing for actual games like the Grey Cup instead of practice.

I wonder if the Ticats are practicing the victory formation in practice like they did Grey Cup week?