BigBlue

The main thing I am looking for tonight is to how we have changed our O-Line strategy/methods. That could be the biggest focal point and difference maker.

I did not see or hear a single word or intonation of blame including his post game interview on TSN later on Sports Center. He was putting the whole burden on himself (even in spite of the bad bounces). I just see a courageous person who is not brushing it off or making excuses. He is not a sissy - he is real. He will double down and bounce back. If anything he is trying too hard; he just has to work through it. A maturing process you know.

After game 1 the press was all over Leggs, and so were we. We are not dummies here: recently he has been great... regret about letting Castillo go have disappeared. If Leggs stays as consistent as the last couple of games, then there is nothing to talk about. But if he reverts then it doesn't hurt to have our left eye open. Meanwhile Lirim is some one to be proud of!

https://3downnation.com/2022/07/01/dallas-cowboys-bring-back-canadian-kicker-lirim-hajrullahu/ "The Dallas Cowboys are signing Canadian kicker Lirim Hajrullahu for the third time in less than a year" I have always had mixed feelings about Lirim. Perhaps the Blue may pick him up for a Grey Cup run if he is available.

The Post Game coverage of Dane Evans was very touching for me ... watching him alone on the bench with head hung low when all his team mates had left, and then watching Arbuckle encouraging him in very real concern had a big effect on me ! Even with Arbuckle there Evans could not raise his head. "A scrambling Evans had the pigskin punched from his arms by safety Scott Hutter and corner Jalen Collins scooped it up for the winning score. After failing to create a successful response, a clearly emotional Evans had to be consoled on the sidelines by Elks’ backup quarterback Nick Arbuckle — who lost his own starting job last week" (3DownNation). I think TSN did good focusing on this real life story. Heroes are human and it helps us to know that.

Liam Dobson is turning out to be rookie. I am not sure about his learning curve but it is nothing like Elks QB Ford. We have a fantastic line coach in Marty Costello so I guess he just needs more adjustment to the Pro game. I would love to see this bruiser at center or guard because he feels like the "Stove", just on the other side of the ball. So the two new yanks may give us the right stuff that we need now.

HAMILTON'S UNIFORMS TSN: describing them as steel grey (as in the city's chief industry - - not the Grey Cup) to me was so diplomatic, to say the least. Where is Don Cherry when you REALLY need him? These are the ugliest uniforms I have ever seen (I double checked on that). They just reminded me of dirty formerly white work clothes or worse the colour of what my underwear looked like under my goalie uniform after a hard two hour practice. I found myself so distracted by these uni's that I found it difficult to concentrate on the game while I watched it on the Telly. U-G-L-Y !@#$%^&!!!!!!!!!!!

Dave Naylor on the panel was ok too ... good enthusiasm on the mundane.

Disagree///he was play by play explaining in a rather informative way. I liked it a lot. I like Rourke's play too (big time - he is fascinating). Besides Dunigan is NOT Glenn Suiter, not even slightly.

I really like the play by play on the BC - R/B game tonight. Dunnigan is a great color man. Marshall Ferguson ain't bad either.

Finding OL talent ! So maybe MOS wants 3 yanks on the OL? I had high hopes for Gray but am disappointed. Maybe swapping Gray and Hardrick at G & T could be toyed with at practice. Still MOS is loathe to make any starter changes except when someone gets hurt... then we hear "next up". It seems more like a style than a plan to improve personnel. Develop the starters and let the rest of the roster get themselves ready: it has been working big time... So far, so good!

Rourke's release is as good as anybody out there in the league, super quick. You can not out rush that. But maybe 1. you can jam the throwing lanes and 2. position the LBer's a little better for the 2-3 second throws that seem like his bread and butter...

When Winston Rose makes it back, maybe in BC, barring injuries, what will be our starting 5 DB's?

I COULD look up on the roster/PR who we have for import running backs and receivers ... is there anybody sitting on there that could be a difference maker or a big play guy?

O'Leary Orange looked very comfortable in there Friday. But Demski is a key play maker. We need to replace him with another play maker although not necessarily at receiver. Do we have a good US scatback sitting on the practice roster?

Frequently, especially when I'm busy, I like to separate fact from opinion. What makes this site so enjoyable is the opinions and disagreements that we find from our members. However sometimes I just am not interested in opinion. I want to know what's changing for our next game. New injuries, recovering from past injuries, possible replacements and other moves the coaches might make is all that really matters to me sometimes. I do not know what we all like best but the most important thing for me is the injury report and personnel changes. I am mainly interested in the Bombers but I don't mind hearing about what's happening around the league. So here goes: as a start. "Attention now turns to Demski's injury, this O can't afford to lose anyone let alone him for considerable time" "I don’t think it’ll be too serious. He was walking on it no boot or any thing. Worst case I would think a high ankle sprain that takes a couple weeks. " So if Demski is out for the next game how do we change our lineup? One of my chief interests is how Brandon Alexander is coming along. Has anybody seen him out on the practice field in the last week or so? Did anyone notice if any of our other starters besides Demski got a little nicked up on Friday night? Now I realize some of this is conjecture but we do have some excellent sleuths on this site, people who can see what MOS and the gang don't want to say. I would just like to know sooner than when we publish the game day roster.

Now that Glenn Suitor has made the sportscaster HOF how do we improve the colour men? Is there a place we can promote him to?

After watching the 1st 2 CFL weeks, I am revising as follows: Bombers Stamps Lions Riders Elks and out east Cats Red Blacks Alouettes Argos Anybody else CHANGE their minds?

"For my money, Dustin Nielsen and Duane Forde are TSN’s best play-by-play crew. Their mix of enthusiasm, passion for the Canadian game and ability to know when to let the play and crowd reaction speak for itself is second to none." (3DownNation) TSN media staff appears to be relatively the same as last year. Are you happy about that? Personally, I know that announcers and commentators are going to be noticeably similar to Captain Obvious and I do not think that can be changed much. I like Steagall's courage to speak his mind. The rest of the panel seems scripted with talking points. Sharp criticism is seldom seen. But I am happy. Rod Black is gone and that's all that matters on this topic. I am even able to put up with "homer" Glenn Suiter. I thought he was rather restrained during the Regina game. He seldom foamed at the mouth AND he did not harp on just one player's hilites all game. So growth is possible even in the face of entrenched personality. Your thoughts on the TSN crew?

What's going on with Jeffcoat?

I see the WEST ending up in this rank order: Winnipeg Calgary Saskatchewan Edmonton BC In the EAST, I expect the final order to be: Hamilton Montreal Toronto Ottawa I see a lot of differential in the west, very little in the east. Forecasting with history I am! Who sees this differently?

What I would like to see is the ADDITION of 4 (or so) developmental roster spots for 1st (and maybe 2nd year) Canadians in which skill levels can be worked on throughout the year to earn full roster spots later. [The taxi squad would remain the same except 4 players bigger.] In this scenario they would be paid 50% of the minimum salary, they would not travel to away games (keeping costs down) but would dress for home games; they would only play in a home game if another player was declared injured and out of the game (subbing in). That's how I would like to see that $1 million spent that the commissioner is throwing around. Gaining an extra year or two in skill development means more long term jobs for Canadian players.

What I would like to see is the ADDITION of 4 (or so) developmental roster spots for 1st (and maybe 2nd year) Canadians in which skill levels can be worked on throughout the year to earn full roster spots later. [The taxi squad would remain the same except 4 players bigger.] In this scenario they would be paid 50% of the minimum salary, they would not travel to away games (keeping costs down) but would dress for home games; they would only play in a home game if another player was declared injured and out of the game (subbing in). That's how I would like to see that $1 million spent that the commissioner is throwing around. Gaining an extra year or two in skill development means more long term jobs for Canadian players.

https://www.bluebombers.com/players/dakota-prukop-2/159945/ "In eight games last season with the Elks, Prukop completed 18 of 26 passes for 183 yards with one TD and two interceptions while rushing 27 times for 134 yards and two scores. He had started the season in training camp with the Calgary Stampeders after signing with that club in 2020, but was released at the end of July. Prukop has dressed for 49 regular-season games in his career with Edmonton and the Toronto Argonauts, completing 36 of 56 passes for 467 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions while rushing 38 times for 173 yards and two touchdowns." https://www.cfl.ca/2022/02/19/tait-timing-syncs-prukop-bombers/ Ed Tait: " Prukop’s experience – he has 49 regular-season CFL games to his name in Toronto and Edmonton over five years – means he likely slides into the No. 2 spot on the depth chart behind Collaros, the league’s all-star pivot and Most Outstanding Player, with Sean McGuire telling Bombers management he was moving on from the game. He became expendable in Edmonton with new Elks boss Chris Jones stockpiling quarterbacks in what he hopes is a rebuild in Northern Alberta. Prukop’s passing numbers are modest – 36 for 56 for 467 yards with four TDs and four interceptions – but it’s his adaptability and his athleticism that continues to intrigue offensive coordinators across the league." So Dakota sounds very promising. But he is not the "fallen vet" that can some how pick up the pace should Zach go down for a few. I am pretty sure Collaros won't play all 18 this year.

when I look at the roster now plus a couple of US recruits likely to make the club, our roster might actually be stronger this year than last. We do have guys who have been biding their time and are ready to go: RB, G, REC, on O: D by contrast has just lost 2 or 3 very good players but will be covered off by the rotational players from last year - - then think of the guys trying to get off the practice roster; they have had extreme tutors to direct their high potential Some how recently each year we keep adding a couple of out standing rookies (thank you Danny McManus). The press has their eyes on what they can see, the past; the coaches know what they have been developing on the bench and especially the practice roster. My only concern: just 2 QBs on the roster... Dru Brown gives me no comfort no matter how management rants and raves about his talent. I would like to see a fallen star QB come here for rejuvenation... how much would that cost? https://www.cfl.ca/players/