Jesse

https://3downnation.com/2023/04/18/the-cfls-15-highest-paid-running-back-and-fullbacks-for-the-2023-season/

This is what Bighill said and it just proves even further that he shouldn't have played at all. Moving him in and out isn't a benefit to the team. It just creates more confusion.

They didn't have an extra DB, and we had at least one injury so it necessitated having Hallett at safety and moving Alexander out. Not unless we seriously restructure the way we do things. We don't spend at DT.

I haven't re-watched the play, but I had read that Alexander had been moved to HB while Hallett was at safety on that play.

Yeah, he’s getting slagged for that one play. Didn’t point a finger at anyone, but pointed out the ridiculous notion that he’d be the primary cover guy on a slot back. He still shouldn’t have been playing though. If the game plan was that he couldn’t play every snap, then he’s a waste of a roster spot.

I’m not arguing for it, but I can’t even imagine a scenario that sees MOS cutting Bighill. Does not compute. I also don’t really believe the difference between Bighill’s salary and his replacement is going to make or break our cap situation.

We trot him out on one leg for the Grey Cup but then cut him? I sincerely doubt it.

He’s signed for next year. Back guaranteed.

That’s kind of the point. He is never allowed to touch the ball. He gets a few token Carrie’s at the end of blowouts. Even last year, when Brady struggled for half the season, JA got next to no carries. The coaching staff clearly has no faith in him as an offensive piece.

I think anything approaching 170k is getting a little too up there for a RB.

No reason you need an NI back-up. It’s the simplest solution, but not the only one.

Noeller just made a thread with this info.

Man, I was listening to some post game coverage yesterday. Zach mentioned that bailey was playing through a hamstring tear. Schoen was obviously limited. Demski hadn't been able to practice in weeks. Just had a full receiving core full of limping, half-speed bodies. No wonder Zach couldn't find anyone.

I give him credit for the game he played - but it doesn't change his career up to this point or what you can expect from him in the future.

We roster 2-3 more LBs than any other team does. We certainly don't seem to be better at kick coverage than anyone else.

That's ridiculous.

I'm focused on the players in the room. It's not like the league is doing a re-draft and we're starting from scratch.

Unless you let him go and you end up left with [insert promising back-up who couldn't make the leap to starter].

That's pretty hard thing to determine for a fan. But Eli was absent but will now be going into year 2 of his return. Time for the switch if he's the guy we think he is. Who cares tho? Someone will be GM next year.

This was the best defence in the league. We need to recruit some younger guys. We need more bodies to rotate with the Jeffs. And it was a mistake or a failure to not have found someone last off season. Even Haba was a last minute addition on the last day of training camp. None of our depth DE's from 2022 came back this year and we didn't replace them. Defensive line: Willie - I think he's the guy as long as he wants to be. Jeffcoat - Our D is night and day when he's not in the line-up Walker - not sure about his contract sitch. If he's a FA, I imagine he's gone. Thomas - Another retire candidate, but needs to be a back-up/rotational guy if he's here. I think this is a spot where we could be playing a younger guy tho #succession Haba - showed a couple flashes early but didn't have many opportunities, would have liked to see him developed more. ______ - same as receiver. We needed bodies here that could be good to go for next year. Big recruiting fail. Linebackers: Bighill - Hall of Famer, and the Grey Cup was obviously his worst performance in a game he should not have been allowed to play. Wilson - Didn't have the impact plays I expected him to have this year, but clearly a good part of the team. Krahmdi - I don't know. He's a solid part of the team. I've seen misses, I'm seen big plays. League best defence. Cole - I love what I see out of him. Hopefully get a bigger role Clements - Just like Cole, he certainly seems to do his job out there. This is another spot I'd like to see some true competition. Roster management wise, I'd like 3 less LBs on the gameday roster for extra DL/DB/WR. Secondary: I don't think I need to go through everyone here. We have lots of capable guys, we seem to find new ones each year and have to play them all because of injuries. Keep on keeping on, imo.

Breaking down the offence. I generally want things to stay the same/can't see better options out there. Big question with Schoen, small question with Brady. I would really, really like to see some young OL just take jobs and turn our front into a bigger force again. Will need some investment in WR and OL next year for development and depth. Might need the next developmental QB, too. Quarterbacks: Zach - ***** all you guys want, he's going no where. Dru Brown - heard some interesting things lately. I'm more open to the idea he might come back than I was earlier in the season. Runningback: Brady - obviously want him back, but he's put a little fly in the ointment on that one. Would need a new starter if he left. Offensive Line: Stan - coin flip on if he retires. I bet a lot of the vets are going to make this decision together. I feel he'll be back Neuf - Kind of a prime retirement candidate. Does he do what Stan does? Kolankowski - I'm done with this experiment. Gray - Don't have enough bodies to replace the whole interior, if it comes to that. Hardrick - He'll play until they rip the jersey off his back. No one will do that. Eli - Need him to have the off season of his life and force his way onto the starting roster Dobson - Same. Put up or shut up time. Receivers: Kenny - Paid way too much for next year, but he can be best. Need him to play a full season next year tho. No more crap. Schoen - Grey Cup notwithstanding, he's a beast. When Zach is able to be mobile in the pocket, no one is more dangerous. Bailey - another team friendly deal? We may need some rookie salaries in the rest of the receiving core. Demski/Woli - all signed up already? BOO - Probably moves onto another opportunity if he can, but bring him back if we can ________ - I wish we had a guy this year that I could look forward to next year. Recruiting fail at receiver this year.

Yeah, the TV's gonna remain off for a little while. No interest in seeing any of that.

100%

Meh. We haven't needed to go into FA much, it's not that we're trying to sign guys and they go elsewhere. Aside from this year, our recruitment has been pretty spectacular. But we didn't leave much space for newbies this season, for sure.

Again, I'm not going to sit here and defend MOS. I don't like the use of an American FB, or starting Biggie and Schoen when they were not at their best, or not having a back-up for the secondary or receiving core. I just don't think that's what it cam down to tonight. We were one play away on a night when either our O or our D should have been able to run the table. So we can debate the minutiae that might have gotten us that 5% to take us over the edge, but I'm more concerned with why both halves of our team just ****ed off tonight. Is Zach the issue? Is Buck out smarting himself? Do the Jeff's need more time in between plays? Do we need a more emotional leadership core that can bring the energy in important moments? I just can't believe the answer is in replacing a FB or having Ambles start instead of McCrea.