KptKrunch

It's been going downhill for the last couple of years. Mainly because, IMO, the 'development' of top Canadians has led to a mass exodus of Canucks to the NFL. Very frustrating and why, if I were in charge, I'd open the borders. If they (Canadians) want to play the NFL so badly, then let them try to beat International players HERE for a job. The reason why the game is suffering is Ottawa and the watering down of the Canadian content, as I've stated a few years back when opining about a 9 or 10 team league. I suggested the Canadian 'jobs' stay the same, and when teams are added, the # of international players allowed on each roster is increased. Instead, the CFL keeps the ratio the same, creating 17/18 new jobs for Canucks, which 'waters' down the league. There's a reason why one Muamba still has a job (with the Eskimo's) and the other is in the NFL. The biggest joke of all is our stupid draft. You get a 'stud' Canadian and he's in the NFL? So now, when you get the first pick, it's like you're a KHL team in hockey. You have to figure out who the best player is that won't make the NFL to draft. So Farg it - open it up. Let the best players play. They'll end up trying for the NFL anyway. If that person is a Canuck - great. I think there'd be Canucks anyway. But why restrict the internationals? Anyway -that's my take and always will be. Until they do that - the CFL will always be a sub-standard minor league feeder system no different from 'Arena football' or semi-pro US outdoor football in the US. It's just how it is.

I'm surprised Higgins was let go. I still think he'd make a good GM (and that's what I wanted him for) and was surprised he did come back as a coach. Taking over a team when a 'legend' at QB retires, and a 'legend' at coach goes to the NFL (wondering here.... is Popp keeping Trestmans' seat warm for a return????) really is/was a no win situation for whomever was going to be the next head man there. I agree with Goalie that the Bombers probably said no to Higgins as I can't see Higgins (or anyone for that matter) preferring the Mtrl situation to Wpg's. And why do some here insist on canning MOS? Hey, I get pissed at some of his decisions too - but IMO this team of ours, as I mentioned, it two years removed from, by far, the worst run 'pro' franchise is all of North America and quite possibly the world. I'm not over exaggerating. We have a rookie GM, rookie CEO, and rookie HC taking over (from last year) so I'm puzzled as to what the 'fire MOS' folks were expecting exactly. I was/am expecting slow steady improvement and IMO we are much farther ahead then we were last year. Yes, we were blown out twice this year by Hamilton. But newsflash - and again I already said this - Hamilton is the #1 team in the league right now (it's not close) and have the best QB in the league right now (and again, it's not even close and Collaros as a lot of you know is the guy I wanted here and pined for and I was pissed when that 'release' and 'sign' thing happened before free agency) so there's no shame in that. Look what they did here to the Eskimos last night as proof as to how good they are. Willy - very impressed this year with him. Last year after game 6 he was beat up and terrible. Why they left him in game after game is now answered for me. This year he's a different QB. He has learned. Even in the Hamilton beat down (prior to his leg being broke) he was still playing well and competing and wasn't nearly as terrible as he was last year during a game like that. I see a bright future ahead of us - and some of you want to blow it up and start yet again? Give your heads a shake. You may turn out to be right in the long run but for now unless Trestman or Mike Riley are willing to come coach here I'm in MOS's corner

For those who don't know or live in Calgary - that price is no where near what will need to be paid given the location. It's not just the cleanup - it's the infrastructure. Traffic is crazy there now, when that goes up ,and there's a Flames home game, and it's snowing / icy out - the arena won't be full until the third period. If Calgary was smart they'd build it out somewhere around the ring road. Cheaper land and easier to get to. Here in Edmonton they had to an extension to our LRT to get it to the new arena site. It's going to be state of the art that place and I see it every week - sweet

How do you know he doesn't? Maybe Willy doesn't do the check down to them. Maybe he changes the play slightly. I agree though - they gotta be more creative for pressure packages as when a defense brings more than the players left in to block, there are at least TWO open players on that play right at the start - and the QB's job is to find them. Cavillo could - Khari Jones could - that's the best way to protect against the blitz. Burn it a few times and the defense has to change their tactics or get blown out How do you check down to a screen? That's an extremely set play because of the blocking required. If Willy wasn't throwing called screens it would be very noticeable. You're describing hot routes, and no doubt they have them called, it's a silent communication between QB and receiver to read the blitz and know where the ball is going. Problem in a lot of games for this team is that the QB doesn't even have time to throw those because by the time he gets the ball there's a defender in his face. I've never seen anything quite like it even last season. I think Picard's crappy snaps have made our OL even worse along with the fact he couldn't block a fifth grader. Good point JB - though there was a screen pass yesterday (a few actually) that worked quite well. Maybe it's Cotton who can't get away quick enough? All and all I thought it was a good game and it was a lot like the Jets vs the Ducks - i.e. we got beat by a better team. I'm still living in a bit of reality here. Yes, it's the CFL but two years ago this franchise was, IMO, the worst run pro franchise in all of sports. Even worse than the Edmonton Oilers (and that's saying a lot). I don't expect them to be Grey Cup contenders this year. I just expect them to 'challenge' (not make) for a playoff spot this year. Hopefully we're still playing for the playoffs in weeks 18, 19, and 20. That IMO would be a successful season. We lost our #1 QB (like four other teams including our opponent last night) and we competed. Last week we had our #1 QB and were blown out badly. That's our team, not our QB. But we are getting better and I'm happy for that. I know most here want to 'fire' the coaches again but coaches don't play. If we had an allstar team and these results - I'd agree. We don't, and we're rebuilding. We are where the Edmonton Eskimos were a couple years ago now. Two years later - look at the Eskimo's now. Hopefully we'll keep on this path.

How do you know he doesn't? Maybe Willy doesn't do the check down to them. Maybe he changes the play slightly. I agree though - they gotta be more creative for pressure packages as when a defense brings more than the players left in to block, there are at least TWO open players on that play right at the start - and the QB's job is to find them. Cavillo could - Khari Jones could - that's the best way to protect against the blitz. Burn it a few times and the defense has to change their tactics or get blown out

Frame this post and call it 'bandwagon jumper'.I have noticed fair amount of crustiness with this clown. Its part of his schtick. Just like nate and his crackpot theories... Krunch gets to insult, slight and demean the bombers with pretty much every post and zero credibility.. Another one ive learned to ignore. Wont put on ignore tho because some of his posts are so over the top and inflammatory that they are good for a laugh.. No Spuds - YOU. I'm insulting the bomber 'fans' on this site, not the bombers. Read my post again. What's in my first line - 'MY FELLOW BOMBER FANS'. I wrote what most of you are thinking "oh, we lost Drew Willy we're DOOMED". We lose that TO game even if Willy is our QB. WE are what we are - a struggling team. Better than being the joke we were two years ago. Sorry, just couldn't help myself when I was reading all the "Bring back Goltz and Elliot" comments, and 'bring in Printers'. Now you feel about my comments EXACTLY the way I feel about comments like that. Bring those guys in - welcome to the Blue Blunders. DEVELOP your own I say, and Marve is one of our own. Guess it goes over people's heads here lol

This makes no sense. What difference does it make where your QB's came from? I care more about how they play. McManus also did nothing as a Blue Bomber and had a hall of fame career as a "castoff" playing for other teams. Kind of kills your whole idea, doesn't it? Nope not at all. And gee, Marve didn't do that bad afterall did he? Maybe the sky isn't falling? We didn't lose because of Marve - we lost because we still aren't a 'good' team yet.

And again - my fellow bomber fans proving what a joke of a franchise we are. I said it before we signed Willy - I'll keep saying it. This team is going NO WHERE so long as we have to rely on other teams 'castoffs' to fill our QB position. We got lucky (finally, it had to happen sooner or later didn't it) with Willy being a capable QB - but until this franchise can find and develop their OWN QB's (no one since McManus) we are doomed to be a bottom feeder in a 9 team league. Enjoy the rest of the season boys - these are your Wpg Blue Blunders

Oh God, what an annoying comment. A week ago we were all praising Waggoner as being having future MLB written all over him. Now Willy gets hurt and we're ASSUMING we're going to finish last or 2nd last in the CFL, and that we blew it by picking Waggoner. Sometimes, you have to go with your gut, and if you feel Waggoner has a great chance at being an impact starter, you go for it. Complete clusterf***? Really? P.S. What if Marve comes in and wins us a number of games? Is the Waggoner pick still a bad one? Appreciate your optimism but today I don't share it. Maybe Waggoner does become that player you speak of. However, pretty clear that Walters over estimated the Canadian talent on the OL when he made that pick so he forfeited being able to draft in an area of absolute need to the point of desperation in the spring to get a linebacker. People rag on Joe Mack for his draft decisions. Why should Walters get a pass? And we got chung this year in the first this year ISO, and we got Gossen last year. Care to elaborate how a #1 olineman pick for next year will help (and with Waggoner being 1 year in in pro ball and maybe our starting MLB next year)?

How can you say that with a straight face? The bombers were moving the ball well in the second half under Willy. Were they going to win? No, but every time the bombers are behind at the half what, you want them to sit their #1 QB? What happens if their #1 receiver gets hurt, or their #1 Olineman, or their......... you get it? These guys are paid to play the whole game, and they should as long as they are healthy. Only time Willy should have been pulled was last year after game 6 because he was terrible - when he can't get past his first read and is taking hellacious hits because he is hanging on to the ball so long - then you pull him. The injury was a fluke - just like Durants. Time for these other clowns wearing blue and gold to earn their money - now we'll see what this team is made of.

Funny - i was one of the few who was wanting Higgins as the GM or coach here after the Burke/Mack fiasco - most here said no thanks (though TBH I was looking at him more as a GM than a coach at that point). But you know what - I don't mind O'Shea - he's learning yes, he makes mistakes yes, but I think he is getting the most he can out of this team, we just aren't that good yet

I think people here think the bombers are a playoff team - two years ago we were the league's doormat. Wasn't even close. We have improved greatly to a team that can compete on most nights. However, when we play a team that is better than us (and IMO that's just about every team in the league I'm afraid - even SK as though they are losing they are not getting pounded) and they play to their potential - that's what we get - pounded. I PVR'd the game as I was at a family bbq - watched it last night and laughed all through the 1st half - but the second half - I was impressed with our fight. I was really impressed with how Willy played. That, IMO, was a good character building game. We were beaten very badly in the first half but came out swinging in the 2nd half - almost made a game of it. Good on them! That is a step in the right direction believe it or not.

Doesn't matter if it's Marve or Brohm - no Willy = no chance IMO

I don't understand why this is so hard to comprehend. Reading blitzes, making quick decisions, and getting rid of the ball is how Danny Mcmanus made a career. It's where Willy is lacking. Just because you don't like the argument doesn't make it invalidNo the argument loses validity when you expect a qb to catch the ball and instantly throw it. Even Danny Mcmanus and Kevin Glenn, two notably quick throwers had trouble when the pressure was in their face as quickly as it's been coming for the Bombers this year. Drew Willy is the least of the problems on this team. This post is ridiculous hyperbole. I thought Drew Willy played great - he hung in there and completed some very tough throws. Bottom line - though some of you for some reason don't want to believe it - we were by far the worst team in the CFL two years ago. I mean, we were expansion team bad or worse. In two years, IMO - we've come a long way. The Hamilton Tiger Cats, right now, are a much stronger football team than we are. That's a fact that is proven in the two games we played them. But despite the constant pressure and the insurmountable odds, Drew Willy hung in there and I, for one, was very impressed with him. Far better than what he showed last year. That is growth and gives me faith that he could be the next great Bomber QB. Such a refreshing change from the garbage (and Buck Pierce - loved his heart and won't call him garbage but he was never anything more than a glorified backup IMO) we've had QB since Kevin Glenn was released.

Spoken like a true fan. Of course, if it was Dr. Death hitting Dieter Brock on the play - you would've had the same attitude hmmmm It wasn't a BS call - Helton hit him well after the ball was thrown - I was so pissed at Helton as he gave the ref no choice but to throw the flag. Just because it affected us doesn't mean it's the wrong call. You should hear me at Eskimo games when the 'smos line up offside on the goal line and the fans around me boo. I give them the same lecture - dont' boo the officials - it's an easy call to make as the 'hand' is 'beyond' the goalline as the ball is snapped - easy call. Just like 'pushing' a QB 2 seconds after he throws the ball - easy call

The LT was Bobby Thompson.The Bombers like all other teams back then had 3 American starters on the offensive line. The only Canadians starting were Center John Bonk & Left Guard Nick Bastaja. The Americans were LT Thompson, RT Butch Norman & RG Larry Butler. It didn't take half a decade to develop an OL like it does now because teams today insist on playing a minimum of 4 Canadians on the line. This is just my opinion but I also believe the reason why so many players get injured playing today's game as compared to back in 1980 is because of all the padding the players wore back then. They didn't wear undersized shoulder pads & little or no pads below the waist. Players dressed to be protected & not to be stylish or cool like players today. Wearing more protective padding & bigger shoulder pads didn't eliminate all injuries back then but I believe that soft tissue injuries as well as shoulder & hip injuries were reduced greatly at that time Agreed Iso - and yes that was mammoth Oline - Butch Norman was brought in to be Dieter Brock's personal protector. Bobby Thompson eventually got busted for selling pot (later on in his career) and he never really bounced back. Walby replaced Thompson IIRC.

1982 was a tough one. The Bombers had such a stacked team loaded with All-Stars and a real dynamic offence with William Miller at RB and such an awesome O-line. Lost in the Western Final to those darn Eskies by 3 points. I was crying as I really loved that 1982 team. IIRC that was the one we lost due to a questionable roughing the passer penalty against John Helton. The penalty wiped out an INT by Vince Phason that would have sealed the game for us. Like it was yesterday. You recall correctly - broke my heart. Right call too - Helton hit Moon almost two seconds after he (Moon) threw the ball - easily could have laid up but followed through anyway (probably because in that game Moon was starting to 'feel' it and Helton was being held all game and couldn't get to him - when he finally had his shot he couldn't resist). Of course it does - and don't forget - no one really knows or understands the circumstances surrounding that 'split'. But grudges are for women and insecure people - we have moved on.

You're thinking Marshall as lead back and Cotton as the change of pace? Yes. Or cotton gone completely. Not sure what he's making but if it's starters money and he ain't playing... who knows I don't know Goalie - Cotton hasn't been getting the rock much lately on hand offs. Mostly in the air. I like him for some reason - he has that 'something' I believe. Marshall is a good complement to him as well. I like it the way it is I just wish, as others have said, they give Cotton the ball more on running plays - and disguise them a bit. Many times the plays are too obvious (and slow in developing) for them to be affective.

IIRC - wasn't that a preseason game? I wasn't there but I heard it on the radio. House almost drowned because when he was tackled his face mask got rammed into the mud and stuck there. He couldn't get it out and of course was in a puddle. We laugh now and he probably does too but I'll bet you anything Rick wasn't laughing those few seconds where he couldn't breathe (and you can bet he wanted to it's not like he was standing around doing nothing I'm sure his body was screaming for oxygen). I don't recall that 58 to 14 game - that was the year before I left Winnipeg and I was working a lot of weekends then so I most likely was working when that game was played. I remember the 58 to 2 game we had over the Alouettes (or was it the Concord then?) when they brought in Billy 'Whiteshoes" Johnson, VInce Ferragamo and James Scott from the NFL - Richard Crump and William Miller had 100 yards each in that game.

Hah - easy for me. Getting Pissed off at Commonwealth when Kevin Glenn fumbled the ball (after being carried for 15 yards or so by the Edmonton Defence) and the subsequent TD scored by Edmonton to 'salt' the game away and leaving the Stadium in disgust. At least I made it back to my car to hear Brian Hall's call of the Stegall catch but would have much rather seen it live

True that - but regardless, when are WE going to start getting our own quarterbacks and not have to rely on other teams castoffs. Don't forget, for every Willy there's a Lefors, Glenn, Brohm, TJ Rubley, etc. Not that I wish ill will on Willy - though I still need to see him playing in October like he is now before I anoint him the next Bomber QB - I would just like to see us recruit and develop our own Qb for once. If/when Willy goes down again, we got nothing.

Looks like another one of 'those' years - a win and a loss, a win and a loss. Consistency (the winning kind) next step for next year maybe? That will be when Willy's big contract kicks in.

Biggest problem here is I'm right. And again, people overreact both to my pregame posts where I say we play like absolute garbage in this stadium and have for YEARS, and then the aftermath. Look, I don't know what it is, but the Bombers become the Bumblers every time they come to Commonwealth for the past decade. Though their last win here was spectacular, it really was the result of a bonehead decision by then DC Rick Campbell in getting greedy and wanting a sack on the last play of the game rather than giving the bombers a 40 or 50 yard play and tackling them at mid-field and calling it a win. Next year will be the same thing, I'll post on the game day thread, and some fans here will call me out not understanding where I'm 'coming from' in saying the Bombers play like crap here, then after the game and another blow out loss, we'll repeat this thread. A lot like Deja Vu. I agree - move on. It's one game and is (from my standpoint) totally expected. Another game, another loss in Commonwealth, like death and taxes is inevitable here.

Good point ThrowLong - I thought it would happen yesterday especially when he got nailed in the ribs in the fourth. But he managed to bounce back. I hope this Davis kid shows something as my bet he goes in if Brohm goes down. If that does happen you can bet Marve is on his way out one way or another

Hey never thought of that - that could be it. No wonder Marve isn't getting in (even in short yardarge) and MOS is lying about his status. Why is he even dressing then though? Why isn't that guy on the PR dressing instead? IMO it doesn't matter, our QB's after Willy are all terrible - none of them are worth the value of the uniform they put on. What a joke this team and league is. When does the NHL start again? Can't wait.