I am feeling good about yesterday's draft, not so much about what we did but rather about what we didn't do. Our picks seemed to reflect that we have most of our pieces in place and I can't remember that since the "Swaggerrville" year when  we last visited the Grey Cup. In fact we seem better now than then.

Now every spring some poster boldly predicts this is THE YEAR we are going to win the Grey Cup, but it is almost always based on emotion, "gut feel" and fond wishes.

Do we have any real facts supported by tough analysis that the Blue could actually bring the Cup back to River City this November?

Edited May 8, 20178 yr by BigBlue

21 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

The difference this year is our DL doesnt have a hole. We have the ability to rotate 2 big guys in the middle, 2 proven pass rushers off the edge, plus jake the snake and corney the super freak. If the DL under performs this year its time for firings on D. Also having a proper MLB will help. I expect we will have less raw talent as a LB core this year from last, but a much better fit. 

Yes, as long as Okpalaugo delivers and stays healthy.  Interestingly enough he played with both Kyle Knox and Kyrie Wilson at Fresno State... two of our top candidates to win the MLB spot.

Also hoping that Westerman's down season was a blip rather than a sign that his career is winding down.  And that Thomas can handle the increased workload and Ekakatie is ready to contribute.  Lots of questions but like I said I'm hopeful.

19 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

Regarding Nichols I think whether or not he is elite is really irrelevant. We have seen that given the support from the rest of the team that he is capable of winning games for this team so really what more can we ask for? Get the D to a point where they're not giving up free drives and this team can beat anyone. 

I think he'll be a top 3 QB this year along with Reilly and Mitchell.

Just now, Atomic said:

Yes, as long as Okpalaugo delivers and stays healthy.  Interestingly enough he played with both Kyle Knox and Kyrie Wilson at Fresno State... two of our top candidates to win the MLB spot.

Also hoping that Westerman's down season was a blip rather than a sign that his career is winding down.  And that Thomas can handle the increased workload and Ekakatie is ready to contribute.  Lots of questions but like I said I'm hopeful.

I think he'll be a top 3 QB this year along with Reilly and Mitchell.

Yeah thats allways key, especially on the line. Its kinda nifty when that happens. 

I think it was a product of the over all DL struggles last year. If it wasnt then I hope corney can learn fast. 

I think jonathon jennings will be a lot better with another camp and more seasoning. He was pretty wild at times last year, we all know buono has some serious QB magic. 

21 hours ago, Floyd said:

Could have a shot this year... only play Calgary twice and one of those games is the final game of the season so starters will be resting.

 

I don't know...not sure if the Bombers will be resting starters and give Calgary a chance to even up the season series... 

11 minutes ago, bearpants said:

I don't know...not sure if the Bombers will be resting starters and give Calgary a chance to even up the season series... 

Agreed. And given that we'll have the next week off to prepare for the West Final, I think we run out all our starters!

Nichols seems to elevate his play to the skill of the players around him, and has shown a real consistency to his game. I'm also a big fan of his accuracy decision making.  He's not a guy that's going to get a lot of hype, but he'll win you football games.

1 hour ago, wbbfan said:

Yeah thats allways key, especially on the line. Its kinda nifty when that happens. 

I think it was a product of the over all DL struggles last year. If it wasnt then I hope corney can learn fast. 

I think jonathon jennings will be a lot better with another camp and more seasoning. He was pretty wild at times last year, we all know buono has some serious QB magic. 

That's a huge concern, if Jennings steps up his game to the next level BC could be difficult to handle.  The Bombers don't have much of a big play offence so they can't be getting into shoot-outs with teams who do. 

8 minutes ago, Throw Long Bannatyne said:

That's a huge concern, if Jennings steps up his game to the next level BC could be difficult to handle.  The Bombers don't have much of a big play offence so they can't be getting into shoot-outs with teams who do. 

Yeah, if he takes another step that offense with what should be an improved OL would be the scariest in the league. 

If our offense takes the next step forward it would mean massive TOP advantages and more tds. Hard to blow out a team that can push out 5 minute + long drives. Thats our hope imop. 

6 minutes ago, Throw Long Bannatyne said:

That's a huge concern, if Jennings steps up his game to the next level BC could be difficult to handle.  The Bombers don't have much of a big play offence so they can't be getting into shoot-outs with teams who do. 

Yeah, and the Lions are gonna roll out Chris Williams this year on top of Manny and Burnham.  That is a scary set of receivers ... Jennings could pass for forty TDs next year.  He can just score his way out of all the picks he'll throw.  It'll be fun to watch if they're not playing the Bombers.

(As of April, Williams' knee was on track to be ready for the regular season.)

4 minutes ago, johnzo said:

Yeah, and the Lions are gonna roll out Chris Williams this year on top of Manny and Burnham.  That is a scary set of receivers ... Jennings could pass for forty TDs next year.  He can just score his way out of all the picks he'll throw.  It'll be fun to watch if they're not playing the Bombers.

(As of April, Williams' knee was on track to be ready for the regular season.)

Where's Tonya Harding when ya need her......probably making B-grade pornos.

5 minutes ago, johnzo said:

Yeah, and the Lions are gonna roll out Chris Williams this year on top of Manny and Burnham.  That is a scary set of receivers ... Jennings could pass for forty TDs next year.  He can just score his way out of all the picks he'll throw.  It'll be fun to watch if they're not playing the Bombers.

(As of April, Williams' knee was on track to be ready for the regular season.)

+ another year of seeing how long nick moore can stay healthy, + vandervoort, better mixing in of chris rainey, a full year of jeremiah johnson,  they have a ton of scary weapons. 

On ‎5‎/‎8‎/‎2017 at 10:53 AM, Noeller said:

Nichols is NEVER going to be elite. At his best, he can be Kevin Glenn, and that's fine. You can win with that, with the right pieces around him. We're as close as we've ever been, but winning the cup takes as much luck as it does talent, so we'll need some breaks along the way... 

He's better than Glenn.  2006 - 2007 Kevin Glenn maybe not, but 2008 and onwards yes.

2 minutes ago, kelownabomberfan said:

He's better than Glenn.  2006 - 2007 Kevin Glenn maybe not, but 2008 and onwards yes.

Glenn's peak and Nichols peak extremely similar players.....my only real point.

59 minutes ago, Throw Long Bannatyne said:

Where's Tonya Harding when ya need her......probably making B-grade pornos.

There are A-grade pornos?

For me it's all about injuries.  Keep Nichols, Harris and Loffler upright, and we're competitive against any team in the league this year, including Calgary.

11 minutes ago, Noeller said:

Glenn's peak and Nichols peak extremely similar players.....my only real point.

Glenns peak was MOP level stuff. It was however short lived. Nichols isnt there, will he be? lets hope so. Despite nichols age and time in the cfl he doesnt have a fraction the wear glenn did when we saw his best.  Though he really got rocked and banged up late last year. He doesnt have the down field passing ability of glenn, but he is far more clutch late in games, doesnt have the injury bugm and can see over the OL lol. 

As long as Nichols keeps his TD-INT ratio at 2:1, bombers will be in the mix.

Still think his chemistry with Denmark is severely under-rated and hoping that this idea that him and Stafford click has some credence.

 

Depending on who you talk to, Nichols is a top tier or a salvage project. All I know is his play last year elevated the team and gave guys who had never done anything as a Bomber team a belief that almost took them to the Western final. It's all a matter of how you look at it ...

55 minutes ago, IC Khari said:

Depending on who you talk to, Nichols is a top tier or a salvage project. All I know is his play last year elevated the team and gave guys who had never done anything as a Bomber team a belief that almost took them to the Western final. It's all a matter of how you look at it ...

 

http://www.cfl.ca/2017/05/09/oshea-idea-build-championship-team/

 

O’SHEA: ‘WE HAVE AN IDEA HOW YOU BUILD A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM’

1 hour ago, wbbfan said:

Glenns peak was MOP level stuff. It was however short lived. Nichols isnt there, will he be? lets hope so. Despite nichols age and time in the cfl he doesnt have a fraction the wear glenn did when we saw his best.  Though he really got rocked and banged up late last year. He doesnt have the down field passing ability of glenn, but he is far more clutch late in games, doesnt have the injury bugm and can see over the OL lol. 

Nicholls has had some gruesome injuries -- the dude has definitely seen his share of punishment.

Just now, Noeller said:

http://www.cfl.ca/2017/05/09/oshea-idea-build-championship-team/

 

O’SHEA: ‘WE HAVE AN IDEA HOW YOU BUILD A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM’

Well, that's a load off my mind.

Just now, tracker said:

Well, that's a load off my mind.

'Its a process...'

38 minutes ago, Noeller said:

http://www.cfl.ca/2017/05/09/oshea-idea-build-championship-team/

 

O’SHEA: ‘WE HAVE AN IDEA HOW YOU BUILD A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM’

He knows a thing or two about winning, if that was ever a concern.

Gee hey Mikie......can 8 other teams borrow that quote......or is it yours to sell?

 

26 minutes ago, DR. CFL said:

Gee hey Mikie......can 8 other teams borrow that quote......or is it yours to sell?

 

O'Shea's cliche response: "How would you like me to shatter your ******* spine???"