http://www.bluebombers.com/2016/11/30/bombers-add-receiver-kieren-duncan/

3 spots to spend money:

-QB

-OL

-DL

 

Winning the battles in the trenches is huge!

No doubt in my mind that one spot in the interior is Thomas/Butcher

Sign Westerman and rotate all three Cdns inside...?  Maybe a fourth if Ankou is drafted?

Another great read from Ed Tait:

Quote

 

Tristan Okpalaugo had choices. Tough choices. But in the end he chose to start the next chapter his football career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for two basic reasons:

1. The club’s rabid fan base and;

2. Head coach Mike O’Shea.

We’ll get to the fan base thing in a bit. But first, a story about his unique relationship with O’Shea… including the time Okpalaugo says the Bomber coach saved his mom’s life.

Wait… what?

“Yes, (Coach O’Shea) saved my mom’s life.”

“We were in Vancouver for the 2014 Grey Cup (Okpalaugo was there as the East Division’s Most Outstanding Rookie) and I talked to him a little bit after a dinner. As we were leaving, I guess a car either ran a red light or we weren’t paying attention, but my mom stepped into the street and he grabbed her just before a car came flying by. He saved her,” said Okpalaugo in a phone interview with bluebombers.com.

“We got to talk a little bit in Vancouver and he seemed like a good guy. I’ve also called around a bit before making this decision and I know from talking to players that he’s a big reason for the turnaround there.”

 

Rest of story at http://www.bluebombers.com/2017/02/09/got-guy-okpalaugo-finds-bomber-home/

I would not mind seeing Cummings back now. He and TO were a force when they were together 2 years ago.

So add another one to the list of guys who came because the culture was changed.   This is good!

20 minutes ago, Jacquie said:

Another great read from Ed Tait:

Rest of story at http://www.bluebombers.com/2017/02/09/got-guy-okpalaugo-finds-bomber-home/

I'm still willing to put in on the kickstarter for building a MOS statue whenever someone wants to get that started...

6 minutes ago, Noeller said:

I'm still willing to put in on the kickstarter for building a MOS statue whenever someone wants to get that started...

It starts the day after we win a Grey Cup...

Love the pick up of tristan okpalaugo. He and westerman off the ends could huuuuuuge!

2 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Love the pick up of tristan okpalaugo. He and westerman off the ends could huuuuuuge!

No excuses left for Richie Hall now...  he's got his rush ends

4 hours ago, Booch said:

no knock on Jake but that would be a serious step backwards. He works well in rotation but even then we can do better.

As a fulltime starter he would wear down fast, also if yiu watch game film he is the slowest guy to react and get out of his stance at the snap...very slow as guys are already up and moving while he still in 3 or 4 point...go watch some pvr'd game if you have it.

Also as a game goes on he gets washed out on plays a lot..great motor..i sure great guy but not starter material

I'll take your word for it Booch!  But Jake is in his prime and this should be the best year of his career if he gets some opportunity.  Maybe just use him in a heavy rotation with an American.  26 years old with 5 years under his belt.

Interesting that the Bombers are fine with moving on from Bass...

Wondering what market is our there for Bass right now?

WIL in Sask or Montreal?

Walters presser going now:

-Khalil Bass will hit FA, along with (likely) Dough Alert, Keeping, Cummings...

-Bombers comfortable with Davis as QB2. Says not many vets available who will play for 2/3 money

Edited February 9, 20178 yr by Noeller

36 minutes ago, Floyd said:

No excuses left for Richie Hall now...  he's got his rush ends

No kidding. Still have to shore up the interior but the line should be even more talented then last year if he cant make that work time to go boots to butts with him. 

I am guessing they are going bring more pressure this year. 

that was the thing with Hall's defense, right? They always said it relied on a lot of pressure up front to be effective...? Last year we just didn't get the pressure needed, and that led to giving up a lot of unnecessary yards...

5 minutes ago, Noeller said:

that was the thing with Hall's defense, right? They always said it relied on a lot of pressure up front to be effective...? Last year we just didn't get the pressure needed, and that led to giving up a lot of unnecessary yards...

Yeah in his system you dont see more then 4-5 rushers often. But if u look at the DTs we brought in, and westermans season from the previous year we should have had more pressure then we got. We sent bass a ton of times with very low success. 

Ill never like soft contain coverage style. With out a rush all you are doing is giving up all the yards the offense wants along with TOP.  Our play makers covered up for a horrible broken defense last year with a ridiculous amount of turn overs. 

I just hope we don't have Waggoner penciled in to start as a 'gap-filling' MLB...  if he wins the job, great but don't want to see this D held hostage by MOS' dream of an NI MLB again...

Is Waggoner not way too small to play in the middle? I thought he was basically a textbook outside guy...?

Knox will be the MLB

1 minute ago, Noeller said:

Is Waggoner not way too small to play in the middle? I thought he was basically a textbook outside guy...?

 

Just now, Jpan85 said:

Knox will be the MLB

They're identical in size.

I'd like to see Micah Johnson...he's a monster...him..westerman, TO and a canuck stud...possibly a westerman, maybe a draft pick who can step in rotated with Tenant, Butcher, Thomas, as well as Corney and we would have a high revving dline causing all kinds of havoc

Good interview with Walters, well worth a listen.

http://www.bluebombers.com/2017/02/09/gm-kyle-walters-quieter-free-agency-predicted/

Interesting points.

-Jake Thomas taking on larger role this year.  (he played 50% of snaps last year)

-Money spent on DE's will be saved on young DT's.

-Davis will be #2.

-Burnett may be back as he hasn't signed an NFL contract yet, so there is hope.

-Not likely to sign any starters in first days of F.A. but will be looking for support players and good fits salary wise.

-Likely to try to retain current F.A. Natl. ST players before next week. (Sherman etc.)

-Bass not offered a contract, they see him more as a WIL than a MLB and Wild is already under contract.

-JFG will be given an opportunity to play larger role.  (Bye-bye Rory)

-Fogg and Kiernan Duncan potential kick returners to replace McDuffie.

Edited February 10, 20178 yr by Throw Long Bannatyne

7 hours ago, Floyd said:

I just hope we don't have Waggoner penciled in to start as a 'gap-filling' MLB...  if he wins the job, great but don't want to see this D held hostage by MOS' dream of an NI MLB again...

No one with out experience should be penciled into starting spots but nearly all jobs should be up for grabs. But i doubt that happens. mos likes his guys. 

7 hours ago, Noeller said:

Is Waggoner not way too small to play in the middle? I thought he was basically a textbook outside guy...?

No hes big enough to play middle.  He has the skill set to play either. Maybe even back up Mo. If it translates beyond his teams play he will have to get snaps to tell. 

7 hours ago, Jpan85 said:

Knox will be the MLB

Knox will probably go into camp the incumbent. whether he should or not. He doesnt have the spot won though. 

 

2 hours ago, Throw Long Bannatyne said:

Good interview with Walters, well worth a listen.

http://www.bluebombers.com/2017/02/09/gm-kyle-walters-quieter-free-agency-predicted/

Interesting points.

-Jake Thomas taking on larger role this year.  (he played 50% of snaps last year)

-Money spent on DE's will be saved on young DT's.

-Davis will be #2.

-Burnett may be back as he hasn't signed an NFL contract yet, so there is hope.

-Not likely to sign any starters in first days of F.A. but will be looking for support players and good fits salary wise.

-Likely to try to retain current F.A. Natl. ST players before next week. (Sherman etc.)

-Bass not offered a contract, they see him more as a WIL than a MLB and Wild is already under contract.

-JFG will be given an opportunity to play larger role.  (Bye-bye Rory)

-Fogg and Kiernan Duncan potential kick returners to replace McDuffie.

Walters is such a good interview... He gives fans some insight without giving away their plans.  Refreshing...

13 hours ago, wbbfan said:

No one with out experience should be penciled into starting spots but nearly all jobs should be up for grabs. But i doubt that happens. mos likes his guys. 

No hes big enough to play middle.  He has the skill set to play either. Maybe even back up Mo. If it translates beyond his teams play he will have to get snaps to tell. 

Knox will probably go into camp the incumbent. whether he should or not. He doesnt have the spot won though. 

 

Walters said MLB is open and expects scouts to find some prospects to compete with Knox. 

Edited February 10, 20178 yr by Throw Long Bannatyne