I understand that this is somewhat of a tired topic but I feel like it is not unreasonable to revisit it for the new season. Even as someone skeptical of Kyle Walters' ability as a GM, I can admit he has done a few things well. His trades have for the most part been big wins, he has addressed the team's needs well in free agency and his drafting has been fine. His (and by extension McManus') ability to bring in rookie imports, however, can be described as disappointing at best.
Of the 17 import starters and two specialists from the game last night, five were players who were brought into the league by this regime. The others were either free agent signings (Adams, Dressler, Nevis, Medlock, Hardrick, Bryant, Okpo), acquired by trade (Randle, Heath, Nichols), other teams' cuts (Langford, Washington) or from the previous regime (Denmark, Wild). Of the five actual recruits (Leggett, Johnson, Carmichael, Alexander and Bond), two are bonafide stars and the other three it is too early to say. Even if Carmichael is looking to be a bum already. Is it not odd that well into his fourth year as GM, Walters' team is only starting five of his original finds? I would also count Bruce Johnson but if he were healthy, Carmichael would not be playing so that still brings the total to five.
I realize there is more to being a good GM than finding new import talent but it just seems ridiculous to me that Walters gets off the hook for this. Since I don't want to compare his work to a GM that has been around for much longer like Huf or Wally, though I still think that would be fair game, I'll do a brief comparison to the recently fired Ed Hervey. From just the last few years he brought in Derel Walker, Aaron Grymes, Dexter McCoil, Zylstra, Kenny Ladler, John White and James Frankin and this is just off the top of my head. And yes, not all of them are still on the Esks but those who aren't got NFL deals. The last two Bombers who got NFL deals were McDuffie and Wild. Neither Walters' finds.
I understand that this is somewhat of a tired topic but I feel like it is not unreasonable to revisit it for the new season. Even as someone skeptical of Kyle Walters' ability as a GM, I can admit he has done a few things well. His trades have for the most part been big wins, he has addressed the team's needs well in free agency and his drafting has been fine. His (and by extension McManus') ability to bring in rookie imports, however, can be described as disappointing at best.
Of the 17 import starters and two specialists from the game last night, five were players who were brought into the league by this regime. The others were either free agent signings (Adams, Dressler, Nevis, Medlock, Hardrick, Bryant, Okpo), acquired by trade (Randle, Heath, Nichols), other teams' cuts (Langford, Washington) or from the previous regime (Denmark, Wild). Of the five actual recruits (Leggett, Johnson, Carmichael, Alexander and Bond), two are bonafide stars and the other three it is too early to say. Even if Carmichael is looking to be a bum already. Is it not odd that well into his fourth year as GM, Walters' team is only starting five of his original finds? I would also count Bruce Johnson but if he were healthy, Carmichael would not be playing so that still brings the total to five.
I realize there is more to being a good GM than finding new import talent but it just seems ridiculous to me that Walters gets off the hook for this. Since I don't want to compare his work to a GM that has been around for much longer like Huf or Wally, though I still think that would be fair game, I'll do a brief comparison to the recently fired Ed Hervey. From just the last few years he brought in Derel Walker, Aaron Grymes, Dexter McCoil, Zylstra, Kenny Ladler, John White and James Frankin and this is just off the top of my head. And yes, not all of them are still on the Esks but those who aren't got NFL deals. The last two Bombers who got NFL deals were McDuffie and Wild. Neither Walters' finds.
Edited by AKAChip