Have to say that this year's Bombers have impressed with talent level at many positions and have brought in some good players during the off-season, but the team seems to refuse to use a philosophy of continuous improvement. Over the last few years, during the regular season Bombers have become the "Stand Pat Sallies" of the CFL. Not sure whether this is because they are trying to be cheap, are afraid of making mistakes, or are overly loyal to under-performing players, or a combination of those reasons. The one thing I know is that similar to a DB covering a receiver, if you stand still, you will get blown by and lit up. I think its safe to say we may be seeing the bombers getting passed by teams that are willing to get better.
And I don't buy the argument any more that because you have certain players at other positions, you can't afford to change the bad parts of the team. That's a full-on load of crap. Every other team (including Calgary) has brought in players to get better during the season. Some teams, like Hamilton and Sask, have made a large number of in-season changes and now have a team that talent-wise on paper is at least as good as the Bombers, if not better (in terms of team speed and athletic ability). Not trying to continuously improve a team is weak, and I think it send the wrong message to players, letting them get too complacent and comfortable.
Now in the past off-season the Bombers have done good work in bringing in these players:
Jeffcoat, Poop, Walker, Alexander
And they have a core of great players that I wouldn't change including:
Entire O-Line, Nichols, Harris, Adams (he's made a believer out of me), Mo, Loffler, Heath, Randle, (and the list goes on)
However there are some glaring weaknesses that just do not seem to get addressed:
*** HURL *** (really make me want to, every time I see him out there doing nothing)
Lankford (love his speed and they REALLY do need another speed guy, not another possession receiver, but Lankford is showing that he is clueless)
Kyle Knox
Wolitarsky (supposedly a possession receiver but dropped and easy one right away)
Coates (not going to scare anyone)
Jake Thomas
Dom Davis (does not look good enough to be backup - expected more from a guy who has been around this long)
Addison Richards (yes, he's gone, by his own devices, but he never should have been kept around that long)
Now if you say we have to play those guys because they are non-import, then I'd say this team is still too weak in Canadian depth to compete with the other teams in the League, and likely due to a lack of Canadian depth, Bombers may either miss the playoffs again this year, or do another one and done, possibly on the road. No other team would put Hurl out there just because he's Canadian. and that's a fact.
If Bombers have an early exit, or miss the playoff entirely, you can sill blame their chronic weak Canadian talent level, and their inability to make changes to keep up with the other teams in the league. Their record is great, and they are definitely a much better team, but you have to do more than that to get to the next level...
Have to say that this year's Bombers have impressed with talent level at many positions and have brought in some good players during the off-season, but the team seems to refuse to use a philosophy of continuous improvement. Over the last few years, during the regular season Bombers have become the "Stand Pat Sallies" of the CFL. Not sure whether this is because they are trying to be cheap, are afraid of making mistakes, or are overly loyal to under-performing players, or a combination of those reasons. The one thing I know is that similar to a DB covering a receiver, if you stand still, you will get blown by and lit up. I think its safe to say we may be seeing the bombers getting passed by teams that are willing to get better.
And I don't buy the argument any more that because you have certain players at other positions, you can't afford to change the bad parts of the team. That's a full-on load of crap. Every other team (including Calgary) has brought in players to get better during the season. Some teams, like Hamilton and Sask, have made a large number of in-season changes and now have a team that talent-wise on paper is at least as good as the Bombers, if not better (in terms of team speed and athletic ability). Not trying to continuously improve a team is weak, and I think it send the wrong message to players, letting them get too complacent and comfortable.
Now in the past off-season the Bombers have done good work in bringing in these players:
Jeffcoat, Poop, Walker, Alexander
And they have a core of great players that I wouldn't change including:
Entire O-Line, Nichols, Harris, Adams (he's made a believer out of me), Mo, Loffler, Heath, Randle, (and the list goes on)
However there are some glaring weaknesses that just do not seem to get addressed:
*** HURL *** (really make me want to, every time I see him out there doing nothing)
Lankford (love his speed and they REALLY do need another speed guy, not another possession receiver, but Lankford is showing that he is clueless)
Kyle Knox
Wolitarsky (supposedly a possession receiver but dropped and easy one right away)
Coates (not going to scare anyone)
Jake Thomas
Dom Davis (does not look good enough to be backup - expected more from a guy who has been around this long)
Addison Richards (yes, he's gone, by his own devices, but he never should have been kept around that long)
Now if you say we have to play those guys because they are non-import, then I'd say this team is still too weak in Canadian depth to compete with the other teams in the League, and likely due to a lack of Canadian depth, Bombers may either miss the playoffs again this year, or do another one and done, possibly on the road. No other team would put Hurl out there just because he's Canadian. and that's a fact.
If Bombers have an early exit, or miss the playoff entirely, you can sill blame their chronic weak Canadian talent level, and their inability to make changes to keep up with the other teams in the league. Their record is great, and they are definitely a much better team, but you have to do more than that to get to the next level...