Okay, so the off season officially begins now that the Grey Cup is over. Lots of topics for discussion in the months to come with the Bombers & the League. A new CBA needs to be negotiated sooner rather than later.  Will there be an eventual agreement or a lockout? How much will the salary cap go up? Randy Ambrosie is on record that wants the cap to significantly go up so that is a positive.  Will Bo Levi Mitchell sign with an NFL or perhaps another CFL team? What about Mike Reilly & Trevor Harris who are also free agents? There's a new start up league called the  AAFL & there are legit concerns that it'll draw star CFL players away or hamper free agent signings with CFL teams. Coaching changes in BC & Toronto. The continuing evolving story of the expansion Halifax Schooners & possible exhibition games in Mexico. 

Edited November 27, 20187 yr by SpeedFlex27

11 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

but given that Simonise and Peterman were rookies, should we be shocked if they do progress? I mean they have the physical tools, the pedigree and they've had a year as backups.... This is how it generally works in sports. Young guys step up and replace older guys. 

I mean christ, that's how Santos-Knox wound up being a player for us. He was Ian Wilds backup at one point and Wild was a damned good player, but we didn't lose anything having his backup take over the spot. 

It's sports, guys get an opportunity and it is up to them to make the most of said opportunity. 

I get that, one at a time is manageable but flipping 5 Natls. all at once is not going to be pretty, the learning curve for 3 of them is going to be "yuge".

Edited February 12, 20196 yr by Throw Long Bannatyne

5 minutes ago, Throw Long Bannatyne said:

I get that, one at a time is manageable but flipping 4 Natls. on O all at once is not going to be pretty, the learning curve for 3 of them is going to be "yuge".

not really. Couture knows the O, as does Peterman and Simonese. They aren't first year players. And all saw playing time. Peterman and Couture saw significant playing time. Gray spent time in the NFL and has been here since before the Grey Cup. I expect him to be ready for TC.

Edited February 12, 20196 yr by Bigblue204

The reality is that we do not have an unlimited budget (unlike the Lions and Argos, apparently)  and every team will have some losses. Either we trust Walters to manage the compromises to field a competitive team or we do not. We're gonna be OK, and the Riders, Eskies and Stamps will be hit a lot worse.

Draft and develop

Just now, Jpan85 said:

Draft and develop

and let them go when they want to get paid.

Just now, TBURGESS said:

and let them go when they want to get paid.

How much would you have overpaid for Loffler or Chungh?

I wouldn't have..Easiest lineman to replace...and easiest position on defense to replace

3 minutes ago, TBURGESS said:

and let them go when they want to get paid.

Worked for Calgary for years. Need to know who to keep and who to let walk, believe in your ability to scout down south and draft smart. I see nothing wrong with the way Walters approached free agency. For someone who was so critical of the bombers all season suddenly these pending free agents deserve to get paid?what ever fits the narrative I guess.  

3 minutes ago, JCon said:

How much would you have overpaid for Loffler or Chungh?

Loffler... Not over paying him, but I'd rather have JSK @ $145K than Jefferson @ $200+K and use the extra to 'overpay' Chungh.

 

I think people are taking ratio replacement far too lightly, Chungh and Goosen have been working in the trenches together for 4 years, Loffler has been an all-star for 3, Demski just completed his 4th year in the CFL.  To think that they can all be easily replaced by the next Canuck standing in line pretty much ignores the 25 years of struggle and grief we witnessed when they couldn't find Natls. of equivalent value.  To think overhauling the Natl. depth is now "instant breakfast" is ******* ludicrous!

14 minutes ago, Throw Long Bannatyne said:

I think people are taking ratio replacement far too lightly, Chungh and Goosen have been working in the trenches together for 4 years, Loffler has been an all-star for 3, Demski just completed his 4th year in the CFL.  To think that they can all be easily replaced by the next Canuck standing in line pretty much ignores the 25 years of struggle and grief we witnessed when they couldn't find Natls. of equivalent value.  To think overhauling the Natl. depth is now "instant breakfast" is ******* ludicrous!

We have two first round picks and solid players like Gray, Couture, Jones, Peterman, and Simonsie ready to take over. A guy like Peterman could very easily outplay Demski.

Good teams can't afford to keep all of their players, you still have the mentality from when the Bombers were a bottom feeder. We're an elite team now that has to rely on drafting and recruiting to stay afloat. We're going to lose some players in free agency and that's okay.

Edited February 12, 20196 yr by Blueandgold

14 minutes ago, Throw Long Bannatyne said:

I think people are taking ratio replacement far too lightly, Chungh and Goosen have been working in the trenches together for 4 years, Loffler has been an all-star for 3, Demski just completed his 4th year in the CFL.  To think that they can all be easily replaced by the next Canuck standing in line pretty much ignores the 25 years of struggle and grief we witnessed when they couldn't find Natls. of equivalent value.  To think overhauling the Natl. depth is now "instant breakfast" is ******* ludicrous!

Walters invested heavily in drafting OL, if he can't replace guys then why make the picks in the first place? It happens to every team, you lose guys and need to have people who can step in and replace them. Gray is a pretty high potential guy, no reason to think he can't do it and Couture has been groomed for a long time. Still got rock solid tackles, see if the depth is as good as we thought it was. 

Ticats have re-signed DE Adrian Tracy and Canadian receiver Mike Jones

38 minutes ago, TBURGESS said:

Loffler... Not over paying him, but I'd rather have JSK @ $145K than Jefferson @ $200+K and use the extra to 'overpay' Chungh.

How much would you have overpaid for Chungh? How much? 

The whole point of Walters strategy was to be prepared for moments like this...  there will be a few growing pains early in the season but this is not a 'sky is falling' moment like it would have been five years ago...  or like clinging to Brock Ralph as a starter

Woli will make us forget Demski, Gray will make us forger Chungh, Couture has been in the system for a while and Jones 'may' exceed expectations - Loffler was brutal the first half of 2018...

Plus like give the guy a chance to sign someone - Ackie and Adeleke still out there

Just now, JCon said:

How much would you have overpaid for Chungh? How much? 

I usually don't buy this excuse... but it sure seems like Chungh was going to BC no matter what

Our fanbase hasn't gotten used to having a lot of good players that other teams want. Calgary goes through this every year.

BC Lions have signed Lemar Durant.  Winnipeg not the only team losing former first round picks.  As we become more like Calgary this will happen.. The key is to have replacements ready to go.

We talked a lot about having the best OL in the league the last few years AND having depth on it. When you have the best group in the league everyone else will look to poach players when they can. We have depth, see if Walters is earning his pay by having good enough depth to replace the losses. 

Drew Edwards reporting "Sounds the Willie Jefferson sweepstakes are down to the B.C. Lions and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers"..

How in the F could Hervey afford to sign Jefferson...??

Ed Hervey gobbling up the SMS cash...

3 minutes ago, Floyd said:

How in the F could Hervey afford to sign Jefferson...??

Team has a long list of unsigned free agents.  Including Lemon and Odell.  

Just now, Colin Unger said:

Team has a long list of unsigned free agents.  Including Lemon and Odell.  

20% of cap on three players. I get they have lot of unsigned guys but those are going to be filled by rookies.