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

Anyone else think the Arcenaux signing was a complete afterthought. ....trying to appease the restless mob with a brand name ?

On 2019-02-07 at 12:16 PM, Mr Dee said:

The man is doing things to give the CFL more exposure and opening up possibities for future development of players, and more importantly, revenue streams. 

Better than sitting and waiting for the football world to pass us by while we wait for things to happen.

We need more forward thinking like this. Absolutely no harm in talking and exploring this avenue.

Exactly!! Any exposure, any growth is good growth...   grassroots movement?? Well now there is 3 of them.. here, in mexico and in Europe.

 

How could any of this be even remotely considered a bad thing..

7 minutes ago, SPuDS said:

Exactly!! Any exposure, any growth is good growth...   grassroots movement?? Well now there is 3 of them.. here, in mexico and in Europe.

How could any of this be even remotely considered a bad thing..

I'd like to present the court with Exhibit A: CFL's 1993 USA expansion.

5 minutes ago, Eternal optimist said:

I'd like to present the court with Exhibit A: CFL's 1993 USA expansion.

Even though a resounding failure..  it still opened up the states eyes towards the CFL.  not a bad thing. 

 

When looking at it simply from an exposure and awareness situation.. success.  huge flop business wise.

4 minutes ago, SPuDS said:

Even though a resounding failure..  it still opened up the states eyes towards the CFL.  not a bad thing.

When looking at it simply from an exposure and awareness situation.. success.  huge flop business wise.

I understand your stance - but a business has to maintain some level of self-control, over-expansion can be just as dangerous as lack of brand recognition in markets. I would argue the US expansion diluted the CFL brand detrimentally, and pushed it further into the realm of "bush league" by American viewership..

17 hours ago, 17to85 said:

I am going to guess quite a bit, especially Eguavoen. That guy was a damned good linebacker. 

Losing Santos-knox is a wash I would say on your end

1 hour ago, Ripper said:

Losing Santos-knox is a wash I would say on your end

Of course you would, but it is not really comparable at all.

I mean, you still consider Hughes a starter and is he even really a starter? 

Nah.

1 hour ago, Ripper said:

Losing Santos-knox is a wash I would say on your end

Well the Bombers defense looked OK without him when he was hurt at the end of last year, so yes he is a loss, but not an insurmountable one. Bighill was the straw stirring the drink for the Bomber linebackers, Egauvoen was the guy doing it for the Riders. Had we lost Bighill it would be comparable. 

8 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

Well the Bombers defense looked OK without him when he was hurt at the end of last year, so yes he is a loss, but not an insurmountable one. Bighill was the straw stirring the drink for the Bomber linebackers, Egauvoen was the guy doing it for the Riders. Had we lost Bighill it would be comparable. 

Looking at the stats/ numbers is where I draw the comparison. Also the fact that neither play in the middle. NOW....  If we lost Sam Hurl for some reason, that would be the same as you losing Bighill,  wouldn't you agree?🙄

10 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

Well the Bombers defense looked OK without him when he was hurt at the end of last year, so yes he is a loss, but not an insurmountable one. Bighill was the straw stirring the drink for the Bomber linebackers, Egauvoen was the guy doing it for the Riders. Had we lost Bighill it would be comparable. 

Their 3 best players were Jefferson, Eguavoen, Antigua. They have lost them all with no real replacement.

9 minutes ago, Geebrr said:

Their 3 best players were Jefferson, Eguavoen, Antigua. They have lost them all with no real replacement.

Funny,  when I look at the Stats, the 2 leaguing players in league with the most sacks are on our roster?  One was just signed a few days ago.  Curious how you would define replacement?  Antigha wasn't even a starter on defense

6 minutes ago, Ripper said:

Funny,  when I look at the Stats, the 2 leaguing players in league with the most sacks are on our roster?  One was just signed a few days ago.  Curious how you would define replacement?  Antigha wasn't even a starter on defense

Wasn't even a starter but made more plays than almost everyone else, other than the 2 other guys you lost. 

 

Yes, Hughes is a pass rush specialist and invisible the other 90% of the time. Go look at Jones saying he had to limit his reps and Hughes still disappeared in the second half. Fool yourself into thinking he is an every down player I truly hope the Riders see it the same way.

Micah Johnson is very good, he doesn't do things that the guys you lost do  scheme wise.He is not dropping into deep zone coverage.  

7 minutes ago, Geebrr said:

Wasn't even a starter but made more plays than almost everyone else, other than the 2 other guys you lost.  

Antigha was 14th on the team in tackles.  Tied for 7th in sacks.  I think we will survive without him

18 minutes ago, Ripper said:

Antigha was 14th on the team in tackles.  Tied for 7th in sacks.  I think we will survive without him

3 interceptions (1st)  and 1 TD on a team that relies on their defence to score points. 

Replace that. 

 

Edited February 17, 20196 yr by Geebrr

25 minutes ago, Ripper said:

Antigha was 14th on the team in tackles.  Tied for 7th in sacks.  I think we will survive without him

21 tackles - that pretty darn good for a Defensive End.  But I’m curious about the way you assess your DL - don’t you think it’s more about getting consistent pressure and keeping contain? 

Like talking to a …

 

Being awfullly defensive.

Of course that comes from being a disciple of C. Jones..

17 minutes ago, Mark H. said:

21 tackles - that pretty darn good for a Defensive End.  But I’m curious about the way you assess your DL - don’t you think it’s more about getting consistent pressure and keeping contain? 

21 tackles is not good for a DE, pretty good for a rotational/ backup though.  Constant pressure is the goal, but the constant pressure should yield results too, which translate into stats.  Antigha is a good player, I am not saying he isn't. I think some are exaggerating his contributions in a attempt to doom and gloom the team. I get it, that's what opposing team fans do. As a fan of said team, I am not worried about losing Antigha. Equavon is tough loss, but he got a NFL shot so I wish him the best of luck. Jefferson was replaced before he even left by Johnson. Johnson and Leonard combination offsets the loss of Willie.  You got a good player there but it wasn't a major area of need for you to begin with, so the results wont be as noticeable as many are hoping. Having said that, a team should upgrade when it can, so WJ is a upgrade for your team. Gives you a shot at maybe having a top 5 player in sacks. We will have 2 on our team

4 minutes ago, Ripper said:

21 tackles is not good for a DE, pretty good for a rotational/ backup though.  Constant pressure is the goal, but the constant pressure should yield results too, which translate into stats.  Antigha is a good player, I am not saying he isn't. I think some are exaggerating his contributions in a attempt to doom and gloom the team. I get it, that's what opposing team fans do. As a fan of said team, I am not worried about losing Antigha. Equavon is tough loss, but he got a NFL shot so I wish him the best of luck. Jefferson was replaced before he even left by Johnson. Johnson and Leonard combination offsets the loss of Willie.  You got a good player there but it wasn't a major area of need for you to begin with, so the results wont be as noticeable as many are hoping. Having said that, a team should upgrade when it can, so WJ is a upgrade for your team. Gives you a shot at maybe having a top 5 player in sacks. We will have 2 on our team

WJ was your defensive and team MVP last year.

Sounds easy to replace. 

Charleston Hughes will have 10 sacks after 5 games & then disappear after that. Like watching a ship sail into the night.... Disappear. Become invisible. Never to be seen again. 

 

2 hours ago, Ripper said:

21 tackles is not good for a DE, pretty good for a rotational/ backup though.  Constant pressure is the goal, but the constant pressure should yield results too, which translate into stats.  Antigha is a good player, I am not saying he isn't. I think some are exaggerating his contributions in a attempt to doom and gloom the team. I get it, that's what opposing team fans do. As a fan of said team, I am not worried about losing Antigha. Equavon is tough loss, but he got a NFL shot so I wish him the best of luck. Jefferson was replaced before he even left by Johnson. Johnson and Leonard combination offsets the loss of Willie.  You got a good player there but it wasn't a major area of need for you to begin with, so the results wont be as noticeable as many are hoping. Having said that, a team should upgrade when it can, so WJ is a upgrade for your team. Gives you a shot at maybe having a top 5 player in sacks. We will have 2 on our team

In terms of tackles our leading DE had 31, so I’m not following your logic. Unless your front 4 has to get more tackles because your MLB only got 40. 

Jovon Johnson says the Riders locker room is dysfunctional and there is work to do to fix it. 

I'm sure Rider fans are claiming the problem guys have all left now.

2 hours ago, Ripper said:

Funny,  when I look at the Stats, the 2 leaguing players in league with the most sacks are on our roster?  One was just signed a few days ago.  Curious how you would define replacement?  Antigha wasn't even a starter on defense

What was the rider's time of possession vs the rest of the league?

Hughes is 35 and while he had 12 sacks in the first half of the season, he had 3 in the second half. I'd be legitimately worried that he's done. Huff may have pulled the ole Wally Special.

2 hours ago, Geebrr said:

WJ was your defensive and team MVP last year.

Sounds easy to replace. 

Holy **** it's a ghost....