2024/2025 Blue Bombers Off-Season Thread

[Blue In BC]

30 minutes ago, bigg jay said:

The fact that we had him on our neg list before it was discovered he qualified for Global status, shows that they thought highly of him as an import so yeah he could very well beat out other players.

If a player on any neg list was a guarantee of success then sure. We see lots of players on neg lists that become total busts. Don't we think highly of every player we bring to TC?  Why didn't we sign him when he was still considered as an import rather than waiting for him to qualify as a global?

 We had players in TC 2024 that were on our neg list and failed to make the roster. Just saying that the PR and highlight reels about every player is always positive.

All the power to him to show he belongs.  The issue is that as an import he has a more difficult time making a roster as either a starter or a DI because of the ratio. As a global player ( we have 4 ) 2 are punters so he only has to beat out 1 player if we choose to roster a 2nd global on the AR.

 

 

Edited 8 hours ago by Blue In BC

[BomberBall.]

1 minute ago, Blue In BC said:

If a player on any neg list was a guarantee of success then sure. We see lots of players on neg lists that become total busts. Don't we think highly of every player we bring to TC?  Why didn't we sign him when he was still considered as an import rather than waiting for him to qualify as a global?

 We had players in TC 2024 that were on our neg list and failed to make the roster. Just saying that the PR and highlight reels about every player is always positive.

 

Of course, no player is a guarantee, but the fact that he was on our neg list before realizing he was a global player, says something.  He’s not just the average global pick that you take a flyer on…. Will he pan out?  Who knows?  But there is reason for some optimism.

[Blue In BC]

10 minutes ago, BomberBall. said:

Of course, no player is a guarantee, but the fact that he was on our neg list before realizing he was a global player, says something.  He’s not just the average global pick that you take a flyer on…. Will he pan out?  Who knows?  But there is reason for some optimism.

I was adding to my earlier post. I was making the point that it would have been more difficult to make the roster as an import.  I'd also say adding players to a neg list is also taking a flyer. IIRC E. Barriere was a neg list player in 2024.  It's always hard to determine which players come to camp that were neg list players. Sometimes we hear about those that succeed but don't hear about those that don't succeed.

IMO having been on a neg list doesn't give me any more confidence than any other signings the team makes.  There aren't really any stats to prove or disprove where we have the most success. Tryout camps, neg lists etc. There are probably 30 - 40 players on every teams roster that will be out of the CFL when final rosters are declared.

In theory, he'll make the PR at the least since we only have 4 global players. Sheehan should make the AR although we signed a new global punter. One or the other will be released probably. There is a ratio benefit for a global if he shows some level of talent. You can't add another import instead of a Canadian but you can add that 2nd global player as a choice.

Note that I have no particular bias for or against. Just looking at the history of global players being successful even if he was previously classed as an import.

Edited 8 hours ago by Blue In BC

[Booch]

36 minutes ago, bigg jay said:

The fact that we had him on our neg list before it was discovered he qualified for Global status, shows that they thought highly of him as an import so yeah he could very well beat out other players.

couple other teams reached out to him as well....but he was on our neg. Also a 5 yr trained player in the NCAA is far more ready and skilled to play in the CFL in his first yr than a 4 yr CIS kid...so him displacing a bottom end Canadian  is a certainty...even a mid level Canadian to be honest and he likely will be a guy who can take defensive reps and not hurt you there too as opposed to being on roster soley for ST's

35 minutes ago, bigg jay said:

So Strevy looks healthy but Schoen & Lawson have been moved to the injured veterans list - I hope we're not in for another season of way too much JT on the field. 

Chris Streveler ready to start for Winnipeg Blue Bombers if called upon - 3DownNation

 

Ws part of reason why letting Lawler go and "banking" on Schoen even being ready...let alone to where he was at before injury was a big risk ...If we truly wanted to keep Lawler we could have....there are several salaries on our roster we could have expelled and moved money that we wouldmt have missed in the least...My feeling is tho they airing on the side of caution....which in itself again reeks of country club TC attitude ...again.....

 

[rebusrankin]

Bailey is likely better than Jake or Schmekel, so playing him over one of those guys is a bonus.

[Booch]

32 minutes ago, Booch said:

couple other teams reached out to him as well....but he was on our neg. Also a 5 yr trained player in the NCAA is far more ready and skilled to play in the CFL in his first yr than a 4 yr CIS kid...so him displacing a bottom end Canadian  is a certainty...even a mid level Canadian to be honest and he likely will be a guy who can take defensive reps and not hurt you there too as opposed to being on roster soley for ST's

Ws part of reason why letting Lawler go and "banking" on Schoen even being ready...let alone to where he was at before injury was a big risk ...If we truly wanted to keep Lawler we could have....there are several salaries on our roster we could have expelled and moved money that we wouldmt have missed in the least...My feeling is tho they airing on the side of caution....which in itself again reeks of country club TC attitude ...again.....

 

@Noeller not too sure in your bean pod what is so funny about that...but whatever...I'll remember to laugh at your first of many the sky is falling rants...

[bigg jay]

39 minutes ago, Blue In BC said:

If a player on any neg list was a guarantee of success then sure. We see lots of players on neg lists that become total busts. Don't we think highly of every player we bring to TC?  Why didn't we sign him when he was still considered as an import rather than waiting for him to qualify as a global?

 We had players in TC 2024 that were on our neg list and failed to make the roster. Just saying that the PR and highlight reels about every player is always positive.

All the power to him to show he belongs.  The issue is that as an import he has a more difficult time making a roster as either a starter or a DI because of the ratio. As a global player ( we have 4 ) 2 are punters so he only has to beat out 1 player if we choose to roster a 2nd global on the AR.

 

 

There's no guarantees with any player, neg list or not.  The neg list is a mix bag (just like anything else, whether it's draft or free agency), some guys live up to expectations, some don't and some we never see come north.  We may think highly of them but not all players have the same potential/ceiling. A first round draft pick is not viewed the same way a 5th rounder would be even the club thinks high enough of both to select them, but they are not viewed the same. IMO, neg list guys are usually players that teams feel like they could be very successful IF they ever came to the CFL.

As for why we didn't sign him as an import?  Who says we didn't try?  He may have been given advice that getting his global status would be better for him, given that, as far as global players go, he'd be at the top end of talent so his chances of making a team would be greater.  

[Booch]

Neg lists for most part are a wish list...with a few possibilities sprinkled in

 

[17to85]

On 2025-05-08 at 11:38 AM, wbbfan said:

Nothing wrong with his deep throws at all, he threw a couple beauties in the NFL. It's all the former lapo-buck tomfoolery with him.

He tossed that beauty of a deep toss to Harris in the endzone in thr 2019 grey cup. Surprised people don't remember...

[wbbfan]

23 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

Bailey is likely better than Jake or Schmekel, so playing him over one of those guys is a bonus.

Honestly, our edge play was so bad last year, and he's guaranteed to be replacement level at worst. 

5 minutes ago, Booch said:

Neg lists for most part are a wish list...with a few possibilities sprinkled in

 

Yep. The NL is the premium blue-chip guys you wait on for 2-5 years. It's the first and second round picks equivalent of Imps. 

 We considered him a premium blue chip imp, then traded up giving up probably our 2nd best Canadian dl, to pick him 2nd over all in the global draft. Expectations should be Hansen but more polished in the pass rush. Now hansen excelled a lot based on his insane work ethic and willingness to sacrifice his body. That isn't at all common, and is incredibly valuable. He isn't likely to be the same guy as hansen, but should provide the same or more value. 

[wbbfan]

2 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

He tossed that beauty of a deep toss to Harris in the endzone in thr 2019 grey cup. Surprised people don't remember...

Yep, he showed out some great tosses when he wasn't confined to some wildcat trash system. When I think strevy, I still think about some of the frozen rope deep balls he threw in college. By NFL standards, he is an elite level combination of arm talent and athleticism. If he didn't have the arm to make every throw on the field, he never would've been more than a TC invite. Nfl teams are not sitting on guys who cant connect on the deep ball, especially none draft picks. 

Look how long rourke was down there. He has every single physical attribute you could hope for, and a great head on his shoulders. Strevy lasted way longer because he not only had the talent, but the ability to fulfill that talent, and hof level leadership. 

We have never seen strevy in a good situation to succeed up here. And despite that, he has overachieved and made tremendous contribution for us. Unleash the guy, and then judge him. 

[Booch]

52 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Honestly, our edge play was so bad last year, and he's guaranteed to be replacement level at worst. 

Yep. The NL is the premium blue-chip guys you wait on for 2-5 years. It's the first and second round picks equivalent of Imps. 

 We considered him a premium blue chip imp, then traded up giving up probably our 2nd best Canadian dl, to pick him 2nd over all in the global draft. Expectations should be Hansen but more polished in the pass rush. Now hansen excelled a lot based on his insane work ethic and willingness to sacrifice his body. That isn't at all common, and is incredibly valuable. He isn't likely to be the same guy as hansen, but should provide the same or more value. 

yeah...should come in and give us more than Hansen did at his best right from the get go...Hansen was as raw as raw could be....Physicality and athleticism and willingness to work and learn got him to where he became a real good rotation guy and demon on teams

Bailey is coming in with 5 yrs of the best traiing and experience you can get outside of pro...he will be doing stuff defensively day one that Hansen had to learn as a newbie..

47 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Yep, he showed out some great tosses when he wasn't confined to some wildcat trash system. When I think strevy, I still think about some of the frozen rope deep balls he threw in college. By NFL standards, he is an elite level combination of arm talent and athleticism. If he didn't have the arm to make every throw on the field, he never would've been more than a TC invite. Nfl teams are not sitting on guys who cant connect on the deep ball, especially none draft picks. 

Look how long rourke was down there. He has every single physical attribute you could hope for, and a great head on his shoulders. Strevy lasted way longer because he not only had the talent, but the ability to fulfill that talent, and hof level leadership. 

We have never seen strevy in a good situation to succeed up here. And despite that, he has overachieved and made tremendous contribution for us. Unleash the guy, and then judge him. 

the dime he dropped into JA in the banjo bowl baiting guys into biting on a QB draw....Tha game alone was a good synopsis of what he can do playing QB...Making throws...running where it opened up along with designed runs....and was a crusie to victory...set him up to succeed...and the player he is...grit..heart...smarts and leadership traits and guys willing to ball out for him...I wouldnt be worried about success

[Booch]

so peruse this and tell me what you see says guy cant throw or run an actual offense....from 3 min mark through to the 4:30 mark shows ability to make throws in pocket with heat in his face and drop nice balls from a roll out/sprint.....and many of those runs were from a escape from pocket or a designed play Not bashing up the gut....and teams had tpo respect it...the 5:37 mark in particular..pocket collapsed but teams had to respect the reciever routes and he has ability to bust straight up gut and gouge the defence for a 30+ yard score...and in the first yr there was many like that...as well as his runs outside....when teams didnt basically have a run telegraphed to them with the stupidity we put him thru ;last yr

I recall too in MTL at game I was at him dropping a 50+ yrd dime on Simonese down the rail from pocket in our endzone as well....dude has ability if allowed to actually play as a traditional QB....and he actually a more polished and refined passer now...he's evolved his technique and mechanics....4+ yrs in the NFL will help with that

A guy who showed he can excel and knows the CFL game...and then 4 yrs getting better in the NFL to come back....foolish to not turn him loose as a QB

Edited 6 hours ago by Booch

[Tracker]

13 minutes ago, Booch said:

so peruse this and tell me what you see says guy cant throw or run an actual offense....from 3 min mark through to the 4:30 mark shows ability to make throws in pocket with heat in his face and drop nice balls from a roll out/sprint.....and many of those runs were from a escape from pocket or a designed play Not bashing up the gut....and teams had tpo respect it...the 5:37 mark in particular..pocket collapsed but teams had to respect the reciever routes and he has ability to bust straight up gut and gouge the defence for a 30+ yard score...and in the first yr there was many like that...as well as his runs outside....when teams didnt basically have a run telegraphed to them with the stupidity we put him thru ;last yr

I recall too in MTL at game I was at him dropping a 50+ yrd dime on Simonese down the rail from pocket in our endzone as well....dude has ability if allowed to actually play as a traditional QB....and he actually a more polished and refined passer now...he's evolved his technique and mechanics....4+ yrs in the NFL will help with that

A guy who showed he can excel and knows the CFL game...and then 4 yrs getting better in the NFL to come back....foolish to not turn him loose as a QB

I remain a firm believer that if Streveler was healthy and allowed to replace Collaros last Grey Cup game, we would have won handily.

[Goalie]

No issue with Schoen on IR to start. I’d rather he not reinjure himself in useless training camp. He knows the playbook. 
 

also gives opportunity for other guys to step up and make an impression like he did so no problem there. It’s not like RW JR is a sure thing. Need some receivers to step up cuz maybe there’s an opening or 2. 

[SpeedFlex27]

On 2025-05-08 at 8:03 AM, Goalie said:

North Winnipeg. I don’t want to go after working a 10 hour shift. Why. Honestly camp is boring. It honestly doesn’t excite me. Only time I really go is if i decide to pick up tickets or go to the bombers store but that’s more weekend so the school aged kid can come with. 

Someone here lives in Thompson, I think Tracker, maybe? If he does, I can see why he doesn't drive to practice after work. You don't have to go to practice to be a fan. Yeah it can be boring at times when the coaches are inserting new plays & eveyrone is in a huddle looking up to the sky at a piece of paper held up for the players by a coach yelling instructions. 

Edited 5 hours ago by SpeedFlex27

[Goalie]

1 minute ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Someone here lives in Thompson, I think Tracker, maybe? If he does, I can see why he doesn't drive to practice after work. You don't have to go to practice to be a fan & yeah it can be boring at times when the coaches are inserting new plays & eveyrone is in a huddle looking up to the sky to a piece of paper held up for the players by a coach yelling instructions. 

I have honestly little interest in going by myself. Like I said maybe the weekend with the kid but this plus almost 30 got me thinking the cabin might be better the day. 

[BomberBall.]

2 hours ago, rebusrankin said:

Bailey is likely better than Jake or Schmekel, so playing him over one of those guys is a bonus.

I took a dump this morning that was better than Thomas.  Definitely more agile.

[johnzo]

3 hours ago, Booch said:

the dime he dropped into JA in the banjo bowl baiting guys into biting on a QB draw....

Peak Streveler.  Ed Gainey bit so hard on that big exaggerated step forward and then got outrun to the endzone by a backup RB. And Matty with a classic call to top it all off.

Edited 2 hours ago by johnzo

[Booch]

1 hour ago, johnzo said:

Peak Streveler.  Ed Gainey bit so hard on that big exaggerated step forward and then gets outrun to the endzone by a backup RB. And Matty with a classic call to top it all off.

Lov3d his call too when Strev ran over the whole rider defence and almost scored

[JohnnyAbonny]

2 hours ago, Booch said:

so peruse this and tell me what you see says guy cant throw or run an actual offense....from 3 min mark through to the 4:30 mark shows ability to make throws in pocket with heat in his face and drop nice balls from a roll out/sprint.....and many of those runs were from a escape from pocket or a designed play Not bashing up the gut....and teams had tpo respect it...the 5:37 mark in particular..pocket collapsed but teams had to respect the reciever routes and he has ability to bust straight up gut and gouge the defence for a 30+ yard score...and in the first yr there was many like that...as well as his runs outside....when teams didnt basically have a run telegraphed to them with the stupidity we put him thru ;last yr

I recall too in MTL at game I was at him dropping a 50+ yrd dime on Simonese down the rail from pocket in our endzone as well....dude has ability if allowed to actually play as a traditional QB....and he actually a more polished and refined passer now...he's evolved his technique and mechanics....4+ yrs in the NFL will help with that

A guy who showed he can excel and knows the CFL game...and then 4 yrs getting better in the NFL to come back....foolish to not turn him loose as a QB

Agree on all of this but just saying it was Brian Bennett who dropped that bb to Simonese 

Edited 3 hours ago by JohnnyAbonny

[Booch]

1 minute ago, JohnnyAbonny said:

Agree on all of this but just saying it was Brian Bennett who dropped that bb to Simonese 

Was it? Could.. that's 7+ yrs now and many shots to the head prob effects my memory hahahahah

I do know that mtl game he had a great game all around..