2024/2025 Blue Bombers Off-Season Thread

[M.O.A.B.]

52 minutes ago, Atomic said:

If he plays well this season and wins a Grey Cup then he's earned the extension. If the year goes in the toilet we can just release him. I don't think contract extensions really mean a whole lot in the CFL when very little, if any, money is guaranteed.

Or trade him to a team desperate for a QB, if any

[wbbfan]

1 hour ago, Atomic said:

If he plays well this season and wins a Grey Cup then he's earned the extension. If the year goes in the toilet we can just release him. I don't think contract extensions really mean a whole lot in the CFL when very little, if any, money is guaranteed.

All depends on his contract. We might’ve front loaded a ton of bonus money, you can give a big chunk of guarantee cash too. 
realistically, giving him a blind extension for next year after not seeing him play live action this year following his horrid season last year means we aren’t going to just cut him for underperforming either. We’d probably sit him on the ir and eat the cash. Which is also an option. Or he could retire. But again, wouldn’t make a lot of sense for him to retire after just signing an extension. 

[rebusrankin]

If ZC has a bad year, we are likely stuck with him next year says the guy who has not contract details.

[Booch]

2 hours ago, wbbfan said:

So was biggie and jj and ba and others who are now gone. Sure qb is a bigger piece normally, but D was what lead us our two gc wins. 
 Sure, I could be the adult having the difficult discussion. That’s not just pro sports, that’s business. 
 At high levels, like in pro sports, has been and did in the past, does not entitle you in the future. That type of we owe it to them because they were apart of success previously, is how you end up at the bottom of the standings for multiple years.  
 
Any sports teams first obligation is to themself/market, and it’s to put the best team in play possible. Not to pay people who are past it for a victory lap. 

Agreed....our qb play was not a reason we won the cups ....didnt hurt us....but wasnt the key reason....even last 2 yrs....sure ZC put some numbers up....but defence again...was theengine that drove us....that and BO

 

1 hour ago, 17to85 said:

He was pretty competent when he was first here.

And in college.....and seemed to make the throws required in his NFL journey....this is the yr for him to show it....new OC....He has changed his mechanics...his platform for when he gonna throw and his footwork....4 yrs of NFL coaching along with the school he runs has redefined him.....when we practically did all we could to destroy him

Heart...guts...attitude and ability to have guys follow him is also key

[JuranBoldenRules]

Well the 2019 team was 3-5 with Streveler starting and 4-0 with Collaros starting.  So he had some impact.  D wasn't getting it done by themselves, they got smacked around pretty bad in majority of games after Nichols went down.

Probably don't get to any of the post-19 Grey Cups if you don't host the West Final.  Matt Nichols never hosted a West Final.  Buck Pierce, Kevin Glenn and Khari Jones hosted 1 East Final each.  Collaros has hosted 4.

Good to have some perspective.  The only comparison that will matter in the end is Dru Brown from 2024 on vs Collaros from 2024 on.

[Doublezero]

22 hours ago, 17to85 said:

Premature. Should have waited but understand Zach wanting to get it done. 

Wonder if it's a 2-way player/coach deal? No sign of Jarious Jackson this season - so, you never know, might be an opening for QB coach next year.

[Doublezero]

I'm interested to see how we line up and run edge plays and misdirection counters on a 65-wide field this year with a new OC who is steeped in the CFL ground game. Thinking we are going to see some new wrinkles on the ground and not just in Q4. I am trying to imagine how you defend against Oliveira, Streveler, Chris-Ike, and Peyton Logan (once healthy) in the backfield all at once.

[TommyClements]

2 hours ago, Booch said:

And in college.....and seemed to make the throws required in his NFL journey....this is the yr for him to show it....new OC....He has changed his mechanics...his platform for when he gonna throw and his footwork....4 yrs of NFL coaching along with the school he runs has redefined him.....when we practically did all we could to destroy him

Heart...guts...attitude and ability to have guys follow him is also key

Let’s see him show it. He can’t just play mediocre football and everything get blamed on coaching.

as for this: “Heart...guts...attitude and ability to have guys follow him is also key.”

By that maxim, Bighill and Alexander should still be on the team (and they shouldn’t either). 

[wbbfan]

1 hour ago, JuranBoldenRules said:

Well the 2019 team was 3-5 with Streveler starting and 4-0 with Collaros starting.  So he had some impact.  D wasn't getting it done by themselves, they got smacked around pretty bad in majority of games after Nichols went down.

Probably don't get to any of the post-19 Grey Cups if you don't host the West Final.  Matt Nichols never hosted a West Final.  Buck Pierce, Kevin Glenn and Khari Jones hosted 1 East Final each.  Collaros has hosted 4.

Good to have some perspective.  The only comparison that will matter in the end is Dru Brown from 2024 on vs Collaros from 2024 on.

Ba moved to S, secondary gelled, D got healthy and hot at just the right time. A lot changed with the D from strevys starts to late. 
 The ol also came together, Lawler stepped up as well. 
 Zach gave us more than his production in 19 though. That famous run around toss up td to Darvin adams changed every thing. We went from a scrappy tough ground n pound team to a team that could make any play and win any way. A grey cup win went from a pipe dream to a very real possibility. 
 For my money, that is one of the greatest moments in bomber history. 

But you are right, the only thing that matters with respect to all this is brown vs Zach last year forward. 

[17to85]

48 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Ba moved to S, secondary gelled, D got healthy and hot at just the right time. A lot changed with the D from strevys starts to late.

Alexander to safety was big but they also added some pieces to the backend as well... Taylor and Jones at db ( i think his name was jones), maston at sam i think... really settled down the pass defense and of course the DL was deadly back then and bighill was still bighill... that D was something else once they put the pieces in late in the year.

[wbbfan]

4 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

Alexander to safety was big but they also added some pieces to the backend as well... Taylor and Jones at db ( i think his name was jones), maston at sam i think... really settled down the pass defense and of course the DL was deadly back then and bighill was still bighill... that D was something else once they put the pieces in late in the year.

Yep few spots settled mid way through. 
 The dl rotation and varied fronts came about half way through too. 

[Booch]

1 hour ago, Doublezero said:

I'm interested to see how we line up and run edge plays and misdirection counters on a 65-wide field this year with a new OC who is steeped in the CFL ground game. Thinking we are going to see some new wrinkles on the ground and not just in Q4. I am trying to imagine how you defend against Oliveira, Streveler, Chris-Ike, and Peyton Logan (once healthy) in the backfield all at once.

Could be Sterns ticket to roster if he can show he can do jet sweeps and misdirection stuff in unison with Demski...make teams have to pick a poison

 

1 hour ago, TommyClements said:

Let’s see him show it. He can’t just play mediocre football and everything get blamed on coaching.

as for this: “Heart...guts...attitude and ability to have guys follow him is also key.”

By that maxim, Bighill and Alexander should still be on the team (and they shouldn’t either). 

Yes and no...they were both injury prone and breaking down now...aged out vets...Strev isn't but I agree...new OC...hopefully new role...gotta prove it this yr

[M.O.A.B.]

Nothing works 🤬

[Wanna-B-Fanboy]

On 2025-05-24 at 1:50 PM, wbbfan said:

B
 Zach gave us more than his production in 19 though. That famous run around toss up td to Darvin adams changed every thing. We went from a scrappy tough ground n pound team to a team that could make any play and win any way. A grey cup win went from a pipe dream to a very real possibility. 
 For my money, that is one of the greatest moments in bomber history. 

 

That there, is when I KNEW we were ending the drought that year. 

Edited May 26 by Wanna-B-Fanboy

[Atomic]

 

[BomberBall.]

Lawson back at practice is great news.

[rebusrankin]

33 minutes ago, BomberBall. said:

Lawson back at practice is great news.

Its a Monday Miracle.

[wbbfan]

12 hours ago, Wanna-B-Fanboy said:

 

That there, is when I KNEW we were ending the draught that year. 

Yup, when that happens I got hugged by like 4 strangers in the stands. Every one knew what that play meant. It’s in the top tier of bomber plays and moments. 

Man Lawson back is huge hope he’s. Should be lots of time to get ready for game 1. 

[Booch]

27 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Yup, when that happens I got hugged by like 4 strangers in the stands. Every one knew what that play meant. It’s in the top tier of bomber plays and moments. 

Man Lawson back is huge hope he’s. Should be lots of time to get ready for game 1. 

YOU would think that if he good to go week 2 then one of Thomas/Schmeck is not rostered....3 national DT's is overkill especially with all the athletic guys we have to use instead..Novack..Leroux...a reciever...anyone

 

 

[wbbfan]

10 minutes ago, Booch said:

YOU would think that if he good to go week 2 then one of Thomas/Schmeck is not rostered....3 national DT's is overkill especially with all the athletic guys we have to use instead..Novack..Leroux...a reciever...anyone

 

 

Yeah I think schmek will be out for Lawson, I also think he might start over old Jake when 100%. But that will be a big litmus test. 

[rebusrankin]

3 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Yeah I think schmek will be out for Lawson, I also think he might start over old Jake when 100%. But that will be a big litmus test. 

I hear Jake will be starting in 2125. I am planning to upload my consciousness to the Internet so it can complain about this. 

[Super Duper Negatron]

39 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

I hear Jake will be starting in 2125. I am planning to upload my consciousness to the Internet so it can complain about this. 

[BomberBall.]

1 hour ago, Super Duper Negatron said:

Get off the line?  He has to hold his damn head up with his hand, just to keep from falling over the line!

[M.O.A.B.]

Cam Lawson activated from IR.

To make a spot, Kody Case was transferred to suspended. 

Edited May 26 by M.O.A.B.

[Noeller]

That's a paperwork move, I'm sure, but it's awesome to have Lawson back anyhow. Hope he's 100%. We need that guy.