2024/2025 Blue Bombers Off-Season Thread

[JuranBoldenRules]

9 minutes ago, Mike said:

I would genuinely love for someone in the media to ask why we spend all offseason recruiting American players to have one rookie crack our active roster. 
 

I know that’s an oversimplification but man … it’s gotta be frustrating for the front office. Backup DB/returner is all you see from all your efforts during the offseason? Sure, things will change as the season goes on but woof.

 

Well they signed a pretty big number of free agents. Although all of those guys probably don’t deserve to make the team, like Stearns I personally don’t see a need/fit for.  Mitchell has a track record so you’re hoping he can be the 1300 yard pace guy.  White looked good to me in the home game.

 

Also pretty good number of guys going into year 2.  Like say a Wheatfall.  I hope his pre-season dominance carries over…QBs seem to love him.  
 

I don’t think we want a pile of rookies starting…really searching for the depth to fill in when needed and take spots maybe next year when some others need to get paid.  It’s easy for the rookies to look good because it’s like meeting someone for the first time…you see all the good and upside.  We know the warts on the old guys and the excitement is gone.  But not the best barometer for long-term success.

[BBlink]

11 minutes ago, JuranBoldenRules said:

Won’t make changes for injured lists until later in the week.

Yeah that was my point. Weitz didn't make it over Munier Bailey. He will be put on IR

[Doublezero]

4 minutes ago, Atomic said:

The best rookies from camp may not have made the active roster but Cooley, Woodbey, Cam Allen, and Jay Person were our best new players and they all stuck around on the PR. They'll probably get their shot on the active roster at some point.

Plus Trey Vaval made the club, who looked pretty good on returns, and ... cool neck tattoos

[Mike]

Wait did Zach Davis make the team?

[Arnold_Palmer]

19 minutes ago, Mike said:

I would genuinely love for someone in the media to ask why we spend all offseason recruiting American players to have one rookie crack our active roster. 
 

I know that’s an oversimplification but man … it’s gotta be frustrating for the front office. Backup DB/returner is all you see from all your efforts during the offseason? Sure, things will change as the season goes on but woof.

 

No doubt we’re getting a reputation, sure we have a good team, great fans, but if you were a  young baller and you had the chance to go to Winnipeg or another team that’s won multiple grey cups like Toronto, which team do you choose? Probably the team that will give you the opportunity to make the roster and make a name for yourself. 

[Mike]

Just now, Arnold_Palmer said:

No doubt we’re getting a reputation, sure we have a good team, great fans, but if you were a  young baller and you had the chance to go to Winnipeg or another team that’s won multiple grey cups like Toronto, which team do you choose? Probably the team that will give you the opportunity to make the roster and make a name for yourself. 

You aren’t going to get what I’d call a fair shake here, they’re looking for something beyond or in addition to “can you play football at a high level” and I don’t really know if we can say what it is at this point. 

[JuranBoldenRules]

5 minutes ago, Arnold_Palmer said:

No doubt we’re getting a reputation, sure we have a good team, great fans, but if you were a  young baller and you had the chance to go to Winnipeg or another team that’s won multiple grey cups like Toronto, which team do you choose? Probably the team that will give you the opportunity to make the roster and make a name for yourself. 

How many CFL rookies did the Argos keep on their roster post cutdown?

[Atomic]

5 minutes ago, Mike said:

You aren’t going to get what I’d call a fair shake here, they’re looking for something beyond or in addition to “can you play football at a high level” and I don’t really know if we can say what it is at this point. 

Which players do you think should have made it that didn't, and which players that made it shouldn't have?

[wbbfan]

1 hour ago, Bigblue204 said:

Gotta think ball is cut when Kelly is healthy 

Think Kelly is on the main roster, when makonzo gets healthy I think ball is cut. 

[kelownabomberfan]

14 hours ago, Fatty Liver said:

O'Shea affectionately referred to Kramdi as "a bit of a prick". 

“I love the way Redha plays football, his passion for the game. And he’s got that ability to be a prick, and that’s a good thing on the football field.”

Asked today to expand a bit further on the ‘prick’ component, O’Shea added this: “It’s a term of endearment from me. When that gets that bestowed upon him, that’s very positive. It’s just that edge — not the penalty — just the edge, the desire to win your one-on-one and beat your opponent all the time and no quarter. You just want to beat them.”

 

Unless it's a Grey Cup game....

[Mike]

Just now, Atomic said:

Which players do you think should have made it that didn't, and which players that made it shouldn't have?

I’m going to reserve the right to wait until our actual week 2 roster is sorted but I’m not thrilled about Kyrie or Parker making the team. Sheahan is another one. I will say I like the PR choices we made, but I’m hopeful some of them are actually on the roster for season kickoff - mostly Person or Allen.

 

[Colin Unger]

10 minutes ago, Mike said:

Wait did Zach Davis make the team?

Not listed anywhere on the roster.  

[Mike]

5 minutes ago, Atomic said:

Which players do you think should have made it that didn't, and which players that made it shouldn't have?

I’m going to reply to this again just to expand on my comment a bit more.

Until we actually start using the roster rules that are available to us, I don’t think anyone in their right mind can suggest “putting the best football team on the field” is the main priority. There’s clearly another agenda there and that, largely more than the individual roster choices, is what makes me frustrated as a fan.

 

[kelownabomberfan]

1 hour ago, Pete said:

I really liked Gowan, but he did seem to come up limping in 4th qtr last game

 

A whole year of Strange Animal jokes down the drain...

[Atomic]

4 minutes ago, Mike said:

I’m going to reserve the right to wait until our actual week 2 roster is sorted but I’m not thrilled about Kyrie or Parker making the team. Sheahan is another one. I will say I like the PR choices we made, but I’m hopeful some of them are actually on the roster for season kickoff - mostly Person or Allen.

2 minutes ago, Mike said:

Until we actually start using the roster rules that are available to us, I don’t think anyone in their right mind can suggest “putting the best football team on the field” is the main priority. There’s clearly another agenda there and that, largely more than the individual roster choices, is what makes me frustrated as a fan.

I'm not sure there is any kind of agenda. I think MOS believes he is putting the best football team on the field, he just has a different way of going about it, where he values experience, character, and attitude more than a typical coach might. And this makes him loyal to players... to a fault.

But I'd also point out that rookies DO make their way onto the Bombers eventually. It's just usually not on day one, and at the expense of an established veteran. This management/coaching team seems to like bringing guys along on the practice roster for some time before giving them spots over veterans. If you look at guys like Devin Adams, Jamal Woods, Bridges, Randolph, Vanterpool, Wheatfall, Ayers..... they all came in last year and may not have been on the team day one or roster regulars but now they are. There's a good chance guys like Cam Allen, Woodbey and Cooley play big roles this year or into the future.

But Evans should have made it over Sheahan, sick of Sheahan.

[wbbfan]

8 minutes ago, Mike said:

I’m going to reserve the right to wait until our actual week 2 roster is sorted but I’m not thrilled about Kyrie or Parker making the team. Sheahan is another one. I will say I like the PR choices we made, but I’m hopeful some of them are actually on the roster for season kickoff - mostly Person or Allen.

 

Yeah. Wish we kept the punter, maybe pointer and only having 2 imp des is a bit crazy. Though adams can play end. 
 A ton is still going to be hashed out between now and the first game. 
 

Wish we made the call to move on from some guys already but we still have time. I don’t have a lot of hope but we haven’t made a bunch of bad cuts or any thing. 

[Booch]

57 minutes ago, blue85gold said:

Yes I forgot Wheatfall. 

I’m not even sure who you are upset got cut here? Nobody likes the Cdn DTs beyond Lawson, but it’s not like they cut a bunch of Cdn DTs that showed better. 

The American dlineman cut would have been nice to keep but Willie, Woods, Adams, Vaughters, Person for the American 3 dline spots looks good. 

 

They kept a the American LBs in Ayers and JJones. 
 

No American rookie receiver jumped off the page. 

Its more who we didn't cut to make room and not block prospects...Pointer should not have...he looked best next to Adams and as it sits now have no import depth there...and one who quasi knows our system and showed some nice potential

Thats my issue here...we block/regress any advancement of new younger better talent behind older players who aren't getting better...and aren't what they were...and feel this need to follow bottom half of roster with largely plugs who would never really be more than special teasers

Hall should have been kept too...as opposed to Case who showed nothing of anything intriguing...couldn't stay on roster last yr....didnt earn anything this yr and who woukd he displace currently? Hall showed some nice skill set...showed ZC had some chemistry with him...in which with ZC is huge as if he doesn't have confidence or chemistry in a receiver he largely ignores them...also Webb...he looked legit...we kept Person thank God as I see him becoming our best all around dlineman if given a roster spot...we have 2 30 something ends right now...proven...that's it...dumb to not have 2 guys developing and ready to roll

Scmeck...Thomas...KOrnelson...Wilson...T.Jones...those guys are not difference maker guys to put u over the top...and we likely dress all 5...just cause seniority...man crush...familiarity

[Super Duper Negatron]

I suppose you just have to look at the long game. Guys like Woods and Adams were camp standouts that had to largely wait their turn. Wheatfall and Wilson at receiver last year. DBs almost every year. So not as bad as it seems....but Thomas and Kyrie can't be starters anymore.

[wbbfan]

3 minutes ago, Booch said:

Its more who we didn't cut to make room and not block prospects...Pointer should not have...he looked best next to Adams and as it sits now have no import depth there...and one who quasi knows our system and showed some nice potential

Thats my issue here...we block/regress any advancement of new younger better talent behind older players who aren't getting better...and aren't what they were...and feel this need to follow bottom half of roster with largely plugs who would never really be more than special teasers

Hall should have been kept too...as opposed to Case who showed nothing of anything intriguing...couldn't stay on roster last yr....didnt earn anything this yr and who woukd he displace currently? Hall showed some nice skill set...showed ZC had some chemistry with him...in which with ZC is huge as if he doesn't have confidence or chemistry in a receiver he largely ignores them...also Webb...he looked legit...we kept Person thank God as I see him becoming our best all around dlineman if given a roster spot...we have 2 30 something ends right now...proven...that's it...dumb to not have 2 guys developing and ready to roll

Scmeck...Thomas...KOrnelson...Wilson...T.Jones...those guys are not difference maker guys to put u over the top...and we likely dress all 5...just cause seniority...man crush...familiarity

Teams like the Argos continue to move on from old players out performed by young guys and we continue to not make those moves. We get worse and the league gets better. 
 Last year it took a rash of injuries to plug in new guys even with a dismal start. Maybe they’ll park guys like kyrie but I doubt it. 

[Booch]

49 minutes ago, Mike said:

I would genuinely love for someone in the media to ask why we spend all offseason recruiting American players to have one rookie crack our active roster. 
 

I know that’s an oversimplification but man … it’s gotta be frustrating for the front office. Backup DB/returner is all you see from all your efforts during the offseason? Sure, things will change as the season goes on but woof.

 

Why you think Cyril Penn jammed outta town...could of got a promote here but why bust your ass all offseason only to see the talent shipped outta town or never played in favour of a coach's wet dream player?? It wasn't a coincidence btw....players also talk too...I think that's part of reason we have been complaining last few yrs as to why didnt go after...or land this guy..that guy.. why come here...see your role minimized and see yiur dollars go down next contract from lack of stats/impact?

[Mike]

3 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Teams like the Argos continue to move on from old players out performed by young guys and we continue to not make those moves. We get worse and the league gets better. 
 Last year it took a rash of injuries to plug in new guys even with a dismal start. Maybe they’ll park guys like kyrie but I doubt it. 

This is a good way to summarize how I feel. We stayed with status quo and let the rest of the league catch up. 

[Fatty Liver]

35 minutes ago, Mike said:

Wait did Zach Davis make the team?

He was never listed on the roster and still isn't.

[Booch]

45 minutes ago, Arnold_Palmer said:

No doubt we’re getting a reputation, sure we have a good team, great fans, but if you were a  young baller and you had the chance to go to Winnipeg or another team that’s won multiple grey cups like Toronto, which team do you choose? Probably the team that will give you the opportunity to make the roster and make a name for yourself. 

 

44 minutes ago, Mike said:

You aren’t going to get what I’d call a fair shake here, they’re looking for something beyond or in addition to “can you play football at a high level” and I don’t really know if we can say what it is at this point. 

Yup...

 

16 minutes ago, Super Duper Negatron said:

I suppose you just have to look at the long game. Guys like Woods and Adams were camp standouts that had to largely wait their turn. Wheatfall and Wilson at receiver last year. DBs almost every year. So not as bad as it seems....but Thomas and Kyrie can't be starters anymore.

Wait their turn behind inferior players...why? If u ready...u ready...and then still keep the inferiors...eating into their reps? Plain dumb....osh needs to learn when to move on and loyalty doesn't win cups

Edited Sunday at 04:50 PM by Booch

[wbbfan]

2 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

He was never listed on the roster and still isn't.

Because he was a junior invitee. We broke camp with a riffles kid before for a couple weeks. Think he’d be on the list if he made it. 

[Super Duper Negatron]

1 minute ago, Booch said:

 

Yup...

 

Wait their turn behind inferior players...why? If u ready...u ready...and then still the inferiors...eating into their reps? Plain dumb....osh needs to learn when to move on and loyalty doesn't win cups

I don't think it's a stretch to say that the last three cups could have been won if a few key veterans had been jettisoned in favor of fresher blood each year.