2024/2025 Blue Bombers Off-Season Thread

[Booch]

6 minutes ago, 3rdand1.5 said:

I too am in the group of thinking that Sheehan must be great holder, clearly we have had very good success with FG's I think it a solid hypothesis that our staff and/or Castillo do not want a change.....it is reasonable to think that the intangibles of this may have had an effect on the decision to roll with Sheehan again, perhaps the "risk" of a different holder, even just the mental aspect was what pushed Sheehan over Evans. As mentioned above keeping the "older" long snapper only adds credence to this theory. 

 

I have also wondered about Kola as well. He is not the best blocker, but he keeps winning, and when you look at it, we don't have many bad snaps, so again it is a solid hypothesis that Kola keeps winning because his snaps are better, he may get outplayed as a pure blocker every TC, but not as a pure snapper. That intangible again may again be what pushes him over Eli etc. over and over. Perhaps Zach is vocal behind closed doors on his preference for a Kola snap. All aspects, not just athletic ability in play perhaps the mental uncertainty or concern from a "different snapper" is judged more than the blocking drop-off??

 

Good theories anyway......

Castillo has been good with any holder...I can see that being a factor but not in this case...and Ideally I'd rather have a QB or a receiver doing it to be honest

One of Evans punts in game 2 was just fine....I thought he had only the 1....even if he shanked one...Punter guy shanks several a game...and propencity for big returns with what he tries to do

Regardless I wont lose sleep over it...used to poor roster decisions so it it was it is...I more curious as to how we get the apparent talent on the field and if Osh has the plums to sit a vet...or 3....and if guys do get on roster...how they will be used...thats more my concern....

[Booch]

19 minutes ago, HardCoreBlue said:

Fair but where are the stats (not asking you specifically) to back that up to suggest it's working better than 'your prototypical CFL kicker'?

Without seeing the evidence, makes it hard to move on.

I see more teams with more prototypical punters...even some the globals...and guys who can bang the ball...as well as at times toss in a funky kick....Punter guy is exclusive funky crap...and the return results against since he took over show the results...not good

 

19 minutes ago, 3rdand1.5 said:

I too am in the group of thinking that Sheehan must be great holder, clearly we have had very good success with FG's I think it a solid hypothesis that our staff and/or Castillo do not want a change.....it is reasonable to think that the intangibles of this may have had an effect on the decision to roll with Sheehan again, perhaps the "risk" of a different holder, even just the mental aspect was what pushed Sheehan over Evans. As mentioned above keeping the "older" long snapper only adds credence to this theory. 

 

I have also wondered about Kola as well. He is not the best blocker, but he keeps winning, and when you look at it, we don't have many bad snaps, so again it is a solid hypothesis that Kola keeps winning because his snaps are better, he may get outplayed as a pure blocker every TC, but not as a pure snapper. That intangible again may again be what pushes him over Eli etc. over and over. Perhaps Zach is vocal behind closed doors on his preference for a Kola snap. All aspects, not just athletic ability in play perhaps the mental uncertainty or concern from a "different snapper" is judged more than the blocking drop-off??

 

Good theories anyway......

is being given a spot...or major reps winning tho?...I have to disagree there....he ain't...and a few others aren't outright winning anything other than Osh's man love and bias

16 minutes ago, Goalie said:

Zach I’m sure has a say 100 percent. 
 

Consistency is prob key and koala is a consistent snapper. Just like a week or 2 ago when it was mentioned Zach liked stearns, you know that matters especially when nobody really grabs the bull by the horns and takes a spot. 

It seems most teams are using global punters. That’s all. The global rule has essentially eliminated the Canadian punter so it is what it is in 2025. 
 

Our punter before Sheahan was ?? Was it medlock? Lirim? The other cdn dude? They weren’t much better than Sheehan really. 

In my experience for mostpart leaning toward what a ceratin player may like....isn't the best way to go about it talent wise...as with a coach who has his likes....and it trumps talent/usefulness

Letting a player dictate that whats and why's....is not a good scenario...input influence a bit... sure

16 minutes ago, Goalie said:

Zach I’m sure has a say 100 percent. 
 

Consistency is prob key and koala is a consistent snapper. Just like a week or 2 ago when it was mentioned Zach liked stearns, you know that matters especially when nobody really grabs the bull by the horns and takes a spot. 

It seems most teams are using global punters. That’s all. The global rule has essentially eliminated the Canadian punter so it is what it is in 2025. 
 

Our punter before Sheahan was ?? Was it medlock? Lirim? The other cdn dude? They weren’t much better than Sheehan really. 

Teams use exclusively them because it was force fed mandated to them to have a global...and for the most part other than the rare occurrence most dont have any business really being on a roster...so a punter is the easier one to intigrate onto the roster...We should just roll with Castillo as doing them all as he is a better punter in my opinion...

Edited Wednesday at 04:46 PM by Booch

[Stickem]

IF we are keeping our punter, because he kicks a nice knuckle ball, that is hard to field, then how come when it is fielded it's run back for great yardage...IF his knuckle ball is so great it's sure as hell isn't very consistent or working well....Most opposition returners are catching it clean and taking it up field with pretty good success....I don't buy the knuckled ball theory...We are going to continue to give up good field position due to an inferior punter and it needs to be corrected

21 minutes ago, Booch said:

 

 

...so a punter is the easier one to intigrate onto the roster...We should just roll with Castillo as doing them all as he is a better punter in my opinion...

....BINGO.................................

[Fatty Liver]

1 hour ago, HardCoreBlue said:

Fair but where are the stats (not asking you specifically) to back that up to suggest it's working better than 'your prototypical CFL kicker'?

Without seeing the evidence, makes it hard to move on.

Don't know, but increased hang time also allows the returning team more time to get orientated and set up their blocking lanes versus a low level missile that half the returners don't even see, which adds confusion.  Jon Ryan had the best hang time and distance of all punters, he wasn't highly valued when he returned from the NFL and it seems Sask. moved on from him fairly quickly in favour of an Aussie punter.

Edited Wednesday at 05:39 PM by Fatty Liver

[Booch]

9 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

Don't know, but increased hang time also allows the returning team more time to get orientated and set up their blocking lanes versus a low level missile that half the returners don't even see, which adds confusion.  Jon Ryan had the best hang time and distance of all punters, he wasn't highly valued when he returned from the NFL and it seems Sask. moved on from him fairly quickly in favour of an Aussie punter.

Allows the cover team to be and secure lanes too...and limit the spots for a returner to pick as his seam

Also...that returner gets the ball and can instanlty head straight up field unabated for 10..15 yards before first level of coverage guys are even close..let alone set up in their scheme

12 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

Don't know, but increased hang time also allows the returning team more time to get orientated and set up their blocking lanes versus a low level missile that half the returners don't even see, which adds confusion.  Jon Ryan had the best hang time and distance of all punters, he wasn't highly valued when he returned from the NFL and it seems Sask. moved on from him fairly quickly in favour of an Aussie punter.

Ryan had no touch or placement and generally out kicked his coverage...NFL...NCAA punting is a totally different game and a high hang time and distance guy thrives...same would happen here if a guy can bang it...with good hang time allowing coverage time to get there...or even have a 5 yard halo established...how many big returns do you see happen when guys are respecting the halo...not very many...if any

[Fatty Liver]

7 hours ago, 3rdand1.5 said:

I have also wondered about Kola as well. He is not the best blocker, but he keeps winning, and when you look at it, we don't have many bad snaps, so again it is a solid hypothesis that Kola keeps winning because his snaps are better, he may get outplayed as a pure blocker every TC, but not as a pure snapper. That intangible again may again be what pushes him over Eli etc. over and over. Perhaps Zach is vocal behind closed doors on his preference for a Kola snap. All aspects, not just athletic ability in play perhaps the mental uncertainty or concern from a "different snapper" is judged more than the blocking drop-off??

I think Eli will remain a backup until the next best Natl. O-lineman displaces him.  This pre-season clearly illustrated he's not likely to become a starter, couple of times every game he allows the guy he's blocking to waltz right by him and lay a solid lick on the QB.  It's hard to gain trust when the QB is always worried about his backside.

Edited Wednesday at 11:34 PM by Fatty Liver

[GCn20]

48 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

I think Eli will remain a backup until the next best Natl. O-lineman displaces him.  This pre-season clearly illustrated he's never likely to become a starter, couple of times every game he allows the guy he's blocking to waltz right by him and lay a solid lick on the QB.  It's hard to gain trust when the QB is always worried about his backside.

I agree, Eli has to win the job and he clearly has not done so.

[Booch]

1 hour ago, Fatty Liver said:

I think Eli will remain a backup until the next best Natl. O-lineman displaces him.  This pre-season clearly illustrated he's never likely to become a starter, couple of times every game he allows the guy he's blocking to waltz right by him and lay a solid lick on the QB.  It's hard to gain trust when the QB is always worried about his backside.

As opposed to kolo consistently allowing that several times a game...for yrs...and has a real hard time working with his guards in tandem? Not saying Eli is all world...but he is better...and if he played...would get even better yet

 

59 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

I agree, Eli has to win the job and he clearly has not done so.

Kolo hasn't really won anything...I'd say there are 6 guys on our roster...active.. and pr and injury who are better than him

[Goalie]

2 minutes ago, Booch said:

As opposed to kolo consistently allowing that several times a game...for yrs...and has a real hard time working with his guards in tandem? Not saying Eli is all world...but he is better...and if he played...would get even better yet

 

Kolo hasn't really won anything...I'd say there are 6 guys on our roster...active.. and pr and injury who are better than him

The guys making the decisions disagree. I mean it seems there’s always something right. Eli has been around since 2018 2019. He’s not some fresh faced rookie. He is what he is and what he is is a backup. Wallace passed him year 1 basically and Vibert prob next year.  The Eli hill is an odd one. Dudes been the next one for 5 6 seasons now. 

Edited Wednesday at 08:23 PM by Goalie

[GCn20]

12 minutes ago, Booch said:

As opposed to kolo consistently allowing that several times a game...for yrs...and has a real hard time working with his guards in tandem? Not saying Eli is all world...but he is better...and if he played...would get even better yet

 

Kolo hasn't really won anything...I'd say there are 6 guys on our roster...active.. and pr and injury who are better than him

Unfortunately Eli is not one of them. I banged his drum for a long time to be starting over Kola, he just fails to seize any chances given to him.

Edited Wednesday at 08:31 PM by GCn20

[blue85gold]

Eli seems to botch a snap whenever he plays centre so that might be the line that the coaches have drawn. He's great in that 6th OL role

[Booch]

if neither are top notch then...why continue with them....thats an issue also....many players can be lumped into that here

Kolo was drafted...in the league 2 yrs and gone...just wasnt good...2 yrs on the scrap heap and we grabbed him as a PR depth piece and then had to use him when Couture went down...and that all we had

Why they kept him in after Couture was back...is baffling as Couture was twice the center Kolo was....and it's ironic as we have bemoaning the poor line play for 3 yrs now...how they older...or "cooked" and literallt the same group who dominated...save for the Kolo arrival...imagine that....He's undersized....knock against him...Undersized but athletic (which he is not)...another knock...Couture originally was undersized but he was athletic and had tech skill...and gained weight...practical weight..Kolo gained too...but was the fat weight...and didnt help at all in his athleticism....has short arms and cant keep dline guys off him whatsoever...gets over powered consistently....but there he stays...why?....typical complacency here in some positions...and obviously he get Osh firm in the tighty whities for some reason...Draft...recruit...free agent sign a legit center then...thats what you should be doing ...trying to get better all the time...regardless of who's in house or how long a guys been here

You can almost say the same with T.Jones...scrap heaped him from Edm where he was dumped for a younger rookie who they saw upside in...and he won ROY and just extended a new deal....given the chance....look what happenes

We grabbed him....he took Biggies role by default...and again appears to be the defacto guy until we see otherwise...why?....is he capable....sure...in anadequate sense....is he a true difference making MLB tho?...not in the least and we for 3 yrs now have had no succession plan or even have groomed anyone...status quo we go...Ayers prob will walk away from us next yr as why wouldnt he...he has 2 Older on the downside vets blocking him...again...and when he on field all he does is make plays but is being bypassed.....I will reserve judgement on things here and eat crow if for some miraculous on game one J.Jones is penciled in as the "starter"...Ayer's....as the WIL...Lawson at DT....And they take lion's share of the snaps....but I'm not a fool...and I bet all 3 are not...and 1 of the 3 aren't even on the roster.....

 

[wbbfan]

1 hour ago, GCn20 said:

Unfortunately Eli is not one of them. I banged his drum for a long time to be starting over Kola, he just fails to seize any chances given to him.

Hes really only gotten chances at guard, not C. He sure has bungled those chances though. 
 

46 minutes ago, blue85gold said:

Eli seems to botch a snap whenever he plays centre so that might be the line that the coaches have drawn. He's great in that 6th OL role

Hes barely played C since the end of 21. His snapping is fine, just not in practice enough imo. 
 In general the snap to the pistol should not be difficult. Not like the old days of snapping to shot gun. 

7 minutes ago, Booch said:

if neither are top notch then...why continue with them....thats an issue also....many players can be lumped into that here

Kolo was drafted...in the league 2 yrs and gone...just wasnt good...2 yrs on the scrap heap and we grabbed him as a PR depth piece and then had to use him when Couture went down...and that all we had

Why they kept him in after Couture was back...is baffling as Couture was twice the center Kolo was....and it's ironic as we have bemoaning the poor line play for 3 yrs now...how they older...or "cooked" and literallt the same group who dominated...save for the Kolo arrival...imagine that....He's undersized....knock against him...Undersized but athletic (which he is not)...another knock...Couture originally was undersized but he was athletic and had tech skill...and gained weight...practical weight..Kolo gained too...but was the fat weight...and didnt help at all in his athleticism....has short arms and cant keep dline guys off him whatsoever...gets over powered consistently....but there he stays...why?....typical complacency here in some positions...and obviously he get Osh firm in the tighty whities for some reason...Draft...recruit...free agent sign a legit center then...thats what you should be doing ...trying to get better all the time...regardless of who's in house or how long a guys been here

You can almost say the same with T.Jones...scrap heaped him from Edm where he was dumped for a younger rookie who they saw upside in...and he won ROY and just extended a new deal....given the chance....look what happenes

We grabbed him....he took Biggies role by default...and again appears to be the defacto guy until we see otherwise...why?....is he capable....sure...in anadequate sense....is he a true difference making MLB tho?...not in the least and we for 3 yrs now have had no succession plan or even have groomed anyone...status quo we go...Ayers prob will walk away from us next yr as why wouldnt he...he has 2 Older on the downside vets blocking him...again...and when he on field all he does is make plays but is being bypassed.....I will reserve judgement on things here and eat crow if for some miraculous on game one J.Jones is penciled in as the "starter"...Ayer's....as the WIL...Lawson at DT....And they take lion's share of the snaps....but I'm not a fool...and I bet all 3 are not...and 1 of the 3 aren't even on the roster.....

 

Wish we never lost couture. 

[Booch]

1 minute ago, wbbfan said:

Hes really only gotten chances at guard, not C. He sure has bungled those chances though. 
 

Hes barely played C since the end of 21. His snapping is fine, just not in practice enough imo. 
 In general the snap to the pistol should not be difficult. Not like the old days of snapping to shot gun. 

Wish we never lost couture. 

same...