Blue Bombers - 2025 Regular Season - Discussion Thread

[17to85]

1 minute ago, GCn20 said:

Yes, a veteran guy we brought in and he definitely helped but he had a bunch of playing time prior to Biggie's injury already. We were using him on running downs in rotation at both MIKE and WIL.

And it took an injury for him to get the more substantial playing time which led to improved team performance.... and opportunity that wouldn't have been given without injury... and that's not the only position this sort of thing happens with. We're just not always lucky enough to have injuries at positions where they need to happen.

[GCn20]

1 minute ago, TBURGESS said:

Eli's been around since 2019 and hasn't been promoted to starter yet. If you're basing your opinion on how he played way back in 2017 against college opposition, then you're out to lunch on your assessment of his current value. 

I agree. He looked promising before he stepped away from football after 2019 but he has clearly not been the same player since.

[17to85]

1 minute ago, TBURGESS said:

Eli's been around since 2019 and hasn't been promoted to starter yet. If you're basing your opinion on how he played way back in 2017 against college opposition, then you're out to lunch on your assessment of his current value. 

This is less about how good Eli is and more about Kolankowski sucks, try someone else and if it's not Eli find someone else.

[Noeller]

I'm on the fence about Eli, but there is a HUGE NCAA vs CIS bias going on here (on MBB) in his favour... I tend to agree that if he actually was able to outperform Koala, he would have had a shot by now. 

[GCn20]

6 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

And it took an injury for him to get the more substantial playing time which led to improved team performance.... and opportunity that wouldn't have been given without injury... and that's not the only position this sort of thing happens with. We're just not always lucky enough to have injuries at positions where they need to happen.

In a rotation with Bighill was the best use for him at the time and probably would have remained so if Biggie didn't get injured. Biggie may have been eclipsed in stopping the run by Jones, but he is a way better cover LBer than him on passing downs. That is a Jones weakness. I have defended Tony Jones all year here, and will continue to do so, because I think he is a decent MIKE but he was no better than Biggie on passing downs and in fact was not as good. Where we saw the real improvement was against the run where Biggie was struggling.

5 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

This is less about how good Eli is and more about Kolankowski sucks, try someone else and if it's not Eli find someone else.

I agree on finding someone else. Like I said, I am no Kola fan. I just don't believe the answer is in house and that is on Walters.

5 minutes ago, Noeller said:

I'm on the fence about Eli, but there is a HUGE NCAA vs CIS bias going on here (on MBB) in his favour... I tend to agree that if he actually was able to outperform Koala, he would have had a shot by now. 

If Eli showed any ability to be a starting Centre he would have gotten a look by now. Sorry if some guys want to live on what we saw early in his career, but he never reached his potential.

Edited 2 hours ago by GCn20

[17to85]

3 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

Biggie may have been eclipsed in stopping the run by Jones, but he is a way better cover LBer than him on passing downs. That is a Jones weakness.

Bighill was useless in pass coverage too. Bighill got injured and it improved the D so how can you sit there and sat it was the best use of roster? It's a bright flashing sign showing how O'Shea's loyalty to certain veterans blinds him from making the best roster moves... so if we know it happens based on this one example we can ******* easily extrapolate that it happens to varying degrees at other positions. 

 

It's pretty ******* telling when we can sit here on this message board in the offseason and basically nail the depth chart before camp even opens. 

[Atomic]

Every time Eli has had a shot at center in pre season he ****** up at least one snap. Not the best way to gain confidence of your coaches and QB and get promoted to starter...

[GCn20]

7 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

Bighill was useless in pass coverage too. Bighill got injured and it improved the D so how can you sit there and sat it was the best use of roster? It's a bright flashing sign showing how O'Shea's loyalty to certain veterans blinds him from making the best roster moves... so if we know it happens based on this one example we can ******* easily extrapolate that it happens to varying degrees at other positions. 

 

It's pretty ******* telling when we can sit here on this message board in the offseason and basically nail the depth chart before camp even opens. 

Yes, that surely does say something about Walters work doesn't it? You have to be off your rocker to think that coaches would rather lose than upgrade their roster. This forum sometimes.....

[17to85]

Just now, Atomic said:

Every time Eli has had a shot at center in pre season he ****** up at least one snap. Not the best way to gain confidence of your coaches and QB and get promoted to starter...

I watched kolankowski **** up a snap not 2 games ago... and I watched him do nothing of value on many other plays, and I watched his slow ass limit a run by Brady because he couldn't either get a block or get out of the backs way. Maybe he's better at snapping, but at this point maybe we need someone better at not being a guy who can snap and nothing else.

[GCn20]

1 minute ago, 17to85 said:

I watched kolankowski **** up a snap not 2 games ago... and I watched him do nothing of value on many other plays, and I watched his slow ass limit a run by Brady because he couldn't either get a block or get out of the backs way. Maybe he's better at snapping, but at this point maybe we need someone better at not being a guy who can snap and nothing else.

I agree, better would be good, now direct that anger at who is responsible for bringing in the talent. There seems to be a huge disconnect on this forum in that regard. Look, I'm not going to sit here and say that Osh doesn't make some poor roster decisions, but I will defend him when someone says we should bring in inferior talent just for the sake of change. That never works out. When someone better is behind someone and not being played the point is valid. However, you brought up Kola and Neufeld as examples of players taking up spots over better players in house. That is fiction.

Edited 2 hours ago by GCn20

[17to85]

The entire point is that we don't know if it is inferior or not because Osh won't give anyone a chance unless forced to. 

Kolankowski if he's not the worst starter on the team is damned close to it and should be replaced. And if Eli isn't the guy to do it then he should be replaced too. We've seen Kyle Walters bring in players who can step in and play before. Based on each guys respective history I say Walters is fine at finding players, it's the coach who is bad at giving them chances and building a roster properly.

[Booch]

12 minutes ago, Noeller said:

I'm on the fence about Eli, but there is a HUGE NCAA vs CIS bias going on here (on MBB) in his favour... I tend to agree that if he actually was able to outperform Koala, he would have had a shot by now. 

Of course there is....The talent isn't even comparable across the board...let alone the coaching and the  training

I have seen Prep school teams in Cali and Texas that would beat the pants off most the CIS teams and it wouldn't even be close. The best of the best Canadian kids if able to finish off their highscool career at a U.S Highschool...and land then hope to land in a FCS or FBS program.....and even then very few hit the ground running as a starter, or legit contributor....there are a few that can but most are way behind the U.S counterparts in terms of development...just way it is....It's like how Canadians used to be in regards to Hockey...tho that gap is quite narrow now if not even 

Don't get me wrong...there are guys in CIS that yes...after a couple yrs of pro training and teaching can for sure be all-stars...There are very few who can step in as a rookie and be that tho

And really you could fill your whole back 2/3rds of your CFL roster with NCAA and even Juco guys in lieu of the Canadian guys who should never see the field on offence or defence and just there to run around on teams and masquerade as "depth" and they could take meaningful reps on your offence or defense

[GCn20]

3 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

The entire point is that we don't know if it is inferior or not because Osh won't give anyone a chance unless forced to. 

Kolankowski if he's not the worst starter on the team is damned close to it and should be replaced. And if Eli isn't the guy to do it then he should be replaced too. We've seen Kyle Walters bring in players who can step in and play before. Based on each guys respective history I say Walters is fine at finding players, it's the coach who is bad at giving them chances and building a roster properly.

Eli has clearly demonstrated that he is not a particularly good OL. The coaches know this. This isn't some fresh faced guy, he's had numerous games under his belt and has been well below average in all of them. Why would anyone think he would be better all of a sudden? I get that no one is particularly impressed by Kola, and rightfully so, but change has to be for the better or why bother. Replacing an inferior talent with an inferior talent is not a particularly bright idea. If we want Kola gone then Walters has to get to work.

Edited 2 hours ago by GCn20

[Booch]

7 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

I agree, better would be good, now direct that anger at who is responsible for bringing in the talent. There seems to be a huge disconnect on this forum in that regard. Look, I'm not going to sit here and say that Osh doesn't make some poor roster decisions, but I will defend him when someone says we should bring in inferior talent just for the sake of change. That never works out. When someone better is behind someone and not being played the point is valid. However, you brought up Kola and Neufeld as examples of players taking up spots over better players in house. That is fiction.

I bet Wallace...Eli...Even Schmeck would do better.....Kolo has started to have more and more bad snaps...and he is utterly useless after initial engagement...he usually misses his block....loses the block...or gets roller skated into the QB's lap....and in second level....yikes.....I dunno how we can really fix that this yr....But something needs to be tried if for anything just to see.....but we wont

Nobody would have thought Speller would look like an all-star but he got thrust into action and was lights out in a Cup run...If you aint trying to get better...what the fcukk you doing?

[GCn20]

1 minute ago, Booch said:

I bet Wallace...Eli...Even Schmeck would do better.....Kolo has started to have more and more bad snaps...and he is utterly useless after initial engagement...he usually misses his block....loses the block...or gets roller skated into the QB's lap....and in second level....yikes.....I dunno how we can really fix that this yr....But something needs to be tried if for anything just to see.....but we wont

Nobody would have thought Speller would look like an all-star but he got thrust into action and was lights out in a Cup run...If you aint trying to get better...what the fcukk you doing?

Totally agree. Walters need to find a suitable replacement ASAP.  What you won't convince me of, after watching him for 6 years, is that Eli is that guy. We really should cut bait on him too.

Edited 2 hours ago by GCn20

[Booch]

2 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

Eli has clearly demonstrated that he is not a particularly good OL. The coaches know this. This isn't some fresh faced guy, he's had numerous games under his belt and has been well below average in all of them. Why would anyone think he would be better all of a sudden? I get that no one is particularly impressed by Kola, and rightfully so, but change has to be for the better or why bother. Replacing an inferior talent with an inferior talent is not a particularly bright idea. If we want Kola gone then Walters has to get to work.

coaches probably also know Korn and Thomas are not particularly good either....explain that one lol....Tho Korn got the pine and rightfully so....Scmecker for now has earned that 2nd Cdn DT spot...But now lawson is back to full practice one would think he should bump Thomas off roster...we don't need 3 Cdn DT's....2 Dt's and an edge guy like Bailey would make more sense.....but will we see it?...doubt it...we either gonna waste a spot on another DT that really isnt impactful, or Schmeck gets bumped off...which would be a crime...Scmeck also has yrs of ball ahead of him....and upside....Thomas has neither....he's just basically in the way

[Atomic]

18 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

I watched kolankowski **** up a snap not 2 games ago... and I watched him do nothing of value on many other plays, and I watched his slow ass limit a run by Brady because he couldn't either get a block or get out of the backs way. Maybe he's better at snapping, but at this point maybe we need someone better at not being a guy who can snap and nothing else.

I'm not saying he's better or worse, I don't really know, just saying it's hard to win a starting centre job when you immediately **** up a snap every time you get an opportunity 

[Booch]

3 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

Totally agree. Walters need to find a suitable replacement ASAP.  What you won't convince me of, after watching him for 6 years, is that Eli is that guy. We really should cut bait on him too.

He's great in the big packages....havn't really seen him get a chance at center...some pre-season but really whopdeedo....throw to wolves and see, and then yeah agreed....if they both are the same and bottom teir....both shuld be sent packing a week after the Grey Cup...That goes for several other spots too..we need a roster reset and a bit of a movement away from the past....cause the last 3 yrs is proof the past is the past and aint coming back with some of these relics we cling to

[GCn20]

29 minutes ago, Booch said:

He's great in the big packages....havn't really seen him get a chance at center...some pre-season but really whopdeedo....throw to wolves and see, and then yeah agreed....if they both are the same and bottom teir....both shuld be sent packing a week after the Grey Cup...That goes for several other spots too..we need a roster reset and a bit of a movement away from the past....cause the last 3 yrs is proof the past is the past and aint coming back with some of these relics we cling to

I am not willing to put a sub par player in just because the guy ahead of him sucks. Rather cut bait on them both and our GM do his job. 

34 minutes ago, Booch said:

coaches probably also know Korn and Thomas are not particularly good either....explain that one lol....Tho Korn got the pine and rightfully so....Scmecker for now has earned that 2nd Cdn DT spot...But now lawson is back to full practice one would think he should bump Thomas off roster...we don't need 3 Cdn DT's....2 Dt's and an edge guy like Bailey would make more sense.....but will we see it?...doubt it...we either gonna waste a spot on another DT that really isnt impactful, or Schmeck gets bumped off...which would be a crime...Scmeck also has yrs of ball ahead of him....and upside....Thomas has neither....he's just basically in the way

We need an infusion of talent in a big way, particularly to our NAT depth which used to be the class of the league and is now second rate. I don't care how you cut it, that is on Walters. Could we tweak our lineup a bit and wring out a little bit more than one we have been getting? Possibly, but it is just putting lipstick on a pig. 

[johnzo]

7 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

We need an infusion of talent in a big way, particularly to our NAT depth which used to be the class of the league and is now second rate

how much of this is due to us consistently drafting late for years now because we've had a really good team?

[GCn20]

Just now, johnzo said:

how much of this is due to us consistently drafting late for years now because we've had a really good team?

Can't be sure, but other teams have leap frogged us in terms of NAT talent for sure. We've seen guys drafted behind our guys turn into bonafide CFL talent while we have first rounders like Anthony Bennett out of football.

[johnzo]

2 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

Can't be sure, but other teams have leap frogged us in terms of NAT talent for sure. We've seen guys drafted behind our guys turn into bonafide CFL talent while we have first rounders like Anthony Bennett out of football.

CFL draft is a huge crapshoot, yeah. Would be interesting to measure the correlation between draft position and career longevity.

maybe @DTonOB has this?  dude is doing mad science with his basement CFL stats lab.

[wbbfan]

1 hour ago, Atomic said:

Every time Eli has had a shot at center in pre season he ****** up at least one snap. Not the best way to gain confidence of your coaches and QB and get promoted to starter...

kola has been screwing up more snaps than that this year each game. also eli had one pre season of snap difficulty mainly one game. 

[rebusrankin]

@GCn20 makes a good point that Walters performance as GM has been lacking too.

[Tracker]

It seems to me that playing center is a vital and demanding position- maybe even moreso than left tackle. We see how good/bad Kolankowski is and he has hit his ceiling long ago and ain't gonna get any better. Eli may or may not be the answer at center but until he plays the position in practice,   and gets a decent amount of gametime, all we have is speculation.