Blue Bombers - 2025 Regular Season - Discussion Thread

[Super Duper Negatron]

Nobody disagrees with the league that the attendance numbers in the larger markets are unsustainable and something needs to change.

I think very few of us think these changes will make a dent in that.

[Goalie]

1 minute ago, Slimy Sculpin said:

It was a very quick Google search (and it is the Internet so you might take these numbers with a grain of salt) but the World Cup (final and overall) appears to beat the Super Bowl.

https://the18.com/en/soccer-news/world-cup-vs-super-bowl-by-numbers-viewers-revenue-tv-ratings

There is no doubt in my mind that soccer (football to those purist snobs) is more popular world wide and it's gaining traction in Canada. And, it's not just kids of immigrants who are taking up the sport. So, can these kids and their parents be attracted to the CFL? I don't think that what the league office offered up yesterday will do the trick.

I think it was talking North America cuz everyone outside North America  plays soccer. Hell Mexico loves soccer and like you said it’s growing rapid here and in the US. It’s funny. I got neighbours and they got kids. They don’t play football but they go to games. They play soccer and baseball. I see lots of kids in the ghetto here with bombers hats or shirts on. But Winnipeg is the flag ship. Not sure I see that in the big smoke or la belle provence or on the left coast. 

[ShyGuy]

2 hours ago, Bubba Zanetti said:

It will 100% lower scoring. Thats what i cant figure out about all this. You cant attract fans so youre going to make the games lower scoring and less exciting?? Shorter endzones = less TD's. Uprights at the back of the endzone =  less field goals/more punts, so longer fields for the offenses to travel/way less if any exciting missed field goal returns. I dont understand. Like WTF is this??

The league estimates that the changes will result in 60 more touchdowns a year.

I would like to see their math on that.

[wbbfan]

7 minutes ago, ShyGuy said:

The league estimates that the changes will result in 60 more touchdowns a year.

I would like to see their math on that.

I bet it was written in crayon on construction paper. 

[17to85]

9 minutes ago, ShyGuy said:

The league estimates that the changes will result in 60 more touchdowns a year.

I would like to see their math on that.

I'd like to see their indirect fan engagement on it too. 

[wbbfan]

bob tweeted paraphrasing from mos, I guess coaches show was last night? And apparently mos hates all the rule changes. 

[Piggy 1]

11 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

bob tweeted paraphrasing from mos, I guess coaches show was last night? And apparently mos hates all the rule changes. 

Yeah ,made a point of listening yesterday ,first time ever. He isnt too pleased about it. Isnt he on the rules committee? 

[M.Silverback]

11 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

bob tweeted paraphrasing from mos, I guess coaches show was last night? And apparently mos hates all the rule changes. 

Not surprised. Dude still can't comprehend the designated nationalized American rule, and is reviewing Streveler game film from 2019. 

[Super Duper Negatron]

24 minutes ago, ShyGuy said:

The league estimates that the changes will result in 60 more touchdowns a year.

I would like to see their math on that.

Someone on reddit dug up the numbers when the NFL moved the goalposts back and apparently it resulted in more punting, more missed field goals, and no increase in TDs.

[Tracker]

15 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

I don't mourn the loss of the 55 yard line. I mourn the loss of wide FG return like we saw on Saturday. Those returnds will never happen once the rules & field changes occur. The ST play we enjoy will be gone.

Contrary to bovine excrement we are being fed, the narrower and shorter field and the smaller endzones will mean less scoring and the other changes will both dumb the game down and strip away the unpredictability which means less excitement. A pox on all their houses.

[Arnold_Palmer]

18 minutes ago, Super Duper Negatron said:

Someone on reddit dug up the numbers when the NFL moved the goalposts back and apparently it resulted in more punting, more missed field goals, and no increase in TDs.

Yeah I think it’s funny how it’s just taken as a matter of fact scoring will increase significantly, I see it the other way where instead of long field goals you’ll see a lot more corner coffin punts. Do you really think all these teams will be going for it around the 40-45 yard line? I doubt it. 

[JuranBoldenRules]

26 minutes ago, Super Duper Negatron said:

Someone on reddit dug up the numbers when the NFL moved the goalposts back and apparently it resulted in more punting, more missed field goals, and no increase in TDs.

Yeah with the special teams aspect the only way to change it would be to do something to force teams to not kick.  Like if you only get so many punts per half or something....which would also be stupid.  Coaches are going to be conservative and play the long game.  Kickers and punters are also crazy accurate these days so would you rather go for it 3rd and 5 from the 40 or pin the other team inside their 5 and take the chance they go 2 and out or turn it over?

Any benefit they get from no posts (consider the posts act both ways in terms of offense being able to use them for a pick) is negated by losing the yards in the endzone that D has to defend.  Think of how many TD's are scored in the back corner of the endzone.

There's no way for them to definitively say these rule changes create scoring.

[rebusrankin]

MOS hates these changes? MOS is in my good books again. Mike, if you want to roster 30 DBs, go for it. 

[Noeller]

The vast majority of the calls were people screaming blue murder and Osh told them they should let the team and the league know exactly how they feel. 

Yes, he is on the rules committee... Which were not consulted at all.... And that's a huge part of why he's pissed, I'd bet. 

[BomberBall.]

25 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

MOS hates these changes? MOS is in my good books again. Mike, if you want to roster 30 DBs, go for it. 

Don’t be ridiculous….. 17 DBs and 13 LBs.

[bigg jay]

30 minutes ago, Noeller said:

The vast majority of the calls were people screaming blue murder and Osh told them they should let the team and the league know exactly how they feel. 

Yes, he is on the rules committee... Which were not consulted at all.... And that's a huge part of why he's pissed, I'd bet. 

He acknowledged that some of the changes had been brought up with the rules committee in the past but yeah not a whole lot of consultation was done (if any).  I'd like to be a fly on the wall for the next meeting between MOS & Wade since they seem to be very opposed on this issue.

[WinnipegGordo]

My thoughs after 24 hours;

I'm ok with the changes if they were the only major changes the league is going to make. Sadly, I feel that this is just the beginning and the CFL will be playing 4 downs by 2030.

Because of the shorter field, I hope they move the line of scrimmage from the 40 to 35 or 30.

Need to preserve the last 3 minutes of the half. 

I'd be more accepting of the changes if they were a last resort.  Where's the new marketing ideas and grassroots initiatives from the league and money losing teams? 

 

[wbbfan]

1 hour ago, Piggy 1 said:

Yeah ,made a point of listening yesterday ,first time ever. He isnt too pleased about it. Isnt he on the rules committee? 

He is, but this wasn't run through the full rules committee. It was just to the BOG/prime movers league wide. 

1 hour ago, M.Silverback said:

Not surprised. Dude still can't comprehend the designated nationalized American rule, and is reviewing Streveler game film from 2019. 

Not surprised in the least either. He's as purist as it gets. And yeah, he's the last guy to want to change and adapt to the game. 

 

1 hour ago, Super Duper Negatron said:

Someone on reddit dug up the numbers when the NFL moved the goalposts back and apparently it resulted in more punting, more missed field goals, and no increase in TDs.

I 100% believe that and expect that here. They act like qbs don't throw over the middle because of the uprights, defences take that away and force you to try and throw the wide out. WRs have used the uprights countless times late in plays for picks on DBs and get open as well. They drag across the middle then catch it just past the hash mark. 

 

58 minutes ago, Arnold_Palmer said:

Yeah I think it’s funny how it’s just taken as a matter of fact scoring will increase significantly, I see it the other way where instead of long field goals you’ll see a lot more corner coffin punts. Do you really think all these teams will be going for it around the 40-45 yard line? I doubt it. 

Yep. Teams will punt from the 40-45, and even if they go for it 30-40, that doesn't mean scoring will increase. It just means drives will go 3 plays longer. And we will see a massive hit to red zone efficency between the rediculous FG range and back of the end zone chopped off, will only lead to more stalled drives. 

6 minutes ago, bigg jay said:

He acknowledged that some of the changes had been brought up with the rules committee in the past but yeah not a whole lot of consultation was done (if any).  I'd like to be a fly on the wall for the next meeting between MOS & Wade since they seem to be very opposed on this issue.

I'm not sure Wade is really on board with all the changes. I think the league is quickly becoming unviable financially for half the teams if not more. I bet the BOG was brow beaten in this, some thing like, its either this or in 2 years it's a 4 team league with no tv deal. 

[rebusrankin]

I agree on the finances picture but this is not going to improve attendance or fan engagement.

Marketing campaigns and being involved in grassroots football like Winnipeg and Saskatchewan will improve both. 

A video game would help. Better use of Tik Tok and other social media will.

[wbbfan]

With the upright change, and FGs basically being XPT range or Hail Marys, If I was a coach, I would be practicing the on side punt every day and start running it out. 

 If you're on the 40-25 and looking at a 46-yard field goal or longer, and if you have to go more than 5/6 yards to get a first, the onside punt will make a whole lot of sense. 

The automatic time starts as soon as the previous play is blown dead, which could allow an effective hurry-up or no-huddle team to paralyze defenses.

 I also don't think anyone is really looking at the slower game/teams either. We've seen lots of 5-8 minute clock eating drives in the past. plays that keep the clock running, with slow teams (like us) will take a lot more game time, rather than making the time it takes to play the game longer. I could see Quarters where you see 3 or fewer possessions. Especially if you are grinding a drive from deep in your zone. 

4 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

I agree on the finances picture but this is not going to improve attendance or fan engagement.

Marketing campaigns and being involved in grassroots football like Winnipeg and Saskatchewan will improve both. 

A video game would help. Better use of Tik Tok and other social media will.

No it isn't. But I think this is a stepping stone. Some one said we are frogs in a pot of water and the element has been turned on. I believe this is a move to prepare the fan base for far more americanization of our game. 

 Why would you push this through part of the approval process, not bringing it to the PA or the rules committee or CIS, this late in the season? If this was the main chunk of changes you were going to make, and you really thought it would make the game better, you would announce this during GC week. If you didn't think it would go well with fans, you would do it right after the GC. 

I believe the UFL came calling, and I think we will see more news of this nature or of merger/joint partnership etc with them before the start of the next season. Either GC week, or before free agency. 

[bigg jay]

6 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

The automatic time starts as soon as the previous play is blown dead, which could allow an effective hurry-up or no-huddle team to paralyze defenses.

Doesn't this assume the officiating crew can promptly get the ball placed quickly?  That delay/inconsistency was the reason given for the change but unless I'm missing something, that can still be an issue (except now the clock is automatically running).

[Tracker]

17 minutes ago, WinnipegGordo said:

My thoughs after 24 hours;

I'm ok with the changes if they were the only major changes the league is going to make. Sadly, I feel that this is just the beginning and the CFL will be playing 4 downs by 2030.

Because of the shorter field, I hope they move the line of scrimmage from the 40 to 35 or 30.

Need to preserve the last 3 minutes of the half. 

I'd be more accepting of the changes if they were a last resort.  Where's the new marketing ideas and grassroots initiatives from the league and money losing teams? 

 

Those who are NFL devotees and look down on the CFL will continue to do so with these changes. They are effete snobs who are willing to put up with the grinding predictability of NFL games for the "benefit" of worshipping at the altar of the hype. Nationalism has something to do with my feelings, but it has to do with the differences. I believe all this will do is dilute the CFL game and alienate CFL fans without gaining much more NFL fans.

[wbbfan]

1 minute ago, bigg jay said:

Doesn't this assume the officiating crew can promptly get the ball placed quickly?  That delay/inconsistency was the reason given for the change but unless I'm missing something, that can still be an issue (except now the clock is automatically running).

It will put a whole lot of pressure on them for sure, but that is going to happen any way with the clock being started automatically. I bet it will be a gigantic mess the first time any team goes into hurry-up/no-huddle, and when it's late in a half. 

If the clock is running and the O is lined up, the ref crew will have to rush to set the play. The refs are going to have a big big adjustment in this. It's been pretty slack for a long time.

 Same goes for when they huddle up after a play to figure out if they should've tossed a flag when they didn't. 

[wbbfan]

3 minutes ago, Tracker said:

Those who are NFL devotees and look down on the CFL will continue to do so with these changes. They are effete snobs who are willing to put up with the grinding predictability of NFL games for the "benefit" of worshipping at the altar of the hype. Nationalism has something to do with my feelings, but it has to do with the differences. I believe all this will do is dilute the CFL game and alienate CFL fans without gaining much more NFL fans.

Tbh, most of those people aren't even big NFL fans. Every big NFL fan I know is interested in football all over. They'll watch the state HS championship game, lots of ncaa games, and the odd cfl/spring league game. The ones who are stuck up, are pretty casual watchers who generally bandwagon hop to who ever is dominant. 

 One of the big reasons why the NFL is the dominant sport league in north america is they've figured out that it's as much about stories for most people. Thats why they keep a true level playing ground and you don't see pandering to the mega markets. The NBA hasn't figured this out at all and struggles because of it. That's part of what makes the CFL great as well. While they love to pander to the argos and lions, and the riders, those teams aren't at significant advantages. (unless ricky ray is in the league) It's a league where every team is basically a small market team, even in big markets. The rivalrys run deep, and the connections between the teams do as well. 

What the CFL needs to do, is get the real heart of these stories out to the public more. Things like what Rourke said about the rules is great for this league. Even MBT calling out the BS of the schedule a year or two ago. Young fans don't want old school football where you play for the logo on the front with no name on the back of your jersey. They want to see all the color and personality. Football in general is hard to get to that at the pro level. If we drilled down to that and shared it, fans would come. Thats why last chance U did soo well, the human element and drama. Same with ESPNs old cancelled football show playmakers. 

[JuranBoldenRules]

30 minutes ago, bigg jay said:

Doesn't this assume the officiating crew can promptly get the ball placed quickly?  That delay/inconsistency was the reason given for the change but unless I'm missing something, that can still be an issue (except now the clock is automatically running).

Yeah I don't think you'll ever do anything beyond the pace of the refs.  Even in the NFL the ump is always standing over the ball until they get the ready for play from the head ref.