Blue Bombers - 2025 Regular Season - Discussion Thread

[Pete]

1 hour ago, GCn20 said:

I don't know, none of us do really, whether we have better options but certainly if we have NATs that MIGHT be better we need to consider a hard look at them next year for sure. Even if next year is just a few reps a game unless they excel.  I am 100% in favor of getting Shay some D playing time for sure. We drafted him for that reason and year 2 should see progression.

I agree that TJ is low mileage, but age is age, it can drop a guy off a cliff no matter the situation. We need to be prepared just in case that happens.

30 is old now? he's basically the same age as the majority of middle linebackers ie Thurman 30, Mcmanis 31, Awe 31, Sankey 31. Sanots Knox 31. Jones is no Bighill in his prime, but he does have almost double the tackles as the next highest bomber. (also an indicator of the weakness of our dline in making tackles)

[wbbfan]

50 minutes ago, Pete said:

30 is old now? he's basically the same age as the majority of middle linebackers ie Thurman 30, Mcmanis 31, Awe 31, Sankey 31. Sanots Knox 31. Jones is no Bighill in his prime, but he does have almost double the tackles as the next highest bomber. (also an indicator of the weakness of our dline in making tackles)

Cfl starters do tend to be a bit older than nflers. they start later and end later. 

[Atomic]

I like Tony Jones but I agree he's not really an impact player like prime Bighill or Joe Lobendahn

[Noeller]

12 minutes ago, Atomic said:

I like Tony Jones but I agree he's not really an impact player like prime Bighill or Joe Lobendahn

He's exactly Joe Lobendahn.... Also did you just use Joe Lobendahn and Adam Bighill as comparables.....?

Edited 21 hours ago by Noeller

[17to85]

For me Jones lacks that ability to be disruptive in the passing game to make him a truly good MLB for this team.

[Booch]

10 hours ago, Atomic said:

I like Tony Jones but I agree he's not really an impact player like prime Bighill or Joe Lobendahn

Or Barrin....Battle...West...heck even prime healthy Wilson....he's great rotational/depth/won't kill ya in spot starts guy...but a lot of his stats are misleading

Much like some the dine guys "lack" of stats are in the grand scheme.....as their lack allows others to eat.....and then there are guys who dont rack up stats....their lack of stats isn't freeing up others...and serve zero purpose

[3rdand1.5]

Honestly, IMO let Jones have his moment, he was really the least of concern this year, heck even as poor as most of the D-line has been even they are as whole not the biggest concern on this team. The defence as a sum of all parts was actually a really good defence.....the offence on the other hand......

[Bigblue204]

27 minutes ago, 3rdand1.5 said:

Honestly, IMO let Jones have his moment, he was really the least of concern this year, heck even as poor as most of the D-line has been even they are as whole not the biggest concern on this team. The defence as a sum of all parts was actually a really good defence.....the offence on the other hand......

My thoughts as well. Jones wasn't spectacular, but he wasn't just a place holder either. He made some rough mistakes, but also made some timely plays as well (That INT against TO comes to mind immediately). 

[bearpants]

14 hours ago, Noeller said:

He's exactly Joe Lobendahn.... Also did you just use Joe Lobendahn and Adam Bighill as comparables.....?

I would rank Jones below Lobendahn... but both of them WELL behind Bighill...

[Booch]

57 minutes ago, bearpants said:

I would rank Jones below Lobendahn... but both of them WELL behind Bighill...

Lobendahn was a legit difference maker...just a shame he played majority of his games knicked up

[johnzo]

Yeah, JLo had a beast mode for sure -- was hoping he would stick around and be a long-time bomber but alas.

tho I might have blue-colored glasses for the guy because he made one of my top ten favorite Bomber plays.

Edited 6 hours ago by johnzo

[bearpants]

Recent history MLBs for the Bombers...

1. Bighill
2. Simpson
3. Lobendahn
4. Henoc
5. Kyrie Wilson as a fill in
6. Jones

I debated whether to put Henoc above or below Lobendahn... I'm willing to accept arguments for either way... You can rank the others wherever... probably most after Jones... unless you want to count a guy like Zeke Moreno... but I'm thinking more about the guys who played a decent amount of time

[GCn20]

5 hours ago, Booch said:

Or Barrin....Battle...West...heck even prime healthy Wilson....he's great rotational/depth/won't kill ya in spot starts guy...but a lot of his stats are misleading

Much like some the dine guys "lack" of stats are in the grand scheme.....as their lack allows others to eat.....and then there are guys who dont rack up stats....their lack of stats isn't freeing up others...and serve zero purpose

T.Jones performed better than expected this year and didn't hurt us one bit. That being said, I'd love to get the next Adam Bighill.

17 minutes ago, johnzo said:

Yeah, JLo had a beast mode for sure -- was hoping he would stick around and be a long-time bomber but alas.

tho I might have blue-colored glasses for the guy because he made one of my top ten favorite Bomber plays.

Lobendahn's demise was injury related. He was a beast when fully healthy.

15 hours ago, 17to85 said:

For me Jones lacks that ability to be disruptive in the passing game to make him a truly good MLB for this team.

That can be said for about 90% of all MIKEs that have ever played in the CFL. We were spoiled with Biggie's ability to drop into coverage. That is not the norm.

[Goalie]

At one point Mike O’Shea was a top linebacker in the league. 

[Bigblue204]

2 hours ago, GCn20 said:

T.Jones performed better than expected this year and didn't hurt us one bit. That being said, I'd love to get the next Adam Bighill.

Lobendahn's demise was injury related. He was a beast when fully healthy.

That can be said for about 90% of all MIKEs that have ever played in the CFL. We were spoiled with Biggie's ability to drop into coverage. That is not the norm.

Also Tony has 2 INTs on the year. 1 was an absolute beauty of a play too

[Booch]

3 hours ago, GCn20 said:

T.Jones performed better than expected this year and didn't hurt us one bit. That being said, I'd love to get the next Adam Bighill.

Lobendahn's demise was injury related. He was a beast when fully healthy.

That can be said for about 90% of all MIKEs that have ever played in the CFL. We were spoiled with Biggie's ability to drop into coverage. That is not the norm.

See we can agree...lobo...Jones didnt hurt us per say...but wasn't a difference maker 

Prime Biggies are rare...but prime Battles even rarer...he did it all...and better

[GCn20]

2 minutes ago, Booch said:

See we can agree...lobo...Jones didnt hurt us per say...but wasn't a difference maker 

Prime Biggies are rare...but prime Battles even rarer...he did it all...and better

I can get behind all of that. Biggie and Battle in their primes were both MODP players. Really splitting hairs as to who was better but I too like Battle.

[Booch]

6 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

I can get behind all of that. Biggie and Battle in their primes were both MODP players. Really splitting hairs as to who was better but I too like Battle.

Battle was better...could do more...but can't lose having either or in lineup

To think..we had West..Battle...Randolph...Jones all in lineup at one time.

Another underrated guy who was solid as hell was Aaron Brown