Blue Bombers - 2025 Regular Season - Discussion Thread

[JuranBoldenRules]

Willie is kind of a classic issue at the rush end position.  His ceiling is so disruptive, but his every down play is terrible.  The best he's ever been is a rotational guy which isn't a slight, it's just a fact of the skills and down to down compete level he has.  If you can have him play 6/10 snaps on D, you'd be happy.  And that's even in his prime.  I don't really see a reason to bring him back at anywhere near his current salary.  If he'd sign for like $115,000 and a ton of bonuses I'd consider it.

[Booch]

1 hour ago, Brandon said:

Why not Jarious Jackson?  

I'd be fine with him....I almost think if not for his not being able to be here at TC...it woulda been him....cause choosing Dimbass over him made and maked zero sense...Unless Osh is just as much a dumbass...and at times from what he does...jury is still out on that notion

Jackson knows how to best utilize skill-sets of players too

39 minutes ago, JuranBoldenRules said:

Willie is kind of a classic issue at the rush end position.  His ceiling is so disruptive, but his every down play is terrible.  The best he's ever been is a rotational guy which isn't a slight, it's just a fact of the skills and down to down compete level he has.  If you can have him play 6/10 snaps on D, you'd be happy.  And that's even in his prime.  I don't really see a reason to bring him back at anywhere near his current salary.  If he'd sign for like $115,000 and a ton of bonuses I'd consider it.

I think he'd play close to what he was with 15 to 20 snaps....all out in true DE attack mode...we dont need him as a knockdown guy...pressures...sacks....strip sacks...hurries would be a lot more of a net benefit to the overall defensive performance than knockdowns....who's to say those passes weren't gonna be completed...or even intercepted....but a sack...forced fumble...pressure into a forced throw for a pick.....is a quantitative positive and many a time...drive killer if not game changer

[GCn20]

18 hours ago, Booch said:

I'd be fine with him....I almost think if not for his not being able to be here at TC...it woulda been him....cause choosing Dimbass over him made and maked zero sense...Unless Osh is just as much a dumbass...and at times from what he does...jury is still out on that notion

Jackson knows how to best utilize skill-sets of players too

I think he'd play close to what he was with 15 to 20 snaps....all out in true DE attack mode...we dont need him as a knockdown guy...pressures...sacks....strip sacks...hurries would be a lot more of a net benefit to the overall defensive performance than knockdowns....who's to say those passes weren't gonna be completed...or even intercepted....but a sack...forced fumble...pressure into a forced throw for a pick.....is a quantitative positive and many a time...drive killer if not game changer

I don't mind him thinking pass knock down because he's so good at it, what I don't like is that it seems to have become his default.

[Booch]

36 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

I don't mind him thinking pass knock down because he's so good at it, what I don't like is that it seems to have become his default.

agreed....now by design?...loafing....or deteriorated skill?....thats the bug question and we do see when he turns it on...he can be effective

I'd be-resigning him with caveat that he gonna be a mentor/role player with rotational reps And a salary reflective of it, if he agreeable....Or heavy bonus incentive....Guy has value for sure and teams do gameplan with him in mind...but he needs to be in a 15 to 20 rep range...full out rush end reps...Not the 20+ he was doing

Camp will be interesting...especially if it's a real camp...which we havnt seen in yrs

[SpeedFlex27]

On 2025-12-03 at 2:35 PM, Booch said:

I'd be fine with him....I almost think if not for his not being able to be here at TC...it woulda been him....cause choosing Dimbass over him made and maked zero sense...Unless Osh is just as much a dumbass...and at times from what he does...jury is still out on that notion

Jackson knows how to best utilize skill-sets of players too

I think he'd play close to what he was with 15 to 20 snaps....all out in true DE attack mode...we dont need him as a knockdown guy...pressures...sacks....strip sacks...hurries would be a lot more of a net benefit to the overall defensive performance than knockdowns....who's to say those passes weren't gonna be completed...or even intercepted....but a sack...forced fumble...pressure into a forced throw for a pick.....is a quantitative positive and many a time...drive killer if not game changer

Put Jefferson on a DL that gets pressure from the Tackles & I'm pretty sure you'd see his production increase noticeably. We talk about Koala bringing down the OL & how everyone suffers for his poor play... Take Thomas out of the mix, get some size & an actual run stopper at the 0 & 1 technique in a 3 & 4 man front & he'd be a different player. 

[Mark H.]

50 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Put Jefferson on a DL that gets pressure from the Tackles & I'm pretty sure you'd see his production increase noticeably. We talk about Koala bringing down the OL & how everyone suffers for his poor play... Take Thomas out of the mix, get some size & an actual run stopper at the 0 & 1 technique in a 3 & 4 man front & he'd be a different player. 

They have a literal liability at the heart of the defense.

[Goalie]

1 hour ago, Mark H. said:

They have a literal liability at the heart of the defense.

Yup. Mason graham in Cleveland is why Myles Garrett is gonna set the sack record in like week 14. But Willie I think coasts  a little more often on plays. He’s at his best playing 6 out of 10 snaps maybe 5 now. 

Edited 1 hour ago by Goalie

[Brandon]

1 hour ago, Goalie said:

Yup. Mason graham in Cleveland is why Myles Garrett is gonna set the sack record in like week 14. But Willie I think coasts  a little more often on plays. He’s at his best playing 6 out of 10 snaps maybe 5 now. 

It's a tough call because Willie is the only guy on the line who seems to ever generate any sort of pressure or make any kind of plays ever for us.   Is this an indication that he still is elite... or is he only noticeable because everyone else is so god awful. 

[HardCoreBlue]

1 minute ago, Brandon said:

It's a tough call because Willie is the only guy on the line who seems to ever generate any sort of pressure or make any kind of plays ever for us.   Is this an indication that he still is elite... or is he only noticeable because everyone else is so god awful. 

I’m guessing we were dead last when it came to sacks and limiting the amount of steamboats opposing qb’s had, ie making the qb scramble and/or throw earlier than he wanted. Where’s the stat guy when you need him?

[rebusrankin]

1 hour ago, Goalie said:

Yup. Mason graham in Cleveland is why Myles Garrett is gonna set the sack record in like week 14. But Willie I think coasts  a little more often on plays. He’s at his best playing 6 out of 10 snaps maybe 5 now. 

Having Graham helps but Garrett had 7 consecutive 10+sacks seasons before this one and has been 14 or more each of the last 4 years. He doesn't make the point you think you're making.

[SpeedFlex27]

1 hour ago, Goalie said:

Yup. Mason graham in Cleveland is why Myles Garrett is gonna set the sack record in like week 14. But Willie I think coasts  a little more often on plays. He’s at his best playing 6 out of 10 snaps maybe 5 now. 

Not saying that Jefferson will discover his game from 2021 but better players in the interior DL will give him a chance to be a better player himself. Let's put it this way, if he has better players on the interior & he still becomes invisible then we'll know for sure that his career is coming to an end. No one can really judge Jefferson fairly right now with the slugs we have starting inside on the DL. 

Edited 16 minutes ago by SpeedFlex27

[Goalie]

11 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

Having Graham helps but Garrett had 7 consecutive 10+sacks seasons before this one and has been 14 or more each of the last 4 years. He doesn't make the point you think you're making.

I’m just saying maybe if Willie played with better tackles he’d be more motivated also tho. I mean. Ya. Garrett is like generational 

[SpeedFlex27]

13 minutes ago, Goalie said:

I’m just saying maybe if Willie played with better tackles he’d be more motivated also tho. I mean. Ya. Garrett is like generational 

Remember the game when Pittsburgh Steelers QB allegedly made a racial slur at Myles Garrett in 2019? Garrett went off on him & a brawl ensued with Garrett being suspended. I don't thnk Rudolph was suspended or fined.